Author: Barakah Farm Site Staff

  • Meat: A Benign Extravagance

    Meat: A Benign Extravagance


    Meat: A Benign Extravagance is a groundbreaking exploration of the difficult environmental, ethical and health issues surrounding the human consumption of animals. Garnering huge praise in the UK, this is a book that answers the question: should we be farming animals, or not? Not a simple answer, but one that takes all views on meat…;





    Meat: A Benign Extravagance is a groundbreaking exploration of the difficult environmental, ethical and health issues surrounding the human consumption of animals. Garnering huge praise in the UK, this is a book that answers the question: should we be farming animals, or not? Not a simple answer, but one that takes all views on meat eating into account. It lays out in detail the reasons why we must indeed decrease the amount of meat we eat, both for the planet and for ourselves, and yet explores how different forms of agriculture–including livestock–shape our landscape and culture.

    At the heart of this book, Simon Fairlie argues that society needs to re-orient itself back to the land, both physically and spiritually, and explains why an agriculture that can most readily achieve this is one that includes a measure of livestock farming. It is a well-researched look at agricultural and environmental theory from a fabulous writer and a farmer, and is sure to take off where other books on vegetarianism and veganism have fallen short in their global scope.



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  • Square Foot Gardening Guide:Grow Organic Fruits and Vegetables in Less Space (Square Foot Gardening) (square foot gardening, gardening, aquaponics, Permaculture Book 4)

    Square Foot Gardening Guide:Grow Organic Fruits and Vegetables in Less Space (Square Foot Gardening) (square foot gardening, gardening, aquaponics, Permaculture Book 4)


    Is Your Garden Too Small?Do You Have Too Many Weeds & Pests?Are You Missing The Techniques which will make you Garden Flourish?If you answered YES to one or more of the above questions, “Square Foot Gardening Guide” is the book for you!If you have seen squared areas in a garden, then you have seen square…;





    Is Your Garden Too Small?

    Do You Have Too Many Weeds & Pests?

    Are You Missing The Techniques which will make you Garden Flourish?

    If you answered YES to one or more of the above questions, “Square Foot Gardening Guide” is the book for you!

    If you have seen squared areas in a garden, then you have seen square foot gardening in action.  Having these areas raised and separated allows you to deal with weeds and keep your plants healthier.  The main way to keep the weeds at bay is using freshly baked soil in the raised area, this will kill most of the weeds.  By keeping the area’s separate, it allows you to grow a specific fruit or vegetable in the one area.

    Imagine for a moment you had a method which you could easily maintain your garden without having to deal with weeds, tile the soil, and watering your plants took less timethan you normally do.  Enter Square Foot Gardening

    Square foot gardening will take your worries away, allowing you to make gardening easier..

    Square foot gardening does take some effort to set up, but afterwards it is easy to maintain. This is Because this system uses prepared soil, there is no need to dig up the soil in your backyard.  By using prepared soil and raised areas it separates your crops from contamination present in the underlying soil

    If you’re worried about not being able to find materials native to your area I have you covered.  I understand that every area of the world is different. For instance, some early sources of square foot gardening suggest the use of materials that are not sustainable. The researchers of this book looked into alternatives for these materials and included them in the book.

    Square foot gardening is easy to implement and it is efficient in using space. It’s easier now to start your own Square Foot Garden

    Before we get started here is what you will be learning today:

    • What is Square Foot Gardening
    • How to Make the Process Organic?
    • Planning your Square Foot Garden
    • Building your Structures
    • Common Mistakes in Organic Square Foot Gardening
    • Composting Methods
    • Mixing your Soil for Organic Gardening
    • And, much more quality content!

    Now You can not deny Square Foot Gardening won’t change your gardening life!

    Square Foot Gardening Will Save You Time and Effort Once Set Up

    You only have one task left to your gardening success.

    SCROLL TO THE TOP OF THE PAGE AND CLICK ‘BUY NOW’



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  • Desert or Paradise: Restoring Endangered Landscapes Using Water Management, Including Lake and Pond Construction

    Desert or Paradise: Restoring Endangered Landscapes Using Water Management, Including Lake and Pond Construction

    This entry is part 13 of 13 in the series Best Climate Regional Specific Books

    Sepp Holzer farms steep mountainsides in Austria 5,000 feet above sea level. His farm is an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ponds, and waterways, well covered with productive fruit trees and other vegetation, in dramatic contrast to his neighbors’ spruce monocultures. Fans of Sepp Holzer have come from all over the world to see…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $29.95 $23.28 Free Shipping



    Sepp Holzer farms steep mountainsides in Austria 5,000 feet above sea level. His farm is an intricate network of terraces, raised beds, ponds, and waterways, well covered with productive fruit trees and other vegetation, in dramatic contrast to his neighbors’ spruce monocultures. Fans of Sepp Holzer have come from all over the world to see the productivity of his farm, a veritable permaculture paradise. His first book, Sepp Holzer’s Permaculture, offers a detailed guide to what Holzer has achieved on his farm. Many readers might have wondered-but how can we achieve this on a global scale? Luckily, his newest book, Desert or Paradise, examines Holzer’s core philosophy for increasing food production, earth health, and reconnecting mankind with nature, applied to reforestation and water conservation across the world.

    Through years of consultation with other countries, Holzer has developed a core philosophy for reconnecting mankind with nature even in arid or otherwise “lost-cause” regions. He details a process he calls “Grundierung,” a term from painting meaning “base coat,” which goes into great detail the importance of water, and Desert or Paradise offers his concept and guide to construction of large water reservoirs in arid, rainfall-dependent regions with examples from Greece, Turkey, Spain, and Portugal. Holzer describes the ecological and economic benefits of these changes, as well as the use of a variety of plant and animal species for further integration and regeneration of the surrounding areas, including reasons for reforestation and the cause and use of forest fires.

    Holzer also outlines his ten points of sustainable self-reliance and how these methods can help feed the world, such as the need to regulate the water budget, eliminate factory livestock farming, bring more fallow or unused areas into production, enlarge crop areas by using terracing and Holzer-style raised beds, regionalize instead of globalize, fight for land reform and engage in community building, go back to the ancient farming wisdom, and change the educational system. Also included are Holzer’s ideas on beekeeping, humane slaughtering, nature spirits, the loss of roots in our society in general, and in politics especially.



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  • The Carbon Farming Solution: A Global Toolkit of Perennial Crops and Regenerative Agriculture Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Food Security

    The Carbon Farming Solution: A Global Toolkit of Perennial Crops and Regenerative Agriculture Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Food Security


    With carbon farming, agriculture ceases to be part of the climate problem and becomes a critical part of the solution Agriculture is rightly blamed as a major culprit of our climate crisis. But in this groundbreaking new book, Eric Toensmeier argues that agriculture―specifically, the subset of practices known as “carbon farming”―can, and should be, a…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $75.00 $48.60 Free Shipping



    With carbon farming, agriculture ceases to be part of the climate problem and becomes a critical part of the solution

    Agriculture is rightly blamed as a major culprit of our climate crisis. But in this groundbreaking new book, Eric Toensmeier argues that agriculture―specifically, the subset of practices known as “carbon farming”―can, and should be, a linchpin of a global climate solutions platform. 

    Carbon farming is a suite of agricultural practices and crops that sequester carbon in the soil and in above-ground biomass. Combined with a massive reduction in fossil fuel emissions―and in concert with adaptation strategies to our changing environment― carbon farming has the potential to bring us back from the brink of disaster and return our atmosphere to the “magic number” of 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Toensmeier’s book is the first to bring together these powerful strategies in one place, including in-depth analysis of the available research and, where research is lacking, a discussion of what it will take to get us there.

    Carbon farming can take many forms. The simplest practices involve modifications to annual crop production. Although many of these modifications have relatively low sequestration potential, they are widely applicable and easily adopted, and thus have excellent potential to mitigate climate change if practiced on a global scale. Likewise, grazing systems such as silvopasture are easily replicable, don’t require significant changes to human diet, and―given the amount of agricultural land worldwide that is devoted to pasture―can be important strategies in the carbon farming arsenal. But by far, agroforestry practices and perennial crops present the best opportunities for sequestration. While many of these systems are challenging to establish and manage, and would require us to change our diets to new and largely unfamiliar perennial crops, they also offer huge potential that has been almost entirely ignored by climate crusaders. 

    Many of these carbon farming practices are already implemented globally on a scale of millions of hectares. These are not minor or marginal efforts, but win-win solutions that provide food, fodder, and feedstocks while fostering community self-reliance, creating jobs, protecting biodiversity, and repairing degraded land―all while sequestering carbon, reducing emissions, and ultimately contributing to a climate that will remain amenable to human civilization. Just as importantly to a livable future, these crops and practices can contribute to broader social goals such as women’s empowerment, food sovereignty, and climate justice. 

    The Carbon Farming Solution does not present a prescription for how cropland should be used and is not, first and foremost, a how-to manual, although following up on references in a given section will frequently provide such information. Instead, The Carbon Farming Solution is―at its root―a toolkit. It is the most complete collection of climate-friendly crops and practices currently available. With this toolkit, farmers, communities, and governments large and small, can successfully launch carbon farming projects with the most appropriate crops and practices to their climate, locale, and socioeconomic needs. 

    Toensmeier’s ultimate goal is to place carbon farming firmly in the center of the climate solutions platform, alongside clean solar and wind energy. With The Carbon Farming Solution, Toensmeier wants to change the discussion, impact policy decisions, and steer mitigation funds to the research, projects, and people around the world who envision a future where agriculture becomes the protagonist in this fraught, urgent, and unprecedented drama of our time. Citizens, farmers, and funders will be inspired to use the tools presented in this important new book to transform degraded lands around the world into productive carbon-storing landscapes.

    Ships from Vermont



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  • Red Wiggler Redworm Colony Starter Kit & Red Worm Guide

    Red Wiggler Redworm Colony Starter Kit & Red Worm Guide


    Redworm Wigglers Colony Starter Kit w/Beneficial Nematodes, EM1 & Free Grow Guide. This is for Red Wiggler (Redworm) colony starter mix, with eggs, wisps, baby worms, breeders and beneficial predator nematodes HB & SF to attack insects that get in the bin. The mix is also saturated with EM1 which will help break the bin…;





    Redworm Wigglers Colony Starter Kit w/Beneficial Nematodes, EM1 & Free Grow Guide. This is for Red Wiggler (Redworm) colony starter mix, with eggs, wisps, baby worms, breeders and beneficial predator nematodes HB & SF to attack insects that get in the bin. The mix is also saturated with EM1 which will help break the bin down. Also comes with comprehensive guide for setting everything up and some tips and tricks… and maybe even make some extra money! I can show you some things that I know – there are huge local markets for worms and they soil they produce… do you know any fishermen or gardeners? Then you probably know someone who wants them… This worm is arguably the best composting worm but are also a great fishing worm for smaller fish – they have can live in a very acidic environment and are great at breaking down waste that has nitrogen in it. Great rate of reproduction and survive in the harshest environments cold and hot. There are some things you need to know however to be successful with them – I will show you how to set up your inside bins up, outdoor beds and some secrets I have learned from raising these worms. When you bid I will send you a downloadable guide. You will receive information and links to videos I have done to help you on your vermiculture journey. Packages will right at 13 ounces. The mix will have cocoons and small worms but they will grow fast. Each cocoon will produce between 2-7 babies. I also offer a one year guarantee – follow my instructions and if you fail I will send a replacement for the cost of shipping. The worms are shipped in their natural habitat which will have all the beneficial micro-organisms that they co-exist with. That having been said, certain times of the year other soil dwelling creatures may be more or less present in the mix. The guide will show you how to eliminate if desired. When you order YOU WILL RECEIVE A MESSAGE FROM WITH ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED FOR TO GUARANTEE LIVE DELIVERY.Red Worm Wiggler Egg Cocoons Baby Worms Colony Starter w/Beneficial Nematodes HB & SF + Free Grow Guide



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  • The Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail In Ohio Is A 1.2-Mile Out-And-Back Hike With A Waterfall Finish

    The Conkle’s Hollow Gorge Trail In Ohio Is A 1.2-Mile Out-And-Back Hike With A Waterfall Finish

    Sometimes, the shorter hikes can be the most impressive hikes. The next time you’re looking for a scenic but short hike that’s fairly easy to conquer, consider Conkle’s Hollow. Hiding in the small town of Rockbridge, Ohio in the beautiful Hocking Hills region, the Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve Gorge Trail is an easy trail that leads to a seasonal waterfall.

    Close to the beloved Hocking Hills State Park, this underrated nature preserve is just as inspiring as other popular hiking areas in the region, such as Old Man’s Cave.

    You’ll find Conkle’s Hollow along Big Pine Road in Rockbridge, Ohio.

    Along the Gorge Trail, you’ll encounter unique rock formations, steep cliffs and deep green everywhere you turn. It’s the perfect place to get away and connect with nature.

    The Gorge Trail is a 0.5-mile trek with asphalt, so it’s wheelchair and stroller accessible.

    Nearly everywhere you turn, there’s something beautiful to see. Ferns carpet the floor and deep green moss cover many of the boulders.

    Please note: Pets are not permitted at Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserve.

    The closer you get to the waterfall, the more challenging the trail becomes. Wheelchair access is unfortunately not available past a certain point.

    This rugged, rocky gorge is often considered one of the deepest in Ohio with 200-ft. cliffs.

    Once you’ve reached the point where rocks surround you on all sides, you know you’re close to the falls.

    Most days, there’s a small trickle to be found.

    But after heavy rainfall, the waterfall flows pretty powerfully, creating a shallow pool at the base.

    (You’ll definitely want to pack your camera for this trail!)

    Have you ever hiked the Gorge Trail at Conkle’s Hollow State Nature Preserver before? If so, we want to know what your experience was like!

     

    This content was originally published here.

  • Meet Iowa – the goat that’s helping to keep Colorado’s trails clean

    Meet Iowa – the goat that’s helping to keep Colorado’s trails clean

    A Colorado teenager inspired by the great outdoors is giving back in a unique way and it involves a goat named Iowa.

    Having started a project dubbed “Packing with a Purpose,” Carter Burnham, a 17-year-old that’s wildly passionate about the outdoors, is picking up trash on trails around Colorado with a little extra help from a furry friend.

    “I will always pick up trash if I see it. It’s a habit at this point,” Burnham said. “My love and passion for the outdoors extends further than I could explain with words.

    Burnham’s goat, Iowa, joins him on his adventures. Together, the pair have hiked multiple trails in Grand Valley, picking up every bit of trash they come across.

    Carter’s love for animals started while he was growing up on his family’s farm, which is located between the towns of Grand Junction and Palisade. Spending a lot of time with animals, a pack goat seemed like the perfect hiking companion. That’s when Carter found Iowa, a male Nubian goat. 

    According to Burnham, pack goats are capable of carrying about 25 percent of their body weight. This means that if Iowa reaches up to 200 pounds, he’ll be able to carry about 50 pounds of garbage on his pack saddle.

    “That’s huge,” Burnham explained. “I, alone, would never be able to come anywhere close to that.”

    According to Burnham, he plans on continuing to explore the state with Iowa, cleaning up trash everywhere the two go.

    “I just want to inspire people to be good, to do small things every day that are positive, and impact our world,” said Burnham.

    This content was originally published here.

  • 15 Winter Camping Tips

    15 Winter Camping Tips

    Winter camping is a unique experience that creates life-long memories. We love snowshoeing, building camps, and gathering with friends in our snow kitchens over steaming food and hot drinks. Winter camping might seem difficult at first, but it’s actually pretty simple and surprisingly comfortable with the right gear.

    We hope these tips inspire you to get out and try winter camping for yourself.

    1. Watch the forecast – It’s important to pay close attention to the weather and plan around it for a safe and successful winter camping experience. We prefer to find a string of days with clear skies or light snow. Sub-freezing temperatures can be great if you have the right equipment, but the key is knowing the limits of your gear and setting yourself up for success. Continue to monitor the temperatures, wind, and expected precipitation as your trip dates approach. If conditions look too intense, it might be best to reassess or postpone your trip.

    Snowshoeing with a backpack on is a ton of fun, but it saps energy quickly, so keep mileage goals short.

     

    2. Keep trips short & sweet – It’s best to keep daily mileage goals short for winter camping trips, even if you’re in good shape. Trekking through the snow saps your energy quickly, and you’ll need to save some pep to build your camp when you get there. It’s usually pretty easy to find a beautiful, snowy place to set up a dispersed camp within a few miles in National Forests and wilderness areas. It’s also smart to keep the length of your trip short if you’re new to winter camping. One or two nights out is a good test, because damp clothing and gear gets tougher to manage the longer you’re out in the elements.

    Dress in wool or synthetic layers so you can adjust your temperature easily when your activity level changes.

     

    3. Learn to thermoregulate – Thermoregulation is all about awareness and knowing how to proactively manage your body’s temperature. Food, water, clothing, shelter, and physical activity are all tools you can use to increase your heat production and stay in control of your body temperature. Wear performance clothing that’s made with materials that dry quickly (like synthetics and wool) and layer so that you can add or remove items easily when your activity level changes. You’ll overheat quickly if you’re overdressed while active, so dress accordingly to avoid sweating. If you’re cold, it’s time to add a layer of clothing, get moving, or fuel your body with food or a hot drink. For more information on layering, head over to our Backpacking and Hiking Clothing 101 post.

    Sipping a hot drink is a great way to raise your body temperature and get your blood flowing when you start to feel chilled.

     

    4. Know the signs of hypothermia – Staying safe and comfortable in cold conditions is easy, but it requires you to stay aware of what your body is feeling. Hypothermia is very serious, and occurs when the body’s core is losing heat faster than it can produce it. If someone is showing progressing like uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination, or changes in personality, it’s time to get them to shelter to change out of wet clothing and hop into a warm sleeping bag.

    5. Check temperature ratings on gear – Since you’ll be sleeping on top of the snow, it’s more critical than ever to have an adequately warm sleeping pad and sleeping bag to insulate you on winter camping trips. Most sleeping bags use EN or ISO ratings, which are standardized systems that keep temperature ratings consistent across the industry. The number listed with most sleeping bags (example: Magma 15) is the lower limit, which is the temperature a warm-sleeper will likely still be comfortable. We find that the comfort rating, which is the temperature a cold-sleeper will typically still be comfortable, gives a much more realistic idea of how a bag will perform. If no comfort rating is listed, we usually estimate an extra 10-15° to the lower limit for sleeping bags. Choosing the right temperature rating isn’t an exact science, but looking at these numbers is a good place to start. We like to use the REI Magma 15 or Western Mountaineering Versalite 10F sleeping bags with the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad for our winter trips.

    6. Boost sleep system warmth –  Wearing a down jacket with a hood inside your sleeping bag will significantly boost your warmth. You can also sleep in base layers, a warm hat, gloves, and even your raincoat and pants if things get truly frigid. If your feet tend to get cold at night, down booties are a real game changer. We love Feathered Friends Down Booties because they’re super warm and they have a removable weather-resistant shell, so you can wear them around camp and in your bag. For particularly chilly trips, we also bring the NEMO Switchback closed-cell foam pad to throw under our Therm-a-Rest for extra insulation.

    A foam pad, like the NEMO Switchback, can be used with an air pad to maximize the warmth of your sleep system.

     

    7. Insulate yourself from the snow when inactive –  A lightweight closed-cell foam sleeping pad, like the NEMO Switchback, can be used in conjunction with an air pad to maximize the warmth of your sleep system, but it’ll also come in clutch when you’re outside of your tent. Standing, sitting, and kneeling on a foam sleeping pad or sit pad avoids direct contact with the snow and prevents heat loss.

    the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 is a bit heavy & has less headroom, but it’s strength & weather protection are excellent for winter trips.

     

    8. Use a 4-Season tent – Winter camping requires a strong tent with stout poles and thicker fabric that can withstand strong winds and the weight of a snow load. Snow is very heavy, and even a thin layer of it weighs enough to buckle many 3-season backpacking tents. 4-season tents are usually heavier, have less headroom, and aren’t as breathable as 3-season tents, but the superior durability and protection they provide is worth the tradeoff in harsh winter conditions. We recommend the Mountain Hardwear Outpost 2 and Trango 2, which have a great balance of weight, strength, and weather protection. If you’re looking for an ultralight tent that can be used year-round, the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultamid 2 is a great option, though it takes a little practice to set up since it’s not freestanding.

    9. Prevent important stuff from freezing – The temperature drops dramatically once the sun goes down, leaving drinking water, wet clothing, boots, and liquids (sunscreen, etc.) susceptible to freezing. Batteries also tend to function poorly in sub-freezing temperatures, so you’ll want to keep your electronics (like your phone and headlamp) in a warm pocket close to your body to prevent them from becoming useless. We keep small items under our hats or in inner jacket pockets during the day, and use trash bags or waterproof stuff sacks to store important wet gear close to our bodies in our sleeping bags at night. You can also tuck damp items, like socks and liner gloves, between your skin and your base layers to dry out. This is slightly uncomfortable, but it’s much better than putting on frozen clothes in the morning!

    avalanches can occur on any slanted surface in the right conditions, so it pays to be aware and know your stuff

     

    10. Know avalanche safety basics – Avalanches are masses of snow that flow rapidly down a hill or mountainside after being triggered, and they’re one of the biggest threats to winter backcountry travelers. It’s important to know how to spot the red flags of avalanche danger so you can avoid putting yourself and others in a dangerous situation. That said, avalanches usually happen on steep slopes and are much less likely on gentle aspects. So if you’re just getting started with winter travel and camping, you can gain some experience without worrying about avalanche danger in areas with flat or rolling terrain. Take a look at your map before you head out. If your route traverses steep terrain, you should carry an ice axe and know how to self arrest. Avalanches can occur on any slanted surface in the right conditions, so it pays to be aware and know your stuff.

    11. Take a shovel – A lightweight snow shovel is one of the most essential items for winter camping. Having a shovel could save lives in an avalanche situation, but it can also be used to level and pack tent sites, build a snow shelter, and create a group hangout area to cook and gather in. The blade of your shovel can also be used as a platform to stabilize your stove. The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing your snow camp, and it’s a lot of fun to build elaborate camps as a group with features like a cooking area with a counter and a seating area with a wind block.

    The sun can be really intense on snow camping trips, so make sure to protect your skin & eyes with sunscreen & sunglasses.

     

    12. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses – Don’t underestimate how powerful the sun is, even during the winter. The sun can be extremely intense at high elevation, and it’s magnified as it reflects off the bright, white snow. Sunburns and eye injuries are common pitfalls of winter adventures and the damage can last a lifetime. Thankfully, these hazards are easy to prevent with a bit of diligence. Apply a high-SPF sunscreen to your face, lips, and any exposed skin every day. Protect your peepers with quality sunglasses, preferably some with coverage at the sides.

    An insulated water bottle, like the Lightweight Hydroflask is a luxury item you won’t want to live without on winter camping trips.

     

    13. Eat, drink, and be merry – A hydrated and well-fed body is far better at staying warm. And, you’ll be burning a ton of calories while winter camping, so it’s a great time to indulge in your favorite rich foods. Keep your metabolism firing on all cylinders by eating plenty of snacks throughout the day and chasing them down with several liters of water. A hearty dinner and a high-calorie snack at bedtime will help keep you nice and toasty. Just remember, food weight adds up quickly, so be choosy about what you bring. Check out our Best Trail Food Guide for all the meal-planning tips you could ever need. If you tend to get cold easily, sipping warm beverages will warm you from the inside out. Consider bringing an insulated water bottle, like the Lightweight Hydroflask, and plenty of stove fuel so you can keep the hot drinks flowing. Learn which stoves work the best in the snow on our Winter Camping Checklist page.

    A Nalgene bottle makes an excellent space heater for your sleeping bag.

     

    14. The hot water bottle trick – A plastic water bottle with a screw-top lid, like a Nalgene, makes an excellent space heater for your sleeping bag. Boil a liter of water, pour it in, and you’ve got a new winter camping snuggle buddy… just make sure your bottle is heat-resistant and always test the lid for leaks before you get it anywhere near your sleep sack. Place hot water bottles in strategic areas where deep blood vessels pass close to the surface of the skin, such as the groin, hands, feet, or armpits for rapid warming. Make sure your water bottle is BPA-free, so you can drink the water in the morning without harmful chemical leaching.

    Stay busy & upbeat on winter camping trips to combat the cold.

     

    15. Have a good attitude – Having a positive outlook and a sense of humor makes hiking in cold winter conditions much more enjoyable. You might be a bit uncomfortable at times, but trips with challenges tend to be some of the most memorable. An extra dose of enthusiasm will go a long way to lifting you and your campmates’ spirits. If you’re struggling to stay warm, keep in mind that you can always adjust your clothing, get moving, take a break to make a hot beverage, have an impromptu dance party, or hop in your sleeping bag if you need to.

    Check out our Winter Camping Checklist for more details on gear that performs well in the cold

     

    WINTER CAMPING GEAR

    Not all gear performs well in the cold. Check out our Winter Camping Checklist for recommendations for the best 4-season tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, headlamps, clothing, and more to get ready for your next winter adventure.

    Gathering in our snow kitchen in the evening for food, hot drinks, and good conversation.

     

    Featured

    Heather Eldridge is an accomplished backpacker, having walked over 6,000 miles through the country’s most beautiful wild places. She met her husband on her solo thru-hike of the PCT and they went on to hike the CDT together. They now live in a converted school bus with their cat in Sandy, Oregon.

    Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links. This adds no cost to our readers and helps us keep our site up and running. Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations.

    This content was originally published here.

  • Blumat Watering Stakes – 5 Plant Starter Drip System – Made in Austria – Great for all Plants

    Blumat Watering Stakes – 5 Plant Starter Drip System – Made in Austria – Great for all Plants

    This entry is in the series Best Gardening Tools

    Get started using Blumats with our simple, low-cost Starter Kit. If you only have a few plants or you’d like to learn how Blumats work before converting over to a larger system, this kit is just right for you. This kit is made for a gravity-fed system (does not include fittings to attach to a…;





    Get started using Blumats with our simple, low-cost Starter Kit. If you only have a few plants or you’d like to learn how Blumats work before converting over to a larger system, this kit is just right for you. This kit is made for a gravity-fed system (does not include fittings to attach to a hose bib or pressure system). This Kit Includes: 5 Blumat carrots (5″) A thru-the-hull adapter for attaching to a reservoir (reservoir not included) 3mm-to-8mm end piece 7 meters of 8mm Blumat tubing Increase your yields and decrease grow times. Our fully-automatic, self-watering systems save time, water, and nutrients – and still ensure healthier, more potent, and faster-growing crops.GET STARTED using Blumats with our simple, low-cost Starter Kit. If you only have a few plants or you’d like to learn how Blumats work before converting over to a larger system, this kit is just right for you. Includes 5 Tropf Blumat Plant Stakes, tubing, & accessories.
    TROPF BLUMAT systems are gravity fed plant watering stakes that give each plant the individual amount of water that it needs to survive. They are adjustable and only water individual plants as they begin to dry out.
    MADE IN AUSTRIA with the highest grade ceramic materials available. Don’t get stuck with knock offs that floods your house, we give you peace of mind.
    PRACTICAL and DEPENDABLE is why we choose Blumats. We’ve tried terracotta wine bottle stakes, ceramic stakes, and glass globes. They all over water, make a mess, and fail. Stick with the original, Austrian engineered Blumat Plant Watering Stake.
    NO WATER PUMPS are necessary for our system so your plants will get the water they need to survive during power outages and you will never have to worry about a pump failing.



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  • Gardening: Gardening For Beginners: A beginners guide to organic vegetable gardening, beginners gardening (gardening for beginners, Gardening, Vegetables, marajuana, Permaculture)

    Gardening: Gardening For Beginners: A beginners guide to organic vegetable gardening, beginners gardening (gardening for beginners, Gardening, Vegetables, marajuana, Permaculture)


    ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND AUDIO BOOK!!!WANT TO LEARN HOW TO GROW AN AMAZING VEGETABLE GARDEN?Perfect, keep reading and you will learn how it is done.>Lets start the right way!By deciding to grow your own organic vegetables it enables you to do several things:Provide fresh vegetables to your loved ones.Learn a life skill which you…;





    ALSO AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK AND AUDIO BOOK!!!

    WANT TO LEARN HOW TO GROW AN AMAZING VEGETABLE GARDEN?

    Perfect, keep reading and you will learn how it is done.

    >

    Lets start the right way!

    By deciding to grow your own organic vegetables it enables you to do several things:

    1. Provide fresh vegetables to your loved ones.
    2. Learn a life skill which you can pass onto your children
    3. Relieve yourself of any worry that you will be eating pecticides
    4. Save money

    If you didn’t already know, if you buy your food from the store you’re probably not sure what’s been added.  That is a huge problem!  You want to know exactly what you are putting in your body.

    By growing your own vegetable you are eating fresh, clean, healthy food which has come straight from your own back garden,  there is nothing which you have to worry about.

    As well as freshness you want to be able to give your children a life skill which they can take with them throughout their life.  By them knowing how to garden, they will have one of the most important skills they can aquire.  No need to worry when there’s a food crisis, you will be picking your food from your garden.

    You will also be more free, and have a better bank balance.

    >

    When you start your gardening you will have tasks which you may not understand.  Luckily I will help you along your journey and when you’re finished you will have a garden which you will be proud of. 🙂

    Moreover, organic, fresh vegetables truly taste so much better.

    >

    I know your curious, so here is some of the things you will learn

    • Selecting The Perfect Location
    • How To Achieve Healthy Soil
    • Which Tools and Plants Are Right?
    • The 7 Top Vegetables To Plant Organically
    • Expert Organic Vegetable Gardening Tips For Beginners
    • Common Organic Vegetable Gardening Mistakes To Avoid

    Sound Good?

    Then I think this book is for you.

    GARDENING ALLOWS YOU TO SAVE MONEY AND EAT HEALTHIER!

    You have one thing left to do to change your garden to something which will change your life for the better

    SCROLL UP TO THE TOP AND CLICK BUY NOW!



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  • The Permaculture City: Regenerative Design for Urban, Suburban, and Town Resilience

    The Permaculture City: Regenerative Design for Urban, Suburban, and Town Resilience

    This entry is in the series Best Urban Gardening Books

    Permaculture is more than just the latest buzzword; it offers positive solutions for many of the environmental and social challenges confronting us. And nowhere are those remedies more needed and desired than in our cities. The Permaculture City provides a new way of thinking about urban living, with practical examples for creating abundant food, energy…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $24.95 $18.44 Free Shipping



    Permaculture is more than just the latest buzzword; it offers positive solutions for many of the environmental and social challenges confronting us. And nowhere are those remedies more needed and desired than in our cities. The Permaculture City provides a new way of thinking about urban living, with practical examples for creating abundant food, energy security, close-knit communities, local and meaningful livelihoods, and sustainable policies in our cities and towns. The same nature-based approach that works so beautifully for growing food―connecting the pieces of the landscape together in harmonious ways―applies perfectly to many of our other needs. Toby Hemenway, one of the leading practitioners and teachers of permaculture design, illuminates a new way forward through examples of edge-pushing innovations, along with a deeply holistic conceptual framework for our cities, towns, and suburbs.

    The Permaculture City begins in the garden but takes what we have learned there and applies it to a much broader range of human experience; we’re not just gardening plants but people, neighborhoods, and even cultures. Hemenway lays out how permaculture design can help towndwellers solve the challenges of meeting our needs for food, water, shelter, energy, community, and livelihood in sustainable, resilient ways. Readers will find new information on designing the urban home garden and strategies for gardening in community, rethinking our water and energy systems, learning the difference between a “job” and a “livelihood,” and the importance of placemaking and an empowered community.

    This important book documents the rise of a new sophistication, depth, and diversity in the approaches and thinking of permaculture designers and practitioners. Understanding nature can do more than improve how we grow, make, or consume things; it can also teach us how to cooperate, make decisions, and arrive at good solutions.

    Ships from Vermont



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  • The Forest Garden Greenhouse: How to Design and Manage an Indoor Permaculture Oasis

    The Forest Garden Greenhouse: How to Design and Manage an Indoor Permaculture Oasis

    This entry is in the series Best Niche Gardening Books

    With a revolutionary new “Climate Battery” design for near-net-zero heating and cooling By the turn of the nineteenth century, thousands of acres of glass houses surrounded large American cities, becoming a commonplace symbol of the market garden and nursery trades. But the possibilities of the indoor garden to transform our homes and our lives remain…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $34.95 $27.56 Free Shipping



    With a revolutionary new “Climate Battery” design for near-net-zero heating and cooling

    By the turn of the nineteenth century, thousands of acres of glass houses surrounded large American cities, becoming a commonplace symbol of the market garden and nursery trades. But the possibilities of the indoor garden to transform our homes and our lives remain largely unrealized. 

    In this groundbreaking book, Jerome Osentowski, one of North America’s most accomplished permaculture designers, presents a wholly new approach to a very old horticultural subject. In The Forest Garden Greenhouse, he shows how bringing the forest garden indoors is not only possible, but doable on unlikely terrain and in cold climates, using near-net-zero technology. Different from other books on greenhouse design and management, this book advocates for an indoor agriculture using permaculture design concepts―integration, multi-functions, perennials, and polycultures―that take season extension into new and important territory.

    Osentowski, director and founder of Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI), farms at 7,200 feet on a steep, rocky hillside in Colorado, incorporating deep, holistic permaculture design with practical common sense. It is at this site, high on a mountaintop, where Osentowski (along with architect and design partner Michael Thompson) has been designing and building revolutionary greenhouses that utilize passive and active solar technology via what they call the “climate battery”―a subterranean air-circulation system that takes the hot, moist, ambient air from the greenhouse during the day, stores it in the soil, and discharges it at night―that can offer tropical and Mediterranean climates at similarly high altitudes and in cold climates (and everywhere else). Osentowski’s greenhouse designs, which can range from the backyard homesteader to commercial greenhouses, are completely ecological and use a simple design that traps hot and cold air and regulates it for best possible use. The book is part case study of the amazing greenhouses at CRMPI and part how-to primer for anyone interested in a more integrated model for growing food and medicine in a greenhouse. With detailed design drawings, photos, and profiles of successful greenhouse projects on all scales, this inspirational manual will considerably change the conversation about greenhouse design.

    Ships from Vermont



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  • How to Create an Organic Chemical Free Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Building and Maintaining an Organic Garden (Green Thumbs Gardening) (Volume 2)

    How to Create an Organic Chemical Free Garden: A Beginner’s Guide to Building and Maintaining an Organic Garden (Green Thumbs Gardening) (Volume 2)


    WANT POISON FREE ORGANIC FOOD?…It is easier than you think! This simple, easy to understand guide walks you through everything you need to know to build and care for your own beautiful organic garden. Covering everything from building garden beds, fixing your soil, dealing with insect attack and what to plant where, this “Green Thumbs…;



    CreateSpace Independent Publishing PlatformPrice: $11.97 Free Shipping



    WANT POISON FREE ORGANIC FOOD?…It is easier than you think!

    This simple, easy to understand guide walks you through everything you need to know to build and care for your own beautiful organic garden.

    Covering everything from building garden beds, fixing your soil, dealing with insect attack and what to plant where, this “Green Thumbs Gardening” guide makes it dead EASY!

    It’s everything You Need To Know To Get You Up And Growing.


    In this simple easy to follow guide you will:

    *Learn which plants go together and which plants don’t get along

    *Learn natural pest and weed control

    *Learn how to identify and deal with common garden pests

    *Learn how to identify and attract beneficial insects and pollinators

    *Learn how to make quick and easy non toxic garden sprays

    *Learn about soils, fertilisers and composts

    Densely packed with valuable information this book will serve as a valuable resource that will serve you for years to come.



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  • Sustainable Revolution: Permaculture in Ecovillages, Urban Farms, and Communities Worldwide

    Sustainable Revolution: Permaculture in Ecovillages, Urban Farms, and Communities Worldwide

    This entry is in the series Best Homestead Plan Books

    Urban gardeners. Native seed-saving collectives. Ecovillage developments. What is the connection between these seemingly disparate groups? The ecological design system of permaculture is the common thread that weaves them into a powerful, potentially revolutionary—or reevolutionary—movement. Permaculture is a philosophy based on common ethics of sustainable cultures throughout history that have designed settlements according to nature’s…;



    North Atlantic BooksPrice: $34.95 $28.85 Free Shipping



    Urban gardeners. Native seed-saving collectives. Ecovillage developments. What is the connection between these seemingly disparate groups? The ecological design system of permaculture is the common thread that weaves them into a powerful, potentially revolutionary—or reevolutionary—movement.

    Permaculture is a philosophy based on common ethics of sustainable cultures throughout history that have designed settlements according to nature’s patterns and lived within its bounds. As a movement that has been building momentum for the past 40 years, it now is taking form as a growing network of sites developed with the intention of regenerating local ecologies and economies. Permaculture strategies can be used by individuals, groups, or nations to address basic human needs such as food, water, energy, and housing. As a species, humans are being called forth to evolve, using our collective intelligence to meet the challenges of the future. Yet if we are to survive our collective planetary crisis, we need to revisit history, integrating successful systems from sustainable cultures. To boldly confront our position on the brink of the earth’s carrying capacity and make changes that incorporate the wisdom of the past is truly revolutionary.

    Sustainable Revolution features the work of a worldwide network of visionaries, including journalists, activists, indigenous leaders and permaculturists such as David Holmgren, Vandana Shiva, Charles Eisenstein, Starhawk, Erik Assadourian, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Albert Bates, and Geoff Lawton. This beautifully photographed collection of profiles, interviews, and essays features 60 innovative community-based projects in diverse climates across the planet. Edited by anthropologist Juliana Birnbaum Fox and award-winning activist filmmaker Louis Fox, it can be read as an informal ethnography of an international culture that is modeling solutions on the cutting edge of social and environmental change. The research presented in the book frames the permaculture movement as a  significant ally to marginalized groups, such as the urban poor and native communities resisting the pressures of globalization. Sustainable Revolution uplifts and inspires with its amazing array of dynamic activists and thriving, vibrant communities.



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  • Children Who Go Camping Do Better At School And Are Happier And Healthier

    Children Who Go Camping Do Better At School And Are Happier And Healthier

    Children who camp outdoors at least once a year will go on to do better at school, as well as being healthier and happier, according to their parents.

    This is the finding of a research study carried out by the Institute of Education at Plymouth University and the Camping and Caravanning Club.

    Nearly 600 camping families, members of the Club, responded to an in-depth survey.

    Parents and children around the UK were asked a series of questions, which looked at the educational and underpinning psychological and social benefits of camping to children of all ages.

     

    This content was originally published here.

  • Permaculture: Permaculture Gardening Guide For Self Sufficiency (Permaculture, Gardening, Self Sufficiency)

    Permaculture: Permaculture Gardening Guide For Self Sufficiency (Permaculture, Gardening, Self Sufficiency)


    Become self sufficient with Permaculture! Download NOW!!!;





    Become self sufficient with Permaculture! Download NOW!!!



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  • The Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today’s America

    The Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today’s America


    “An in-depth and compelling account of diverse Americans living off the grid.” —Los Angeles TimesThe radical search for the simple life in today’s America. On a frigid April night, a classically trained opera singer, five months pregnant, and her husband, a former marine biologist, disembark an Amtrak train in La Plata, Missouri, assemble two bikes,…;





    “An in-depth and compelling account of diverse Americans living off the grid.” —Los Angeles Times

    The radical search for the simple life in today’s America.

    On a frigid April night, a classically trained opera singer, five months pregnant, and her husband, a former marine biologist, disembark an Amtrak train in La Plata, Missouri, assemble two bikes, and pedal off into the night, bound for a homestead they’ve purchased, sight unseen. Meanwhile, a horticulturist, heir to the Great Migration that brought masses of African Americans to Detroit, and her husband, a product of the white flight from it, have turned to urban farming to revitalize the blighted city they both love. And near Missoula, Montana, a couple who have been at the forefront of organic farming for decades navigate what it means to live and raise a family ethically.   

    A work of immersive journalism steeped in a distinctively American social history and sparked by a personal quest, The Unsettlers traces the search for the simple life through the stories of these new pioneers and what inspired each of them to look for — or create — a better existence. Captivating and clear-eyed, it dares us to imagine what a sustainable, ethical, authentic future might actually look like.Riverhead Books



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  • Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives: A Complete Guide to Apiculture

    Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives: A Complete Guide to Apiculture

    This entry is in the series Best Beekeeping Books

    Learn natural beekeeping from Europe’s foremost beekeeping authority. Georges de Layens, inventor of the world’s most popular horizontal hive, shares a lifetime of experience on how to: get started in simplified beekeeping; choose the best hive model for you & your bees; manage your hives with just two visits per year; take advantage of horizontal…;





    Learn natural beekeeping from Europe’s foremost beekeeping authority. Georges de Layens, inventor of the world’s most popular horizontal hive, shares a lifetime of experience on how to: get started in simplified beekeeping; choose the best hive model for you & your bees; manage your hives with just two visits per year; take advantage of horizontal hives & deep frames; avoid unnecessary complications & procedures; increase an apiary with natural or artificial swarms; transfer bees from one hive model to another; enhance bees’ health drug-free; do without requeening, feeding & other chores; understand honey plants and honeyflows; make award-winning mead (foolproof formula); use foundationless frames, make wax foundation; handle traditional hives (skeps, log hives, etc.); keep bees sustainably using local strains; and MUCH more. Layens’ simple beekeeping boasts over 100 years of successful use, with 1 million hives in use today. Bee-friendly, productive, and fun, keeping bees can be easier than you ever imagined! “This is a delightful book full of wonderfully audacious ideas for U.S. beekeepers. I certainly look forward to building and trying out a horizontal movable-frame hive, inspired and guided by reading this fascinating book.” – Dr. Tom Seeley, author of Honeybee Democracy



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  • Beyond the War on Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach to Ecosystem Restoration

    Beyond the War on Invasive Species: A Permaculture Approach to Ecosystem Restoration


    Invasive species are everywhere, from forests and prairies to mountaintops and river mouths. Their rampant nature and sheer numbers appear to overtake fragile native species and forever change the ecosystems that they depend on. Concerns that invasive species represent significant threats to global biodiversity and ecological integrity permeate conversations from schoolrooms to board rooms, and…;



    Chelsea Green PublishingPrice: $22.95 $20.57 Free Shipping



    Invasive species are everywhere, from forests and prairies to mountaintops and river mouths. Their rampant nature and sheer numbers appear to overtake fragile native species and forever change the ecosystems that they depend on. Concerns that invasive species represent significant threats to global biodiversity and ecological integrity permeate conversations from schoolrooms to board rooms, and concerned citizens grapple with how to rapidly and efficiently manage their populations. These worries have culminated in an ongoing “war on invasive species,” where the arsenal is stocked with bulldozers, chainsaws, and herbicides put to the task of their immediate eradication. In Hawaii, mangrove trees (Avicennia spp.) are sprayed with glyphosate and left to decompose on the sandy shorelines where they grow, and in Washington, helicopters apply the herbicide Imazapyr to smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) growing in estuaries. The “war on invasive species” is in full swing, but given the scope of such potentially dangerous and ecologically degrading eradication practices, it is necessary to question the very nature of the battle. 

    Beyond the War on Invasive Species offers a much-needed alternative perspective on invasive species and the best practices for their management based on a holistic, permaculture-inspired framework. Utilizing the latest research and thinking on the changing nature of ecological systems, Beyond the War on Invasive Species closely examines the factors that are largely missing from the common conceptions of invasive species, including how the colliding effects of climate change, habitat destruction, and changes in land use and management contribute to their proliferation. Beyond the War on Invasive Species demonstrates that there is more to the story of invasive species than is commonly conceived, and offers ways of understanding their presence and ecosystem effects in order to make more ecologically responsible choices in land restoration and biodiversity conservation that address the root of the invasion phenomenon. The choices we make on a daily basis―the ways we procure food, shelter, water, medicine, and transportation―are the major drivers of contemporary changes in ecosystem structure and function; therefore, deep and long-lasting ecological restoration outcomes will come not just from eliminating invasive species, but through conscientious redesign of these production systems.

    Ships from Vermont



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