ReadFanon

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2h ago

Prior to the advent of the Haber process, actual battles were fought between empires over claims over islands of bird shit. The nitrogen was a really big deal but also access to this as a readily-accessible source of phosphate was extremely important up until the modern era to use for gunpowder as well.

You can imagine exactly what happens next given these conditions, right? Some fuckass empire discovers the next guano island and their war machine hungers ceaselessly to they go and displace a people, maybe fight a small war over it too, and all so they can maintain their monopoly on violence over their colonies and start more wars.

Many such cases. Even bird shit itself is not safe from capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism.

2

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 1d ago

Either it's too late or it's not but we will only ever know the truth of it in hindsight. That's a scary proposition but, unfortunately, it's the reality.

It's really important to not foreclose on the opportunity for change by giving up prematurely. I know that's hard (believe me, I do.) While it's scary to confront the prospect of doing everything you can and failing or doing everything wrong and thus failing, it's important to focus on confronting what it would be like not trying and failing. After all, everything seems impossible until it's achieved and then retrospectively it seems as though it was an inevitability and so it's preferable to try and fail than to not try at all. This isn't any consolation and it's completely intellectualizing the problem but it's an important frame to maintain imo.

There's three paths forward, from what I can tell:

Revolution and bringing the world back from the brink
Climate apocalypse
Climate catastrophe and reconstruction

1 is what we can hope for. Idk if it's a viable possibility but so be it. 2 means we're all fucked. 3 seems the most likely but, thankfully, we can shoot for 1 and if we land at 3 then basically all the efforts will still be applicable to the latter anyway.

A vulgar take on this next part would be to call it opportunism or accelerationism, but it's really not - if we have a number 3 outcome and a subsequent partial collapse of society then the people who are best organized, who are the most connected to their communities and who are capable of vanguard-style leadership and who are genuinely able to provide for their community's needs, are going to be the people who will be best positioned to reshape the political landscape. Post-WWI Russia was a similar situation. The years just prior to the Chinese revolution were too. It will be different under a number 3 scenario but the broad brushstrokes will remain the same.

If the person who knows how to grow food and is looked to for organizing the distribution of local resources in serious post-collapse community says that we aren't reverting to capitalism, people will listen. And I'm not even talking about some sort of autocratic edict being handed down here, obviously - if you're a leader and you talk to the people in your community who look up to you and rely on you and you tell them about how the previous economic system's externalities led to this outcome then you won't even need to directly educate and propagandize them against capitalism because living in the fallout and having someone bring their attention to how deeply unwell and destructive the previous system was would turn anyone against it immediately.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

Eyes peeled for Playnite to drop on Linux in the coming year

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

Also check out Hydra Launcher. Be careful since it's a piracy tool so use all due caution that you usually would for these things.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

You love to see it!

Imagine having a hobby that saves you money, that improves your diet, that diverts profit away from Big Agra and grocery store corporations, and it only costs you pennies to do it. Plus tomatoes that have had a chance to ripen on the vine are infinitely better. Make 'em heirloom beefstake tomatoes and you will have achieved the absolute peak imo.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

The first question that came to mind for me was how long the nutrient solution lasts before it's depleted, and how to know when you need to add more.

I'd do it before the bucket runs dry but even then, if your plants are still kicking and you notice the bucket is empty then give it the incremental top up using about 2L at a time until you're back to a comfortable level.

Worst case scenario - the bucket runs dry, your plants end up too stressed and they die off after you refill the bucket so you replant it with new plants and you start again. No big deal.

As for depletion of nutrients themselves, that really shouldn't be a problem. If you grew a perennial plant in this system then over a long period (I'm thinking years), depending on the nutrients you are using you could see some nutrient deficiencies or excesses gradually emerge but that's a long shot tbh and it's something that I doubt would happen regularly so it's really nothing to worry about. Given that it's super easy to reset a system it's not much of an issue and if you've been using it nonstop for multiple years where these problems might arise then you're miles ahead of where this guide is aimed at.

Are Kratky hydroponics really less labor-intensive than regular 5gal planters with cardboard mulching?

Once it's set up I'd say so. You take out the need to figure out a fertilizing schedule, there is zero weeding, and you don't need to concern yourself with soil conditions. But if you want to go with 5gal planters then definitely do that, I wouldn't dream of knocking that approach.

This way is good for people who don't have much space, since it's vertical, or who don't have good access to transport or who lack the physical strength to deal with soil etc. (although can be a good option for plenty of other people too.)

When my friends/org were starting out doing gardens, we grew a lot of tomatoes and chili peppers in buckets with soil. I would suspect that using a conventional method with mulch and compost would build more easily transferrable skills to growing on a plot of land.

I agree with you on that.

In terms of transferrable skills for growing on a plot of land, conventional container gardening is more transferrable in a direct sense without a doubt. But the problem is that it can be really difficult to get started if you don't know where to start and it's your first time, especially if you don't have access to a more skilled gardener for advice - kratky hydro eliminates the concerns about soil and fertilizing and watering (for the most part, at least) and it's a good way to get started on observing plants growing in fairly optimal conditions so you can start developing your skills since there aren't as many variables to consider once it's set up. It's also nice if you're forgetful or you struggle with fatigue (hi, nice to meet you!)

Honestly in every respect aside from perhaps convenience, this is the least optimal way of growing food - although kratky sometimes outperforms other hydro methods with certain plants, there are more consistent hydro methods that tend to provide better yields and as for growing conventionally in soil, there's a lot of benefits to that approach especially in terms of skill building and soil enrichment and closed-loop gardening. If you have access to a plot of soil and you know what you're doing then, unless you want a very convenient little herb tower as a kitchen garden right outside your door, I'd advise against this method. (Or maybe if you regularly work away and can't tend to plants while you're on trips or you're in a drought-prone area and you have your heart set on growing a semiaquatic plant.)

But it still holds a lot of use for different cases. In terms of transferrable skills, this method is really useful if you want to dive deeper into hydroponics or even aero/aqua but you're just starting out and you don't want to throw big cash at it yet. You also get a fair way into transferrable skills for doing intensive mycoculture (as opposed to open mycoculture), believe it or not, but that's a different subject for a different post.

Ultimately if this puts gardening within reach for people who it might not otherwise had been or it gets people started and they see enough results to motivate them to keep at it or, ideally, this turns out to be the perfect method for them then that's great. It makes for an easy first step that will get people to explore growing from seeds, seed saving, taking cuttings, pruning, and all sorts of other paths that lead outward from there and that includes conventional horticulture too. I'm not here to tell anyone what they have to do (ignore the title of the post pls) - my hope is just that it inspires someone to try out gardening especially if trying to start growing in soil seems too daunting.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

It's shorter, smaller and more janky but it's actually a good time. Definitely one of those games from the era where they didn't spoonfeed you wins but instead they made you really work for it.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 2d ago

You can heat it with any type of fire or if you have an electric stove you can put the cookie cutter directly on the stove itself (I'd put down some aluminum foil first since you don't want to get any melted plastic on your stove.)

If your cookie cutter is all metal, you can also use an oven to heat it up.

It's possible to do it with boiling water but it will be a bit messy and tedious so that would be my last choice and I'd only do it this way out of desperation tbh.

As for how hot - hotter than you're able to hold it with bare hands. At around the boiling point of water you'll be able to melt through the plastic to cut a hole but if you're only just at that temp then it might take a few goes before you get through so ideally you want something that is about 150°C to 180°C (300°f to 350°f.) But don't overthink it - if progress is too slow then heat it up a bit longer and if it's too hot to control it comfortably then let it cool down for a minute.

It's definitely a good trick to have up your sleeve for a collapse, whether it's societal or it's a personal one. You can survive with very little but having food is nonnegotiable.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 3d ago

Oh true, this is probably happening in the US and things are a bit... different there. I guess doing that would could get you arrested or shot over there. I forget that America is unique like that.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 3d ago

Check out Netherwilds too. They do funny medieval takes on meme posts that are class conscious and they do bardcore metal as well. I think you'd appreciate their stuff if you like this.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 3d ago

Happy Crimbus is my favorite

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 3d ago

If not for the person themselves, at least for the cleanup crew who has to deal with the remains that would get worse and worse the longer you leave it.

Also if that person is no longer in need of a house for the above reasons then I'm sure someone else could use it.

2

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 3d ago

I'd recommend taking in any newspapers or mail and leaving a note to tell them that you noticed it piling up and you're holding on to it for them so that their mail doesn't get stolen.

People will look for piled up mail as an indication that it's the right house to break into so it's good community work to help protect someone from that, unless they are an absolutely vile piece of shit who will start a fight with you over this kind gesture (in which case, fuck them.)

I'd also recommend calling in a welfare check asap. They might be in dire need of help. Or worse. It'd suck to know that they didn't get the help they needed and that something could have been done but now it's too late. You've gotta be alive in order to turn a new leaf and sometimes it takes having a broken leg due to an accident and surviving on cat food for weeks (because it's the only food left in the house) with nobody checking on you because nobody cares about you due to you being an insufferable asshole to everyone your entire life before it puts your behavior into sharp contrast and it forces you to change your attitude. I'm not saying that this is a good thing or that it should be considered as a solution but it is what it is.

I'd call it in as soon as possible.

2

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 4d ago

I've heard very good things about Masterblend from people in North America so if you're in that region then I'd be comfortable recommending this based on the reviews from people whose opinions I value, so +1 on that.

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 4d ago

Don't stress too much. There are better and worse nutrient solutions out there, at least if you believe what your read online.

The plants will absorb the nutrients they need from the solution so you don't need to worry about trying to dial it in or buying the "right" nutrients, any more than a gardener needs to worry about getting the "right" type of horse manure for their garden; yes, you can get right into the weeds over addressing nutrient deficiencies or nutrient requirements of plants but if you're not growing for commercial purposes or, uhhhhh, "small business" purposes then it's really not something that is important. If you want to try your hand at gardening or starting hydroponic growing then you can just throw this together and let it do its thing.

The powdered nutrient can be hard to dissolve and dilution can be a pain (and I'd probably opt for reverse osmosis water to get it to fully dissolve) so imo the liquid stuff is much better for the purposes of doing small batch stuff, but use what you can find that is within your budget. Sometimes you can get all-in-one nutrient liquid but often it comes in two parts - get whatever is a reasonable price and that gets good reviews (if buying online.)

For making a solution from the liquid you need to know how much you're making, so measure out your water first. Then you will need to follow the directions on the back stating to add x ml per x L. This is where a little measured plastic pipette or syringe barrel is important. Add the amount directed on the bottle(s) and give it a good stir. That's all there is to it.

Currently I'm using two-part liquid nutrient that is 3ml per L. It's two 1L bottles so I have enough to make over 300L (hydroponic nutrient isn't the cheapest when it comes to upfront cost but it will last you a long time especially if you're just growing in a couple of buckets.)

Keep in mind that this method is sort of going against the mainstream in hydroponics. Hydro started as cutting edge technology and it used to be very expensive so it still has a strong culture of it being technical. But it doesn't need to be that way. You're not going to reach 100% optimal growing with this method and that's the whole point - most people who garden don't achieve the optimum either and often simpler is better especially when you're just stating out. There's a lot of hydroponic advice online that is geared towards the really expensive, technical side which is really neat but it's also really overcomplicated - I just wanna grow vegetables for god's sake!

ReadFanon [any, any] @hexbear.net 4d ago

It sure is, but I think it's a little deceptive since with any hydroponic growing you frontload most of the work in setting up your growing conditions and then after that point the maintenance is pretty minimal. In this example it's the simplest hydroponic method so once you've established it, continuing it through the seasons requires very minimal effort. In terms of actual effort required to have consistent yields, this method is only rivalled by establishing a food forest imo but those are almost always syntropic so they require quite a bit of maintenance and adjusting until they reach an equilibrium after all the succession, plus you need a decent plot that you'll have long-term (ideally forever) and the amount of planning and learning required for a successful food forest is really steep. This is the polar opposite - it's for the person who would like to grow some lettuce and basil on their balcony or their paved yard but they've never tried gardening before.

It all depends on what your expectations are and what skill level you bring. Plenty of people are happy with guerilla gardening or throwing some skirret or chaya into the ground and knowing what to do with the product you get at the end but a lot of people either want more "conventional" vegetables, they don't have access to soil, or they don't know how to fertilize plants and how to make the right soil conditions for the plants they want to grow.

The point of this is to make something as simple with the highest rate of success as practical on a shoestring budget without requiring any specialized knowledge or access to soil. It's a way to eliminate as many variables as possible - soil quality, watering and drainage, fertilizing, plating location, dealing with temperature extremes like frost, addressing lot of accessibility needs etc.; all the stuff that poses a barrier to getting started and seeing early success.

There's no one-size-fits-all gardening method. To each their own and if this helps someone get started on growing some food on their balcony or in their yard then that's a win in my book.

ReadFanon [any, any]

Kokym - Zaffit El Tahrer | كوكيم - زفة التحرير (هي ما بدها خاتم)

Kokym - Zaffit El Tahrer | كوكيم - زفة التحرير (هي ما بدها خاتم)

Every now and then I need a game like Dispatch to remind me why I like short games

Low Cost DIY Open Source Gaming Console! | ETA Prime

Is chicken manure used a lot in traditional East Asian gardening or something?

Is chicken manure used a lot in traditional East Asian gardening or something?

how do you avoid getting blackpilled/paralyzed by climate change

Epic Games. No, Thanks.

Epic Games. No, Thanks.

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

GOG just dropped Warhammer: Dark Omen, an old retro game with a cult following. Here's some rare mod files for it that don't exist elsewhere on the internet.

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

So I think my neighbor is either dead, in the hospital, or in a hospice/home.

GOG just dropped Warhammer: Dark Omen, an old retro game with a cult following. Here's some rare mod files for it that don't exist elsewhere on the internet.

excuse me was nobody going to tell me about the youtuber who turns popular music into medieval inspired "bardcore" parodies?

meryr chrysler

So I think my neighbor is either dead, in the hospital, or in a hospice/home.

So I think my neighbor is either dead, in the hospital, or in a hospice/home.

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

DIY hydroponic tower for growing vegetables (except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables, if you want to (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

It's time to start learning how to grow your own vegetables (hydroponic tower growing except cheap, easy, and off-grid)

Graham Platner on Reddit 6 years ago commenting on a thread mentioning the totenkopf on a post discussing SS soldiers with a visible totenkopf in the photo

Webfishing drop-in peer support - you're invited!

Webfishing Drop-In Peer Support - you're invited!

PDF to epub OCR request thread

How to access books uploaded to LibGen & How to upload to LibGen

How to upload audiobooks to TankieTube, using the TankieTanuki-sanctioned method

(Example Post) The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

"How do I request a book?" • Read this before posting a request

/c/Book_Requests

TankieTube accessible on Android via GrayJay app

Ranting about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and ADHD

Suggestions for replacing ableist words

Holy shit, Breadtube has become even more of a grift than it was

Cute dress tho