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Today I have for you a bit of a variety show, but the main event is the unveiling of the Generation Builders Membership Program!  It’s finally here after several months of development, but be patient.  This program is still just a baby and it will continue to be enriched over time to bring more and more value to you. Become a Generation Builder.  Build Abundance now and for generations to come. Check out the podcast or the Show Notes below to find out how to join this program that for now is FREE to all newcomers! Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Newsletter and Generation Builders (more to come below!) Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Body of Show Permaculture Principle Observation: Observe and Interact Discussion of design concept for backyard hardscape Background – Adult Education Series with Wake County Public Libraries Patterns and Pattern Understanding Waves, spirals, tessellations, vortices, dendritic, time of day, seasons, colors, textures, contours Recognition of a pattern within a given context can be more appropriate than forcing a pattern into a time or space After several months of observing the backyard, seeing the contours develop, and designing hardscape concepts, a pattern one day about two weeks ago jumped out at me: a vortex shape for the path and fire circle. When I had the inspiration, I knew immediately that it was the right pattern for that space and function. It was already there, just waiting for me to recognize it and formalize it with hardscapes. Very cool experience. Tie back to Observe and Interact Name That Sound Play sound clip; guess what’s making the sound. About the source of the sound Update on 1000+ gallon cistern project The deck is done! What’s next Generation Builders rollout Process Sign up for occasional updates from me and become a member of the Generation Builder program at the same time. Sign up at my website. Sign in as a User to be able to make Comments on my blog, or E-mail me with your name and e-mail address. I’ll manually add and then send your login info including user name and password. You can change your password when you first log in to whatever you want. Will never sell your contact info. Benefits Notification of new video releases, such as a production on design and installation of a 1,000+ gallon cister

Relatively speaking, for us, 2014 was a HORRIBLE year!  I know that’s not the best attitude to have, but the good news is that it’s behind us.  We hope the challenges in life will be less pronounced in 2015, and we’re welcoming the changing of the cale...

Anytime you use the word “flush” in a title, you’re taking a chance.  But I thought it was well worth it since I’ll be focusing on how a really cool first flush diverter for a rainwater collection system can work.  This is a simple and low tech solution.  You can make it yourself which keeps the cost down, and because it’s so low tech it’s extremely reliable. I haven’t seen a system quite like this one before, but I’m sure others have beat me to the punch.  Regardless, give it a try yourself.  It’s a great way to improve the cleanliness of water that you’re collecting off your roof, and you’ll get all the details as to how it works in today’s show. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Newsletter: Sign up for occasional updates from me, such as the Geminid Meteor Shower. No other way to reliably reach people. Sign up at my website. Will never sell your contact info. Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show Recap: 1,050 gallons. Designed the cistern plumbing for 2 ‘outs’ and 1 ‘in’. Designed wooden frame to go around the cistern to make it less noticeable and also make use of the vertical space around and on top of the cistern. I’ve bought all the materials and build most of it. Today, I’ve been working on the ‘in’ which includes the transition from the downspout to PVC, the pipe to the main cistern input, and the first flush diverter. Why a first flush diverter? Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Off Gassing from asphalt shingles. Similar to 3200 Phaethon, the asteroid that causes the Geminid meteor shower after it gets cooked when passing the sun and then the pieces that cook off burn up when they inter our atmosphere. Well, many things also release compounds when they get cooked, including asphalt shingle roofs. I like the idea of a quick rinse being diverted before entering my main water storage, which is the cistern. Also gets rid of some other contaminants such as bird feces, although I’m not so worried about that since I’m only using the water for irrigating my back yard. Components Gutter Guard aluminum gutter covers – to keep leaves, twigs, even asphalt shingle granules, and other debris out of the gutter, and therefore out of the rest of the system Pipes and Fittings: 4” PVC for

Today’s interview was a lot of fun for me.  I have a feeling it’s going to open up all kinds of new culinary experiences in my future.  Julie Ginsler is an entrepreneur starting a small business in a family-owned franchise, VOM FASS.  They work largely with small family suppliers from around the world to provide organic oils, vinegars, and spices that you just can’t typically find in your local grocery store. Julie shares with us what is so special about the products she sells, why she feels so good about the VOM FASS franchise, and even a few of her personal favorites for the kitchen.  Join me and Julie today for a great conversation. Oh, and did I mention that in the very near future you can get discounts from Julie’s store?  She has generously agreed to support my upcoming Generation Builder program by offering a significant discount for members of the program.  It will roll out in early January, so stay tuned for additional details.  Now, on to the interview... Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program! Discounts from companies that are consistent with the theme of this show. Julie’s store within the VOM FASS franchise has agreed to become a supporter of Generations’ Bounty Podcast by giving listeners a discount. Look for details as the program rolls out next month. Access to member only content Provide listeners with a way to support this show Body of Show Julie’s back story, and how she become interested in oils, vinegars, and spices About VOM FASS The VOM FASS franchise model Product ingredients, processes, suppliers, and quality Personal favorites Where to begin if you’re new to these types of products? Shelf life of oils, vinegars, and spices Sources of demand for these products now and in the future Announcing Julie’s VOM FASS store as a supporter of Generations’ Bounty Podcast! Where to find more information and how to order More information at www.waverlyplace.vomfassusa.com To get a discount, join Generation Builder program, coming to Generations’ Bounty Podcast in January of 2015 To order Julie’s products, call 919-977-6745 or email Julie at Julie.ginsler@gmail.com Wrap Up Outro   Resources: Check out Julie’s VOM FASS store at www.waverlyplace.vomfassusa

Have you ever actively recruited more bats to your neighborhood?  They are great to have around for several reasons, but the one I enjoy the most is their love of (eating) mosquitos.  I’ll be building at least one bat condominium this winter in an attempt to attract bats to my yard when they migrate back to the area in the spring. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Holiday Schedule: Going to take time off podcasting for the holidays to focus on family. Body of Show Why an Episode about bats? In temperate climates bats usually migrate – they come back to the area in the spring, so if, after you’ve learned more about them, you want to attract them, now is the time to start preparations, which I’ll get into later in the show. Bat Facts Flight: They are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight Vision: Many species can see as well as other mammals, plus they have the added benefit of sonar. Using sonar, or echolocation, in total darkness they can sense everything they would sense with vision except for color. Mammals, not rodents. More closely related to humans than mice. Suck your blood? Only 3 species of bats consume blood, and only one targets mammals. All are in Latin America. 70% of species are insectivores, most of the rest eat fruit. Rabies. You’re much more likely statistically to be struck by lightning than to get rabies from a bat. They can have rabies, but very unusual. Just don’t handle them if they’re acting strangely. You shouldn’t handle wild bats anyway. Odds of being struck by lightning in a given year in the US…about 1 in a million. Odds of catching rabies from a bat in a given year in the US…about 1 in 320 million. You’re much more likely to catch rabies from a dog, yet they’re one of the most popular pets in the world. Bat Functions Keystone species in many environments…without them the area would change dramatically and for the worse. Pollination – mostly in warmer climates, but a critical function Seed dispersal – account for up to 95% of new growth in deforested areas of the tropics because they are willing to cross wide open spaces since they don’t have aerial predators at night the same way birds do during the day. Pest control: A cri

What a great weekend.  We enjoyed the Geminid Meteor Shower, played ping pong, and had a really interesting project to work on: the cistern!  Check out the current progress of the cistern below: And the portion of this project that caused the most headaches was definitely installing the lag bolts into the concrete to hold the wood base of the frame to the concrete.  Here’s what the lag bolts, or “sleeve anchors”, look before installation: Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Newsletter: Sign up for occasional updates from me, such as the Geminid Meteor Shower. No other way to reliably reach people. Sign up at my website. Will never sell your contact info. Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show 1) Fermentation Update We’re now 11 days into the fermentation and the fermentation bubbling has slowed down. I heard an interesting interview on the FermUp podcast of Kirsten and Christopher Shocke, Fermentista’s from Southern Oregon and authors of Fermented Vegetables, a new book that just came out in October of this year. They came out with a book with recipes for fermenting 64 vegetables. The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz has a lot of incredible information about many types of fermented foods, but I’d like to have a reference with more of a focus on veggies. I’ll have to add Fermented Vegetables to my Christmas list. I opened up all the jars and topped up two or three that had gotten a little low. Lessons: 1) Beets stain; 2) Have an implement to help get the lids off; 3) Continue to be patient! 2) Geminid Meteor Shower On Friday I didn’t do an Episode for the podcast. Instead focused on newsletter. Sent it out with a reminder: 5 Steps to Making a Lifelong Memory this Weekend! Our experience. Cold…fire…hot chocolate…lots of blankets…number of meteor sightings depended upon how distracted or busy we got (such as with the hot chocolate). I saw 42 on Saturday night. A few really bright, a few really dim, and quite a few in between. All over the sky, but it was cool to follow their path back to their origin, and they went to Gemini (the radiant)! As a family, it was a great experience. I’ve heard from others that went out to see the meteor shower. Mission accomplished! 3) Cistern Recap: 1,050 gallons Bough

THIS EPISODE IS TIME SENSITIVE!!! This weekend you have an opportunity to create some lasting memories with your family…don’t miss out!  The Geminid Meteor Shower comes close to earth each winter, and this year, as in many years, it is the best meteor shower of the year.  Weather permitting in your area, you have the possibility of seeing as many as 120 meteors per hour, on a weekend, at a time of night that doesn’t make you tired just thinking about it!  What could be better? Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show What are the Geminids? (Source: http://www.universetoday.com/11641/ ) Every year in mid-December, the earth and an asteroid pass close by each other (a mere 13M miles) The asteroid is the “3200 Phaethon (FAY-eh-thon) asteroid” with a diameter of 3.2 miles. When you run a 5k in a straight line…that’s how far you would run to cross from one side, through the center, and out the other side. Yes, it would destroy the planet with a direct collision, but that’s not a concern to astronomers Phaethon is an asteroid, but when it passes really close to the sun it gets hot enough that the surface gets cooked and it lets off dust and looks like a comet The Geminids are a meteor shower caused by the little bits of Phaethon that break off and enter the earth’s atmosphere. When they burn up, we see a bright streak. Expected to be about 120 meteors per hour, each of which is traveling at about 22 miles per second! Peak is at 6am on Sunday, December 14, 2014, but it lasts quite a few days, even a few outliers over a couple of weeks, but viewing on Sat night and Sunday night should be really good. Often you’re stuck going out way after midnight to see the best showers, but these should be really good even before midnight, say between 9pm and 12am both nights. Try to find a dark area with little ambient light. Try facing east if you’re in North America. Not sure if you’re in other parts of the world. What’s the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, meterorite, asteroid, and comet? (Source: http://hubblesite.org/reference_desk/faq/answer.php.id=22&cat=solarsystem ) Meteor refers to the light that we see when a little chunk of planetary debris burns up in our atmosphere…i

Today I have some really great updates from three homestead projects I’ve been working on.  Short blog…great episode! Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show Fermentation Update We’re now 6 days into the fermentation and there’s been lots of activity in the jars. I have them out on the kitchen counter so I can keep an eye on them. I was worried about the pressure, so I’ve kept the lids on loosely. I could probably tighten them now. Keep them in a cookie sheet because they’ve overflowed several times. Smells very fermentyish…not sure how to describe it. It’s not a bad small to my nose, but it’s definitely a different smell than we usually have in the house. Tonight will tighten down the lids and give them another 8 days or so to bring them to a full 2 weeks. Then will taste just a bit and see how they’re doing. Progress! Herb Drying – Episode 65 on Nov 14 I dried herbs just before our first freeze of the year. Tuscan Blue Rosemary, Purple Sage, and Lemonbalm. Results: the lemonbalm was dry first…just took about 2 days. Just pulled the leaves off the stems and they came of pretty easily. Put them into a small canning jar that has a lid specially designed for herbs, and then labeled the glass with a Sharpie. Lemonbalm 2014. It will come off with rubbing alcohol. Smelled awesome! Rosemary was next, and that seemed dry enough to put away at about 2 weeks. It’s really a lot like an evergreen tree…more like a fir than a pine with short needles for leaves. I just pinched my fingers along a stem and pulled them back against the grain of the needles and they came right off. My fingers got kind of stick from doing this. Does rosemary have pitch? That’s what it seemed like. Also smelled great! Finally, the sage took the longest. Nearly 4 weeks. To remove these leaves I pinched and rolled my fingers near the base of each leaf (or bundle of leaves) and they came off pretty easily. These probably had the least strong scent of the three, but still nice and smelled just like you would expect purple sage to smell. Now I have three jars of whole leaf herbs that I can crush further whenever I need them, and it’s really fun knowing that they came from plants that I’ve grown and continue

I’ve covered a lot of topics on Generations’ Bounty Podcast.  What do they all have in common?  Abundance.  Specifically how to Build Abundance.  But I’ve never created an episode that rolls together the broad array of topics that I’ve covered.  Things...

The incredible, edible…fern?  Yes, that’s right.  Some species of fern are edible and are delicacies known as fiddleheads.  Ferns hold a somewhat special and unusual place in our family’s story.  Listen in today to find out why, and also how you can make ferns a part of your family’s story as well. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program Body of Show Why Ferns? Beautiful addition to the landscape. Unique texture and visual contrast. Enjoy parts of the landscape that most plants don’t. Most ferns like partial to fully shade. Do well in temperate climates. Great evergreen groundcover. Many varieties are very hardy. A few species are edible! Makes great use of spaces that typically are less productive. People say they taste somewhere between asparagus and artichoke, both of which are favorites in our household. Rub off the outer layer and then blanch for a minute before sautéing, roasting, or frying, for example in stir fry. I would love to hear from any listeners what your experience has been, particularly any favorite recipes. Limit your harvest to about a third of the patch so that it can continue to persist in the area. If you have too many to use fresh, you can also pickle, can, or ferment them too! Be sure to do your due diligence and learn how to safely prepare the variety that you’re interested in harvesting. When you pick them will affect their taste and safety. Which species are edible? (focus on North America) Ostrich Fern - (Matteuccia_struthiopteris) – beautiful majestic species, can grow to 3-6’ tall. Forms colonies and can cover wide areas since there is less competition in shaded areas. Lady Fern - (Athyrium filix-femina), now divided into two species: A. angustum (narrow lady fern) and A. asplenioides (southern lady fern). The southern lady fern has a broader frond, especially at the base. Bracken Fern - Bracken (Pteridium) is a genus of large, coarse ferns. Pteridium aquilim has now been divided into about 10 species. Can be very aggressive. This can be good if you’re looking for a vigorous species for more harvesting! Fossils over 55M years old have been found. Possibly the most successful fern in the world. Secretes allelopathic chemicals which inhibit the growth of other

I have a great interview for you today.  Zev Friedman is very well known and well respected in Western North Carolina as a leading permaculture practitioner.  As a consultant, designer, and teacher, Zev has amassed an incredible reservoir of permaculture knowledge and lives true to his philosophies on a daily basis.  You don’t want to miss this one.  Enjoy the episode! Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program Body of Show Zev’s Story How Zev discovered Permaculture Primitive Building Making a Living in Permaculture Groundswell of Permaculture Interest Permaculture Defined The Importance of Mentorship The Industrial Revolution Inspired World View During a very personal portion of our discussion on genocide and collapse of ecosystems I had a major technical issue!  Sorry Zev!!!  I’ve now fixed the issue for future interviews. TEDx Talk Upcoming Permaculture Design Course Permaculture In Action Apprenticeship Application for 2015 Kudzu Camp in Silva, NC Visit www.LivingSystemsDesign.net - Permaculture Consulting Visit www.PermacultureInAction.com - Hands On for Clients and Students Visit www.SchoolOfIntegratedLiving.org (SOIL) How to develop a more meaningful life The importance of working together Wrap Up Outro

Do you ferment your food?  (I mean intentionally.)  If you’ve never tried it, or are afraid to try it, then be sure to listen in to today’s episode.  Fermentation can be incredibly valuable to us in many ways, including for our health! If you are an experienced fermenter, what’s your favorite recipe?  I’d love to see your ideas in the comments for new things to try! 1) Chop/grate 2) Salt and squeeze 3) Pack and fill 4) Voila!  Time to sit back and wait for fermentation to happen. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show Source of information for my fermentation journey: The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz. It’s an incredible book that I couldn’t recommend more highly if you’re interested in fermentation! What is fermentation? It’s in foods all around us: pickles, bread, cheese, yogurt, sour cream, salami, vinegar, soy sauce, chocolate, coffee, beer, wine, and many more. Fermentation is a natural process used to preserve foods and to make them more digestible and nutritious. This process is made possible by the presence of bacteria and fungi that transform foods from fresh to fermented. People have been fermenting foods for thousands of years. Probably since the very beginning of humanity since there are many animals that also enjoy naturally fermented foods in the wild. Is fermentation safe? Safe, and also necessary for us. We’ve coexisted with bacteria in our GI system for a very, very long time. Just as mycorhizal fungi form partnerships with the roots of plants and trees, and essentially trade carbohydrates for other things the plant or tree needs such as trace elements, bacteria do the same this for us in our GI system. We’ve become germophobic as a culture, which is leading to the destruction of bacteria that are necessary for us to be as healthy as we can be. Just as 70 to 80% of tree species could not survive without their mycorhizal fungal interactions, we could not survive without bacterial interactions in our own bodies. We can reintroduce the microbiology that helps us to function by eating foods with live cultures. Like probiotic yogurt and many, many other foods that are common today. I wonder how many of the autoimmune diseases, digestive issues

Podcasting has Built Abundance in my life.  If you have a passion you want to share, podcasting might be something for you to consider too!  Today we’ll discuss how I podcast.  I’ll cover the equipment, the software, and the process that I use to get this information out to you on a daily basis.  I know I still have room for improvement in several areas, and I’m working on it, but this show should be more than enough to get you started down that road if podcasting is in your future. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show Topic and frequency Tools Microphone – I have the Blue Yeti Pro POP Filter Zoom H4N Digital Recorder XLR versus USB Connection Skype Headphone to ¼” audio jack Headphones – I have a really old pair, but it works fine.  Philips SBC HN110 noise cancelling. Good internet connection External Hard Drive Backup Hard Drive – on the way! Software Audacity – free for basic versions – that’s what I use ID3 Editor – manage your Metadata Media host – I use Blubrry.  www.blubrry.com  That’s where you load each .mp3 audio file for others to download.  They keep stats, backup your content, stay up and running virtually 24x7 Website – I use WordPress – free version – need to make some improvements to mine…I know! Web host – I use iPage – seems to be okay.  I also have my company e-mail address go through them.  Not happy with how it interacts with my iPhone, but no problem on iPad mini. Domain registration – got mine through Name.com – this seems to be a commodity.  They’ve been fine. Process Many, if not most, podcasters use an audio mixer.  I don’t.  Didn’t get one initially due to cost, and then figured out work-arounds that seem to work just fine.  Could probably save some time with one, but for now it’s not in the works. Still probably lots of room for improvement here Start with creating show notes.  I mostly just use bullets.  Occasionally have a set piece, but I think that sounds too mechanical. Start with recording directly into the Zoom H4N using XLR cables.  Used to go via USB into the MacBook Pro, but got background noise.  That was faster (edited as I went), but sound quality suffered.  Now record to

Seeds.  They are the beginning, or perhaps the continuation, of life on earth each and every cycle, whatever that cycle may be.  Whether plant or animal, seeds contain the DNA that is passed on from generation to generation.  So why don’t we know more about seeds?  Why don’t we have a stronger cultural appreciation of these tiny miracles? Today I am very excited to share a recent interview with Chris Smith, an extremely talented individual who has moved to America (via a circuitous route) from his original home in England.  Chris currently works at Sow True Seed in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.  Chris has a wonderful perspective on seeds and what they represent for us in modern society. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show English Weather Chris’ Story Open Pollinated versus heirloom seeds GMOs: Safe or sinister? Do we need GMOs to feed the world? Seed Microclimates Every gardener an evolutionary biologist Chris’ favorite seeds…it’s in the story Seeds’ place in the food cycle Pepper jam! Food swaps of the future Sow True Seed: Original GB Sponsor!  Visit www.sowtrueseed.com today!  Discount through Generation Builders’ membership program coming soon! Wrap Up Outro   Resources for Today’s Episode: The ORIGINAL supporter of Generations’ Bounty Podcast: http://www.sowtrueseed.com Chris Smith’s personal website and blog: https://blueandyellowmakes.wordpress.com

I met my wife Debra 20 years ago.  It’s gone by in a flash, but then again I can barely recall life before her.  This will not be an extended blog post.  This is strictly a podcast.  A podcast that’s dedicated to my lovely wife, my children, and all of our descendants throughout the ages. Although this podcast is directed to my family, I want to invite you all to listen in to a brief snapshot of some of the interesting highlights from our first two to three years together after we met.  Enjoy, and then go out and make a recording of YOUR story for YOUR family!  It will be worth it.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  We are about to enter a four-day weekend in the United States, and on this weekend I am thankful (in addition to other things and people, of course) for the leaves that are falling on my lawn, on my driveway, and in my flower beds (but not so much in my pool).  And that’s going to be the subject of today’s episode.  What are the best ways that we can use all of these leaves?  Tune in and find out. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show Possibly the best use ever: leaf piles to play in. Something alluring about them. Invite you to jump in. Another idea for a kid fort. Take some cardboard boxes, have the kids rake the leaves until the boxes are totally covered, except for the opening. Hours of fun for free, plus the raking gets done. After the fort is through, still many uses for those leaves. Leaf mold – just pile them up. Whole leaves. They form layers that over time get moldy. It’s okay – very nutrient rich. Three year cycle may be needed. Shredded leaf mulch – blower in reverse with attachment is easy way to catch them. Much smaller volume. 10 – 20% of the original. Can be used as rich mulch for flowerbeds, pots, and other areas. Mulched directly into grass with lawnmower. Possibly the easiest for lawn areas. Good for the lawn Compost – makes great compost. High carbon. Need to mix in some nitrogen (greens) for best compost. Can also throw in soil or finished compost to help it along. Storage for later when you have lots of ‘greens’ (nitrogen) but need more browns (carbon) for sheet mulching Insulation for potted plants overwinter. Leaves, then chicken wire or some other permeable material to keep them in place, then more leaves. Wrap Up Outro

Do you know how to change a flat tire?  Skin a deer?  How to get found if you’re lost (without a GPS)? We have become specialists to the point of ignorance and dependent on others for far too many things.  Get out there and learn new skills!  Today we’ll discuss Building Skills for Abundance in the latest installment of Generations’ Bounty Podcast. It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.  -Leonardo da Vinci Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Body of Show What kind of skills am I talking about? Homesteading skills – don’t need to live on a farm to use these Preparedness skills – preparedness for all kinds of scenarios including safety, food, water, energy, hygiene, financial Community building skills – One we skip over a lot. You can’t make it alone. Community is where we find our strength. Do you know your neighbors? Do you have the skill to pull a cul-de-sac, or a street, or a neighborhood together? What tools would you use? Permaculture skills – Lots of overlap, but goes beyond resilience to long term sustainability. Accumulation of skills is like compound interest; the more ‘connections’ you have the faster you can learn additional skills in the future, and over a wider range of activities. Example 1: Making mead. Uses the process of fermentation to turn honey (or other raw materials) into an alcoholic beverage. A tradition for thousands of years. Once you understand how fermentation works for mead, it gives you a head start on fermentation for other things such as food (sauerkraut, pickles, vegetables, cheese, yogurt) Example 2: Hiking. If you get lots of experience hiking then you have a big advantage to quickly learning survival skills, orienteering, and camping because you’ve lived through some of the experiences that cross over. You’ve had the sudden rush of adrenaline wondering for a moment (or possibly longer) if you’re lost. You’ve realized the importance of carrying a compass, of understanding how the sun travels across the sky (from our earthly perspective) at different times of the year, and possibly even how the stars, although always fixed relat

Video games are a complete waste of time.  Or are they?  I try to keep an open mind about things, and video games is a subject for which I have both fond memories and feelings of disgust.  People these days, and particularly children and teenagers, have many more opportunities available with video games than I did in my day.  This can be good, and this can be very, very bad.  Today I’ll discuss a particularly fun weekend I had with my son and whether or not video games can be a source of abundance in our lives. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Provide listeners with a way to support this show Discounts from companies that are consistent with the theme of this show Access to member only content Body of Show Video Games when I was growing up Atari: Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pacman, what are now considered ‘classics’ Nintendo came out: Legend of Zelda – this is the only one I remember because it’s the one I spent the most hours on PC games: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego. Used 5 1/4 “ floppy discs, until things go really advanced and we used 3 ½” floppies. What incredible technology. Graphics were rudimentary. Like watching the original Star Treks or the first Star Wars. Seems funny now. My growth process – grew out of them because I found things I’d rather be doing. Video games today PC, Xbox, Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii Some still look really simple but even then are much more complex: take Minecraft. Can learn from this! More complex: Laura Croft Tomb Raider, Forza Motorsport, FIFA Soccer. Graphics incredible! Looks very nearly real. When put up on a large TV or projector, very good visual and audio experience. The games that really make me fume: in-app purchases. You have an activity that tends to be addictive (video games) and it plays on this. Trade real money for fake money or goods. What a scam! Should these be regulated? NO. That’s for parents to deal with, not the government. This is how we spent most of the day on Sunday afternoon and evening My lessons learned We “Wasted” nearly an entire day, but was it a waste? I did almost nothing productive for most of the priorities in my life. Didn’t get fitter, didn’t make money to support my family, d

Have you ever pulled into the garage knowing that you didn’t have enough fuel to get to the gas station the next day?  Have you ever had a weed wacker or other two-stroke engine stop working on you?  Have you every been in a power outage and wished you had just a little electricity for lights or to recharge a phone? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then this episode is for you.  We’ll cover fuel storage fundamentals as well as how to utilize that fuel to save your lawn equipment and provide you with just a little bit of electricity when you need it most. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Website: www.GenerationsBounty.com Comments: email me at Tom.Johnson@GenerationsBounty.com Podcast found at Website, iTunes: (reviews!), and Stitcher. Listener Feedback line: 919-355-8730 Watch for Generation Builder membership program. Provide listeners with a way to support this show while offering discounts from companies so that you can come out ahead financially. Also will have access to member only content, including seeing in detail all the projects that I’ll have going on at my new suburban homestead. Body of Show Fuel Storage Containers. Plastic versus glass versus steel. Note about containers. Plastic is okay for small amounts of gas or gas/oil mix, but I don’t like to store larger quantities in them. In case of a fire, they’ll go up, where a high quality steel jerry can is much less likely to do so. Store in a shed if possible, on an outside wall of garage if not. Currently $55 to $75 on eBay. I found them over a year ago for about $40. Wait and watch. Get good quality, I recommend Wavian. Don’t forget a nozzle or two and extra gaskets that seal the interface between the can and the nozzle. Can also get a vehicle mount, but I’ve not put one on my vehicle. Fuel goes bad. Why? Lighter and/or less stable compounds evaporate; 2) oxidation; 3) contamination, often due to water condensing inside the container or tank. Additives. PRI-G versus Stabil. Rotation. How I use containers and rotate on a monthly basis. (Thank you Jack Spirko from http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com) Regular versus premium versus diesel. Use whatever you use in your vehicle. Diesel obviously can’t be used in a 2-cycle engine. Interchangability is key. How to extend the life of your 2-cycle engines Common causes of failure in 2 cycle engines Ignition: spark generator and spark plug – easy to test and easy to replace Fuel: carburetor, fi

I really enjoy looking through the Farmer’s Almanac.  And as I discovered recently, there is more than one option out there.  I actually found four different publishers of Farmer’s Almanacs, and all of them have generally the same feel.  Today I discuss what you can expect to find in a Farmer’s Almanac, and also which sections you might want to read with a grain of salt. Show Notes Intro Housekeeping Body of Show List of Almanacs Blum’s Farmer’s and Planter’s Almanac (www.blumsalmanac.com) Published since 1828 Farmer’s Almanac (www.farmersalmanac.com) Published annually since 1818 The Old Farmer’s Almanac (www.almanac.com) Founded in 1792 Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac (www.farmersalmanaconline.com) First published in 1692 Are their weather predictions accurate? Review by Joel Gratz, Meterologist, says no (http://opensnow.com/news/post/should-we-trust-the-farmer-s-almanac) Why we should still get one each year Weather predictions: Not so much Fishing: tide tables, fishing calendars (based on moon phases and other variables) Calendars with notable dates Astrology if you like that kind of thing – I’m not a fan…okay for entertainment Astronomical events: eclipses, bright stars, meteor showers, visible planets, moon phases December 14 brings us the Geminids meteor shower with an estimated 75 meteors per hour. What better reason to let your kids stay up late! Something they’ll remember forever, especially if you combine it with a campfire and smores beforehand. Just a couple of months ago, there was a complete eclipse of the moon, around 9pm, viewable from Eastern North America, among other places. Advertisers: typically your small, Mom & Pop advertisers. May find diamonds in the rough! Gardening and farming advice: garden planning, planting record, Spring and Fall frost dates, misc tips Five perennial vegetables: Asparagus, Good King Henry, Walking Onions, Sunchokes, and Rhubarb – I’ve talked about all of these on previous shows of this podcast! Incubation and gestation tables for lots of different animals Medicinals: Sassafras uses, folk remedies, Article “Eat Your Colors!” by Margaret Boyles from 2011 edition. - Old Farmer’s Almanac Cooking and recipes: Autumn Sauerkraut from Harris’ – great use for cabbage! And I love corned beef brisket. Great, hearty meal for a cold day. Other interesting tidbits: How monarch butterflies find their way during migration – Harris’ FA How to use pine