I received the following email today and I thought why not start a Good Idea topic on the Forum:
Here is the email received:
I have a friend who used her Solar Lights inside the house at night when the electric power went off during a hurricane. She stuck them in jars and bottles and said they gave off plenty of 'free light' in each room. She put them outside in the daytime and brought them back inside at night for several days while the power was off. They are safe to use and cheaper than batteries. She recommended we bring a Solar Light into our own house one night to test it for ourselves.
Due to a thunderstorm, we lost power for about 5 hours one night. We were scrambling around in the darkness, looking for matches, candles, and flashlights. Then we looked outside and noticed our Solar Lights shining brightly all around the patio, stairs & dock. My wife walked outside and brought several of the solar lights inside. We stuck the Solar Light pipes into plastic drink bottles and they made the nicest, brightest, safest, lighting you could imagine. We put one in the bathroom, one in the kitchen and in the living room.
There many types of Solar Lights available. We bought quite a few and put them all around our yard. They look nice and do not attract flying bugs like the outdoor lights around our doorway. The lights we have fit into 20-oz. water bottles and also fit into most larger 2 liter bottles. If you need a weight in the plastic bottle to keep them from tipping over, put in a few of the colorful flat marbles they put in aquariums and vases. You can also use sand, aquarium gravel, or whatever you have available.
The Solar Lights we have are perfect inside our home. They burn all night when needed and next day we take them back outside where they recharge and are ready for use again when needed. Solar Lights are the perfect light solution for power outages. I had never thought of it before seeing what my friend did, and now you know about this idea too.
This is one great idea!!
Necessity has ALWAYS been the mother of invention.
I have used these type of lights since their inception to mark the way to the dunny when away camping/fishing they are awesome :ok:
Another good idea when out of power is to get a roast out of the freezer in the early hours (coolest) and put it in the fridge to defrost.
This not only keeps the freezer cold it cools off the contents of the fridge cool as it defrosts :good:
A far better idea is to have a genset in the shed up and ready to go when you need it :)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10019/power.jpg)
does a person need a tetanus shot before they use that beaut old wheelbarrow of yours Trout?
Quote from: 'robbiegal' pid='22551' dateline='1374494295'does a person need a tetanus shot before they use that beaut old wheelbarrow of yours Trout?
Nah Mate my germs killed the tetanus years ago :dance2:
Anyway flash or not it beats lugging that bloody thing around :ok:
it's a brilliant wheelbarrow
a real collectable
I finally got another one a few years ago
some plastic number from bunnings
no where near the character of our old rusty one (R.I.P at the Townsville dump!)
I move my stock water pump (6hp B&S) up from the river when it floods using exactly that Trout. Makes life so much easier.
Top post by the way Goldie. Great idea.
Hopefully we won't be needing any in the future ..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhgUmGBjX8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghhgUmGBjX8)
I like what I see, but Im not holding my breath either ....
Great wheelbarrow- showing considerable wear but still going.!! VF. :angel:
Quote from: 'Robster' pid='22572' dateline='1374535431'Great wheelbarrow- showing considerable wear but still going.!! VF. :angel:
It's only had three new wheels, four new handles and a new body......but it's still original....hahaha
Quote from: 'Robster' pid='22572' dateline='1374535431'Great wheelbarrow- showing considerable wear but still going.!! VF. :angel:
Need to get it slabbed. :diablo:
If you have grid feed solar on your house there are some interesting possibilities to tap off some of that solar energy into a battery for emergency lighting, telephone, computer etc.
Drop me a line for ideas.
Jeff
Solar Design accreditation number P508 (That actually meant something before the Government opened the gates for any cowboy to set up as a solar provider/installer (and aren't there some shonky ones around now.)
Here is something that will save you a pile of money every year.
It isn't a new or particularly amazing idea but it works for Me.
If you have the use of a bit of land why not grow your own meat?
Not that hard to do and the meat is far better that the stuff you get from the butchers .
Quotewhy not grow your own meat
Where can I get some seeds? Can't see any in Stevo's eBay exotic plant listings! Last lot of seed I planted never germinated.
Seriously though;
•The foxes got all my chickens one night (but ignored the guinea fowl and pheasants -I think that was because only the chooks ran around demented when the break in occurred).
•My ducks and geese used to steal the dog's food from their bowls and taunt the dogs. Dogs on a running chain when we went to work and the birds knew exactly how far to stand back after a raid. Came home one day to find every last duck and goose was dead. Dogs managed to break chain and take revenge. The dam was no refuge against Labradors.
•The sheep had to go after the ram put my wife over the gate from behind. {Thank God I didn't laugh!} The neighbours were happy to take them.
•Last and not least; we now live within the town boundary (just) and only have a small block (2 acres) -urban folk are rather restricted in their views on acceptable practice next door.
Good idea if you can do it.
I hear roast Guinea Pig is alright........
I was thinking more along the lines of getting a couple poddy steers and keeping them for 12-18 months .
they keep each other company and dead easy to look after :good:
PS. The few ducks we did harvest were lovely roasted.
We also did some "underground mutton" when we lived out of town. But, they grew themselves -we just harvested them (.22).
These I liked best sectioned, crumbed and deep fried a la Southern fried chicken.
Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='22641' dateline='1374567307'•The sheep had to go after the ram put my wife over the gate
Wiley the Clydesdale got into the neighbour's flowerbeds and what he didn't munch he stomped with his massive dinnerplate feet.
Hamish the Goat had a taste for treeferns, but only the yummy new growth in the crown, which of course killed them.
Animals weren't a huge success around our place, needless to say. ;)
Quote from: 'Fulvio' pid='22653' dateline='1374570548'Quote from: 'JeffH' pid='22641' dateline='1374567307'•The sheep had to go after the ram put my wife over the gate
Wiley the Clydesdale got into the neighbour's flowerbeds and what he didn't munch he stomped with his massive dinnerplate feet.
Hamish the Goat had a taste for treeferns, but only the yummy new growth in the crown, which of course killed them.
Animals weren't a huge success around our place, needless to say. ;)
The secret is NEVER name them.
I bought a young cow once and called it Moo, when it came time to do the job I put olive oil in the chainsaw, sharpened the knives , cleaned the back of the ute out and checked the rifle.
I went down to the yard and called out "How you doin Moo" and the bloody thing came up and licked my hand :dash1:
I gave that animal to one of my mates as a breeder.
It isn't always perfect , But when it all comes together it is great :ok:
Quote from: 'trout' pid='22677' dateline='1374574171'The secret is NEVER name them.
Funny, I had a similar experience with some chicks...
I named them
"Breakfast", "Lunch", "Dinner" and "Tea".
All the kids were horrified, and I think they eventually died of old age or a heart attack or something. Damn waste... :(
I know some chickens they are named Honey, Soy, Lemon, Satay and Drumstick.
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='22685' dateline='1374575158'I know some chickens they are named Honey, Soy, Lemon, Satay and Drumstick.
So Perri perri has gone already then :angel: