#hemp straws

[greentekkid-blog]

5 Myths About Bioplastic Utensils Debunked

In the quest for more sustainable living, bioplastic utensils have emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic cutlery. However, like many innovative solutions, bioplastic utensils are surrounded by a range of myths and misconceptions. In this blog, we’ll debunk five common myths about bioplastic utensils and provide the facts you need to make informed choices. Contact us for more information or shop all of our products.

Myth 1: Bioplastic Utensils Are Just as Harmful as Regular Plastic

Debunked: One of the most pervasive myths is that bioplastic utensils are no better for the environment than conventional plastic. While it’s true that not all bioplastics are created equal, many bioplastic utensils are made from renewable resources like cornstarch, sugarcane, or potato starch. These materials have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to petroleum-based plastics. Moreover, many bioplastics are designed to be compostable, meaning they can break down into natural elements without leaving harmful residues, unlike traditional plastics which can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.

Myth 2: Bioplastic Utensils Don’t Compost Properly

Debunked: Another misconception is that bioplastic utensils do not compost effectively and end up in landfills, just like regular plastic. The truth is, bioplastics require specific conditions to break down, such as industrial composting facilities where temperatures and humidity are controlled. While it’s true that these utensils won’t decompose as quickly in a backyard compost, in the right conditions, they can turn into compost within a few months, contributing to soil health rather than pollution.

Myth 3: Bioplastic Utensils Are Not Durable

Debunked: There’s a common belief that bioplastic utensils are flimsy and less durable than their traditional plastic counterparts. However, advancements in bioplastic technology have led to the production of utensils that are not only strong and sturdy but also heat-resistant and capable of handling various types of food. Many users find that high-quality bioplastic utensils can perform just as well as, if not better than, conventional plastic ones.

Myth 4: Bioplastic Utensils Are Too Expensive

Debunked: While it’s true that bioplastics were once more expensive due to limited production and higher material costs, the increasing demand for sustainable products has led to greater production efficiency and a reduction in costs. Today, the price difference between bioplastic and traditional plastic utensils is narrowing, making them a more accessible option for consumers and businesses alike. Additionally, the environmental benefits of choosing bioplastics can outweigh the slight cost difference, especially when considering the long-term impact on the planet.

Myth 5: Bioplastic Utensils Contribute to Deforestation

Debunked: Some critics argue that the production of bioplastics leads to deforestation, as large areas of land are used to grow the crops needed for bioplastic production. However, the reality is more nuanced. Many bioplastic manufacturers source their raw materials from sustainably managed farms that use crop rotation and other environmentally friendly practices. Additionally, research is ongoing to develop bioplastics from non-food sources, such as agricultural waste, which would further reduce the environmental impact.

Conclusion

Bioplastic utensils represent a promising step towards reducing our reliance on traditional plastics. By debunking these myths, we hope to provide clarity and encourage more people to consider bioplastics as a viable, sustainable option. At GreenTek Planet, we’re committed to offering eco-friendly products that help protect our environment. Choose bioplastics with confidence, knowing that you’re making a positive impact on our planet.

[dummerjan]

I would love to follow the process of making linen yarn from cultivation all the way to spinning or weaving I want to see it bloom, to see it ret, I want to heckle!

[homeofhousechickens]

is there a reason mj is on pellets and not the others? also, idk if this applies to birds, but isnt pine harmful? ik with reptiles we have to avoid pine and cedar bc reptiles have sensitive respiratory systems, and those woods can aggravate it. (NOT trying to accuse you of being a bad keeper, this is just what i know. its also for a totally different animal)

Since Mj is a hen she has bigger wetter poops then my boys so it's mostly to just be a bit less smelly and easier to keep clean. With puppy pads she was getting her feathers dirty and stained pretty often. On pine pellets she keeps herself pristine.

The pine pellets are safe in my experience, my vet has no problem with it and my birds have never had respiratory issues from it. Only thing I dislike about it is that it gets pretty dusty which can be irritating, but shavings get everywhere and aren't as absorbent, so I just prefer them.

Also the wood is processed in a way that gets rid of irritating oils before it becomes a pellet. Wood based bedding is pretty much the norm when it comes to poultry at least in my area.

[ararebreedstory]

I love how we were all expected to go all in on paper straws, when Hemp plastic is biodegradable. Just one more example of conservative prohibitions holding us back as a species.

[teaboot]

One time, I had an English professor tell me I should stop using my inhaler because it was bad for the environment.

Yeah an if you dropped dead it would significantly reduce your carbon footprint too, huh. What if we ALL just stopped breathing. Can’t be throwing fistfuls of plastic fuckin straws directly into the South Pacific when you got a BPM of zilch, can you? What a fuckin innovator. Was he head of your nation’s EPA *directly* before he retired to become world’s youngest baseline edgelord 4chan ass 14 year old boy with tenure, or did he wait for his 3rd consecutive Nobel peace prize before giving someone else a chance? Ask him if his back hurts from carrying the weight of all the world’s most pressing concerns to and from Chuck E Cheese each night or if his tiny spiny propellor hat lightens the load a bit. Did his big red clown nose come standard with his tweed set or he spring for the premium model with the biodegradeable sustainable foam and the super-boosted honk-honk action? Are his size 23 clown bitch oxfords custom? Does he take one off to use as a canoe on his annual vacations to his summer home in the balmy and tropical shit fuck dumbass islands or does he just levitate everywhere he goes by the power of his unparalleled Xmen level intellect. Can you ask him if Magneto is gonna spare the human race to run laps in his hamster wheel electrical generator complex or if he’s just gonna wipe us all the fuck out for the carbon tax credit. Ask him if the weight of his gigantic balls dragging in the ground behind him everywhere he goes adds to the mileage on his Tesla. When he wipes his ass does he use single ply to save the trees or just a fistful of baby ducklings that he can then gently bathe by hand with water collected by the rain barrel in the endangered orchid garden by the solarium on the west side of his sprawling villa, the one he bought when he sold the patent for the perpetual motion motion machine he built out of toothpicks and marshmallows in third grade before the obvious intellectual gap between himself and the rest of us bumbling simpletons weighed him down and killed his passion to create. What other wisdom has he yet to share with the world? What other knowledge that only he and my reiki-healing essential-oil-drinking violet-aura neighbour know that may benefit us all? Holy shit, have I been drinking WATER my whole life? That shit that whales live in? Guess I’ll just go lay in a hole out back and wait for the compost heap to take me. Should I confess my sins to Captain Planet first, so he may redeem my wicked soul in the true Eco Catholic way, or was that recyclable soda can I threw in the trash downtown at last year’s garlic bread festival because there were no recycling bins provided the final straw that made me unworthy of glorious green salvation? BRB, gotta go strip naked and flagellate myself before the begonias so that they may know the depth of my remorse. Don’t worry, I only buy locally-sourced hemp lashes produced by small home businesses at the farmer’s market, they have a three-for-two sale on Sundays if you bring your own reusable bag. Christ on a fucking cupcake

[mythrilthread]

Царевна by Vodolej

Fun fact: this was supposed to be one of my two projects I for sure completed this Binderary, but I caught a really bad flu, so who knows about the second one. But this turned out exactly the way I wanted 💛

The story is a sort of a fairy tale that one of the characters is telling to himself, so I leaned HARD on that vibe. This is an A6 sewn-boards binding.

👑 I think this is like my first bookbinding project where 100% of art was done by me. Front and back covers are inspired by Russian wooden architecture, the half-title page with the summary has my take on a traditional wooden window frame, and the scene divider is Slavic-ish ornament, all of it having something dragonish in them.

👑 I got really into Slavic calligraphy over this past month, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to practice my vyaz tangling skills (a key feature of the traditional Slavic calligraphy is that every project has a metric fuckton of custom ligatures (hence the name ‘vyaz’, something knit or tied together), that the calligrapher makes up based on some general principles), so the title, front matter, summary, first and last lines are all done by me in Procreate. This particular style is based on Viktor Pushkarev’s ‘tall vyaz’.

👑 The title is additionally embellished with gold ink that looks absolutely stunning in real life despite my rather shaky brushwork.

👑 The ribbon I used for the spine and ended of the cover was a really lucky random find when I was shopping for linen for an unrelated project. I mean look at it! The featured pairing of the story is literally called ‘scales of gold’, how perfect is that?

👑 I really like working on shorter stories because I feel like I can get away with more unhinged design choices in the short form. Which is why I used Cyrillic uncial font as a body font to really hammer in that ancient manuscript feel. This is one of the tamer varieties of that font, but I decided to go for readability over those really pretty archaic letters that I really enjoy.

👑 The paper is 120 gsm Papier Paille made with bast fibre (straw from flax and hemp) rather than wood pulp, and its suggested use is for wedding invitations and the like, so I was cackling maniacally the entire time I was printing this gleefully obscene story on it.

All in all, VERY happy with how this turned out.

[rattusrattus3]

Been playing with making miniature things lately and this is my tiny vampire hunting kit! (bottle cap for scale)

Materials under cut :-)

Box - cardboard and lace

Rope - hemp cord

Garlic - clay and jute cord

Dagger - pen nib, cardboard, rhinestones, beads, wire

Holy water - beads, chain, nail charm

Teeth - straw, beads, coarse salt painted red

Rosary - chain, wire

Candles - toothpicks, thread

Cross - charm, beads, wire

Mallet - bead, toothpick

Stakes - toothpicks, leather

Pentacle - hot glue, silver paint

Mirror - cardboard , mirror tape

Blood - beads, nail charm, thread

Salt pouch - ribbon, gem, thread , salt

Scroll - tea dipped paper, hot glue

Book - cardstock , leather, bead

[ohsalome]

What Ukrainians ate to survive Holodomor

(translated excerpts from an Історична Правда article): + images source

The villagers would dig up the holes of the polecats to find at least a handful of grain hidden by these animals. They pounded it in a mortar, added a handful of oilcake (from hemp seed), beetroot, potato peelings, and baked something from this mixture.

Those who managed to hide at least a little grain would grind it in iron mills made from wheel axles and cook "zatyrukha" (a concoction made from a small amount of flour ground from ears of grain).

Acacia flowers were boiled and eaten raw, and green quinoa was mixed with crushed corn cobs. Those who could - and this was considered lucky - added a handful of bran. This food made their feet swell and their skin crack.

The peasants dried the husked ears of corn and millet husks, pounded them, ground them with weeds, and cooked soups and baked pancakes. Such dishes were impossible to chew, the body could not digest them, so people had stomach aches. Pancakes, the so-called "matorzhenyky", were made from oilcake and nettle or plantain.

It went so far that peasants would crumble straw into small chips and pound it in a mortar together with millet and buckwheat chaff, and tree bark. All this was mixed with potato peelings, which were very poisonous, and this mixture was used to bake "bread", the consumption of which caused severe stomach diseases.

There were cases when village activists took away and broke millstones, mortars, poured water on the heat in their ovens. After all, anything found or saved from the food had to be cooked on fire, and matches could only be purchased by bartering for their own belongings or by buying them in the city, which was impossible from villagers that were on "black lists".

Chestnuts, aspen and birch bark, buds, reed roots, hawthorn and rose hips, which were the most delicious, were used as food substitutes; various berries, even poisonous ones, were picked; grass seeds were ground into flour; "honey" from sugar beets was cooked, and water brewed with cherry branches was drunk. They also ate the kernels of sunflower seeds.

Newborns had the worst of it, because their mothers had no breast milk. According to testimonies, a mother would let her child suck the drink from the top of the poppy head, and the child would fall asleep for three days.

In early spring, the villagers began to dig up old potato fields. They would bake dumplings from frozen potatoes, grind rotten potatoes in a mash and make pancakes, greasing the frying pan with wheel grease. They also baked "blyuvaly" (transl. "vomities") from such potatoes and oatmeal mixed with water, which was so called because they were very smelly.

They ate mice, rats, frogs, hedgehogs, snakes, beetles, ants, worms, i.e. things that weren't a part of food bans and had never been eaten by people before. The horror of the famine is also evidenced by the consumption of spiders, which are forbidden to kill in Ukrainian society for ritual reasons.

In some areas, slugs were boiled into a soup, and the cartilaginous meat was chopped and mixed with leaves. This prevented swelling of the body and contributed to survival. People caught tadpoles, frogs, lizards, turtles, and mollusks. They boiled them, adding a little salt if there was salt. The starving people caught cranes, storks, and herons, which have been protected in Ukraine for centuries, and their nests were never destroyed. According to folk beliefs, eating stork meat was equated with cannibalism.

The consumption of horse meat began in 1931, before the mass famine. People used to take dead horsemeat from the cemeteries at night, make jelly out of it and salt it for future use.

Dead horses were poured with carbolic acid to prevent people from taking their meat, but it hardly stopped anybody. Dead collective farm pigs were also doused with kerosene to prevent people from dismantling them for food, but this did not help either.

After long periods of starvatiom, the process of digestion is very costing for the human body, and many people who would eat anything would drop dead immediately out of exhaustion.

If a family had a cow hidden somewhere in the forest, they had a chance to survive. People living near forests could hunt/seek out berries and mushrooms, but during winter this wouldn't save them. People living near rivers could fish in secret, but it was banned and punishable by imprisonment/death.

[lesmisletters-daily]

Sums Deposited With Laffitte

Les Mis Letters reading club explores one chapter of Les Misérables every day. Join us on Discord, Substack - or share your thoughts right here on tumblr - today's tag is #lm 1.5.3

On the other hand, he remained as simple as on the first day. He had gray hair, a serious eye, the sunburned complexion of a laborer, the thoughtful visage of a philosopher. He habitually wore a hat with a wide brim, and a long coat of coarse cloth, buttoned to the chin. He fulfilled his duties as mayor; but, with that exception, he lived in solitude. He spoke to but few people. He avoided polite attentions; he escaped quickly; he smiled to relieve himself of the necessity of talking; he gave, in order to get rid of the necessity for smiling. The women said of him, “What a good-natured bear!” His pleasure consisted in strolling in the fields.

He always took his meals alone, with an open book before him, which he read. He had a well-selected little library. He loved books; books are cold but safe friends. In proportion as leisure came to him with fortune, he seemed to take advantage of it to cultivate his mind. It had been observed that, ever since his arrival at M. sur M., his language had grown more polished, more choice, and more gentle with every passing year. He liked to carry a gun with him on his strolls, but he rarely made use of it. When he did happen to do so, his shooting was something so infallible as to inspire terror. He never killed an inoffensive animal. He never shot at a little bird.

Although he was no longer young, it was thought that he was still prodigiously strong. He offered his assistance to any one who was in need of it, lifted a horse, released a wheel clogged in the mud, or stopped a runaway bull by the horns. He always had his pockets full of money when he went out; but they were empty on his return. When he passed through a village, the ragged brats ran joyously after him, and surrounded him like a swarm of gnats.

It was thought that he must, in the past, have lived a country life, since he knew all sorts of useful secrets, which he taught to the peasants. He taught them how to destroy scurf on wheat, by sprinkling it and the granary and inundating the cracks in the floor with a solution of common salt; and how to chase away weevils by hanging up orviot in bloom everywhere, on the walls and the ceilings, among the grass and in the houses.

He had “recipes” for exterminating from a field, blight, tares, foxtail, and all parasitic growths which destroy the wheat. He defended a rabbit warren against rats, simply by the odor of a guinea-pig which he placed in it.

One day he saw some country people busily engaged in pulling up nettles; he examined the plants, which were uprooted and already dried, and said: “They are dead. Nevertheless, it would be a good thing to know how to make use of them. When the nettle is young, the leaf makes an excellent vegetable; when it is older, it has filaments and fibres like hemp and flax. Nettle cloth is as good as linen cloth. Chopped up, nettles are good for poultry; pounded, they are good for horned cattle. The seed of the nettle, mixed with fodder, gives gloss to the hair of animals; the root, mixed with salt, produces a beautiful yellow coloring-matter. Moreover, it is an excellent hay, which can be cut twice. And what is required for the nettle? A little soil, no care, no culture. Only the seed falls as it is ripe, and it is difficult to collect it. That is all. With the exercise of a little care, the nettle could be made useful; it is neglected and it becomes hurtful. It is exterminated. How many men resemble the nettle!” He added, after a pause: “Remember this, my friends: there are no such things as bad plants or bad men. There are only bad cultivators.”

The children loved him because he knew how to make charming little trifles of straw and cocoanuts.

When he saw the door of a church hung in black, he entered: he sought out funerals as other men seek christenings. Widowhood and the grief of others attracted him, because of his great gentleness; he mingled with the friends clad in mourning, with families dressed in black, with the priests groaning around a coffin. He seemed to like to give to his thoughts for text these funereal psalmodies filled with the vision of the other world. With his eyes fixed on heaven, he listened with a sort of aspiration towards all the mysteries of the infinite, those sad voices which sing on the verge of the obscure abyss of death.

He performed a multitude of good actions, concealing his agency in them as a man conceals himself because of evil actions. He penetrated houses privately, at night; he ascended staircases furtively. A poor wretch on returning to his attic would find that his door had been opened, sometimes even forced, during his absence. The poor man made a clamor over it: some malefactor had been there! He entered, and the first thing he beheld was a piece of gold lying forgotten on some piece of furniture. The “malefactor” who had been there was Father Madeleine.

He was affable and sad. The people said: “There is a rich man who has not a haughty air. There is a happy man who has not a contented air.”

Some people maintained that he was a mysterious person, and that no one ever entered his chamber, which was a regular anchorite’s cell, furnished with winged hour-glasses and enlivened by cross-bones and skulls of dead men! This was much talked of, so that one of the elegant and malicious young women of M. sur M. came to him one day, and asked: “Monsieur le Maire, pray show us your chamber. It is said to be a grotto.” He smiled, and introduced them instantly into this “grotto.” They were well punished for their curiosity. The room was very simply furnished in mahogany, which was rather ugly, like all furniture of that sort, and hung with paper worth twelve sous. They could see nothing remarkable about it, except two candlesticks of antique pattern which stood on the chimney-piece and appeared to be silver, “for they were hall-marked,” an observation full of the type of wit of petty towns.

Nevertheless, people continued to say that no one ever got into the room, and that it was a hermit’s cave, a mysterious retreat, a hole, a tomb.

It was also whispered about that he had “immense” sums deposited with Laffitte, with this peculiar feature, that they were always at his immediate disposal, so that, it was added, M. Madeleine could make his appearance at Laffitte’s any morning, sign a receipt, and carry off his two or three millions in ten minutes. In reality, “these two or three millions” were reducible, as we have said, to six hundred and thirty or forty thousand francs.

[scotianostra]

If any early fire precautions and firefighting provisions were practised in Scotland they have not been recorded. There is no mention in the Scottish records of fire precautions until as late as the reign of James I of Scotland, when, in 1426, the town officers of Edinburgh were instructed to have ‘seven or aught twenty Jute ledders as well as three or Joure sayes (saws) to the common use, and sex or ma cleikes of iron (long poles tipped with iron hooks) to draw down timbers and ruiffes that are fired’ .

This belated concern in Scotland about fire control measures is surprising for the lowland and border burghs of the northern kingdom were even more vulnerable to fires than most English communities . Besides the fires which began by accident, the Scots had also to cope with the incendiarism which was an accompaniment of every English invasion. The French historian Froissart, who visited Scotland during the reign of David II may have been correct when he wrote that the Scots country people 'did not mind much when the English burned their houses, as they could build them again in a few days with five or six poles with branches to stretch across them’.

I think it is unlikely that either the citizens of Edinburgh (then a sizeable place for its time of about 400 houses), watched the destruction of their city by the English army sent north by Richard II, very cheerfully, or that the monks of Melrose and Dryburgh took pleasure in seeing their abbeys burning.

There were acts and resolutions before 1703, most notable in in 1426 an act resolved that 'no hemp, lint, straw, hay or heather or broom be stored near a fire’. Edinburgh merchants selling such wares are permitted to use lanterns but not candles and citizens in general are forbidden to carry naked flames from house to house. 'Na fire may be fetched fra ane house til ane uther within the town bot within covered weshel or lanterne, under pain of ane unlaw.’ That brothels and the homes of 'ladies of the town’ in general were considered a special fire risk is also shown by a clause in the Act which commands that 'common women’ should be housed at the outermost end of the town where 'the least peril o fire is’.

In 1621, another important Act was passed concerning 'the supply ing of water to the city from a distance' a three-inch pipe, which was installed by a German plumber at a cost of £2,950. It ran from a catchment in the Comiston area to a reservoir on the Castle Hill which, in its turn, fed ten of the city’s public wells. Incidentally (though this is only mentioned later), as there were :fire points’ on the pipes running from the Castle Hill to the wells, Edinburgh in this respect was in advance of other cities. While Edinburgh remained with. The reservoir is now occupied by a large gift shop, and several of the wells survive down the Royal mile, and, as in the pic, at the bottom of The West Bow, on Grassmarket.

What first shocked the Edinburgh City Fathers into taking thought about improving the existing situation was a particularly disastrous fire which broke out on February 3rd, 1700. Some of you might remember I posted about this on the date.

According to a report written about the fire some time later….

'The flames broke out about 11 o'clock at night, in the north-east corner of the Meal Market, a small court of buildings then chiefly occupied by lawyers, situated upon the north side of the Cowgate , immediately behind the Parliament Close. From this spot the fire spread up the hill to the Parliament Close, destroying all the buildings called Kirk-heuch, which was then a sort of shoe-market, and at length reached the High Street where houses continuous to the cross were involved in the general ruin .'

The Royal Exchange, the Bank of Scotland Building and part of the Advocates’ Library, were among the public buildings damaged or destroyed by this fire in which close on 200 families were driven from their homes. It was the worst fire that had occurred in Edinburghsince 1544 when an English army commanded by the Earl of Hertford, after overcoming the resistance of a small force of militant citizens, fired both the city and the Palace of Holyrood.

The phrase above 'shocked the City Fathers into thought’ was used by intent for action did not come until April 21st, 1703, when an important Edinburgh Act was passed for the formation of a ’Company for Quenching of Fire and Rules to be observed by the inhabitants thereanent’ . . A reproduction of this original bill with the provisions of this Act, is included among the pics but as both the print and the old Scots wordings may present difficulties, the following translation may be of help.

The Act (of the Provost, Bailies, Council and Deacons of Craft, 'ordiner and byordiner’) states and ordains that: 'Owing to the sad desolations made in this city within these years by the terrible and dreadfulfires which broke out in the Meal Market and Land Market, and made so sudden and great progress that a great part o( the city was in danger of being consumed, if God in his great mercy had not put a stop thereto, the Council, judging it their duty to lay down methods and means, that through the blessing of God may prove effectual in the /ike or great conflagrations, have concluded the following rules to be observed in time coming: That the Council do name out of the Burgesses and Freemen 0.( this city, twelve men, to be called by the name of firemasters, and each firemaster be empowered to name six assistants to himself to be ready at all times upon the occasion o tfire. The firemastersn to receive their orders from the magistrates and the assistants from their respective firemasters, who are all to present themselves to the magistrates each first Monday of February and August yearly in the New Greyfriars.

That each Firemaster have in his hand a batton and each assistant a leather cap on his head with an iron cross-bar on it, and a badge of pewter on the front of the cap bearing the number from 1 to 72, to be made by such persons as the Council shall appoint and by none other. That each Firemaster and his assistant have a large hand axe, made with luffs nailed to the shaft, and a sledge hammer, with a hand saw, all marked with the Town’s mark and twelve links alwise lodged in the Firemaster’s houses. That each Firemaster have his name above the door of his house or close-head where he dwells, bearing them to be such, and a list of the whole lodged in the town guard. The Council appoints to be made 24 says and thirty-six stings with knogs, whereof six standing full of water with stings hanging by them and some buckets, with six shovels and six mattocks with the good Town’s mark upon them, to be lodged on the north side of the weighhouse, under a shade made for that end (several other stations are mentioned), that each Firemaster shall have a key to open the several shades.

The Council appoints 300 leather buckets or more to be made, and that there be lodged thereof in the Town Guard as many as can with convenience and the rest be hung up in the Old Kirk, as also 12 leathers, whereof 3 of them of 46 foot, 3 of them 30 foot , 3 of them 20 foot and 3 of them 15 foot long, all to be hung up in the Old Kirk . The Council appoints the whole muck-men to have each of them a creel, and to repair to the fire with their creels full of horse-dung or muck upon the first alarm. The Council appoints the wells to be put in good condition and the fire-cocks in good order, that the whole Firemasters may know how to put the water on to the firecock, and to make the water run to any side of the street by the help of a timber spout, which the Council appoints to be made to that effect. The Council appoints the captain of the guard upon the first alarm of fire to send to the magistrates and hail! Firemasters and the keeper of the good town’s stores and advertise them thereof, and to call the hail trainmen and water carriers and inform them to carry water to several places, where the firemasters shall judge most convenient. The Council appoints the captain of the guard for the time to cause two men of the best qualified of their squad to walk nightly through the streets, with a large batton in their hand, five or six foot long, who are hereby appointed to give notice immediately to the firemasters and the guard in case of fire, and the said captain is to take notice of the vigilance each morning. And lastly, the Council discharges the selling, pledging, or re-setting or any warp, imbasling of the said materials, certifying the transgressors they shall be fined and imprisoned and other ways punished at the will of the magistrates.“

In addition to the provisions above, citizens were required to keep a supply of water in their houses in case of fire and occupants of tenements to provide themselves with ropes of the height of the building plus an additional 'four fathoms’. This last provision, has aroused smiles at the idea of elderly grannies swarming their way down from the upper windows of the high Edinburgh’ lands’. But the length of rope additional to the height of the buildings, was clearly intended to allow for a loop in which those who were unable to help themselves could be lowered to safety. As for the item concerning the city muck-men, there was much more sense to this than at first appears. The creels of (wet) muck (mostly horse-dung) must have been useful addition to the limited supplies of water available; the dung when heated gave off fumes of ammonia which acted as a natural chemical fire extinguisher.

The firemen attached to the new organisation were of course what we would now call auxiliaries. They only turned up at an alarm, otherwise they followed their customary occupations. There is no record of their receiving any instruction in fire-fighting and probably they had to learn the hard way, by experience. For their services they were paid £8 Scots (i.e. 16s. 8d. in the English currency of this time), per annum. Despite this meagre reward there does not seem to have been any shortage of volunteers.

One puzzling thing about the Edinburgh Act of 1703 is that it makes no mention of any fire engine though it is known that a James Colquhoun of Edinburgh built machines, described as such, for Edinburgh and Glasgow as early as 1650. A possible explanation is that these engines were simply 'squirts’ of the kind used in London during the Great Fire and that Colquhoun’S 'engine’ was either found of little use or had been destroyed in the interval.

[greentekkid-blog]

Why Choose Hemp Straws for Your Business?

As businesses increasingly prioritize sustainability, choosing eco-friendly products like hemp straws has become a powerful way to appeal to conscious consumers. Switching to hemp straws not only offers significant environmental benefits but also enhances brand image by aligning with eco-friendly values. Here’s a look at why incorporating hemp straws into your business can be a game-changer.

Sustainability at Its Core

Hemp straws are a sustainable alternative to plastic and even some plant-based straws. Hemp requires minimal water, grows quickly, and doesn’t rely on harmful pesticides. By choosing hemp straws, your business reduces plastic waste, minimizes environmental impact, and supports a product that’s fully biodegradable. Highlighting this in your marketing shows a commitment to sustainability, resonating with customers who value green initiatives.

Attract Eco-Conscious Customers

Today’s consumers are more eco-conscious than ever, seeking brands that make environmentally responsible choices. Offering hemp straws demonstrates your business’s dedication to reducing single-use plastics. Customers increasingly prefer brands that support sustainable practices, and the simple switch to hemp can create a positive impression, building loyalty and encouraging repeat business.

Eco-Friendly Branding

Switching to hemp straws is more than just a product choice; it’s a statement. Branding your business as eco-friendly helps it stand out in a competitive market. Hemp straws not only look unique and natural, adding an aesthetic appeal to any beverage, but they also send a message of commitment to the planet. Your customers will appreciate that every sip they take is a small step toward a greener world.

Durability and Usability

Unlike paper straws that can break down mid-use, hemp straws are durable and long-lasting. They maintain their shape and integrity in cold and hot beverages, ensuring a pleasant experience for your customers. Offering hemp straws enhances the customer experience while also adding value to your product offerings.

Competitive Edge in the Market

With more businesses focusing on sustainability, standing out is essential. Choosing unique, eco-friendly options like hemp straws can set your business apart from competitors. Customers notice these thoughtful details, and your choice of hemp straws can help position your business as an industry leader in environmental responsibility.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Enhance your brand and appeal to eco-conscious customers by choosing hemp straws for your business. Visit GreenTek Planet today to explore our range of sustainable products and make a meaningful impact. Together, we can help your business thrive while contributing to a greener, healthier planet.

[merpmonde]

Japan's biggest shimenawa: Izumo Taisha Kagura-den

We've seen larger and larger sacred ropes in our previous posts, and here's the largest of all: the shimenawa adorning the Kagura-den at Izumo Taisha. It is 13.5 m long and weighs 5 tons!

Shimenawa ropes are made with hemp or rice straw. This shot shows just how densely packed Izumo Taisha's shimenawa is - it's almost like a tree trunk, truly an impressive and imposing feature.

Here and in previous examples, we can see folded paper shide streamers, another symbol of sacred items in Shinto, on the first picture. Knots also appear, particularly on the ropes on the Meoto Iwa at Futami, as paper would not fare well by the sea... These ropes and streamers indicate a demarcation line between our world and the realm of kami spirits.

The Kagura-den is a hall just outside the main compound of Izumo Taisha, to the West. It was built to house kagura rituals, traditional dances which retell the stories of the early gods. As Izumo, formerly in Iwami province, is one of the most ancient shrines in Japan, Iwami Kagura is one of the major forms of the dance.

As a bonus, here's a train decorated with characters of Iwami Kagura.

[smudgingpumpkins]

LAMMAS

Also known as "Lughnasadh"

When is Lammas?

It is celebrated on August 1st, which is roughly the midway point between the summer solstice and autumn equinox.

What does Lammas mean?

It is a celebration of the ripening of the harvest, and preparation for the upcoming autumn. Apples and cherries are ripe for picking, and corn and beans stand tall and green.

Who does Lammas celebrate?

As in the name, the Celtic god Lugh is traditionally honored, in which he is the god of the sun, of craftsmanship, and of harvest. Some stories say that Lugh held a harvest on the first of August for his foster mother, Tailtiu.

LAMMAS TRADITIONS

Work with stones that heighten creativity, abundance, and wealth, such as moss agate, carnelian, red aventurine, yellow topaz, obsidian, and citrine.

Use musky herbs and flowers like peonies, hydrangeas, rosemary, sandalwood, and most importantly wheat. These beautiful pinkish flowers bring forth good fortune and good omens to past and future memories. Wheat is a major source of energy and provides healthy vitamins and minerals.

Consume a variety of grains, fruits, and vegetables, like corn, beans, apples, cherries, and fresh bread. Key crops become ready for harvest in the late summer and early fall, so consume them to honor farmers, the end of summer, and the God Lugh.

Wear and/or decorate with orange, bronze, beige, and light brown colors.

Incorporate animal imagery (e.g., photographs, drawings, figurines, et cetera) of roosters, pigs, and cows, which are in close association with farming and agriculture. In some cultures, these animals represent good fortune, power, and success.

LAMMAS ACTIVITIES

Bake bread. Wheat is a major part of Lammas and has historically been a staple crop during times of starvation. "Lammas" is actually a derivative of the Anglo-Saxon word "loaf mass."

Get creative. Lugh is the god of craftsmanship, after all. Write poems, paint, play an instrument--or whatever you choose.

Take a ritual bath: add a drop of rosemary oil, coarse salt, verbena, and flower petals to your bath.

Craft a wheat straw doll. They are also called "grain goddesses" or "harvest queens." Make them out of wheat stems or straws and use hemp/cotton thread to form the head and arms!

Make a Lammas altar. In the center of the altar, add an icon of Lugh or a god(dess) of your choice, and decorate around it with birch sticks, wheat, flowers, candles, brown and beige colors, and a cornucopia if you would like.

Get creative with recipes! Carlota Santos, the author of Magika, recommends a "Lammas cocktail" with red wine, cinnamon, and apples.

Carlota Santos' Lammas Cocktail Recipe

[blueberrypancakesworld]

Gummm gummmm, I hope you had a fine day.

I have a request for you for Sanji from One piece.

He’s falling for a girl for the very first time and she’s falling for him too but both are a little too shy and so sanji takes his heart and goes all in for her to show her his feelings for her and that he’s not only shyly loving her because he’s loving her more than deep, that he really strip himself Butt naked to showing it to her and the whole world what she’s meaning to him.

Sanji - Shy heart

warning : fluff, comfort, true love

masterlist

Info : Gummm Gummm I have a good day thank you anon hope you too. Thanks for this cute request it was really sweet to write it and have fun reading it. Everyon else too :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was for the blond the first time that he had lost his heart to a person. His flirtations were until now directed to actually every woman. He had a heart for all women after he had learned that one had to protect and love them.

It was simply so and he would not break his precept. Since then his heart belonged to every woman. They all had earned in his eye love and affection and especially respect.

Something that Sanji the Gentleman gave them or at least wanted to give them. But since he started with Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates and they stopped on the small summer island, he had seen them.

Had seen his angel, his heart. It was busy actually to buy new food he had clearly underestimated the hunger of his captain. But when he saw them, the tomatoes flew out of his hand.

The sun seemed to shine on them divinely and the wind that blew through their hair seemed to burn in the blond cook's head like a constantly moving photo. The pretty light summer dress that clung to her body and her legs ended in high heels.

Rounded by the light jewelry and the straw sun hat that reminded him of his captain. ,,Oh please let me help you," her hurried voice snapped him out of his thoughts as the two knelt down to the tomatoes at the same time. It was a normal encounter from the outside, but for the two of them it was something completely different.

For Sanji, for the first time, there seemed to be the one woman he wanted to give all his love to. For his opposite it was also the true only love. When she had seen him well dressed, the blond almost golden hair, the cute arched eyebrow before she had taken her chance and helped him now.

Jumped over her shadow of her fast beating heart and tried to hide her nervousness. They each reached for the red vegetable until she suddenly felt his hand reach for hers.

They had both reached for the same tomato. It tingled on her hand, it tingled in her stomach. her whole body seemed to tingle. ,,Thank you...my-my angel...I am Sanji," the blonde said slowly as he had to think of his words for the first time because she had taken his breath away.

She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as his voice called her that. The nickname so small and yet had so much effect. Straightening up again, he took his hand from hers almost as if he had burned himself. He could not stand the physical contact.

As if the love really burned them both. ,,Angel I-I mean I'm Y/n hello," she replied hastily, staggering to face him, which caused her to quickly take her hemp down again. Oh, by the One Piece, get a grip, she said in near panic, smiling nervously at him.

She felt her heart fly out of her chest at any moment. But the blond chef felt the same way, his heart seemed to burst out of his chest as well. They never seemed so close and yet. But it was love at first sight between them.

She saw how the blond wanted to say something, his mouth opened and she hoped to hear his pleasant voice again. When a bright voice of a black-haired boy with a straw hat could be heard and seen coming towards the two.

Luffy truly had a talent for breaking situations that simply needed a little more time. But when the blonde turned to his captain, Y/n could no longer stand the sitaution.

In an instant she fled the scene, heart pounding, hoping he would find it. While she was running for her life, hoping and wishing at the same time that he would chase her and not chase her.

She didn't know yet that the cook would find a small note in the evening between the tomatoes. The small piece of paper on which she had hastily written her address.

Something that made the blond almost dance through the kitchen and countless possibilities spread in his head. But in the next few days it was his own nervousness that ruined these attempts. First there were several bouquets of flowers he wanted to bring her, but he couldn't seem to find a perfect one.

Even with a meal he found nothing suitable no restaurant was good enough and no dish he could make was enough. All but one thing seemed to be left to him.

It was already early evening on the small summer island when the young woman made her way home from the marjtplatz. In her straw basket was the meal she wanted to make for tonight.

Walking the small way back to her house she arrived at her door and to her surprise she saw a small hanging on it. I hope you understand now it said in a pretty squiggly handwriting.

Slightly unsure, she first wanted to go to the small police station, but when she saw how the person had signed with Sanji. What have you prepared? she asked herself and felt her heart beat faster when she finally heard from him again. Cautiously she opened her door went inside her small house.

But as soon as she closed the door behind her, she saw a path of rose petals on her floor and paper hearts hanging from the ceiling. As well as several boxes of chocolates standing all around.

Carefully she put down her basket before following the trail of rose petals. Up her stairs to her bedroom with a pounding heart and a last breath she swallowed her nervousness before opening the door. But as she stepped into the room she felt the heat return to her cheeks.

She made a surprised noise and her hands covered her face, taking a moment. Before she looked out from between her fingers and saw him. Sanji the blond in his drastic search for something with which he could prove his love to her had seen only one way out.

To place himself naked on her bed with the white cover just covering the most necessary part of his body. ,,Y/n I know we know each other for what felt like a blink of an eye" he started and walked down from her bed, shakily walking towards her because of the blanket.

Before he came to a stop in front of her, ,,But my heart belongs to you and I know that you may be afraid but-but my heart beats only for you" he continued talking and grabbed her hand slowly leading her to his chest. She almost flinched when she heard his heartbeat as fast as her own.

His nervousness and restraint resembled hers. Which was only emphasized by the fact that the blanket fell from his body as he no longer held it. ,,Sanj-I-I don't know what to say...my heart I mean it beats just for you too" she confessed and it felt so good to finally say it the weight seemed to lift from her heart.

Finally they had both said it. At last it was that they had both confessed their love. Before he gently placed a hand on her cheek and pulled her into a gentle, shy kiss.

They both felt each other's warmth, each other's heart and each other's love. But at last their shy hearts had led to each other. The love of the two would last forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[himalayanarchitectureandplanning]

Reflecting from the Himalayas: Our Journey as Jurors for the Materia Award 2025

This year held an extra layer of meaning for our sister firm SMA and us. Sagarmatha Next— mountaineering waste upcycling center near Everest—was officially welcomed into the Materia Award family on 22 March 2025 in Paris. Selected by a distinguished jury of 15 professionals and scientists, the project was included in both the Materia exhibition and the accompanying publication, Stone: 40 Best Contemporary Sustainable Architecture Projects in the World. Architect Himanshu Lal, a key member of the design and execution team, was in Paris to receive this international recognition on behalf of SMA, making it a super proud and reflective moment for all of us rooted in the Himalayas.

To be counted among the top 40 projects in the global Materia Award 2025 is a humbling recognition. Rooted in the spirit of place and material—so deeply aligned with the Himalayan ethos—this honor came with a beautiful invitation from Prof. Anne: to pause, reflect, and engage deeply with the other 39 selected works from around the world.

Together, as Team SMA from Kathmandu and Team HAP from Bhimtal, we also stepped into the role of Himalayan jurors, grounding our perspectives in the mountains we call home. Over days of review and deliberation, we curated our personal Top 5 from the shortlisted entries—projects that spoke not only to innovation and sustainability but to cultural continuity, the dignity of materials, and human-scale craft.

Each of the 11 jury members brought a lens informed by their local terrain and traditions. On the morning of March 26th, we came together—across regions and time zones—to listen, debate, and learn from one another. The following day, we cast our votes.

The entries stretched across climates and cultures: from Housing Now’s affordable bamboo housing solution in Myanmar, to the restoration of a barrack built with earth and thatch in El Palmar, to a rest house entirely clad in scallop shells. What unified them all was a rootedness in local context and a commitment to ecological intelligence.

After careful reflection, our collective selection of five projects stood out:

Le Costil House, France A thoughtful extension of a traditional brick house, aiming for 0% concrete, 0% plastic, and 100% natural materials—wattle-and-daub, light earth, lime plaster, and hemp—demonstrating how heritage materials can guide future architecture.

Medical Surgical Center, Burkina Faso A powerful response to resource constraints, this center uplifts local materials—adobe, straw, and laterite—while celebrating the wisdom of vernacular craftsmanship.

La Bricole, France A poetic celebration of reuse, reinterpreting reclaimed wood and hemp into a space that feels both familiar and forward-looking.

Low-Cost Housing, Sahel, Mauritania A modular, scalable housing solution by Architecture et Développement au Sahel, using Nubian vault adobe techniques.

Casa Lasso, Ecuador A grounded yet ambitious project that draws from Cotopaxi’s vernacular traditions. Built with rammed earth and local labour, it’s as much about construction as it is about community learning and continuity.

The Materia Awards invited us into an exploration—a pilgrimage of sorts—through material cultures and sustainable imaginations. What we found reaffirmed something we’ve long known in the mountains: sustainability is not a constraint—it is a path of creativity, humility, and beauty.