Keep your compost pile churning all winter long. It can be a struggle to maintain your compost bin or pile over the winter. Whether you’re dealing with severe cold and/or heavy snow in northerly regions‚ excessive moisture in the Pacific Northwest‚ or desert conditions in the American Southwest‚ your compost pile may need a little extra help during the winter months. It’s worth it‚ though. By the time spring rolls around‚ you’ll be rich in black gold. There are two basic composting methods. With any waste material‚ microorganisms (aerobic bacteria) naturally work on decomposition‚ and you can speed that process along by doing things like maintaining the correct ratio of green to brown waste and turning the pile regularly. Vermicomposting relies on worms to eat organic matter and then cast (poop) rich soil as a byproduct. If you keep your organic waste on bare ground‚ your pile likely hosts both vermicomposting and composting processes.   Hot Composting As bacteria break down waste material‚ they generate heat. That heat is crucial for the bacteria to keep growing‚ multiplying‚ and just generally doing their job. While most people refer to this process simply as “composting‚” the more technical term is “thermophilic composting” or‚ more informally‚ “hot composting.” And “hot composting” it is: Compost piles can reach internal temperatures of 150℉! Get The All-Natural Fertilizer That Doubles Garden Production! Even though compost naturally generates heat‚ cold weather‚ of course‚ brings the temperature of the compost pile down. That affects the ability of the bacteria to do their job‚ particularly on the outside edges of the pile. If the temperatures dip too far — and especially if the compost isn’t tended to — microbial activity will cease completely. If you’re willing to wait for warmer spring temps for the decomposition to resume‚ then that’s not a big deal. But if you would prefer to keep generating compost over the winter months‚ there are a few ways to help your compost’s microorganisms chug along.   If You Build It Help your compost stay toasty by enclosing it with three walls and a roof. (Leave the south-facing side uncovered‚ so that it can absorb warmth from the sun.) This can be as easy or as complex as you make it. Stack cinder blocks or nail together scrap lumber for the walls. For the roof‚ you can just balance a loose piece of lumber on top or throw a tarp over the whole thing. Even easier: Buy a compost tumbler. Enclosing compost not only helps trap its heat‚ but also to moderate the effects of wind and excessive moisture. If your region experiences extreme cold‚ adding insulation is a good idea. Again‚ this does not have to be done at great cost or effort. Surround your enclosure with straw bales‚ line the walls with several layers of cardboard‚ or pile snow‚ straw‚ or leaves around it. Don’t forget to insulate the roof‚ as well.   Go Bigger The bigger your compost pile is‚ the more bacteria it will have‚ and the more heat it will generate. According to the University of Illinois Extension‚ compost piles that are at least one cubic yard in size will weather Midwestern American winters best.   Fuel Up Adding new waste material regularly is crucial — but you need to be careful about what kind of material you add and its size. Maintaining the ideal proportion of green to brown waste (a.k.a. the C:N ratio) is especially important in the winter‚ when we want our compost piles to work at maximum efficiency. Check this site for detailed information about the C:N ratio to shoot for depending on which brown waste you add. If you bag leaves in the fall with the intent of adding those to your compost over the winter‚ bring a bag inside overnight before dumping it in‚ so that the cold leaves don’t bring down the temperature of the pile. It’s also a good idea to shred waste before dumping it in. Waste that’s roughly two inches in size will break down more quickly‚ keeping heat levels consistently high.   Not too Wet‚ Not too Dry Ideally‚ compost should be just lightly moist. If it’s too wet‚ the bacteria can’t get the oxygen they need to survive. But if it’s too dry‚ the bacteria can’t do their job‚ either. If you live in an area that experiences heavy moisture in the winter‚ plan your compost enclosure accordingly: a South-facing opening so that the sun can warm and dry the waste; and a roof or other covering to keep moisture out. If your compost pile unexpectedly gets too wet‚ stirring it up with a pitchfork should help dry things out. Additionally‚ adding more brown waste will help soak up excess moisture. If you live in a desert area‚ keep your compost uncovered. Make a crater (or craters) in the top‚ to catch all the moisture you can. If worst comes to worst‚ you can always break out the hose.   Vermicomposting As might be expected‚ vermicomposting can be problematic during cold winter months. That said‚ a simple workaround is to keep your vermicompost bin indoors. If the thought of a bin full of worms under your kitchen sink grosses you out (and I’ll admit I’m in that camp)‚ the bin can be kept in an insulated garage or outbuilding‚ or elsewhere in your house‚ such as the basement or laundry room. Depending on your location‚ it may be possible to keep your vermicompost box outdoors during the winter. Keep in mind that the worms will die if they get either too cold or too hot. You’ll need to experiment to find a balance of insulating the bin enough to keep it warm‚ but not so much that the insulation along with the heat from the hot compost process plus any heat from the sun fries your worms. Do you keep your compost pile active all winter long? If so‚ share your tips and tricks in the comment section below. The post How To Keep Your Compost Pile Churning … All Winter Long appeared first on Off The Grid News.

Being the family medic off the grid or in survival scenarios isn’t always about treating bullet wounds. Mundane problems are also on the menu‚ and you better know how to treat them. In “normal” times‚ this is the time of year that kids return to school. Lots of children together in close quarters means you[Read More] The post Head Lice first appeared on .

Click the link below to use my code EFDPUWSTAR and get an extra $1‚000 off DELTA Pro Ultra and related bundles‚ valid until Feb 9. Now enjoy 6 months of interest-free payments &; 5-year installment plan offer. The Smart Home Panel 2 Installation Consulting Service ensures a hassle-free setup by tracking orders‚ managing fittings‚ and answering technical queries for TX/CA homeowners‚ valid until April 9. EcoFlow Website: https://www.ecoflow.com/us/delta-pro-ultra?utm_source=youtube&;utm_medium=kol&;utm_campaign=DPU_officialLaunch&;utm_content=wranglerstar Wranglerstar Amazon Affiliate Link to Delta Pro Ultra. Thank you for supporting our channel: https://amzn.to/497W47x Join EcoFlow Community for more information: https://bit.ly/3TbXKYT Join Wranglerstar‚ as he dives into an in-depth comparison between two powerhouse generators: the Honda 7000i Gas Generator and the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Solar System. Discover which generator stands out in the ultimate battle of gas vs. solar power. Honda 7000i Gas Generator: Pros: Renowned for its reliability and high power output‚ the Honda 7000i is a beast in the world of gas generators. It offers consistent energy supply‚ especially in areas where sunlight is limited‚ making it ideal for heavy-duty tasks. Cons: The dependency on fuel and its associated costs‚ along with environmental concerns‚ are notable drawbacks. Regular maintenance and noise levels are also factors to consider. EcoFlow DELTA Pro Solar System: Pros: The EcoFlow DELTA Pro shines with its eco-friendly energy generation. It's remarkably efficient‚ quiet‚ and perfect for environmentally conscious users. The flexibility and portability are big pluses‚ especially for off-grid living. Cons: Solar dependency means its efficiency can fluctuate with weather conditions. Also‚ the initial setup cost and the need for sunlight exposure are considerations for potential users. In this video‚ I‚ Wranglerstar‚ will walk you through each model's features‚ performance‚ and suitability for different scenarios. While both the Honda 7000i and the EcoFlow DELTA Pro have their distinct advantages and limitations‚ I conclude that having both could be the ultimate solution. They complement each other exceptionally well‚ covering a broad spectrum of energy needs and scenarios. Whether you're an off-grid living enthusiast‚ a professional needing reliable power‚ or someone preparing for emergencies‚ this video will guide you in choosing the right generator for your needs. Don't forget to like‚ share‚ and subscribe for more in-depth reviews and comparisons from Wranglerstar. Stay prepared‚ stay powered!

Prepare For The Long Run - Prices Are Crazy &; They're Never Going Back To What They Were! Visit My New Website at: https://www.thealaskaprepper.com/ Thank you for joining me today‚ Many Blessings to all of you and your Families. DISCLAIMER: This video description contains affiliate links‚ which means that if you decide to use a link to make a purchase‚ I'll receive a small commission. Genesis Gold Group: https://physicalgoldnow.com/ Phone Number: 1-800-200-4653 ITM TRADING: For U.S. residents looking to expand their Gold &; Silver buying knowledge. Schedule a FREE Wealth Protection Strategy Call With Lynette's Team at: https://calendly.com/itmtrading/ap or you can call 866-382-1472 OUPES - The Best Bang For Your Buck In The Solar Generator Industry: https://bit.ly/3QHLXNT - Use Code AlskaPrepper to save 5% OupesPowerfulMoment Link: https://oupes.com/pages/oupes-powerful-moments Oupes Help Link: https://oupes.com/pages/oupes-help NUTRIENT SURVIVAL - For The Best &; Most Nutritious Freeze Dried Food In The Market : https://alnk.to/7qeCARw - Use The Code AP10 For 10% OFF Your Order Beat ESG - Buy American When You Can: http://SwitchWithAP.com For American Made Water Filtration - U.S. Water Systems: https://www.uswatersystems.com/systems/reverse-osmosis For Water &; Air Filtration Visit SimPure &; Use Code: Alaska For 20% OFF: https://www.simpurelife.com/?utm_source=Youtube&;utm_medium=KOL&;utm_campaign=Alaska+Prepper HYBRIDLIGHT: USE CODE ALASKA20 FOR 20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE ALWAYS: http://hybridlight.com/ Shed Knives: 100% USA Made Knives: https://shedknives.com/ BougeRV: https://www.bougerv.com/?aff=44 AMAZON STOREFRONT; ALSO WORKS FOR REGULAR SHOPPING: https://www.amazon.com/shop/alaskaprepper “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” FOR EMERGENCY MEDICINES &; ANTIBIOTICS - Contingency Medical: https://contingencymedical.com/?ref=93 - Use Code: AKPREP10 FOR $10 OFF YOUR ORDER EuyBike E-BIKE: https://euybike.com/?ref=24gu73qn FORJARS IN USA: https://forjars.co/?sca_ref=1967754.kPARKEjTxa FORJARS IN CANADA: https://forjars.ca?sca_ref=3168618.jHWMrtfFDL USE CODE: ALASKA10 For 10% Off DISCLAIMER: This video description contains affiliate links‚ which means that if you decide to use a link to make a purchase‚ I'll receive a small commission. SD Bullion Precious Metals: http://sdbullion.com/ap ITM TRADING: For U.S. residents looking to expand their Gold &; Silver buying knowledge. Schedule a FREE Wealth Protection Strategy Call With Lynette's Team at ITM Trading at https://calendly.com/itmtrading/ap or call 866-382-1472. Whether you have $5‚000 or $5M to protect‚ they can help you. With rising inflation‚ money sitting in cash or tied up in the markets (aka the system) is all at risk. If you have questions‚ they can answer all of them with data to support them. They can explain everything to you in layman's terms‚ including exactly what's involved with a custom Gold &; Silver strategy and plan. Become a MBR of The "Ladies &; Gentlemen" Club‚ Click The Link Below or JOIN button above: https://bit.ly/3AxlbyC NEW EMAIL ACCOUNT FOR INTEL ONLY: akprepperintel@gmail.com Alaska Prepper P.O. Box 10464 Fairbanks‚ AK 99710 DISCLAIMER: ANYTHING THAT I SHOW‚ DISCUSS‚ AND OR SHOWCASE ON THIS CHANNEL IS WHAT I DO AND HOW I DO OR FEEL ABOUT THINGS. YOU MUST REMEMBER TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF IF WHAT YOU SEE OR HEAR ON THIS PLATFORM IS RIGHT FOR YOU AS ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. I AM NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISER‚ DOCTOR‚ ENGINEER‚ OR A PROFESSIONAL OF ANY KIND. ALL I OFFER ARE IDEAS THAT YOU CAN DRAW FROM AND A BIT OF ENTERTAINMENT. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.

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There are many different ways to get to Mars‚ but there are always tradeoffs. Chemical propulsion‚ proven the most popular‚ can quickly get a spacecraft to the red planet. But they come at a high cost of bringing their fuel‚ thereby increasing the mission’s overall cost. Alternative propulsion technologies have been gaining traction in several deep space applications. Now‚ a team of scientists from Spain has preliminary studied what it would take to send a probe to Mars using entirely electric propulsion once it leaves Earth. Electric propulsion systems have several advantages over chemical rockets. While they will never be able to be scaled up enough to lift anything heavy into orbit‚ once in space‚ they are extraordinarily efficient at moving payloads where they need to go. While a typical chemical rocket requires 70-90% of its launch mass to be used as fuel‚ an electric propulsion system can get by with just 10-40% of its launch mass as fuel. The tradeoff to be made is in thrust. Electric propulsion systems typically have a thrust at least four orders of magnitude smaller than that created by chemical rockets. Meanwhile‚ in space‚ its significant impact is that electric propulsion systems are much slower. But that might not be as much of a concern for uncrewed missions. Fraser describes the underlying mechanics of an ion engine. So far‚ no one has spent the time to consider just how much difference there would be between a Mars mission driven by electric rather than chemical propulsion. The closest study was one drawn up for a visit to Mars’ moons – Phobos and Deimos – that relied entirely on electric propulsion. In that study‚ the researchers found that the chemical propulsion option would require 2.5 times as much mass as the electric propulsion option. That would significantly decrease the overall cost of the mission. In this new study‚ the researchers focused on a trajectory that would place a 2000 kg spacecraft into a polar orbit around Mars between 300 km and 1000 km. The 2000 kg weight limit was selected as a package that could contain equivalent scientific packages to the ExoMars orbiter that ESA worked on. With those mission constraints‚ the researchers considered several different types of electric propulsion systems. They came up with an additional requirement – it must operate at the upper thrust range of many electric propulsion systems. A thrust of .1 N is the minimum required to enter into orbit around Mars successfully. Electric Drives can be used for some pretty incredible thing‚ as described in this video with Dr. Sonny White. This constraint led to the selection of the BHT-6000 as the mission’s primary propulsion system. It’s a Hall Effect thruster that operates with between 2 and 6kW of power and can use relatively common electrical propulsion propellants such as Xenon and Krypton. With this selection of propulsion‚ it was time to get to every astrodynamist’s favorite activity – modeling. The researchers used a multi-body model to map out the gravitational impact of their selected trajectory. Then‚ they ran simulations of a mission with a standard chemical propellant and the BHT-6000. What they found seemed in line with general expectations of the advantages of electric propulsion. In terms of speed‚ the chemical rocket was faster‚ but not egregiously so. A chemical rocket could make the journey in a little under a year‚ while a BHT-6000-powered mission would take approximately 3.2 years from launch. However‚ the weight of the chemical propulsion system would be 2.4 times that of the electric propulsion system. Even at a relatively conservative launch cost of $10‚000 / kg‚ that would put the cost saving of an electric propulsion system at almost $30 million over the chemical alternative. All at the cost of a few more years of travel time to get the mission on station. That is a tradeoff many space exploration agencies would gladly pay due to constrained budgets. But‚ so far‚ this is only a model as there is no planned deep space mission that would use this electric propulsion method as its primary propulsion system‚ though a few deep space missions‚ such as Hayabusa-2‚ already have. As the technology advances‚ though‚ it’s becoming more and more likely that future deep space missions‚ especially unmanned ones‚ will go to Mars. Learn More:Casanova-Álvarez‚ Navarro-Medina‚ &; Tommasin – Feasibility study of a Solar Electric Propulsion mission to MarsUT – The Most Powerful Ion Engine Ever Built Passes the TestUT – Magnetic Fusion Plasma Engines Could Carry us Across the Solar System and Into Interstellar SpaceUT – NASA Selects Aerojet Rocketdyne to Develop Solar Electric Propulsion for Deep Space Missions Lead Image:Artist’s impression of a solar electric propulsion systemCredit – NASA The post Solar Electric Propulsion Systems are Just What we Need for Efficient Trips to Mars appeared first on Universe Today.

Before planets form around a young star‚ the protosolar disk is populated with innumerable planetesimals. Over time‚ these planetesimals combine to form planets‚ and the core accretion theory explains how that happens. But before there are planets‚ the disk full of planetesimals is a messy place. The history of rocky objects smashing into each other is written in the craters scarring the surfaces of the planets and moons. But that’s the macro scale of the history. There’s more to planetesimals than their eventual accretion into planets. New research shows that these small bodies are subject to headwinds made of gas and particles in the protosolar disk that can strike them and throw rocky debris out into space. This is a new wrinkle in our understanding of how rocky planets form. (A note on terminology: a protosolar disk is the disk of gas and dust that exists while the star at the center is forming. A protoplanetary disk is the same disk after the star has formed but while planets are still forming.) The study is “Wind erosion and transport on planetesimals.” It’s published in the journal Icarus‚ and the lead author is Alice Quillen‚ Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Rochester. The new study concerns planetesimals between 10 and 100 km in diameter embedded in the protosolar nebula. In these nebulae‚ the stars are not really stars yet. They’re young stellar objects that don’t undergo any nuclear fusion. So it’s not stellar winds that strike them; it’s the headwinds in the nebula itself. Those headwinds are made of the gas and dust in the disk and arise from the difference in velocity between the material in the disk and the planetesimal. Temperature and pressure differences in different regions of the protosolar disk also contribute. A protosolar disk is a disk of material around a young stellar object that isn’t yet a star. It’s called a protoplanetary disk once the star has formed and begun fusion. Planetesimals are the building blocks of planets and are present in both stages of a disk’s evolution. Image Credit: NASA/JPL “We consider the possibility that aeolian (windblown) processes occur on small‚ 1 to 100 km diameter‚ planetesimals when they were embedded in the protosolar nebula‚” the authors write. Planetesimals form via cohesion. As small particles collide with each other in the protosolar nebula‚ they stick together. But a young nebula is a chaotic‚ messy place. There are collisions which can either add more material to the planetesimals or remove material. Particles and gas can exchange angular momentum‚ and there’s also gas pressure. There’s a lot going on during this stage‚ which can last several million years. Over time‚ enough particles stick together that a planetesimal takes shape. But there’s gas pressure in the young disk‚ and as a planetesimal moves through it‚ it experiences it as a headwind full of particles. That headwind is strong enough to overcome the planetesimal’s surface cohesion. “Aeolian (wind-driven) particle transport has occurred on many bodies in the Solar system‚ including Earth‚ Mars‚ Venus‚ Triton‚ Titan‚ Pluto‚ Io‚ and comet 67P/ChuryumovGerasimenko‚” the authors write. “The ubiquity of aeolian processes in the Solar system suggests that planetesimal surfaces can be modified by protostellar-disk headwinds and the particles within them.” According to the authors‚ the headwind in a protostellar disk is powerful enough to loft cm and smaller-sized particles off of planetesimals. This can happen on a planetesimal with a 10 km diameter in the inner Solar System. Beyond that‚ in the outer Solar System‚ something different happens. Particles in the headwinds strike the planetesimals and remove micron-sized particles from the surface. These particles can be thrown into space or distributed back onto the surface of the planetesimal. For planetesimals below about 6 km in diameter‚ erosion from particles in the headwind creates mass loss rather than accretion. Factors like wind velocity‚ headwind particle size‚ and material size affect the overall process. The authors point to Arrokoth‚ a well-known Kuiper Belt Object‚ as an example. It’s a trans-Neptunian object that probably formed in the outer Solar System. It was likely created when two objects collided at a relatively low velocity. “Amongst Arrokoth’s most striking features are the smooth and undulating terrain present on its larger lobe (or head)‚ also called Wenu‚” the authors write. Arrokoth is not only a trans-Neptunian object; it’s a Jupiter family comet. These comets began as Kuiper Belt Objects but were pulled into the inner Solar System by the gravity of the large gas giants. While other Jupiter family comets have cliffs‚ perched boulders‚ and chasms on their surfaces‚ Arrokoth’s surface is strangely smooth in comparison. Evidence shows that Arrokoth formed when the disk around the young stellar object that would become the Sun was optically thick. So its surface was unaffected by the luminosity coming from the young Sun. That indicates that another process shaped its surface. “Winds from a protostellar disk could account for Kuiper Belt Object (486958) Arrokoth’s smooth undulating terrain‚” they write‚ but only when there were a lot of particles and only when their velocity was low. This composite image of the Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69 (Arrokoth) came from data obtained by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it flew by the object on Jan. 1‚ 2019. The authors of the new paper say that the headwind in the protosolar nebula could be responsible for Arrokoth’s smooth‚ undulating terrain. Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute//Roman Tkachenko This research is extremely detailed. But overall‚ it shows that aeolian processes can alter the surfaces of planetesimals and play a role in the planet formation process. There are many variables involved‚ like headwind velocity‚ gas pressure‚ particle size‚ and planetesimal velocity. Sometimes‚ the particles are removed from the planetesimal; sometimes‚ they splash back onto the surface. The main variable is distance from the protostar. It plays a big role in the process. “The erosion or accretion rates are higher in the inner solar system where the density of the disk is higher‚” the authors write. “Interactions between particle-rich headwinds and planetesimals are likely to cause a variety of interesting phenomena which could be the focus of future studies‚” the authors conclude. The post Planetesimals Are Buffeted by Wind in their Nebula‚ Throwing Debris into Space appeared first on Universe Today.

Things are really ramping up in The Last of Us’s world. Just days ago‚ news broke that Kaitlyn Dever is officially playing Abby in the second season of the videogame adaptation. And now two more characters have been cast: Young Mazino (Beef) as Jesse‚ and Isabela Merced (Madame Web) as Dina—who plays a central role‚ especially for Ellie (Bella Ramsey) According to Variety‚ Dina is “a free-wheeling spirit whose devotion to Ellie will be tested by the brutality of the world they inhabit.” Series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann say she’s “warm‚ brilliant‚ wild‚ funny‚ moral‚ dangerous and instantly lovable‚” which is quite a combination. But game players know what these sentences aren’t quite saying‚ and just how important she is to Ellie. Merced’s film credits include Transformers: The Last Knight‚ but her most visible roles are yet to come: She’s Anya Corazon in Madame Web‚ above‚ and will be Superman: Legacy‘s Hawkgirl. As for Jesse‚ he’s “a pillar of his community who puts everyone else’s needs before his own‚ sometimes at terrible cost‚” according to Variety. Mazino is currently an Emmy nominee for his work on the miniseries Beef‚ in which he plays the younger brother of Steven Yuen’s character. The Last of Us is created and showrun by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. The second season begins production next month.