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Before you run to the pharmacy, try this safe and effective summer allergy sinus solution.

With early summer allergies on the rise, lots of folks are looking for a summer allergy sinus solution to clear up the sinuses and get breathing again. So once you begin to notice mucus is starting to build up in your sinuses, consider a simple method called “nasal irrigation.” Some of our readers know this, but its always good to have a reminder when the seasons change. It’s usually enough to deliver much-needed relief and in many cases the relief is rapid.

Our Natural Filtering System

First, it’s important to understand that your nostrils are a necessary filtering system. Our filtering system removes smoke, dust, and other irritants. However, they also warm and humidify the air you breathe. When your nostrils start to become irritated or “blocked” and you begin to breathe through the mouth, you put a lot of unnecessary stress on both your bronchial tubes as well as your lungs. Try this procedure for an early summer allergy solution.

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Proper Sinus Irrigation

OK, To irrigate your nostrils, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 16 oz of warm water. A small amount of this can be placed in a small plastic inhaler jar and gently used as you would any inhaling mist to clear the nostrils. Summer allergies affect so many people and this irrigation method will definitely give you some sinus relief.

If you have an inhaler, pour the entire 16 ounces of mixture into a fairly wide bowl. While bending forward, block one of your nostrils and set another below the water surface in the bowl. Very carefully, take the water into the nostril until it’s possible to taste the salty solution in the back of your throat. Once your can taste it… blow it back out. (the fun part, right?) Repeat this process a few times with both nostrils for great sinus pressure relief or early summer allergy sinus solution.

In addition , you might try some horseradish. I use it all the time in combination with nasal irrigation.

Natural Summer Allergy Solution

So before you go to the pharmacy to pick up your favorite nasal spray, give this a try. If you’re like me every time you use the over the counter stuff like Afrin, you get rebound addition or whatever its called from using too much. Truth is, sometimes I feel worse from using the over the counter spray than I do from the allergy.

Anyone else have any off-the-grid summer allergy solutions?

The post Stuffed Up Already? Try This Summer Allergy Sinus Solution appeared first on Off The Grid News.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

Having reliable guns to choose from is important when it comes to protecting your family.

Let’s imagine for a moment that the world of tax-funded public safety and well-stocked grocery stores are a thing of the past. Then you, perhaps with a handful of family and friends, must fend for yourself in a tough and hostile environment. Among the considerations for survival are, of course, firearms. Which would you choose?

The most critical consideration for firearms in this scenario would be reliability. Does it go “bang” with every trigger press? Does it cycle the widest possible spectrum of ammo available in that caliber? Is it simple to maintain? What ammunition is likely to be found in the area? It’s a given that one of each major civilian classification of firearms will be needed—a handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun. Our task here is to pick an ideal group of five.

THE TOP THREE RELIABLE GUNS

Handgun

The Glock 17/19 has a long track record of reliability and the other criteria here. While Glock offers a wide variety of calibers and models, the 9mm is a commonly available cartridge worldwide, and less pricey. Like the AR-15, parts are currently ubiquitous, and many are interchangeable between models/calibers.

As a true admirer of the 1911, it’s hard to think of turning my back on that old standby. Indeed, it’s more accurate. But it falls behind, quickly, where ease-of-maintenance and magazine capacity are concerned. Newer models are, in my experience, less reliable than Colt originals

Concealability, which may or may not be a consideration in this scenario, isn’t easy with the G17 but the Glock 19 can bridge this gap effectively.

Carbine

A carbine, with its shorter barrel, offers ease of maneuverability as well as the capability of reaching out to larger game, within limited range, to provide for food. Larger capacity magazines and quick reloading capability may be necessary to defend against attackers of the two-legged variety.

My choice for a long-term carbine partner is the AR-15. The platform is proven as reliable, and most owners have accumulated a supply of spare parts. Ammunition and magazines as of this writing are readily available, but that can change on a moment’s notice, of course!

The .223/.556 cartridge is admittedly not the most ideal for down-range energy. Thanks to the other virtues named here, though, it garners top billing on the list. I have personally taken deer-sized game with the .223/.556.

Shotgun

This was the easiest choice for a reliable gun. A shotgun in general has nearly endless applications based on the variety of loads available. This is especially true if one has reloading equipment. The Remington 870 pump action, chambered in 12-gauge, has endured as one of the most reliable guns in history. It’s inexpensive, made for utility, and rugged. Semi-auto shotguns abound on the market today, but none have the track record of reliability and simplicity as does the 870. The gauge selection is due to the wide range of loads available in 12-gauge.

The Mossberg 500 was a close runner-up, but the 870 edged it out thanks to personal experience both in the field and in law enforcement. It’s capable of earning its keep by obtaining large and small game and is an effective defense weapon.

Traditional hunting models are probably the most common 870s in civilian homes. The police model, with its shorter 18-inch barrel and larger magazine capacity, offers more practicality. Either one will serve the owner well, with greater reliability than most semi-auto shotguns. I have taken everything from birds to varmints to big game with a 12-gauge 870. Not to mention the shotgun is an effective deterrent against two legged pests.

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TWO MORE OPTIONS

Now imagine for a moment that we have the luxury of two other guns at our disposal. To me, the ideal ones are—

A Bolt-Action Rifle

As with the AR-15, the brand and model are less important as there are many choices of this reliable gun, with legendary track records. It’s comforting to know that, with the assistance of an optic, the little arsenal includes something that can be effective and at long distances for most game and any precision shooting needs. The ideal caliber could be the .270, .308 or 30-06, all of which are more or less commonly available. All can effectively take any game in North America and, of course, provide greater long-range precision capabilities.

Rate of fire and weight are potential drawbacks with this firearm. In comparison to others here, this platform requires greater knowledge and time investment on the part of the operator to accomplish the long-range feats it’s capable of.

A .22 Rimfire

There’ll be plenty of nay-sayers for this cartridge as a final choice, but the .22 has been a reliable ballistic tool of choice for hunters, assassins, farmers and housewives for over a century. It’s eliminated countless barnyard varmints and more good and bad guys than I care to count. If we as consumers discount the memory of the days when .22 was three cents per round, the cost and availability factors aren’t as dire as it once was just a mere year ago.

Notice there’s no make and model named in the subheading—that’s a reflection of how difficult it is to choose among the many candidates. In the end, utility is king. Some of my favorites are the Ruger 10-22 Takedown, Ruger 22 Bearcat and S&W Model 17 Revolvers or the KelTec PMR and CMR 30 in 22 Magnum (if you have a good supply of 22 mag ammo). Choices in this category are endless and should boil down to what you have experience and confidence in. Another consideration: 500 rounds of .22 is portable in comparison to the same amount in other calibers.

Many will likely argue that a .22 rifle is preferable to a .22 handgun. And I’d not argue back much, especially when discussing a firearm for a beginner to use effectively. In a world where the return on investment of both resources and calories may be critical, perhaps a .22 should be at the top of this list of reliable guns.

Bottom line: I want a “survival” gun that is reliable, simple to operate (including maintenance issues), in a caliber that ammunition can easily been obtained and that I have confidence and ability with. The picks listed here are one person’s opinion … but the choices are endless.

What would you put on your list? Share your thoughts in the section below:

The post Five Reliable Guns You Might Consider During Trying Times appeared first on Off The Grid News.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

There are several grass clipping uses that actually improve your soil.

People that have lawns both small and big can understand how much of a chore cutting the grass can be. But even worse – what do you do in all the grass clippings once you’ve finished mowing? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that yard waste is the reason for 18% of the refuse that individuals dump into landfills – rising to 50% during the growing season!

Approximately 75% of this waste comprises grass clippings with the remainder being tree leaves and limbs. Given that landfills are starting to be in want of space and many have banned grass clippings anyway. So isn’t it about time that we put our grass clippings to a positive use? Allow me to share some grass clipping uses that you probably never would have imagined:

1. Mulching

Mulch is the term used to describe any form of material that someone spreads on the soil as a covering. Organic mulches serve to retain moisture, suppress weeds, render the ground cool and enhance its fertility. Grass clippings, make an excellent organic mulch which has high amounts of nitrogen, something all plants would need to grow and flourish. Install a quarter-inch thick layer of fresh, grass clippings around flowers and flower beds. This acts as a obtain free, organic mulch. If it’s thicker than that, the grass won’t be able to digest fast enough and may even proceed to smell as it decomposes. Dried clippings – which serve as a perfect mulch for vegetable crops – can very well be spread on thicker than a fourth of an inch.

2. Raised Beds

Raised bed gardening is among the most proven methods to try in your garden! In case you maintain a container garden or raised beds, you’ll be excited to hear that they are actually an easy way to dispose of your excess grass clippings. To enhance soil quality and boost your yield, consider utilizing the Lasagna Method of soil mixing. It involves creating several layers of fabric to fill the bed and nourish your plants. In the lower regions of the beds, layer one part grass clippings with two parts shredded leaves. This mixture will slowly compost with time into fertile soil. The clippings really should be layered thinly to avoid matting. Once the beds are almost full (within six to 12 inches from the original top), put in a compostable barrier. Use things like cardboard and fill the rest with each of your chosen soil mixes.

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3. Animal Food

Grass clippings can be utilized to make fodder for cattle feed. Some tests have concluded that silage constructed from recent clippings contains a protein content of 18.2%, along with a digestible matter content of 68% – significantly superior in comparison to hay, which generally averages a digestible matter content of about 59%. Alongside feeding cattle, grass clippings might be a viable supplementary source of food for sheep. The end product from several studies indicates that you can use grass clippings as an inexpensive, renewable feed source for all of your animals. Even if you don’t have animals, check if your neighbors have an interest in using your grass clippings. Remember: never use clippings from grass which has been chemically treated to feed live animals.

4. Lawn Clipping Tea

Making a compost tea out of your compost pile and your compostable items is an excellent strategy to suppress disease, amplify the variety of nutrients now available to plants, speed up the breakdown of toxins, and enhance the nutritional content and taste of vegetables. To brew a lawn clipping tea, place your freshly cut grass in a bucket of water and enable it to steep. Beneficial nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous, chlorophyll and amino acids will leach from the grass directly into the water. After about two weeks, strain the liquid and use this tea to feed your plants by pouring on their roots or spraying toward their leaves.

5. Composting

Supposing you don’t want to leave them laying on the lawn, one of the most natural tactics is to put grass clippings to good use within your garden by composting them. Once you prepare the clippings in the right manner, you can then recycle the nutrients from grass into other sections of your garden. A suitable compost pile needs a mixture of green and brown materials. Freshly cut grass, which many people have touted as ‘green,’ consequently would need to be balanced out through the addition of brown material, like dry leaves, branches, twigs or paper. When adding fresh grass clippings, remember to turn the grass straight into the pile to increase aeration and prohibit compaction. Alternatively, it’s possible to leave your grass clippings to change color and dry out on their own. In this way, they can eventually serve as brown material in a natural manner!

6. Recycling

If you’re producing more grass clippings than you can use, the best possible option is usually to bring unwanted clippings to your local recycling center. This facility can dispose of them in an environmentally clean and efficient manner.

7. One More Just For Fun: Natural Easter Egg Dye

Grass clippings can produce a fantastic, natural green dye color for Easter eggs. You will also find out that it is considered an organic fabric dye! So save some for next Easter.

Avoid Burning Your Grass Clippings

In addition to the fact that the law prohibits burning of grass clippings or leaves in plenty of states and countries. Unfortunately, burning wet grass clippings and green materials creates a thick smoke.

This smoke can easily be harmful to health and, of course, the environment. Thus, researchers with the Agricultural Research Service in Albany, California have discovered an alternative method to turn ordinary grass clippings into environmental fireplace logs that might be on sale in the future, so keep your eyes peeled!

The post Great Summertime “Off-The-Grid” Grass Clipping Uses appeared first on Off The Grid News.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here

You can attract bees who will eagerly pollinate your plants and help create a beautiful and bountiful harvest.

If you have ever had trouble growing certain vegetables like cucumbers in your garden, it may not be the soil that is the problem. It is more than likely that you don’t have a good way to attract bees. Throw away the notion that bees are nasty, stinging critters. They are actually quite passive by nature and only sting in defense, when stepped on or threatened.

Bees, pollinating and good harvests all go hand-in-hand. One out of three bites of food depends on a pollinator (Creatures that move pollen from one plant to another, helping the plants create fruit or seeds. Bees are great pollinators.) Livestock also need pollinators for their food, as well as cotton and other fiber-producing plants. In total, 150 crops in the U.S. alone need pollinators. Those crops include apples, blueberries, melons, almonds, pears and citrus.

Bees tend to stay in an area if there is a constant source of food. You can make your garden a veritable buffet for these little friends. In turn, they will pollinate your vegetable plants.

How can we encourage bees to come to our gardens? Here are a few simple ideas to make our gardening season more productive and help bees at the same time.

1. Grow Diverse Plants –

Plant a variety of plants with either successive or long-blooming cycles. This will not only help bees, but it will look good, too. You will want flowers blooming from spring to fall, so use plants of different heights, shapes, sizes and species. Although you want vegetables to grow, you also will need flowers to encourage more bees to come. Wide flowers like daisies, coneflowers and sunflowers are good ideas.

Natural Fertilizer Doubles Garden Production

2. Avoid Pesticides –

It is best to avoid all pesticides, even organic ones. They are still toxic to bees. Use non-toxic weed and bug controls such as manual removal. Do not use pesticides on open flowers or on bright sunny days when bees are around. The chemicals will sink into the ground and stick to plants. When bees land on the flowers, the chemicals will stick to them, too. If you need to spray, do so after dusk when pollinators are least active and the flowers have gone.

3. Plant Color –

Bees are most attracted to blue, yellow and purple blossoms. By planting flowers and vegetables that bloom in those colors, you can greatly increase the chances of bees visiting. You don’t have to plant flowers among your vegetables. You can plant a three foot by three foot area of flowers by, or around, your vegetable garden. This will get the attention of bees as well.

You don’t need a hive, but some sort of shelter will encourage bees to stay.

4. Provide Shelter –

You don’t need a hive, but some sort of shelter will encourage bees to stay. With the right materials, they will build themselves a home. Bumble bees dig little tunnels in dirt and stack them with pollen. Other types of bees use cracks in wood or branches. If you want bees to come, avoid covers or mulch, as it prevents bees from making a home. Try leaving a portion of the garden bed with no mulch, as the bees will go there to make homes and go through the vegetable garden for food. You can also let the yard become a little wild. Leave a small area unmowed, have a little bush pile and a bare patch of dirt.

5. Provide A Water Source –

That’s right, bees need a drink of water once in a while. Provide them with a bird bath with stones for them to land on, or a small waterfall with rocks, a shallow pool, or a hose as a water source. Freshly watered potted plants (especially those potted plants using peat soil) tend to be a favorite drinking and resting spot for bees. Place the water near the garden.

6. Use Plants That Attract Bees –

There are many plants that have both beautiful flowers and are tasty, too. The following plants will grow throughout the garden season: basil, thyme, watermelon, oregano, chives, pumpkins, mints, sage, berries, cucumbers, squash and tomatoes, among others.

7. Let Plants Flower –

To encourage bees, leave the flowers on the plants. You can deadhead them so the bees can still get the nectar. When growing vegetables such as broccoli, you can harvest but still leave the plant whole. When you are done with it, let it flower for the bees.

8. Don’t Fear Weeds –

Clovers, dandelions, milkweed, goldenrod and other flowering weeds are incredibly important to bees. By letting these weeds grow in or near your yard, you will be creating a safe place for bees right near your garden.

By planting even one patch of native wildflowers or flowering vegetables and herbs, you can attract bees who will eagerly pollinate your plants and help create a beautiful and bountiful harvest. Ultimately, you are building a safe haven for bees so they can help us create the wonderful and healthy vegetables we love.

You may also enjoy reading an additional Off The Grid News article: Honey Bees Dying? You Can Help By Starting Your Own Hive

Every Year Gardeners Make This Crazy Mistake. Read More Here.

What are other ways you attract bees to your garden? Share your tips in the section below:

The post Attract Bees To Your Garden In These Eight Easy And Simple Ways appeared first on Off The Grid News.

This article first appeared on offthegridnews.com See it here