054 Digital Design Tools on the Homestead

July 22, 2015

...apf, proprietor of Zapf Architectural Renderings and the genius behind our chicken run. During the podcast we discuss: Why you should draw up plans before you build something Architectural Graphics Standards Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) technology John’s Cat Bed 7 (pictured above) Using pen and paper Making physical models Architectural scale and rulers Cinema 4-D Sketchup (a free and simple 3-D tool) Rhino Adobe Illustrator Thingiverse 3...

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FlicFloc Flak

Mr. Homegrown

January 26, 2015

Food, Wheat

11 Comments

...t, run through the FlicFloc. A cheap cracker is fine for cracking corn for chicken feed or making a course grind of rye for a Scandinavian style bread, but it does not make either flour or truly flaked grains. The FlicFloc flakes oats and cracks wheat and rye and it’s easy to clean. I’ve never regretted paying more for a tool that will last a lifetime. I have regretted, many times, buying cheap tools. The FlicFloc broke my Grape Nuts addiction. It...

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2015 Resolutions

Mrs. Homegrown

January 1, 2015

Thoughtstylings

23 Comments

...the last hours of 2014 I did manage to finish a cool hexagonal deck by the chicken coop. 2) Perfect a 100% whole grain sourdough bread Success! I can make a reliably good whole grain boule. Now I’ve got to write up the recipe! 3) Take a class —which involves a a trip Nope, unless going to the Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa counts. 4)Good health Success! Paying for a few sessions with my Y’s rehab specialist have paid off. Kelly’s 2014 resolutio...

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The Secret of Tidiness Revealed

Mr. Homegrown

December 14, 2016

Domesticus, Tidying up

18 Comments

...excuse for inaction by the generally idle members of the untidy tribe. The chicken and egg timing debate between clearing the deck and de-cluttering may be the only real nuance in my tidiness theory. I’ll concede that some measure of sending stuff to the thrift store first may be necessary for the more wayward members of the untidy tribe. What do you think? Tidy tribesters–are you laughing? Untidy tribesters–are you weeping/making excuses/confused...

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Why You Should Own an Impact Driver

Mr. Homegrown

September 25, 2017

Tools

7 Comments

...gift myself an impact driver sooner? A cousin to those “rat-tat-tat” noise-making impact wrenches found at the auto garage, an impact driver is mostly for driving home screws (or a rough hole in recalcitrant wood). An impact driver works like a normal drill up until the point it starts to encounter resistance. At that point an anvil engages to increase torque. It’s not to be confused with a hammer drill, used for drilling holes in concrete and mas...

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