Category Archives: Guest Post

Cutting trees for warmth

Cutting trees is hard work especially if you cannot afford a chain saw for the task and you are cutting a solid wood or hard wood tree. It is however a very invigorating form of exercise provided you can justify the need to be tree cutting in the first place. The great thing about cutting trees is that it provides warmth twice or possible three times. The first time is the actual felling of the tree. The second warming experience is when you are splitting logs for firewood and finally the third is when you actually burn the timber in the hearth (fireplace).

You can make the most beautiful furniture from trees you cut down. If you can get the tree to a saw mill for cutting (slicing) you will be rewarded with lumber than can be transformed into benches, gazebos or arbors for your garden or yard. If you get the timber planed then you can create interior fine furniture for your home. You can select the cuts that are most beautifully grained and make a treasured dining room table which can be French polished to bring out the grain. The surplus pieces and off cuts will warm you via the fireside through out the winter.

The safest way to cut a tree or logs is without using the chainsaw. This powerful machine is deadly and all it takes is one slip or trip and the consequences could be fatal. Better is to use a good ‘Bushman’ saw, which is a hand saw, and allow plenty of time for the work. It will, of course, be much harder, more tiring and you will be warmer, but more importantly you will still be around to enjoy the heat from the logs you cut so lovingly. I like to replenish the trees I have to take down and I always plant new ones as replacements.

Fishing as a pastime for you and your family

Lots of folks prefer fishing, over other physical activities such as tennis or golf, as a relaxing pastime to get away from worries. Some view it as a personal hobby, others as a quality activity to enjoy with friends and family. Evidence supports the fact that over 50 million Americans choose to make fishing a big part of their life, rather than enjoying other sports. Fishing activity has a huge impact the economy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are devoted to fishing; and, around 20,000 people report fishing to be their livelihood. However, the majority of fishing enthusiasts consider it a peaceful indulgence and a family pastime.

Generally speaking, fishing is a lifestyle option. “The Incomplete Psychology of Everyday Fishing” is a book written by psychologist Paul G. Quinnett. In this book, Quinnett devotes a whole chapter to fishing and its ability to relieve stress. In the chapter entitled “Ethics of Fishing” he brings attention to the fact that a true fishing enthusiast must have an appreciation, and find joy, in the benefits of nature. He also brings attention to the fact that fishing correctly carries over into a person’s ability to live a more disciplined lifestyle.

Fishing also makes a wonderful family activity that can provide quality time for the entire family. “Family Life First” is a group that specializes in presenting to parents ways that they can spend quality, constructive time with their children. FLF possesses factual data that proves that in the past 20 years children have experienced a 25 percent decrease in play time. Outdoor activities, which are responsible for the majority of a child’s play, have gone down by 50 percent. A study performed by the White House Council of Economic Advisers concludes that from 1969 to 1996 family time activities have experienced a 22 percent drop.

Needless to say, any positive time spent interacting with your children is worth investing in. And, fishing is definitely a way to achieve this family time. The quality time that you experience is a very rewarding result of the effort that you put in. The significant aspect of fishing, actually catching fish, is the bulk of the enjoyment. With an abundance of public fishing lakes, all with countless fish to catch, all children can experience the excitement and adventure of fishing. Your first catch is a very memorable one. And, it would be hard to forget the parent who guided you in catching it. The enjoyment, the thrill and the learning experience all make fishing a wonderful idea for a family activity.

Everything that you need to go fishing can be found in a store–except for your family. Fishing can relieve your stress and help to promote a calm and stress-free lifestyle for both you and your family. So, gather the loved ones and be pleasantly surprised at how much you will actually like each others company while you enjoy the best family entertainment ever–fishing.

Author Bio: Nichole Weathers is a content writer for Online Schools and Online MBA who gives advice on the pursuit of education and living a healthy life. In her free time she enjoys writing, gardening and horror movies.

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Hunt with Only the Best Fixed Handle Hunting Knives

Hunting is one of life’s greatest challenges for the avid hunter who looks at his knife as a necessity that he cannot live without. For the more serious ones who use their knives exclusively for hunting, the fixed blade knife is the perfect choice. Some brands use both full and partial tangs in their blades.  Good quality brands use high-carbon stainless steel. Some knives have coated carbon steel blades which are easy to sharpen and stay sharp for a longer time than stainless steel. The handles used for these hunting knives are usually wood, stag or soft grip rubberized or composite handles.

These types of knives are permanently in an open position. They are considered as the strongest, most secure and most reliable among the hunting knives as they do not have any moving parts. The only downside is that the knives are always open and therefore would need to be carried in their sheath.  Even with the same blade, the fixed blade hunting knives are definitely bulkier than folding hunting knives.

Some of the best brands in the market today are the 50-year old Gerber Hunting Knives, century old Buck Hunting Knives and Ka-Bar Knives which have been field and battle tested by the military since World War I.

When buying hunting knives, there are criteria that you should look out for.  Dependable fixed blade hunting knives should be strong and reliable. Its handle should provide a good grip to make it easy to work with, whatever the weather or hunting conditions may be. A metal handle would be too hot to hold in the desert while it would stick to your fingers in extreme cold.  Find knives that have changeable blades so you can carry different types of blades for different uses.

Whatever your choice may be, the best thing to do is buy the brand that you are most comfortable with or do some research over the internet for those that come highly recommended.

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Camping Chairs That Move

Most everyone knows that foldable camping chairs have the ability to be moved from one place to another, but what many people may not be aware of is that the chairs, themselves, can actually move. Similar to traditional-looking folding chairs is the outdoor folding rocking chair. These chairs feature a director’s style chair with metal rockers on the bottom. Whereas traditional wooden rocking chairs have pointed rockers at their bottom, a folding rocking chair has a rocker on each side that connects from the chair frames front to its back eliminating the need for sharp points. This makes the rocking chair ideal for children, the elderly, handicapped and those with low vision. Even better, by having no sharp edges, the chairs cannot cut or poke their users when packing or carrying them.

While they may be somewhat plain in color, as the popularity of these camping chairs increase, more and more designers will implement more colorful fabrics or patterns. Currently, some of the most widely available shades for camping rocking chairs include black, brown and navy blue. They may be the most basic colors however, these hues do a great job of camouflaging stains, should any ever occur.

Price wise, rocking chairs tend to cost slightly more that traditional folding outdoor chairs. Expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $60 or more depending on the chair’s size, quality and thickness of metal, manufacturer, and type of fabric used. Sometimes online bargains can be found that include free shipping and no sales tax. A great way for those who enjoy rocking chairs to relax on-the-go, folding rocking chairs also store in backpack sacks for easily portability. Consider purchasing a foldable rocking chair, and as an outdoor enthusiast you will get a highly-functional, easy-to-use item that is a great investment for present and future use.

Four Great Soy-Based Products That Replace Fossil Fuel Alternatives

You probably know by now about the many great benefits of eating soy-based foods, including soy milk and tofu. But did you know that soybeans also provide a more eco friendly alternative to a whole list of fossil-fuel based products that are not always so good for the environment?

It’s preferable to use soy-based products over man-made synthetic materials simply because they are far more likely to be easily biodegradable and non-toxic. They also lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, which isn’t great for the environment–as the BP oil spill disaster and climate change make clear. Take a look at these four soy-based products you may or may not have heard about:

1) Crayons. Your kids probably love their crayons, but they are made of paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product. If that gives you pause, then why encourage its further use? Instead, consider buying soy-based crayons, which are made of soy wax and work just as well for your kids without the environmental hassle.

2) Soy Candles. Traditional candles are likewise made of paraffin wax and pose the same challenge, with the additional problem that this petroleum-based wax gets burned in our homes and in the air we breathe. A soy candle is likewise made of soy wax and burns just as well as regular wax, making for a more eco friendly, less petroleum-based alternative.

3) Solvents. Think of solvents and you might think of some nasty black substance that dissolves anything it touches. But solvents too can be made of soybeans, which as you can imagine is much more environmentally friendly. Soy-based solvents are versatile and can be used for anything from dissolving old wax to cleaning stubborn oil-based paint off paintbrushes.

4) Diesel Additive. Unless you drive a diesel truck you may not have heard of diesel additives. They are generally added to the gas tank to improve performance, reduce engine knocking, improve fuel economy, and the like. Instead of, again, using a petrol-based product, you could use one made from soybeans instead. Not only do you help lower the use of petroleum, but you encourage an agricultural business that is more friendly to the environment than digging deep under the ocean.

These are only four examples among many that show how wonderful soybean is as a crop. From making healthy foods to maintaining a more healthy planet, you should seek out soy-based products whenever you shop–particularly if you are seeking out anything wax based, solvents, or cleaners. The environment will thank you for it!