Prepper Cat

October 10, 2012

I predict we might just have a new internet meme here: please say hello to Prepper Cat. The image comes from an outfit selling a “Cat Evacuation Kit.” Prepper Cat looks crabby enough to be on an episode of Doomsday Preppers.

I think it’s a good idea to have a pet evacuation plan. But Prepper Cat looks like he might just be a feline mall ninja.

Thanks to John Zapf for the link.

Urban Chickens and Lead

Mr. Homegrown

October 9, 2012

Chickens, Lead

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From the One More Thing To Worry About department, the New York Times has an article on lead levels in eggs laid by urban chickens “Worries About Lead for New York City’s Garden-Fresh Eggs.” According to the article, the lead levels found in New York City’s home grown eggs ranged from none to over a 100 parts per billion. Since the FDA does not have an acceptable lead level in eggs it’s difficult to interpret the results. And I have to wonder what unknown problems lurk in industrial eggs.

It’s a reminder that those of us who live in older cities and grow food need to confront the lead problem. Personally, I’d also like to see the Real Estate industry come clean on this issue beyond boiler plate disclosures buried in sales documents. But I’m not holding my breath.

Want to Make Bread? Get a Scale

Mr. Homegrown

October 8, 2012

Bread, Food, Tools

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Liquid measuring cup on left, dry on right. Get a scale for baking.

The current issue of Cooks Illustrated Magazine has an interesting test of the accuracy of liquid versus dry measuring cups. When measuring flour, the dry measuring cup was up to 13% off when compared to a scale. The liquid measuring cup was even worse–26% off. When baking bread, even 13% could be the difference between a decent loaf and a hockey puck.

Surprisingly, measuring water wasn’t much better, even with the liquid cup, which was 10% off. The dry measuring cup was 23% off when measuring water. I’ve always felt a bit silly scaling water, but now I can see its importance.

For bread baking, I’ve been using an electronic scale for many years now and have had reasonably consistent results. Scaling helps me be consistent. Now if only our kitchen didn’t swing between broiling hot and drafty…

Picture Sundays: Your Livestock Can Survive Fallout from Nuclear Attack

Mr. Homegrown

October 7, 2012

Picture Sundays

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The US Department of Agriculture published this handy pamplett circa 1962. The USDA’s main recommendation? Get yourself a “two-story, basement-type barn with a hay-filled loft, to “reduce radiation exposure [to your animals by] as much as 80 percent.”

Thanks to the interwebs you can download your own copy here.

And, something for the kids. There’s a film version–featuring marionettes!