theheartysoul--2020-05-21--This Company Turned Shipping Containers into Micro Apartments

For many years , travel , whether for business or pleasure , has often involved small , less-than-comfortable hotel rooms with dark , stuffy hallways .
Over the last couple of decades , however , travelers have begun to demand better , and have looked for alternative places to stay while they ’ re away from home .
One company has seen the need for better travel accommodation and has stepped forward with an inventive solution .
Containerwerk is a building startup in Germany that has turned old shipping containers into 21 tiny apartments called My Home for visitors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each apartment is made of three containers that have been arranged together and covered in timber [ 1 ] .
Each of these small apartments feature 26 square meters of space , a kitchenette , a dining table , a bed , and a television .
A separate container houses a bathroom and a shower .
Floor-to-ceiling glazed windows bring plenty of light into the small space , and the white walls , wooden furniture , and grey upholstery brighten up the entire room .
The trendy containers were developed by Nicolas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ von Knobelsdorff and Clemens Müller , with the goal of creating a sustainable alternative to hotels .
Von Knobelsdorff added that the entire project is sustainable , and the use of decommissioned freight containers is taking advantage of a valuable resource that would have otherwise been scrapped [ 1 ] .
Read : Affordable Solar Homes Produce as Much Energy as They Use National Geographic conducted a survey of 3500 US adults that determined there is a strong support for sustainable travel .
They found , however , that most of these people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel actually means .
National Geographic Expeditions ’ sustainability director , O ’ Shannon Burns , says that the best properties in the world are built with a mission to protect the people who live in that area , as well as the environment .
Travelers who stay in places that directly support these communities have a better experience and come away wanting to do more to help [ 2 ] .
Most of us love traveling , but we know that it can have a negative impact on the planet .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airlines , and accommodations are taking steps toward becoming more sustainable and reducing their environmental impact .
Many hotels around the world are working to conserve energy and water by installing low-flow faucets , using more energy-efficient lightbulbs , and introducing linen resume programs to reduce washing .
Some hotels and resorts are also revamping their recycling programs to be more effective , and are switching their bathroom amenities , cleaning products , and even room keys to more environmentally-friendly alternatives [ 3 ] .
The website ecobnb.com also contains a large database @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you can search tool to find an eco-friendly hotel or BnB wherever you are traveling to .

For many years, travel, whether for business or pleasure, has often involved small, less-than-comfortable hotel rooms with dark, stuffy hallways. Over the last couple of decades, however, travelers have begun to demand better, and have looked for alternative places to stay while they’re away from home. Shipping container homes are one of those alternatives.
One company has seen the need for better travel accommodation and has stepped forward with an inventive solution.
Shipping Container Homes
Containerwerk is a building startup in Germany that has turned old shipping containers into 21 tiny apartments called My Home for visitors who are in town for business or leisure. Each apartment is made of three containers that have been arranged together and covered in timber [1].
Each of these small apartments feature 26 square meters of space, a kitchenette, a dining table, a bed, and a television. A separate container houses a bathroom and a shower. Floor-to-ceiling glazed windows bring plenty of light into the small space, and the white walls, wooden furniture, and grey upholstery brighten up the entire room.
The trendy containers were developed by Nicolas de Fejer along with his partners Felix von Knobelsdorff and Clemens Müller, with the goal of creating a sustainable alternative to hotels.
“We all travel a lot on business and are fed up with the dark, stuffy corridors and restrictive rooms typical of many hotels,” said Müller [1].
Von Knobelsdorff added that the entire project is sustainable, and the use of decommissioned freight containers is taking advantage of a valuable resource that would have otherwise been scrapped [1].
Read: Affordable Solar Homes Produce as Much Energy as They Use
The Demand for Eco-Friendly Travel
National Geographic conducted a survey of 3500 US adults that determined there is a strong support for sustainable travel. They found, however, that most of these people were not really familiar with what sustainable travel actually means.
“One of the reasons we embarked on this study was to have a better understanding of what consumers really want and what sorts of sustainability practices matter to them,” says Gary Knell, chairman of National Geographic Partners [2].
National Geographic Expeditions’ sustainability director, O’Shannon Burns, says that the best properties in the world are built with a mission to protect the people who live in that area, as well as the environment. Travelers who stay in places that directly support these communities have a better experience and come away wanting to do more to help [2].
Sustainable Stays
Most of us love traveling, but we know that it can have a negative impact on the planet. Because of this, many travel companies, airlines, and accommodations are taking steps toward becoming more sustainable and reducing their environmental impact.
Many hotels around the world are working to conserve energy and water by installing low-flow faucets, using more energy-efficient lightbulbs, and introducing linen resume programs to reduce washing.
Some hotels and resorts are also revamping their recycling programs to be more effective, and are switching their bathroom amenities, cleaning products, and even room keys to more environmentally-friendly alternatives [3].
The website ecobnb.com also contains a large database of sustainable accommodations around the world, and you can search tool to find an eco-friendly hotel or BnB wherever you are traveling to.
Keep Reading: Couple Build Amazing Shipping Container Home For Debt-Free Living


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Dad Who Grew Up Without A Father Starts Basic Skills YouTube Channel

In conversations about parenthood , much of the discussion ends up focussing on the mother ’ s role in a child ’ s life , but fathers carry equal importance .
Not only do they often teach their children many hard skills , like how to change a tire , throw a baseball , or tie a tie , but fathers also are critically important in the development of a child ’ s mental and emotional development .
Sadly , there are many children who are missing this important relationship in their lives .
In the United States , nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad , and for many it has a profound impact on who they become as adults [ 1 ] .
One man decided he wanted to do something to help all of these children , so he is using the extra time he has during quarantine to “ be the dad ” they don ’ t have .
On his YouTube channel , Dad , How Do I ?
Rob Kenney shares what he calls practical “ dadvice ” for everyday tasks .
His videos cover topics like checking the oil , checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a running toilet , how to tie a tie , and how to iron a dress shirt [ 2 ] .
Since its inception , however , his channel has grown into much more than just practical advice .
Read : 33 years On , This Father Still Fights For His Daughter After Shocking Diagnosis Rob ’ s desire to help people who grew up without a father was born out of his own childhood experience .
Although his family was initially what one might deem as “ normal ” , things began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adolescent years .
His mother developed an alcohol problem , and when Rob was just fourteen years old his father decided that he ’ d had enough of his children and left , leaving Rob ’ s older siblings to look after the family .
Rob now has two adult children of his own , who are both well on their way to having successful careers in their chosen fields .
Read : Amazing Photos as Dad and Stepdad Bond over Mutual Love for Daughter Throughout history the role of the father has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often fallen on the mother ’ s shoulders alone .
Throughout the twentieth century , however , there has been a radical shift in the way we view fathers , and a significant amount of research has gone into determining the effect a father has on his children .
A report published in “ Fathers and their Impact on Children ’ s Wellbeing ” , stated that children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure , be confident to explore their surroundings , and have better social connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Additional research has also been done comparing the impact of mothers and fathers , and the results have shown that the love or rejection of a mother or a father equally affects kids ’ behavior , self-esteem , emotional stability , and mental health [ 5 ] .
Ronald P. Rohner , Ph.D. , director of the Center for the Study of Parental Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut in Storrs , said that sometimes , the father may even have a greater impact on the child than the mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to provide a sense of physical and emotional security .
Children often want their fathers to be proud of them , and an involved father can promote inner growth and strength .
Fathers can set the bar for their children with regard to relationships with others .
For their daughters , dads serve as an example of how they should expect to be treated in a relationship , and the way their father acts toward them , their mother , and other people can greatly affect the kinds of relationships that she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a dad is an example of how a man should behave in a relationship , and how he should act not only toward women but how he should treat others as well .
Boys model themselves after their father ’ s character , so if a dad treats others with respect and kindness , likely his son will , too [ 6 ] .
Read : Dentistry Student Shares Touching Story of Being Raised by Father with Down Syndrome Rob Kenney ’ s YouTube channel has exploded in popularity , and now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has received countless notes of thanks and appreciation from viewers who , like him , grew up without a father and missed out on many of the lessons that their dad would have taught them .
He has since posted a video thanking viewers for their support , describing how overwhelmed he has been at the response , referring to himself as “ an emotional wreck ” .
He explained that while he doesn ’ t think he ’ s “ cornered the market ” on how to fix things , he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figure things out themselves .
He also took it as an opportunity to drop a little word of advice to other dads out there .
He also made sure to get one good dad joke in there too .
Keep Reading : Dad , What I ’ d give if I could say , “ Hello Dad ” in the same old way .

In conversations about parenthood, much of the discussion ends up focusing on the mother’s role in a child’s life, but fathers carry equal importance. Not only do they often teach their children many hard skills, like how to change a tire, throw a baseball, or tie a tie, but fathers also are critically important in the development of a child’s mental and emotional development. One man decided he wanted to do something to help all fatherless children, so he created a YouTube basic skills channel to help teach them basic life skills.
Sadly, there are many children who are missing this important relationship in their lives. In the United States, nearly twenty million children grow up without a dad, and for many it has a profound impact on who they become as adults [1].
YouTube Basic Skills – Dad, How Do I?
On his YouTube basic skills channel, Dad, How Do I? Rob Kenney shares what he calls practical “dadvice” for everyday tasks. His videos cover topics like checking the oil, checking your tire pressure, how to fix a running toilet, how to tie a tie, and how to iron a dress shirt [2].
Since its inception, however, his channel has grown into much more than just practical advice.
“I want it to be about everyday tasks, but I also would like to pass along some of the wisdom I’ve learned along the way to encourage people,” Rob said. “… I thought I was just going to be showing people how to do stuff, but it’s kind of resonating on a whole different level.”
A Tragic Backstory
Rob’s desire to help people who grew up without a father was born out of his own childhood experience. Although his family was initially what one might deem as “normal”, things began to go downhill as he reached his adolescent years. His mother developed an alcohol problem, and when Rob was just fourteen years old his father decided that he’d had enough of his children and left, leaving Rob’s older siblings to look after the family.
“He said, ‘You know, I’m done having kids. … You’re going to have to figure out where these kids are going because otherwise I’m putting them in foster homes,’”.
Rob now has two adult children of his own, who are both well on their way to having successful careers in their chosen fields.
“My goal in my life was to raise good adults,” Rob said. “I never wanted to be wealthy. I never wanted to be necessarily successful. My goal in life was to raise good adults — not good children but good adults — because I had a fractured childhood.”
The Importance of Dad
Throughout history, the role of the father has been often diminished, and parenting has often fallen on the mother’s shoulders alone. Throughout the twentieth century, however, there has been a radical shift in the way we view fathers, and a significant amount of research has gone into determining the effect a father has on his children.
A report published in “Fathers and their Impact on Children’s Wellbeing”, stated that children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and have better social connections as they get older [3].
Additional research has also been done comparing the impact of mothers and fathers, and the results have shown that the love or rejection of a mother or a father equally affects kids’ behavior, self-esteem, emotional stability, and mental health [4].
Ronald P. Rohner, Ph.D., director of the Center for the Study of Parental Acceptance and Rejection at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, said that sometimes, the father may even have a greater impact on the child than the mother.
“In some cases, the withdrawal of a father’s love seems to play a bigger role in kids’ problems with personality and psychological adjustment, delinquency, and substance abuse,” he explained [4].
Children often look to their fathers to provide a sense of physical and emotional security. Children often want their fathers to be proud of them, and an involved father can promote inner growth and strength.
Fathers can set the bar for their children with regard to relationships with others. For their daughters, dads serve as an example of how they should expect to be treated in a relationship, and the way their father acts toward them, their mother, and other people can greatly affect the kinds of relationships that she has when she is older.
For boys, a dad is an example of how a man should behave in a relationship, and how he should act not only toward women but how he should treat others as well. Boys model themselves after their father’s character, so if a dad treats others with respect and kindness, likely his son will, too [5].
Read: Mom wants to give Down syndrome son to foster care, loyal dad refuses and raises him on his own
An Outpouring of Appreciation
Rob Kenney’s YouTube basic skills channel has exploded in popularity, and now has over 850 thousand subscribers. He has received countless notes of thanks and appreciation from viewers who, like him, grew up without a father and missed out on many of the lessons that their dad would have taught them.
He has since posted a video thanking viewers for their support, describing how overwhelmed he has been at the response, referring to himself as “an emotional wreck”. He explained that while he doesn’t think he’s “cornered the market” on how to fix things, he’s hoping to empower others to try to figure things out themselves.
He also took it as an opportunity to drop a little word of advice to other dads out there.
“I didn’t always do everything right with my kids… you’re gonna fail as a dad, it’s part of the human experience,” he said. “You aren’t going to always do things right so I think it’s very important to ask for forgiveness and not pretend that you’ve got it all figured out, cause your kids are gonna find out sooner or later that you don’t have it figured out when they grow up- they don’t remain little for long and the window that you have them is such a short time.” [6]
He also made sure to get one good dad joke in his YouTube basic skills channel too, since a good sense of humor is definitely a skill.
“Did you hear the rumour about the butter? Well I’m not gonna spread it.”
Keep Reading: Girl, Age 8, Asked Marine Stepdad To Officially Adopt Her In Heartwarming Clip
Sources
“The Statistics Don’t Lie: Fathers Matter.” Fatherhood “Dad Who Grew Up Without A Father Starts Basic Skills YouTube Channel.” Scary Mommy. Cassandra Stone. May 20, 2020. “The Importance of Fathers.” Psychology Today. Ditta M. Oliker Ph.D. June 23, 2011. “Dads Play Important Role in Lessening Effects of Mom’s Depression, Study Says.” Parents. Hollee Actman Becker. May 16, 2017 “THE IMPORTANCE OF A FATHER IN A CHILD’S LIFE.” Pediatrics of Franklin “THANK YOU! | Dad, how do I?” Youtube. May 19, 2020.
This article originally appeared on The Hearty Soul in May 2020 and has been published here with permission.


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--The Truth Is We Outgrow Those Who Don’t Know How To Love Us

No matter what type of relationship we have with someone – familial , friendship , or romantic relationship – we all want to feel seen , heard , and appreciated .
We want to feel loved and respected .
Above all else , we want to feel important to the people who we have decided are important to us .
What happens when those people aren ’ t genuine with us ?
When , despite our best efforts to make the other person feel secure , we ’ re left feeling unwanted , unloved , and replaceable .
We outgrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us the way that we deserve to be loved .
Genuine love is hard to come by .
It ’ s even harder to find if we are wasting our time and attention on people who do not love us properly in return .
These people take advantage of our loyalty and love without ever showing us that same loyalty in return .
Their wants and desires always come ahead of ours , they will never inconvenience themselves to put a smile on our faces the way we do for them .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem ; that there is something wrong with us .
We tell ourselves a whole list of lies : • We don ’ t have enough money The list goes on and one .
These are all falsehoods we ’ ve been led to believe by people who are too self-absorbed to see our value .
These are the people we outgrow and leave behind .
Read : If You Love Someone , Tell Them , Because Life is Too Short to Take Your Time .
The truth is , it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providing the love that we need , it ’ s that they choose not to .
They deserve the exact amount of time and attention they have been giving you : none .
It ’ s time we all distance ourselves from those people .
While it can be hard at first , once you are free of this vicious cycle of being continuously let down you will feel a weight lifted .
Space between you and them will allow yourself to breathe , feel the sunshine , and remember your worth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ never accept this fake love again .
You will only give your heart and soul to people who will give you theirs in return .
Together , you will nurture each other and help one another grow .
Only fall for people who will catch you You should never have to fight for someone ’ s love .
You should never have to fight for someone ’ s time and attention .
If someone requires you to “ earn ” their love on a daily basis , their love is not genuine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in turn you will never be happy yourself .
Repeat this phrase to yourself every day : You are worthy of love .
You are worthy of people ’ s time and effort .
Don ’ t give yours unless you are receiving it in return .

The Truth Is We Outgrow Those Who Don’t Know How To Love Us
No matter what type of relationship we have with someone – familial, friendship, or romantic relationship – we all want to feel seen, heard, and appreciated. We want to feel loved and respected. Above all else, we want to feel important to the people who we have decided are important to us.
What happens when those people aren’t genuine with us? When, despite our best efforts to make the other person feel secure, we’re left feeling unwanted, unloved, and replaceable.
We outgrow the people who don’t love us the way that we deserve to be loved.
Genuine love is hard to come by. It’s even harder to find if we are wasting our time and attention on people who do not love us properly in return.
These people take advantage of our loyalty and love without ever showing us that same loyalty in return. Their wants and desires always come ahead of ours, they will never inconvenience themselves to put a smile on our faces the way we do for them.
Sometimes we convince ourselves that we are the problem; that there is something wrong with us. We tell ourselves a whole list of lies:
We’re not good enough
We’re not smart enough
We’re not cool enough
We’re not attractive enough
We don’t have enough money
The list goes on and one. These are all falsehoods we’ve been led to believe by people who are too self-absorbed to see our value. These are the people we outgrow and leave behind.
Read: If You Love Someone, Tell Them, Because Life is Too Short to Take Your Time.
Our self-love trumps all
The truth is, it is not that those people are not capable of providing the love that we need, it’s that they choose not to. They deserve the exact amount of time and attention they have been giving you: none.
It’s time we all distance ourselves from those people. While it can be hard at first, once you are free of this vicious cycle of being continuously let down you will feel a weight lifted. Space between you and them will allow yourself to breathe, feel the sunshine, and remember your worth.
From that point on, you will never accept this fake love again. You will only give your heart and soul to people who will give you theirs in return. Together, you will nurture each other and help one another grow.
Only fall for people who will catch you
You should never have to fight for someone’s love. You should never have to fight for someone’s time and attention. If someone requires you to “earn” their love on a daily basis, their love is not genuine. You can never please those people, and in turn you will never be happy yourself.
Repeat this phrase to yourself every day:
“I am worthy of love and attention. Anyone who does not give this freely does not value me properly and is not worth my mental, physical, and emotional energy. I will not entertain these people and instead focus on giving my love to those who give it back unconditionally.”
You are worthy of love. You are worthy of people’s time and effort. Don’t give yours unless you are receiving it in return.
Keep Reading: 6 Hard Truths About Love


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Please Stop Wearing These 3 Things (at any age)

When Courtney Carver began Project 333 , in which you pair down your wardrobe and dress with only 33 items , she learned much more about just living with less .
The process of learning what to keep and what to get rid of , and how to simply live with less , taught her lessons about the unnecessary emotional weight we carry , and what , in her opinion , we all need to shed .
She provided her insights the website bemorewithless.com , and shared the three things that everyone , no matter their age , should stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stop Wearing the Guilt of Your Past In his play MacBeth , William Shakespeare described guilt as “ life ’ s fitful fever ” [ 2 ] .
Many of us carry guilt , and for some it can be crippling .
Constantly wondering whether you could have done something more or better for your partner , your kids , your community , or your career can tear you up inside , or completely debilitate you .
Guilt can have positive consequences , and can sometimes push people to do the right thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme it can cause severe stress .
Michael McKee , Ph.D. , former vice-chairman of The Cleveland Clinic ’ s psychiatry and psychology department , explains that there is a spectrum of guilt .
Carver explained in her essay that guilt prevents you from fully enjoying your life , and if you ’ ve been struggling with it , you ’ ve paid enough .
Read : 105-Year-Old Doctor Offers Life Advice on How to Live Longer and Be Happy Every day 2 .
Stop Wearing the Pressure to Prove Yourself Being forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carver to change her shopping habits and , quite simply , purchase less .
In doing this , she realized that she very rarely shopped for clothes because she needed them , but because she wanted to feel a certain way or be perceived in a certain way .
The trouble with this , she noted , is that there is always more to prove , and the more you try , the more you lose yourself in the process [ 1 ] .
Pressure can be a good thing- it can push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work harder , and to achieve success .
There is , however , a point of diminishing returns when it comes to putting pressure on yourself , and it can lead to crippling amounts of anxiety and stress .
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your body .
It can lead to depression , and even dampen your immune system , making you more susceptible to illness and disease .
It can affect your sleep and your moods as well , which will have a negative impact on your productivity at work and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends [ 4 ] .
Carver realized that she had been using clothing as a way to prove who she was , and that constantly trying to prove herself was wearing her down .
She realized that if you have to prove yourself to the people you love , then that really isn ’ t love .
If you ’ re struggling to prove yourself on the job , maybe that job just isn ’ t the right fit for you .
She believes that when you stop trying so hard to prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just be yourself .
Read : 22 Pieces of Life Advice People Would Give to Their 20-Year-Old Selves 3 .
Stop Wearing the Weight of Other People ’ s Expectations and Judgements The third item on her list is possibly the most important .
At the beginning of the challenge , Carver was worried that people were going to notice that she was wearing the same things all the time .
What she found out , however , is that no one noticed , and no one cared .
This made her ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone with her life choices all the time , why she had this need to meet other peoples ’ expectations .
We often put more stock into what other people think of us than what we think of ourselves , and many of us will go to self-defeating lengths in order to avoid being judged negatively by others .
We shy away from saying what we truly think , or speaking up and giving our thoughts and opinions in group situations , or asking for what we want in even trivial situations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dinner .
This desire for approval is born out of the need to be liked by everyone all the time .
This , however , is impossible , and when we keep trying to win at a losing game , we are unable to experience or express our true selves [ 5 ] .
Judgments are often based on rules that don ’ t make sense and cause harm to everyone around us .
But have you ever asked yourself the question “ how would I live my life if I wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ?
For some of us it is hard to even imagine such a life , but it is possible to live this way .
When Carver let go of her fear of judgment , she was able to trust herself and to live her life regardless of what other people thought .
Quit Wearing Things that are Weighing You Down Carver urges everyone to stop wearing these things right now .
She encourages everyone to wear the clothes they want to wear and live the life they want to live .
Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lighter and happier , and be able to experience the real joy that life has to offer .
Keep Reading : Cancer Took 27-Year-Old Holly Butcher ’ s Life – This Is Her Touching Life Advice

When Courtney Carver began Project 333, in which you pair down your wardrobe and dress with only 33 items, she learned much more about just living with less. The process of learning what to keep and what to get rid of, and how to simply live with less, taught her lessons about the unnecessary emotional weight we carry, and what, in her opinion, we all need to shed.
She provided her insights the website bemorewithless.com, and shared the three things that everyone, no matter their age, should stop wearing.
1. Stop Wearing the Guilt of Your Past
In his play MacBeth, William Shakespeare described guilt as “life’s fitful fever”. Many of us carry guilt, and for some it can be crippling. Constantly wondering whether you could have done something more or better for your partner, your kids, your community, or your career can tear you up inside, or completely debilitate you.
Guilt can have positive consequences, and can sometimes push people to do the right thing, however, when taken to the extreme it can cause severe stress. Michael McKee, Ph.D., former vice-chairman of The Cleveland Clinic’s psychiatry and psychology department, explains that there is a spectrum of guilt.
“Some people don’t have the positive guilt that keeps you on the straight and narrow. Others have guilt that eats away at their soul; they rarely have a moment of peace,” he said [3].
Carver explained in her essay that guilt prevents you from fully enjoying your life, and if you’ve been struggling with it, you’ve paid enough.
“You can stop paying now. Let go, apologize, forgive and choose to live free of guilt and regret” [1].
2. Stop Wearing the Pressure to Prove Yourself
Being forced to pair down her wardrobe also caused Carver to change her shopping habits and, quite simply, purchase less. In doing this, she realized that she very rarely shopped for clothes because she needed them, but because she wanted to feel a certain way or be perceived in a certain way.
The trouble with this, she noted, is that there is always more to prove, and the more you try, the more you lose yourself in the process [1].
Pressure can be a good thing- it can push you to strive for more, to work harder, and to achieve success. There is, however, a point of diminishing returns when it comes to putting pressure on yourself, and it can lead to crippling amounts of anxiety and stress.
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your body. It can lead to depression, and even dampen your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and disease. It can affect your sleep and your moods as well, which will have a negative impact on your productivity at work and your relationships at home and with your friends [4].
Carver realized that she had been using clothing as a way to prove who she was, and that constantly trying to prove herself was wearing her down. She realized that if you have to prove yourself to the people you love, then that really isn’t love. If you’re struggling to prove yourself on the job, maybe that job just isn’t the right fit for you. She believes that when you stop trying so hard to prove yourself, it allows you to finally just be yourself.
“Stop pushing and proving and wishing that people would see you the way you think you need to be seen to succeed. Instead, let them see you for you.” [1]
3. Stop Wearing the Weight of Other People’s Expectations and Judgements
The third item on her list is possibly the most important. At the beginning of the challenge, Carver was worried that people were going to notice that she was wearing the same things all the time. What she found out, however, is that no one noticed, and no one cared.
This made her ask herself why she was trying to please everyone with her life choices all the time, why she had this need to meet other peoples’ expectations.
We often put more stock into what other people think of us than what we think of ourselves, and many of us will go to self-defeating lengths in order to avoid being judged negatively by others. We shy away from saying what we truly think, or speaking up and giving our thoughts and opinions in group situations, or asking for what we want in even trivial situations, like when deciding what to have for dinner.
This desire for approval is born out of the need to be liked by everyone all the time. This, however, is impossible, and when we keep trying to win at a losing game, we are unable to experience or express our true selves [5].
Judgments are often based on rules that don’t make sense and cause harm to everyone around us. But have you ever asked yourself the question “how would I live my life if I wasn’t afraid of being judged by others”? For some of us it is hard to even imagine such a life, but it is possible to live this way.
When Carver let go of her fear of judgment, she was able to trust herself and to live her life regardless of what other people thought.
“I’m not good or bad or right or wrong because of what anyone else thinks. I can’t control what they think and I’m not going to change myself trying.” [1]
Quit Wearing Things that are Weighing You Down
Carver urges everyone to stop wearing these things right now. She encourages everyone to wear the clothes they want to wear and live the life they want to live. Once you do this, you will feel lighter and happier, and be able to experience the real joy that life has to offer.
Keep Reading: Mom-To-Be Asks For Advice After Husband ‘Forces’ Her To Allow In-Laws In The Delivery Room
Sources:


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Gardening Experts Say You Should Always Plant Flowers in Your Vegetable Patch

With the warm weather finally arriving , gardeners across the country are getting outside and preparing their garden beds for planting .
It is an important time of year for the avid gardener because what you do now can have a significant impact on how your plants do for the rest of the season .
If you ’ re like most , you probably have separate plots for your flowers and your vegetables .
What many gardeners don ’ t realize , however , is that planting flowers alongside your vegetables can actually help you to produce a better yield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the word on every gardening enthusiast ’ s tongue lately , and for good reason .
After years of monocropping and selecting plants with esthetics as the primary deciding factor , we are now returning to the traditional wisdom of planting the way nature intended .
Companion planting is putting certain plants together that are mutually beneficial- that improve each other ’ s health and yields .
Some plants attract beneficial insects that help protect a companion , some act as repellents , and some even simply provide shade to others if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crop yields , even if one crop fails due to weather , pests , or disease .
• Protecting more delicate crops from harsh weather or pests , • Attracting pollinators like bees to your garden .
It is important the gardeners know not only which plants grow well together , but which ones do not , in order to ensure maximum success in their garden .
Flowers can be highly beneficial to a vegetable garden , and Maggie Saska , a plant production specialist at Rodale Institute organic farm , spoke with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to effectively incorporate flowers into your vegetable garden .
Companion planting with flowers will only work if you choose flowers that bloom at the same time as the vegetables they ’ re planted beside .
If you plant flowers that bloom two weeks after your vegetables do , there will be no benefit to the veggies .
Read the seed packet to find out how soon after planting the flowers will bloom so you can sync up your garden ’ s schedule .
She also suggests planting a variety of flowers so that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long [ 3 ] .
The shape of the flower makes it easier or harder for pollinators to access their nectar or pollen .
Bees , which are highly beneficial insects for your garden , prefer flowers that have composite shape , like zinnias , cosmos , daisies , sunflowers , and purple coneflower [ 3 ] .
Instead of planting your flowers all in one spot , Saska recommends spreading them out throughout your garden to have the maximum benefit .
Some choose to plant a row of veggies followed by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flowers within a single row .
You can even get creative , and use flowers to create a border around your vegetable patch , or plant them in such a way as to indicate when one vegetable crop ends and another begins .
Read : Baking Soda Is A Gardener ’ s Best Friend – Here Are 5 Nifty Uses Most vegetables grow lower to the ground , and so if you plant flowers that are much taller than them , they may not get enough sunlight .
Conversely , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lettuces , that prefer a little bit of shade , so planting taller flowers next to them could keep them from cooking out in the hot sun [ 1 ] .
Saska ’ s final tip is to not make it too complicated for yourself , especially if you are new to the world of companion planting .
To make it easier , she suggests starting with annuals , since they grow easily and produce a lot of blooms .
Given that they have to be replanted every year , they also make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your garden from season to season if you choose to do so .
She notes , however , that native perennials do a much better job at attracting native bees , so she cautions against omitting them from your garden entirely .
She recommends using the xerces society as a resource to find out which plants grow natively in your area [ 1 ] .
Keep Reading : Should Every School Have a Year-Round Gardening Program ?

Whether you grow food for fun or for a living, gardening is an incredibly rewarding experience. You get outside, enjoy some fresh air and sunshine, and at the end of it all, you get fresh fruits and vegetables! You can’t be mad about that, right? Planting perennial vegetables is one of my favorite things to do because they just keep growing back year after year!
Many vegetables grow as annuals, meaning that they grow for one growing season and then call it quits. You need to sow new seeds the following year in order to regrow that vegetable. But that doesn’t mean every vegetable is an annual.
These 10 perennial vegetables will grow back year after year
Perennial fruits and vegetables are a great addition to any garden, as they can provide an ongoing supply of fresh produce with little effort. Some common perennial vegetables include asparagus, rhubarb, and artichokes. These plants are hardy and can withstand winter temperatures in most locations, allowing them to grow back year after year without needing to be replanted.
Aside from being low-maintenance, perennial fruits and vegetables can also be cost-effective in the long run. While they may require more initial investment in terms of time and money, the fact that they can produce for years means that you won’t need to keep buying new seeds or seedlings every year. Additionally, many perennial plants are known for their hardiness and ability to grow in a variety of conditions, making them a great option for those who live in areas with challenging weather or soil conditions.
Incorporating perennial fruits and vegetables into your garden can also be a great way to add diversity to your diet. These plants offer a wider range of flavors and textures than traditional annual crops, and they can also be used in a variety of recipes. Whether you’re looking for a fresh snack or a hearty meal, you’re sure to find a way to use the fruits and vegetables that you grow.
Rhubarb
Who wouldn’t want to grow this perennial vegetable? If you love rhubarb jams, pies, and other sweets, then it makes absolute sense for you to grow a rhubarb plant of your own. Rhubarb is a perennial vegetable that will keep coming back year after year. Ideally, rhubarb crowns are planted in the early spring as soon as the ground has thawed. Rhubarb grows well in full sunlight and well-drained, fertile soil. If you plan to grow more than one, set them approximately four feet apart. These plants grow pretty large!
Asparagus
I love asparagus, but the truth is, the store-bought stuff doesn’t have anywhere near the flavor of freshly picked asparagus. Asparagus grows well in cooler climates with cold winters and dry summers. Asparagus prefers full sunshine and lighter, well-drained soil, making raised beds ideal for growing this vegetable. Asparagus grows as either a male or a female plant. Male plants tend to be more productive, so try to find an all-male variety of asparagus to plant.
Read: How To Make A Beautiful Log Planter
Jerusalem Artichokes
These guys are one of my favorite perennial vegetables to grow! Jerusalem artichokes are a bit different from standard artichokes. The artichokes you find in the store are the flower of the artichoke plant, but Jerusalem artichokes are actually a tuber, not unlike a potato. Jerusalem artichokes love well-drained, alkaline soils. They’re a productive plant, each one producing upwards of 20 tubers. The plant is ready for harvest after your first frost. Jerusalem artichokes can grow to be pretty big, so plant each tuber approximately six inches apart from one another. Enjoy this delicious prebiotic food!
Spinach
While spinach is typically thought of as an annual vegetable, it is possible to grow certain varieties as perennials in some climates. However, it’s important to note that not all spinach varieties are perennial. Some popular perennial spinach varieties include Ceylon, Sissoo, and New Zealand. These varieties are typically more heat-tolerant and can survive for multiple growing seasons under the right conditions. While growing spinach as a perennial may require some extra care and attention, it can be a great way to enjoy fresh spinach year after year without having to replant each season.
Horseradish
Horseradish is a no-nonsense vegetable that grows easily just about anywhere under any circumstance. They like full sun and fertile soil but can survive in just about any condition. Plant a root piece in the spring and it’ll be ready to harvest after your first frost in fall. In the fall, remove all foliage to help promote additional root growth, leading to larger yields in the future.
Sorrel
Sorrel is a less commonly grown vegetable, making it an awesome addition to your garden for its variety. Sorrel is a leafy green known for a lemony, tart flavor. Sorrel, like kale, appreciates cooler climates and can be harvested in spring and fall for the best flavor. They grow to be about a foot tall but can take up two feet in width. Sorrel prefers to grow in full sun but can tolerate a bit of shade.
Artichokes
Artichokes are grown for their large, edible flower buds. These plants are perennials, but won’t last as long as asparagus. Typically, an artichoke plant will produce for about 5 years before dying. They grow large, so plant each one about 4 feet apart. Artichoke buds can be harvested when they’re about three inches in diameter.
Chives
Chives are one of those herbs that I don’t really believe you need to be particular about. They need water, they need sunshine, and everything else is pretty inconsequential. To start chives, take some chive seeds, spread them around the area you want them to grow, cover them with a bit of soil, and water them. Chives will seed prolifically if allowed, so remove flowers before going to seed or be prepared for a chives takeover.
Watercress
Watercress, which is super nutritious, grows a bit differently than every other perennial vegetable on this list. Instead of needing dry, well-drained soil, watercress grows in a bog environment. Creating a bog isn’t particularly difficult. If you have access to a small creek or stream, watercress can be grown there. If not, you may need to create one artificially. The bog can be created in the ground using a pond liner to retain the water, or it can be made in a two-foot deep tub. Combine equal parts gardening soil, sand, and compost as well as a slow-release fertilizer and fill your container with water, but just enough to soak the soil without standing water over it. You can then spread watercress seeds over the bog.
Blueberries
Blueberries are also a bit different from everything else on our list. They’re not a vegetable and they grow on a bush, which makes them unique compared to the others. The best time to plant a blueberry bush is in the early spring. These plants do pretty well growing in containers, like a bucket, but if planted in the ground should be set about 5 feet apart. They require full sun in order to grow well and fruit prolifically.


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Very few people can solve this math problem without using a calculator

Since the beginning of time , people have always loved a good brain teaser .
We grew up reading Where ’ s Waldo ?
books and putting together puzzles .
Though highly frustrating at times , we just can ’ t seem to resist a good riddle , challenging crossword , or game of sudoku .
In the age of the internet , brain games , riddles , and optical illusions are spread around the world quickly , causing frustration , eye rolls , and proud exclamations of “ I did it !
I figured it out !
” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a seemingly simple math problem that ’ s got a lot of people stumped .
Can you solve this math problem without a calculator ?
Now , if you ’ re anything like me , math was not your strong suit in school .
As soon as I was able to make math a part of my past , I did .
Anytime I need to do some quick math , be it calculating a tip or how many pounds my 50-kg baggage allowance is at the airport , I have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of us , it has been years since we have thought about the rules of mental math .
See if you can figure out the answer to the equation below .
The answer is below , but don ’ t peek until you ’ ve tried !
Remember what your fifth-grade math teacher taught you If you didn ’ t get the correct answer , you ’ re not alone .
As I said already , clearly many of us have forgotten the rules of basic math .
It ’ s time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What rules did your teacher give you in regards to the order in which equations like this are completed ?
( Hint : there ’ s an acronym that may help you out ! )
Use that and go try again .
Read : Teacher uses LEGO to explain math to children .
Brilliant !
The Order of Operations for solving math equations Still struggling ?
Don ’ t forget the acronym for the Order of Operations : BEDMAS ( or PEMDAS or BODMAS – depending on where you are in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again using BEDMAS and see if you get the right answer .
Send this article to your family and friends to see if they can get it right .
Happy calculations !
Looking for some more math problems and brain teasers ?
Check these out : The Viral Math Problem That Has People Up In Arms Brainteaser Alert : How Long Will It Take You To Spot The Dog In This Sea Of Polar Bears ?
It Looks Like a Normal Sequence – but Something is very Wrong : Can You Solve the @ @

Very few people can solve this math problem without using a calculator
Since the beginning of time, people have always loved a good brain teaser. We grew up reading Where’s Waldo? books and putting together puzzles. Though highly frustrating at times, we just can’t seem to resist a good riddle, challenging crossword, or game of sudoku.
In the age of the internet, brain games, riddles, and optical illusions are spread around the world quickly, causing frustration, eye rolls, and proud exclamations of “I did it! I figured it out!” in their wake. The latest of these is a seemingly simple math problem that’s got a lot of people stumped.
Can you solve this math problem without a calculator?
Now, if you’re anything like me, math was not your strong suit in school. As soon as I was able to make math a part of my past, I did. Anytime I need to do some quick math, be it calculating a tip or how many pounds my 50-kg baggage allowance is at the airport, I have to whip out my calculator.
For many of us, it has been years since we have thought about the rules of mental math. See if you can figure out the answer to the equation below. The answer is below, but don’t peek until you’ve tried!
The correct answer is…
… drum roll please …
…104
Remember what your fifth-grade math teacher taught you
If you didn’t get the correct answer, you’re not alone. As I said already, clearly many of us have forgotten the rules of basic math.
It’s time to think way back to grade school. What rules did your teacher give you in regards to the order in which equations like this are completed? (Hint: there’s an acronym that may help you out!) Use that and go try again.
Read: Teacher uses LEGO to explain math to children. Brilliant!
The Order of Operations for solving math equations
Still struggling? Don’t forget the acronym for the Order of Operations: BEDMAS (or PEMDAS or BODMAS – depending on where you are in the world).
B – brackets
E – exponents
D – division
M – multiplication
A – addition
S – subtraction
Now go back and try again using BEDMAS and see if you get the right answer.
Send this article to your family and friends to see if they can get it right. Happy calculations!
Looking for some more math problems and brain teasers? Check these out:


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--One Cat, One Year, 110 Native Animals: Lock up Your Pet, It’s a Killing Machine

We know feral cats are an enormous problem for wildlife – across Australia , feral cats collectively kill more than three billion animals per year .
Cats have played a leading role in most of Australia ’ s 34 mammal extinctions since 1788 , and are a big reason populations of at least 123 other threatened native species are dropping .
Read more : Don ’ t let them out : 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy But pet cats are wreaking havoc too .
Our new analysis compiles the results of 66 different studies on pet cats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pet cat population on the country ’ s wildlife .
The results are staggering .
On average , each roaming pet cat kills 186 reptiles , birds and mammals per year , most of them native to Australia .
Collectively , that ’ s 4,440 to 8,100 animals per square kilometre per year for the area inhabited by pet cats .
If you own a cat and want to protect wildlife , you should keep it inside .
In Australia , 1.1 million pet cats are contained 24 hours a day by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million pet cats – 71 % of all pet cats – are able to roam and hunt .
What ’ s more , your pet cat could be getting out without you knowing .
A radio tracking study in Adelaide found that of the 177 cats whom owners believed were inside at night , 69 cats ( 39 % ) were sneaking out for nocturnal adventures .
Just over one-quarter of Australian households ( 27 % ) have pet cats , and about half of cat-owning households have two or more cats .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t hunt because they never come across evidence of killed animals .
But studies that used cat video tracking collars or scat analysis ( checking what ’ s in the cat ’ s poo ) have established many pet cats kill animals without bringing them home .
On average , pet cats bring home only 15 % of their prey .
This huge number may lead some pet owners to think the contribution of their own cat wouldn ’ t make much difference .
However , we found even single pet cats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of some native animal species in their area .
Documented cases have included : a feather-tailed glider population in south eastern NSW ; a skink population in a Perth suburb ; and an olive legless lizard population in Canberra .
On average , an individual feral cat in the bush kills 748 reptiles , birds and mammals a year – four times the toll of a hunting pet cat .
But feral cats and pet cats roam over very different areas .
Pet cats are confined to cities and towns , where you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cats per square kilometre .
In the bush there ’ s only one feral cat for every three to four square kilometres .
So while each pet cat kills fewer animals than a feral cat , their high urban density means the toll is still very high .
Per square kilometre per year , pet cats kill 30-50 times more animals than feral cats in the bush .
Most of us want to see native wildlife around towns and cities .
But such a vision is being compromised by this extraordinary level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grows and our cities expand .
Many native animals don ’ t have high reproductive rates so they can not survive this level of predation .
The stakes are especially high for threatened wildlife in urban areas .
Pet cats living near areas with nature also hunt more , reducing the value of places that should be safe havens for wildlife .
The 186 animals each pet cat kills per year on average is made up of 110 native animals ( 40 reptiles , 38 birds and 32 mammals ) .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is found in suburban areas of Mandurah , Bunbury , Busselton and Albany .
The possum did not move into these areas – rather , we moved into their habitat .
What can pet owners do ?
Keeping your cat securely contained 24 hours a day is the only way to prevent it from killing wildlife .
It ’ s a myth that a good diet or feeding a cat more meat will prevent hunting : even cats that aren ’ t hungry will hunt .
Various devices , such as bells on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promise of preventing hunting .
While some of these items may reduce the rate of successful kills , they don ’ t prevent hunting altogether .
And they don ’ t prevent cats from disturbing wildlife .
When cats prowl and hunt in an area , wildlife have to spend more time hiding or escaping .
This reduces the time spent feeding themselves or their young , or resting .
In Mandurah , WA , the disturbance and hunting of just one pet cat and one stray cat caused the total breeding failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pairs of fairy terns .
Cats allowed outside often get into fights with other cats , even when they ’ re not the fighting type ( they can be attacked by other cats when running away ) .
Roaming cats are also very prone to getting hit by a vehicle .
According to the Humane Society of the United States , indoor cats live up to four times longer than those allowed to roam freely .
Indoor cats have lower rates of cat-borne diseases , some of which can infect humans .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toxoplasmosis can cause illness , miscarriages and birth defects .
But Australia is in a very good position to make change .
Compared to many other countries , the Australian public are more aware of how cats threaten native wildlife and more supportive of actions to reduce those impacts .
It won ’ t be easy .
But since more than one million pet cats are already being contained , reducing the impacts from pet cats is clearly possible if we take responsibility for them .
Shared with permission from our friends at @ @ @

We know feral cats are an enormous problem for wildlife – across Australia, feral cats collectively kill more than three billion animals per year.
Cats have played a leading role in most of Australia’s 34 mammal extinctions since 1788, and are a big reason populations of at least 123 other threatened native species are dropping.
Read more: Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy
But pet cats are wreaking havoc too. Our new analysis compiles the results of 66 different studies on pet cats to gauge the impact of Australia’s pet cat population on the country’s wildlife.
The results are staggering. On average, each roaming pet cat kills 186 reptiles, birds and mammals per year, most of them native to Australia. Collectively, that’s 4,440 to 8,100 animals per square kilometre per year for the area inhabited by pet cats.
If you own a cat and want to protect wildlife, you should keep it inside. In Australia, 1.1 million pet cats are contained 24 hours a day by responsible pet owners. The remaining 2.7 million pet cats – 71% of all pet cats – are able to roam and hunt.
What’s more, your pet cat could be getting out without you knowing. A radio tracking study in Adelaide found that of the 177 cats whom owners believed were inside at night, 69 cats (39%) were sneaking out for nocturnal adventures.
Surely not my cat
Just over one-quarter of Australian households (27%) have pet cats, and about half of cat-owning households have two or more cats.
Many owners believe their animals don’t hunt because they never come across evidence of killed animals.
But studies that used cat video tracking collars or scat analysis (checking what’s in the cat’s poo) have established many pet cats kill animals without bringing them home. On average, pet cats bring home only 15% of their prey.
Collectively, roaming pet cats kill 390 million animals per year in Australia.
This huge number may lead some pet owners to think the contribution of their own cat wouldn’t make much difference. However, we found even single pet cats have driven declines and complete losses of populations of some native animal species in their area.
Documented cases have included: a feather-tailed glider population in south eastern NSW; a skink population in a Perth suburb; and an olive legless lizard population in Canberra.
Urban cats
On average, an individual feral cat in the bush kills 748 reptiles, birds and mammals a year – four times the toll of a hunting pet cat. But feral cats and pet cats roam over very different areas.
Pet cats are confined to cities and towns, where you’ll find 40 to 70 roaming cats per square kilometre. In the bush there’s only one feral cat for every three to four square kilometres.
So while each pet cat kills fewer animals than a feral cat, their high urban density means the toll is still very high. Per square kilometre per year, pet cats kill 30-50 times more animals than feral cats in the bush.
Most of us want to see native wildlife around towns and cities. But such a vision is being compromised by this extraordinary level of predation, especially as the human population grows and our cities expand.
Many native animals don’t have high reproductive rates so they cannot survive this level of predation. The stakes are especially high for threatened wildlife in urban areas.
Pet cats living near areas with nature also hunt more, reducing the value of places that should be safe havens for wildlife.
The 186 animals each pet cat kills per year on average is made up of 110 native animals (40 reptiles, 38 birds and 32 mammals).
For example, the critically endangered western ringtail possum is found in suburban areas of Mandurah, Bunbury, Busselton and Albany. The possum did not move into these areas – rather, we moved into their habitat.
What can pet owners do?
Keeping your cat securely contained 24 hours a day is the only way to prevent it from killing wildlife.
It’s a myth that a good diet or feeding a cat more meat will prevent hunting: even cats that aren’t hungry will hunt.
Various devices, such as bells on collars, are commercially marketed with the promise of preventing hunting. While some of these items may reduce the rate of successful kills, they don’t prevent hunting altogether.
And they don’t prevent cats from disturbing wildlife. When cats prowl and hunt in an area, wildlife have to spend more time hiding or escaping. This reduces the time spent feeding themselves or their young, or resting.
In Mandurah, WA, the disturbance and hunting of just one pet cat and one stray cat caused the total breeding failure of a colony of more than 100 pairs of fairy terns.
Benefits of a life indoors
Keeping cats indoors protects pet cats from injury, avoids nuisance behaviour and prevents unwanted breeding.
Cats allowed outside often get into fights with other cats, even when they’re not the fighting type (they can be attacked by other cats when running away).
Two cats in Western Australia stopped fairy terns from breeding.
Roaming cats are also very prone to getting hit by a vehicle. According to the Humane Society of the United States, indoor cats live up to four times longer than those allowed to roam freely.
Indoor cats have lower rates of cat-borne diseases, some of which can infect humans. For example, in humans the cat-borne disease toxoplasmosis can cause illness, miscarriages and birth defects.
But Australia is in a very good position to make change. Compared to many other countries, the Australian public are more aware of how cats threaten native wildlife and more supportive of actions to reduce those impacts.
It won’t be easy. But since more than one million pet cats are already being contained, reducing the impacts from pet cats is clearly possible if we take responsibility for them.


theheartysoul--2020-05-21--Man Shows How He Uses a Old Washing Machine to Generate Free Electricity

Everyone has their own version of a dream home .
For some , that ’ s a penthouse suite in the heart of a bustling city .
For others , that ’ s a large farmhouse in the sprawling hills of the countryside , and for many it ’ s somewhere in between .
There are those , however , whose dream is to abandon any semblance of society and live somewhere remote and off-the-grid .
But what does that really mean , anyway ?
According to Off Grid World , the meaning of living off-the-grid changes from person to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primitive living and cutting all ties with technology and modern life .
For others , it ’ s a form of survival and preparedness , called “ prepping ” .
These people see it as a way to be ready in the case of an apocalyptic event .
For most people , however , it ’ s simply a way of living a sustainable life and reducing the number of resources they use .
These people generate their own electricity , grow their own food , and live what some refer to as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual term , “ off-the-grid ” , refers to the electrical grid , or the system that delivers electricity to a community .
To be off the grid , then , simply means to be disconnected from that system .
There are those who believe that to be truly off the grid , you must disconnect from all utilities and live a completely self-sustainable lifestyle , but at its core it means not relying on a centralized power grid to provide electricity for your home [ 1 ] .
Marty T. has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He operates a YouTube channel , where he shares his ideas , creations , and adventures in an effort to show people how easy it is to live off the grid and save money [ 2 ] .
In his most recent video ( see below ) , he showed viewers how he generates his own electricity using an old washing machine that he found in a dump .
He says that his washing-machine generator creates enough power to heat his water , run all of his appliances , and power most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He admits that he does have issues with it occasionally , which means he has to go down to the river and figure out what ’ s wrong with it .
Read : Alaska High School Teacher Hunted a Moose and had his Students Butcher the Animal to Learn Life Skills Others Living Off the Grid While they are still a small minority , there are many others around the world who have opted to live this “ alternative ” lifestyle .
One couple has built their own self-sustaining , floating island off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is a growing trend among senior citizens to purchase tiny homes and live off the grid for their retirement years , and in some places , you can find entire communities of people who have the traditional modern life behind .
Of course , there are some places that are more well-suited for this type of living for a variety of reasons , so if you ’ re considering becoming an off-the-gridder , you may want to consider moving .
While not all of us are willing to leave the conveniences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a lot we can learn from these extraordinary people about becoming more self-sufficient , and living in a way that has less of a negative impact on our environment .
If we all adopt some of the principles of off-the-grid living , it may just lead to a healthier planet .
Keep Reading : Dick Proenneke : 30 Years Alone in the Alaskan Wilderness

Everyone has their own version of a dream home. For some, that’s a penthouse suite in the heart of a bustling city. For others, that’s a large farmhouse in the sprawling hills of the countryside, and for many it’s somewhere in between. There are those, however, whose dream is to abandon any semblance of society and live somewhere remote and off-the-grid.
Off-the-Grid Living
But what does that really mean, anyway? According to Off Grid World, the meaning of living off-the-grid changes from person to person. For some, it means primitive living and cutting all ties with technology and modern life. For others, it’s a form of survival and preparedness, called “prepping”. These people see it as a way to be ready in the case of an apocalyptic event.
For most people, however, it’s simply a way of living a sustainable life and reducing the number of resources they use. These people generate their own electricity, grow their own food, and live what some refer to as a “green” lifestyle.
The actual term, “off-the-grid”, refers to the electrical grid, or the system that delivers electricity to a community. To be off the grid, then, simply means to be disconnected from that system. There are those who believe that to be truly off the grid, you must disconnect from all utilities and live a completely self-sustainable lifestyle, but at its core it means not relying on a centralized power grid to provide electricity for your home [1].
Washing machine generates free electricity
Marty T. has been living off the grid for sixteen years. He operates a YouTube channel, where he shares his ideas, creations, and adventures in an effort to show people how easy it is to live off the grid and save money [2]. In his most recent video (see below), he explains how his washing machine generates free electricity for his home.
“I rewired the smart-drive washing machine motor to generate electricity, the generator is rotated via a water driven Pelton Wheel ( Hydro Turbine ),” he explained in the video description [3].
He says that his washing machine generates electricity enough to heat his water, run all of his appliances, and power most of the tools in his shed. He admits that he does have issues with it occasionally, which means he has to go down to the river and figure out what’s wrong with it.
“[That’s] a small price to pay to avoid paying a power bill,” he says [3].
Read: Alaska High School Teacher Hunted a Moose and had his Students Butcher the Animal to Learn Life Skills
Others Living Off the Grid
While they are still a small minority, there are many others around the world who have opted to live this “alternative” lifestyle. One couple has built their own self-sustaining, floating island off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia.
There is a growing trend among senior citizens to purchase tiny homes and live off the grid for their retirement years, and in some places, you can find entire communities of people who have the traditional modern life behind.
Of course, there are some places that are more well-suited for this type of living for a variety of reasons, so if you’re considering becoming an off-the-gridder, you may want to consider moving.
While not all of us are willing to leave the conveniences of regular life behind completely, there is a lot we can learn from these extraordinary people about becoming more self-sufficient, and living in a way that has less of a negative impact on our environment. If we all adopt some of the principles of off-the-grid living, it may just lead to a healthier planet.
Keep Reading: Dick Proenneke: 30 Years Alone in the Alaskan Wilderness


theheartysoul--2020-05-23--Ghost mushroom hunters photograph glowing fungi

Standing in the middle of a forest at midnight in the pitch dark , surrounded by glowing mushrooms may sound like something out of J.R.R .
Tolkien ’ s fantasy world in Lord of the Rings , but in New South Wales , Australia , this is a very real scenario .
Following a cold and wet Autumn , national parks and forests all across the region come alive with an array of various fungi .
They ’ ve become a veritable wonderland for foragers , hikers , and nature photographers .
The hardiest of photographers are setting out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of capturing one very special fungi on camera known colloquially as the ghost mushroom .
This bioluminescent fungi ’ s real name is Omphalotus nidiformis , and is in southwest Western Australia , all down the east coast , and in Tasmania .
You will often find them in wooded areas , along streets , and in parks .
According to biologist Julie Fielder , they glow 24 hours per day while they are fruiting , during the main fungi season from autumn to winter .
Of course , you can only see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are typically found growing at the base of eucalyptus trees , banksias , and casuarinas and are both parasitic , meaning they feed off live tree tissues , and saprotrophic , meaning they eat dead things , such as rotting wood [ 1 ] .
Read : The Mushroom Shown to Help Reduce Anxiety and Depression Ghost mushrooms have been given their name because of their bioluminescent properties , but what exactly does that mean ?
Bioluminescence is light produced in a living organism caused by a chemical reaction .
The light it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” because less than twenty percent of the light emits thermal radiation or heat .
The majority of bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean , such as jellyfish or bacteria .
In order for a creature to bioluminesce , or glow , they must have the chemicals luciferin , as well as luciferase or photoprotein .
Luciferin produces light , and depending on the arrangement of its molecules , the color that is produced will be different .
Some organisms will produce luciferin on their own , while others absorb it through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that interacts with luciferin to produce light .
In some cases , however , photoproteins are combined with luciferin and oxygen , and with the help of a catalyst like a calcium ion , produces light .
Organisms use bioluminescence for a number of possible reasons .
Some glow to confuse attackers , or to actually camouflage themselves through a technique called counterillumination .
Others use them to attract or search for prey , or to attract a mate [ 2 ] .
Read : Dolphins appear to glow as they glide through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Glow ?
Scientists are still unsure as to why the ghost mushroom glows .
One theory that is true for other species of glowing fungi is that it is used to attract insects , which then disperse the mushroom ’ s spores and help it to spread [ 3 ] .
Researchers in Adelaide , however , determined that this was not the case for Australia ’ s ghost mushroom .
They believe instead that the luminescence produced by the fungi may just be incidental- that the chemicals that produce the light may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the glowing green color is just a byproduct [ 4 ] .
Read : Diver Captures Rare Footage Of A Sea Angel Swimming Under The Ice First of all , you have to go to Australia , since ghost mushrooms are found primarily in Victoria , Tasmania , the eastern coast , and the southern parts of Western and South Australia .
According to Carol Probets , a birding and nature guide from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales , it is best to first learn to recognize them in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better able to find them at night .
When you are looking for them , you should not expect to find them glowing bright green the way they do in photos .
To the naked eye , the light appears as a much dimmer blueish-white .
Photographers who are trying to capture the beauty of these mushrooms typically use a tripod and a camera that is capable of taking long-exposure photos .
This makes the glowing hue appear much brighter and greener [ 4 ] .
If you do decide to go searching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is important to understand , however , that ghost mushrooms are poisonous and so should not be eaten .
Keep Reading : Everything you need to know about the glowing Sea Turtle

Standing in the middle of a forest at midnight in the pitch dark, surrounded by glowing mushrooms may sound like something out of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world in Lord of the Rings, but in New South Wales, Australia, the ghost mushroom makes this a very real scenario.
Following a cold and wet Autumn, national parks and forests all across the region come alive with an array of various fungi. They’ve become a veritable wonderland for foragers, hikers, and nature photographers.
The hardiest of photographers are setting out to these areas at night, in hopes of capturing one very special fungi on camera known colloquially as the ghost mushroom.
The Ghost Mushroom
This bioluminescent fungi’s real name is Omphalotus nidiformis, and is in southwest Western Australia, all down the east coast, and in Tasmania. You will often find them in wooded areas, along streets, and in parks.
According to biologist Julie Fielder, they glow 24 hours per day while they are fruiting, during the main fungi season from autumn to winter. Of course, you can only see them glowing in the dark. They are typically found growing at the base of eucalyptus trees, banksias, and casuarinas and are both parasitic, meaning they feed off live tree tissues, and saprotrophic, meaning they eat dead things, such as rotting wood [1].
What is Bioluminescence?
Ghost mushrooms have been given their name because of their bioluminescent properties, but what exactly does that mean?
Bioluminescence is light produced in a living organism caused by a chemical reaction. The light it produces is referred to as “cold” because less than twenty percent of the light emits thermal radiation or heat. The majority of bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean, such as jellyfish or bacteria.
In order for a creature to bioluminesce, or glow, they must have the chemicals luciferin, as well as luciferase or photoprotein. Luciferin produces light, and depending on the arrangement of its molecules, the color that is produced will be different. Some organisms will produce luciferin on their own, while others absorb it through other organisms.
Luciferase is an enzyme that interacts with luciferin to produce light. In some cases, however, photoproteins are combined with luciferin and oxygen, and with the help of a catalyst like a calcium ion, produces light.
Organisms use bioluminescence for a number of possible reasons. Some glow to confuse attackers, or to actually camouflage themselves through a technique called counterillumination. Others use them to attract or search for prey, or to attract a mate [2].
Read: Dolphins appear to glow as they glide through bioluminescent waves
Why do the Ghost Mushrooms Glow?
Scientists are still unsure as to why the ghost mushroom glows. One theory that is true for other species of glowing fungi is that it is used to attract insects, which then disperse the mushroom’s spores and help it to spread [3].
Researchers in Adelaide, however, determined that this was not the case for Australia’s ghost mushroom. They believe instead that the luminescence produced by the fungi may just be incidental- that the chemicals that produce the light may provide some other benefit to the fungus and the glowing green color is just a byproduct [4].
Read: Diver Captures Rare Footage Of A Sea Angel Swimming Under The Ice
How to find a Ghost Mushroom
First of all, you have to go to Australia, since ghost mushrooms are found primarily in Victoria, Tasmania, the eastern coast, and the southern parts of Western and South Australia. According to Carol Probets, a birding and nature guide from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, it is best to first learn to recognize them in the day, so that you will be better able to find them at night.
“If you learn to recognise it in the daytime, it’s much easier to find it in the daytime rather than wandering around in the dark,” she says [4].
When you are looking for them, you should not expect to find them glowing bright green the way they do in photos. To the naked eye, the light appears as a much dimmer blueish-white. Photographers who are trying to capture the beauty of these mushrooms typically use a tripod and a camera that is capable of taking long-exposure photos. This makes the glowing hue appear much brighter and greener [4].
If you do decide to go searching for the magical ghost mushrooms, it is important to understand, however, that ghost mushrooms are poisonous and so should not be eaten.
Keep Reading: Everything you need to know about the glowing Sea Turtle


theheartysoul--2020-05-23--Brilliant People Prefer To Be Alone, According To Science

The psychology of happiness is well-studied , and at this point we have a fairly solid understanding of what , in general , makes most of us happy .
Activities like dancing , or going for a walk in the woods , help us to feel joyful and calm .
Singing and music can improve our mood as well .
Most psychologists will agree , however , that spending time with good friends is arguably the most effective way to induce happiness .
Researchers have found , however , that not everyone derives the same pleasure from socializing .
Researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their study in the British Journal of Psychology that found that exceptionally intelligent people do not derive as much happiness from socializing as the rest of us .
These people , in fact , tend to be happier when they are left alone more often [ 1 ] .
Li and Kanazawa surveyed over fifteen thousand people between the ages of 18 and 28 and found that being around dense crowds tended to lead to lower levels of happiness while being with friends led to greater levels of happiness .
This data , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those of exceptional intelligence .
The researchers cite the Savannah Theory of Happiness , which explains that life satisfaction is influence by the way our ancestors would have reacted to an event , not just by what is happening in the present moment .
Read : Gifted Children : 23 Signs That You Have a Child Who Is Gifted Evolutionary psychologists argue that our brains may have trouble dealing with situations that are specific to our modern-day because they have been designed for and adapted to the conditions of an ancestral environment .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that of our ancestors is that we tend to spend time around more people , but less of that time is spent with friends .
More of us live in densely packed urban areas , which are not conducive to establishing close relationships .
This has been shown to lead to anxiety and depression , however , the researchers of this study found that this has less of an impact on highly intelligent people ’ s brains- in other words , highly intelligent people are less affected by the Savannah theory .
Essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to value the same things as their ancestors .
This may explain why urbanites tend to have higher than average intelligence compared to those living in rural areas- they are better able to live in these “ unnatural ” settings .
Read : New Experiment Reveals Just How Disturbingly Clever Crows Really Are The study points to the average group sizes of our ancient ancestors , and how these group sizes support the Savannah theory .
The average size of hunter-gatherer groups , neolithic villages in ancient Mesopotamia , and other ancient groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The researchers explain that our brains evolved for functioning in groups of about that size , and that when groups get larger than 150 to 200 people , they tend to split in two to facilitate better communication and problem-solving .
Larger groups , however , appeared to have a more negative effect on individuals with average intelligence , whereas our more intelligent ancestors demonstrated greater strategic flexibility and innate ingenuity , allowing them ( and now their ancestors ) to be better able to adapt to larger groups [ 2 ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of us , having good friendships improves our overall satisfaction with life , because they give us a feeling of relatedness , of being needed , and they provide a way of sharing experiences .
This need for relationships can also be explained by the Savannah theory , since for our ancestors , friendships and alliances were crucial to survival .
Our ancestors needed a tribe for group hunting , food-sharing , reproduction , and group child-rearing .
Highly intelligent people , however , tend to feel happier alone than when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true remains unclear , but it could be because these people are more aspirational and goal-oriented , and may perceive having others around as being distracting or annoying [ 3 ] .
The researchers did find , however , that spending more time socializing can be an indicator of higher intelligence as well , so more research needs to be done to determine why there is this contradiction [ 2 ] .
Read : “ Humankind is greedy , stupid and the greatest threat to Earth , ” – Stephen Hawking Intelligence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reverse So if you ’ re reading this thinking that spending more time alone will make you smarter , you may want to reconsider canceling your Friday night plans .
Likewise , if you do enjoy spending time alone , it doesn ’ t necessarily mean that you ’ re a genius .
The correlation between the two is more nuanced than that .
On the flip side , if you do enjoy socializing and spending time with friends , it also doesn ’ t mean that you ’ re unintelligent- this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly more research needs to be done .
That being said , if you find you enjoy being by yourself to work on a project , learn a new skill , or hammer away at your goals , you may not be a loner , or even antisocial , you could just be smarter than the average person .
Keep Reading : It ’ s science : Giving experiences instead of toys boosts your kid ’ s intelligence and happiness

This article was originally published May 23, 2020, and has since been updated.
The psychology of happiness is well-studied, and at this point we have a fairly solid understanding of what, in general, makes most of us happy. Activities like dancing, or going for a walk in the woods, help us to feel joyful and calm. Singing and music can improve our mood as well.Most psychologists will agree, however, that spending time with good friends is arguably the most effective way to induce happiness. Researchers have found, however, that not everyone derives the same pleasure from socializing. Brilliant people do things a little differently.
Socializing Doesn’t Make Highly Intelligent People as Happy
Researchers Norman Li and Satoshi Kanazawa recently published their study in the British Journal of Psychology that found that exceptionally intelligent people do not derive as much happiness from socializing as the rest of us. These people, in fact, tend to be happier when they are left alone more often [1].
Li and Kanazawa surveyed over fifteen thousand people between the ages of 18 and 28 and found that being around dense crowds tended to lead to lower levels of happiness while being with friends led to greater levels of happiness.
This data, however, did not ring true for those of exceptional intelligence. The researchers cite the Savannah Theory of Happiness, which explains that life satisfaction is influence by the way our ancestors would have reacted to an event, not just by what is happening in the present moment.
Read: Gifted Children: 23 Signs That You Have a Child Who Is Gifted
Evolutionary psychologists argue that our brains may have trouble dealing with situations that are specific to our modern-day because they have been designed for and adapted to the conditions of an ancestral environment.
The difference between our world today and that of our ancestors is that we tend to spend time around more people, but less of that time is spent with friends. More of us live in densely packed urban areas, which are not conducive to establishing close relationships.
This has been shown to lead to anxiety and depression, however, the researchers of this study found that this has less of an impact on highly intelligent people’s brains- in other words, highly intelligent people are less affected by the Savannah theory.
“In general, more intelligent individuals are more likely to have ‘unnatural’ preferences and values that our ancestors did not have,” said Kanazawa. “It is extremely natural for species like humans to seek and desire friendships and, as a result, more intelligent individuals are likely to seek them less.” [1]
Essentially, extremely smart people are less likely to value the same things as their ancestors. This may explain why urbanites tend to have higher than average intelligence compared to those living in rural areas- they are better able to live in these “unnatural” settings.
Read: New Experiment Reveals Just How Disturbingly Clever Crows Really Are
How Large Groups Affect Happiness
The study points to the average group sizes of our ancient ancestors, and how these group sizes support the Savannah theory.
The average size of hunter-gatherer groups, neolithic villages in ancient Mesopotamia, and other ancient groups of people was about 150 people. The researchers explain that our brains evolved for functioning in groups of about that size, and that when groups get larger than 150 to 200 people, they tend to split in two to facilitate better communication and problem-solving.
Larger groups, however, appeared to have a more negative effect on individuals with average intelligence, whereas our more intelligent ancestors demonstrated greater strategic flexibility and innate ingenuity, allowing them (and now their ancestors) to be better able to adapt to larger groups [2].
Friends Make Most of us Happy
For most of us, having good friendships improves our overall satisfaction with life, because they give us a feeling of relatedness, of being needed, and they provide a way of sharing experiences.
This need for relationships can also be explained by the Savannah theory, since for our ancestors, friendships and alliances were crucial to survival. Our ancestors needed a tribe for group hunting, food-sharing, reproduction, and group child-rearing.
Highly intelligent people, however, tend to feel happier alone than when they are with people. Why this is true remains unclear, but it could be because these people are more aspirational and goal-oriented, and may perceive having others around as being distracting or annoying [3].
The researchers did find, however, that spending more time socializing can be an indicator of higher intelligence as well, so more research needs to be done to determine why there is this contradiction [2].
Read: “Humankind is greedy, stupid and the greatest threat to Earth,” – Stephen Hawking
Intelligence and Alone Time Does Not Necessarily Work in Reverse
So if you’re reading this thinking that spending more time alone will make you smarter, you may want to reconsider canceling your Friday night plans. Likewise, if you do enjoy spending time alone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a genius. The correlation between the two is more nuanced than that.
On the flip side, if you do enjoy socializing and spending time with friends, it also doesn’t mean that you’re unintelligent- this is the first study of its kind, and certainly, more research needs to be done.
That being said, if you find you enjoy being by yourself to work on a project, learn a new skill, or hammer away at your goals, you may not be a loner or even antisocial; you could just be smarter than the average person.
Keep Reading: It’s science: Giving experiences instead of toys boosts your kid’s intelligence and happiness
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-05-23--Man Builds Wife’s Chickens a Mini “Coop Town” And it’s The Cutest Thing Ever

If anyone thought that guy who built an elaborate tiny restaurant for the squirrels in his neighborhood was over-the-top , wait until they see the full-fledged tiny town this guy built for his wife ’ s chickens , complete with hotels , cafes , and even a jailhouse for miscreants [ 1 ] .
The man ’ s wife owns a flock of chickens and she ’ s always wanted a suitable coop to house them all .
What she wasn ’ t expecting , however , was a straight-up town that could pass for a down-sized human dwelling .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shared on Facebook by a woman named Colleen Thermos .
We are used to people going over-the-top to make the most elaborate abodes for their pets dogs and cats , like this guy who built floor-to-ceiling towers for his pet felines .
Chickens , on the other hand ?
Not so much .
This guy ’ s wife must dearly cherish her birds if he went to such extreme lengths to make them comfortable .
If this coop town was scaled to a size suitable for humans , the villagers would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the builder simply thought EVERYTHING through .
The aesthetics of each structure is so incredible that I can ’ t seem to choose my favorite spot yet .
Read : Egg farmer considered killing half his flock until a woman on Facebook devised a plan to save them The Coop Town even has a plaza There ’ s a one-story “ beauty salon ” available in town , with white curtains at the windows , and a detailed price list out front .
Clients at the “ Saloon Girls ” have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hour goes for 1 egg , 1 day goes for 6 eggs , and a week of their esteemed services goes for 12 eggs .
There ’ s even a lamp hanging outside in case “ business ” runs late into the night .
Wow !
The next stop is the watering station called the Rooster Ridge , made of a wooden tank with a pipe that runs onto a bowl at the bottom .
Then there ’ s the Ivery Stables with a carving of a haystack in front .
Of course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which town in the middle ages didn ’ t have a horse stable ?
The builder wasn ’ t leaving any box unchecked , so that cute red building had to be included .
Perhaps the most mind-blowing thing is blacksmith ’ s corner , complete with a few workbenches and shiny metal-working accessories .
With a huge “ Blacksmith ” sign hanging above a zinc metal placebo , this has to be the most hilarious spot in town .
Quick question – who ’ s going to be working there ?
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of town – the plaza/complex that houses the bed-and-breakfast , the hotel , the café , and the mercantile .
This is a one-story structure divided into six apartments , painted in bright green , yellow , and blue colors .
The highlights of this structure , for me , are the adorable curtains .
The lovely tapestries tied to the sides across every window would certainly get you smiling .
Read : Screened Cat Patios , ‘ Catios ’ , are a Great Way to Keep Your Cats Safe Lastly , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of town for anyone who decides to constitute a nuisance .
The photo of the chicken behind bars outside the jailhouse would certainly have the others thinking twice about pooping indiscriminately .
This project is absolutely amazing and must have cost a great deal of time and money .
No details are available about the building plan , but it ’ s unlike anything we ’ ve seen before and people online are inspired .
The Facebook post immediately went viral and has since been liked 17,000 times and shared 229K @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why .
While it ’ s nowhere near a full-fledged coop town , this free plan should help get you started on erecting your own unique poultry structures .
If you ’ re not a ‘ do-it-yourselfer ’ and are actually interested in purchasing one Amazon even sells them .
Keep Reading : Crochet Egg Apron Helps You Carry Tons Of Eggs , Perfect For Chicken Owners

If anyone thought that guy who built an elaborate tiny restaurant for the squirrels in his neighborhood was over-the-top, wait until they see the full-fledged tiny chicken coop town this guy built for his wife’s chickens, complete with hotels, cafes, and even a jailhouse for miscreants [1].
The man’s wife owns a flock of chickens and she’s always wanted a suitable coop to house them all. What she wasn’t expecting, however, was a straight-up town that could pass for a down-sized human dwelling. Photos of the medieval-era mini coop town were shared on Facebook by a woman named Colleen Thermos.
We are used to people going over-the-top to make the most elaborate abodes for their pets dogs and cats, like this guy who built floor-to-ceiling towers for his pet felines. Chickens, on the other hand? Not so much. This guy’s wife must dearly cherish her birds if he went to such extreme lengths to make them comfortable.
If this coop town was scaled to a size suitable for humans, the villagers would have every facility down to the last detail because the builder simply thought EVERYTHING through. The aesthetics of each structure is so incredible that I can’t seem to choose my favorite spot yet.
The Chicken Coop Town even has a plaza
There’s a one-story “beauty salon” available in town, with white curtains at the windows, and a detailed price list out front. Clients at the “Saloon Girls” have to pay in egg currency, where 1 hour goes for 1 egg, 1 day goes for 6 eggs, and a week of their esteemed services goes for 12 eggs. There’s even a lamp hanging outside in case “business” runs late into the night. Wow!
The next stop is the watering station called the Rooster Ridge, made of a wooden tank with a pipe that runs onto a bowl at the bottom.
Then there’s the Ivery Stables with a carving of a haystack in front. Of course, there are no horses, but which town in the middle ages didn’t have a horse stable? The builder wasn’t leaving any box unchecked, so that cute red building had to be included.
Perhaps the most mind-blowing thing is blacksmith’s corner, complete with a few workbenches and shiny metal-working accessories. With a huge “Blacksmith” sign hanging above a zinc metal placebo, this has to be the most hilarious spot in town. Quick question – who’s going to be working there?
Then there’s the most beautiful part of town – the plaza/complex that houses the bed-and-breakfast, the hotel, the café, and the mercantile. This is a one-story structure divided into six apartments, painted in bright green, yellow, and blue colors. The highlights of this structure, for me, are the adorable curtains. The lovely tapestries tied to the sides across every window would certainly get you smiling.
Lastly, there’s a menacing jail smack in the middle of town for anyone who decides to constitute a nuisance. The photo of the chicken behind bars outside the jailhouse would certainly have the others thinking twice about pooping indiscriminately.
This project is absolutely amazing and must have cost a great deal of time and money. No details are available about the building plan, but it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before and people online are inspired. The Facebook post immediately went viral and has since been liked 17,000 times and shared 229K times. It’s no wonder why.
While it’s nowhere near a full-fledged coop town, this free plan should help get you started on erecting your own unique poultry structures. If you’re not a ‘do-it-yourselfer’ and are actually interested in purchasing one Amazon even sells them.
Keep Reading: People Are Making Merry-Go-Rounds For Their Chickens From Old Bike Tires
Sources