Random “Homestead” Notes

Although I try to write a complete essay for each blog post, every once in a while, events pile up that I’d like to mention, but don’t necessarily need or want to compose an entire post to cover.

Most momentous for us, Aly just got her wisdom teeth extracted Friday. No parent wants a child to go through surgery. Far less when there’s no way to be there with her. Luckily, Aly has a loyal boyfriend, who has promised to spoil her rotten while she recovers. We spoke to her Saturday, and she sounds perfectly normal. She’s bouncing b back very quickly. Continue reading →

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Forbidden Substance: The Styrofoam Packing Peanut

Shortly after we moved to our “homestead,” we realized that certain materials should not be allowed on the property. We’ve never explicitly banned any particular item on the property other than one: styrofoam packing material, often referred to as “peanuts”.

Styrofoam can be useful. We use blue and pink insulation styrofoam for insulation. Plenty of our fishing floats have styrofoam in them. We have original packing from computers and other equipment stashed away in the shed. Still, we try to limit it.

We don’t like how styrofoam crumbles into tiny, non-biodegradable specks that can’t be easily removed. Styrofoam peanuts are the worst, because they break up so easily.

Forbidden materials: a box full of styrofoam "peanuts" (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

Forbidden materials: a box full of styrofoam “peanuts” (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

Continue reading →

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