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- Ever tried roasting nuts? It’s easier than you think + managing info overload!
Ever tried roasting nuts? It’s easier than you think + managing info overload!
Btw, do you think there’s a deliberate effort to discourage rainwater collection for self-sufficiency?
Cedie Omaña
September 15, 2024
Do you think there’s a deliberate effort to discourage rainwater collection for self-sufficiency? |
In Today's Edition:
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
All Things Homestead: Harvesting and Roasting Nuts 🌰
Personal Development: Dealing with Information Overload 🤯
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
Brought To You By:
Could Catching Raindrops Get You In Hot Water? Find Out!
Believe it or not, collecting rainwater might be a no-no where you live! Sounds wild, right? Yet, across the U.S., laws vary, and you might just find yourself in trouble for capturing those free drops from the sky.
Stay Legal with Your Rain Barrels! Don't risk fines or worse! “The Self-Sufficient Backyard Book” spills the secrets on how to harvest rainwater without breaking the law. Plus, discover over 100 DIY projects to enhance your home's independence. Make every drop count and stay on the right side of the law!
Homestead Tip of the Day:
Fall is often the time when homesteaders butcher livestock, such as pigs and chickens, to stock up on meat for the winter. This includes curing and smoking meats for preservation.
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
What role does homesteading play in your daily life?
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ It’s a full-time commitment
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 It’s a part-time activity
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️ It’s a hobby I enjoy in my free time
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ It’s a new venture I’m exploring
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
All Things Homestead
Harvesting and Roasting Nuts 🌰
Fall is the perfect time to gather nuts like walnuts and chestnuts, whether from your own trees or a nearby forest. These tasty, nutrient-packed treats can be stored for months if harvested, dried, and roasted properly.
Harvesting Nuts: When and How
When to Harvest: Nuts like walnuts and chestnuts are ready to harvest in late fall when they start falling from the trees. For walnuts, the green husks will split, revealing the brown shell inside. Chestnuts drop with spiky husks.
How to Harvest: Simply pick the nuts up off the ground. You can shake the tree to help more nuts fall. Wear gloves for chestnuts—the husks are prickly! With walnuts, remove the green husk right after picking, but be careful—it can stain, so gloves are a good idea here too.
Drying Nuts: Prepping for Storage
Why Drying Matters: Drying helps your nuts last longer and develop better flavor. Nuts that aren’t dried properly can go bad or mold, so it’s an important step.
Drying Walnuts: After husking, lay the walnuts in a single layer in a dry, well-ventilated space, like a garage. Stir them every few days so they dry evenly. It takes about a couple of weeks, depending on the weather.
Drying Chestnuts: Chestnuts don’t need long drying periods. You can refrigerate them in a breathable bag for a few weeks or let them dry for a few days before roasting or freezing.
Roasting Nuts: Bringing Out the Flavor
Roasting Walnuts: After drying, roasting walnuts makes them even tastier. Preheat your oven to 350°F, spread the shelled walnuts on a baking sheet, and roast for 10-15 minutes, stirring halfway through. Keep an eye on them—they can burn fast!
Roasting Chestnuts: Chestnuts are a fall favorite when roasted. First, cut an “X” on the flat side of each nut to let steam escape. Roast them at 425°F for 20-25 minutes until the shells peel back. Once they cool, peel and enjoy their sweet, buttery flavor.
Storing Nuts: Keeping Them Fresh
Walnuts: Store roasted walnuts in an airtight container for up to six months in your pantry or freezer. Unroasted, shelled walnuts also freeze well and will last even longer.
Chestnuts: Chestnuts are best eaten soon after roasting, but you can also freeze them peeled for future use. Just pop them in a sealed bag and toss them in the freezer.
Personal Development
Dealing with Information Overload 🤯
In today’s world, we’re constantly hit with information—whether it's news, social media, or emails. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and exhausted by it all. Managing this flood of information doesn’t mean cutting everything out, but rather learning how to handle it wisely.
Inspired by Clay Johnson’s book The Information Diet: A Case for Conscious Consumption, here are a few easy strategies to help you filter through the noise and avoid feeling overloaded.
Know When It’s Too Much
Recognize the Signs: Feeling stressed, anxious, or easily distracted? If you’re constantly switching between apps or can’t focus, it might be information overload.
Why It Matters: Just like overeating, consuming too much information can wear you out and make it hard to focus. Knowing when you’ve had enough is key.
Be Picky About What You Consume
Choose Quality Over Quantity: Not all information is worth your time. Stick with a few reliable sources that give you the information you actually need, instead of trying to keep up with everything.
Unfollow and Unsubscribe: If your inbox and social media are cluttered, it’s time to clean up. Unsubscribe from emails you don’t read and unfollow accounts that don’t add value to your day.
Set Limits
Create Tech-Free Times: Give yourself breaks from screens, like during meals or before bed. This gives your mind time to rest and process everything you’ve already absorbed.
Limit Your Screen Time: Set time limits on certain apps or use a timer to remind yourself to take breaks. Just a little less screen time can make a big difference.
Focus on What Matters
Stick to What’s Relevant: Not everything deserves your attention. Focus on information that helps with your current goals or interests. If you’re into homesteading, stick to articles and videos that help you grow in that area.
Be Mindful: Don’t fall for the fear of missing out (FOMO). Ask yourself if the information you’re taking in is really important. Stay focused on what adds value to your life.
Take Breaks to Recharge
Disconnect Regularly: Step away from your devices to reset. Go for a walk, work in the garden, or just enjoy some quiet time. These breaks help refresh your mind and improve focus.
Why It Helps: You’ll come back feeling clearer and ready to focus on what’s really important.
By setting boundaries, picking quality content, and taking breaks, you can stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.
The Steady Home’s Giggle Chamber
Why did the apple pie go to the doctor?
Because it wasn’t peeling well.
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel!
I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!
Indoor plant vs. outdoor plant in a storm:
@nila.me_ Today at a glance.#plants #plantmom #monstera #reels #reelitfeelit #funny #memes #plantlover #pflanzen #blogger_de #relatable #fyp
Being a homesteader means you get pretty creative with reusing things:
@vivaidallerive 🤙 Yeah, that’s the one 😂 #plants #plantsoftiktok #gardening #funnyvideos #viral #garden
Talk to your plants, they say:
@ryankhudson Talk to your plants! It will help them grow! #animation #voiceover #comedy #plants
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