Category: Frugal Finder

Start a Farm With Government Grant Money

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Would a government grant help you make the leap to buying a farm? That right! The USDA has announced it is giving out over $19MILLION in grants to young farmers accross the country! The Nation Institute of Food and Agriculture is managing the grant program. This program was put into place to help the younger generation break into the farming industry. Its for people with 10 years or less experience in the farming industry.

If this sounds like you, read on….

The grants were put into place to help train producers the the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program or BFRDP for short.

Although getting a grant isnt easy, it sure beats getting a loan and having to repay it! Below is some of the info, keep in mind that these dates are the same every year!

Important Dates

Posted Date:

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Closing Date:

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Additional Information

For More Information Contact:

Jill Auburn

Contact for Electronic Access Problems:

electronic@nifa.usda.gov (link sends e-mail)

Funding Opportunity Number:

USDA-NIFA-BFR-005436

CFDA number:

10.311

Abstracts of Funded Projects:

Read the Abstract (link is external)

Previous fiscal year(s) RFA:
application/pdf FY 2015 BFRDP RFA (222.23 KB)
Estimated Total Program Funding:

$18,000,000

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:

At least equal to 25 percent (25%) of the federal funds awarded.

Were You Born In The Wrong Century?

Would you be up to the challenge? Drop all contacts, throw away the cell phone, leave behind the laptop, and walk back into time; to the TENTH century?? (Video Below)

In 2013, and medieval re-enactment group built a 10th-century homestead as an experiment. The homestead has no access to electricity, no internet, tv, radio, or any other modern comforts.

10th century 17They selected one of their re-enactors to take on the challenge, Pavel Sapozhnikov. He will be running the medieval homestead in the dead of Russian winter! During winter the region temperatures can drop to -30 Degrees C(-22 Degrees F)!

Contruction of the homestead began in 2012 with the help of achaeologist Alexander Fetisov. The entire homestead was constructed using ONLY the materials found in 10th-century homesteads.

“You can do anything with an axe. And things you cannot do with an axe can be done with a tool that an axe will help you make,” Pavel explains.
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Here is an interview via YouTube that explains the challenge:

 

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Counting the Days!

The farm rules were pretty strict – only authentic tools, equipment and food (found in ancient Russia) are permitted at all times. Pavel will have a limited supply of harvested food; he is expected to obtain his own food by hunting, gathering and fishing in the forest (the only time he was allowed to leave the farm). Each day, Sapozhnikov endured a routine of physical labor to ensure his survival: He woke up, checked on his livestock, milked the goat, chopped wood, fetched water from a well, insulated his cabin with manure, and hunted for food

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Amazing Energy Efficient Shipping Container Home

This amazing Shipping Container home was built by Joseph Dupuis, 29, who does renewable energy research at Algonquin College in Ottawa. He claims its super energy efficient and says it cost less than $20k to make!!

 

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He claims it is so energy efficient that his highest bill right now is his cell phone! How nice would that be!!

 

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I love the simplicity of this home. Would you live here?
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3107676/Pictured-beautiful-self-sufficient-home-built-inside-set-old-shipping-containers-Canadian-man-expensive-bill-month-phone.html#ixzz3nFmpad2q

How to Make a PVC Bow for only $7!

Great DIY project: How to build a hunting a survival bow with PVC.

I love bow hunting and love spending time with my kids. Bow hunting is a great family event, but with 7 kids, it can become costly.

This first video is great for kids and women. It is a 40 pound draw bow and make it perfect for kids. They really enjoy these and it makes a great family activity.

Here’s what you’re going to need:

  • A few feet of 3/4″ PVC pipe
  • 2 (5/16) inch fiberglass rods
  • Duct tape
  • Tile saw blade (with hacksaw, or not)
  • Paracord (poly or nylon blend…nylon stretches less which is better for the bow string).

Once you have those supplies then you’ll want to watch this video which shows you the exact steps to creating your PVC bow.

 

Now a 40pound draw is great for fun and small framed people, but I needed more. I found this 70 pound design by the same guy! Its great and can totally drop a deer! These are so cheap and easy to make that everyone should consider having these made up and stored in case of long term disasters. And in the meantime, they are a great backyard family activity!