Up until the middle of the twentieth century, people utilized root cellars
to keep food supplies cool and avoid spoilage in the summer and prevent
freezing in the winter. Not just root crops like potatoes, turnips, carrots,
and beets, root cellars stored the autumn harvest of families vegetable
gardens and seeds for the spring plantings. Along with the canned/pickled/
preserved vegetables, meats, and fruit, also the salt preserved fish and
meats, and last but not least the alcoholic beverages.

It was used on a daily basis for milk, butter, cream and bread to allow these
items to be used more than once. Before the dawn of electricity, it was quite
literally the home’s food pantry and refrigerator. (more…)

You can make your own biodiesel with these three ingredients; methanol, sodium
hydroxide (lye/ caustic soda like for cleaning drains, found next to Drano), and
vegetable oil. Everything you can get at the grocery store. Except for maybe the
methanol, but you can get it at the auto parts store. Gas line antifreeze is
usually pure methanol. (more…)

AFter searching and searching for waste disposal sites in Texas, I have come up pretty
much empty as far as actual sites go. They will tell you what items are considered
hazardous household waste. These items are listed below.

* Fluorescent light bulbs (including compact fluorescent light bulbs)
* Oil-based paints
* Some anti-mildew and exterior latex paints
* Some wood stains
* Fuels (gasoline, propane, diesel)
* Corrosive cleaners (such as lye-based oven cleaners) (more…)