Gleaning

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.

LEVITICUS 19:9-10

I have a part time, low wage, 3 month position at the Voter Registration office. It is a temporary sacrifice we are doing for extra money toward a house. At my job, the word is out that I will take any fruits and vegetables that nobody wants. In the past three months I have gotten 7 pounds of zucchini, an entire fresh pineapple, 4 peaches, 3 cucumbers, 2 yellow squash, and a gallon bag of boiled peanuts. I was given a grocery bag full of okra yesterday. I've never cooked okra before, and it's not my favorite vegetable. I was about to refuse it, and then I thought no. When given fresh garden grown free food, your answer should be yes and thank you.

In this modern life our "village" is based more on social interactions then geography. Modern gleaning is a lot easier than in biblical times. You don't even have to pick it from the field. Most likely gleaning today will look like your co-worker bringing her excess garden zucchinis or a store bought pineapple that's about to go bad. Take it. Be humble. Thank them for their kindness and find a use for it. Remember to wash and quickly return any plastic containers back to the giver. Then be sure to tell them how much you enjoyed eating it.

Most of the food I received had to be processed immediately. The overripe peaches and pineapple were made into a sorbet as soon as I got home. The 7 pounds of extra zucchini were processed and frozen into 30 "crab cakes." I put the boiled peanuts in the freezer for a later snack. After some Google searching, I found an easy recipe for okra and tomatoes. I made a pot of it to have over rice this week for cheap lunches. Then I froze a sandwich bag worth of remaining okra slices to use later in a soup. With the internet you can always find a use for gifted produce. That is really what they are- -gifts of excess.

It's easy for the word to get out among your circle that you are open to unwanted produce. All you have to do is say yes and show gratitude if someone offers you produce. It's that simple.  Be sure to ask around when you have any unwanted food to give away. And get creative about processing food that's about to go bad. Freeze, dehydrate, cook, eat today, or give it away. It is an amazing circle of good will to be blessed with a bountiful harvest, to bless someone else with the excess and to thank someone for their thoughtfulness.

Mr. Peasant's Guide to Shaving on the Cheap

Shaving your head is acceptable. It’s when you start wearing toupees and brushing your hair over that things go wrong.
MOBY

This is my first post for the Noble Peasants blog. Mrs. Peasant is way more practical than Mr. Peasant, but I do have a few tips for the men out there. This one is for the fellows out there who shave daily either out of choice or because the boss man demands it.

Shaving is an expensive activity. It was not always this way, but the shaving cream and razor companies decided sometime ago that more of your hard earned money belongs in their pockets. So, they invented cartridge razors that went from two razors to five and started putting the shaving cream in the can. Razors are so expensive that drugstores have started keeping them behind the counter to keep the shoplifters from taking them.

CARTRIDGE RAZOR OF DEATH: The pain is felt most acutely in the wallet.

Once upon a time, real men didn't bankrupt themselves with such silliness. Shaving was not expensive unless you paid someone else to do it. They used a straight razor which is a bit like trying to remove facial hair while keeping facial features intact. The rest of the time, those straight razors were handy self-defense weapons. They were dangerous, so there was a need for something a bit safer. Out of this need, the safety razor was born.

The safety razor used a single disposable blade placed in a handle that made it much safer to use. Shaving became quicker, easier, and more pleasant. At this point, no further evolution in shaving was needed. Gillette and others found a steady business in supplying those blades. You couldn't ask for anything better, but greed is never satisfied. The result was an ever increasing nuclear arms race in the shaving aisle as blade makers kept adding blades and features to their cartridges. The result is that we have reached Peak Stupidity. The antidote is a return to where the industry made the wrong turn.

You can find safety razor handles in the drugstore or on Amazon. They come in a variety of shapes, pieces, and sizes. I use a three piece Merkur long handle razor myself. These handles can be pricey, but they are an investment that will pay off quickly. You can also find vintage ones at rummage sales and thrift stores. The design is virtually unchanged despite being in existence for a century.

The razor blades can be found in the drugstore or on Amazon as well. I recommend a sampler pack to find the brand that best suits you. My preferred brand is Personna. They give me a good shave for a very low price.

The other big expense in shaving are those lathers that come in the can. Don't ever buy that crap again. You want to use shave soap and a brush. You can find the soap and brush in the drugstore as well or on Amazon. The soap I use is made locally by Becky's Soap Shoppe. I have found that so much of the irritation of shaving comes from using the shaving can lathers. The shave soap leaves my skin with no irritation and feeling much more pleasant.

Finally, I recommend using a cheap aftershave. My preferred aftershave is Aqua Velva or an equivalent knock off from the drugstore. I like Aqua Velva because it doesn't have an overpowering smell, soothes my skin, and is really cheap. Mrs. Peasant likes it, too.

Mr. Peasant's Kit

HOW TO USE A SAFETY RAZOR

There is a learning curve to using a safety razor, but it isn't difficult. Basically, you put a blade in the handle. Then, you wet and lather your face. I shave my head, so I do the same with my melon. Then, I move the blade lightly across my skin. I do not use pressure. The angle of the blade is 45 degrees, and I let the weight of the razor do the work. The key is not hair removal like with cartridge razors but hair reduction. I shave with the grain on the first pass. Then, I will lather up and repeat by going against the grain. Then, I do it again a third time. The result is a smoothness like a baby's bottom.

QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED

Q: How long does it take to shave with a safety razor?

A: I shave my head and do three passes for a really good shave. This takes about ten minutes. If you shave your face only and do it once, it will take less than five minutes. The quality of your shave will be relative to the amount of work you put into it. If you're too lazy for this, grow a beard.

Q: How much does it cost?

A: Your initial outlay for a quality razor, blades, brush, stand, bowl, and soap will be about $80. This seems like a lot until you consider that you will spend $30 for a Gillete Fusion 5 refill with 12 cartridge blades. A can of cream will be almost $2. Assuming that you used one of those cartridges per week, it would cost you 35 cents per shave not counting the cost of the shaving cream.

A 100 pack of Personna blades costs $13. This is 13 cents per blade. I use two blades weekly which amounts to 26 cents per week. I shave six times a week which is 4 cents per shave. Dudes who don't shave their heads like I do can expect to go a week on that single blade which cuts it down to 2 cents per shave. 2 cents per shave versus 35 cents per shave. The savings are massive. I save $120.00 a year.

As for my shave soap, a cake costs me $2.50 from Becky. One of those will last me almost six months. I used to go through a can per week of regular shaving cream. Even if you decide the safety razor isn't for you, you will save a bunch of money by switching to shave soap. Plus, it leaves your skin feeling awesome.

Q: What do you do if you cut yourself?

A: This rarely happens and was more common when I used a cartridge razor. There are products you can use, but I just let it bleed until it clots. I shave before showering, so the damage is unnoticeable when I get out of the shower. The key to not cutting yourself is being light with your stroke. The blade is heavy, and the weight will do the work for you. A plastic razor requires pressure which is how you get cuts, scrapes, and razor burns. Shaving with the safety razor is way more comfortable.

Q: What about ingrown hairs?

A: White guys with straight hair have it easy in this regard. But if you have curly hair, you absolutely must do yourself a favor and stop using multiple bladed razors. This is the sure path to ingrown hairs as the lift and cut action of cartridge razors cuts the hair below the surface of the skin which leads to ingrown hairs. A single blade cuts it even with the skin. This is another great reason to switch to a safety razor.

Q: How do you safely dispose of the used blades?

A: I use a plastic bottle that used to hold Pine-Sol. I find these bottles are a bit more rugged than a soda bottle. I leave the cap on and cut a small hole near the top that is wide enough to drop the razor blades in. After a couple of years of shaving, I still have not filled up the bottle. When I do, I will cover the hole with duct tape and tape around the top to make it secure. Then, I will put it in the garbage headed to the landfill.

Q: What do you think of shave clubs like Harry's and Dollar Shave Club?

A: They are a waste of money. Basically, these guys saw how hard you were getting screwed by the razor companies that they decided to get in on the action and screw you a little less harder. When you go with the safety razor, you will have screwed them instead.

Q: What do you think of plastic disposable razors like Bic?

A: This would be this razor:

You can get a 12 pack of these for $3 or a little less. This would be 25 cents per blade. If you got them for $2.50 somewhere, this would be 21 cents per blade. My Personnas are 13 cents per blade. Those blades have two sides to them while the Bic only has one. So, you would have to buy two Bics to match a single Personna. So, the Personna would actually be 6 cents in comparison to the 21 cents of the Bic. The safety razor is as cheap as it gets when it comes to blade cost.

Q: How long does a safety razor last?

A: They last forever. That is an exaggeration, but you can easily find old safety razors on eBay that are older than you. They still work. People collect them. Some become heirlooms passed down from father to son. Basically, if you buy a decent safety razor, it should be with you until you die.

Q: Can I use a safety razor on my legs?

A: This is the question I get from the women, and I believe the answer is yes. Why not? Though I recommend that women get their own razors. I've known women who used their husband's safety razors after the husbands got conned into using cartridge razors. They loved them.

Q: Should I get a short handled or a long handled safety razor?

A: I prefer the long handle because I shave my head. That extra reach comes in handy for reaching the back of my melon. But if you just shave your face, the short handle might be better for you.

Q: What about the brush?

A: Just buy a cheap one. This is the item you will end up replacing every couple of years. I can't tell you which kind to get as I'm still on the first one I bought which was a fairly cheap one. As long as the bristles don't fall out of the handle from shoddy construction, it is very hard to go wrong on this.

That's all I have for shaving on the cheap. The safety razor is the cheapest safe shave you can get. To get cheaper will mean going with a straight razor which I would never use because of the potential for injury. And, as always, thank you for reading!

Mrs. Peasant's Tips to Quit Smoking

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
SERENITY PRAYER

I loved smoking. You aren't supposed to say that, but I did. I used tobacco as a tool of production. Smoking helped me get things done. I smoked to handle awful things, to not lose it, to keep going after failures, to quit crying over disappointments, to grieve intensely while not calling out from work, to be brokenhearted, to be stressed without ceasing, to help me deal with sitting on a nail for long periods of time or poverty or the blues. It is not your typical irresponsible drug like alcohol or heroin. I smoked because I was desperately trying to be responsible. I was working and going to school and paying bills on low wages. A pack of smokes was my pocket serenity prayer. Cigarettes helped me to accept the hundreds of things I couldn't change. It helped me to change the few difficult things I could change. I don't think it gave me the wisdom to know the difference, but it did help me wait out the storm until I figured something out.

Without cigarettes I couldn't have (enter any phrase here). And to give that up would be like giving up ink pens, drinking glasses, or silverware. I had no intentions of giving those things up. So, when my husband asked me last year to quit smoking, the answer was a very solid no.

Mr. Peasant said that some people at work had quit smoking by vaping, and he asked me to try it. He thought it might help me cut back. I had no idea what vaping was. I'm old school. I still use a flip phone and read books from the public library. Vaping and e-cigarettes were things I had to research. There are lots of  e-smoking devices, and it can feel overwhelming. I spent many hours trying to gleen information from vaping reviews and YouTube videos. I was having a hard time watching stoner-type people blowing huge plumes into the camera. Again, I smoked to be responsible. And then I found her in that sea of stoner-type junk videos. This video changed it all for me. Let me introduce you to your vaping fairy godmother. She will guide you in the world of vaping just as she guided me.

For new vapors video

Her Mig Cig review video


Things that helped me finally quit smoking. I know everyone is different, but I hope they can help you, too.

1. Start with a Vape and smoking combo. You don't have to break up with cigarettes cold turkey. If you can, more power to you.  If you can't then it's okay to be a hybrid. Every cigarette you don't smoke is a victory.

2. Doing it half-ass still counts. If you are waiting for the perfect time to begin, you will never start. I would say that I'd quit after this awful situation was over or when I didn't have a long commute. You know when life wasn't stressful. Life never stops being stressful. Start today.

3.  Explain to friends and family your extremely low bar you set for yourself. Say that you are vaping to cut back on cigarettes. Your goal is to smoke less not to quit. This will deter the vocal disappointments from others if they see you smoking a cigarette. You don't need the added stress of listening to their commentary every time you light up.

4. Get two levels of nicotine liquids/cartridges. Get one that has a regular amount of nicotine and get one that has zero nicotine. Why? Because sometimes you just want to go through the motions of smoking and don't really need the nicotine. For example, take a drag of your e-cigarette or smoke a regular cigarette. Get that nicotine in your system.Then, if you are getting into a heated debate or you are stuck in traffic or a long commute, use your zero nicotine e-cigarette. You don't want to chain vape. It can make you feel sick. Get your fix and then go to zero. You can still feed that oral physical compulsion minus the nicotine.  This also helps when you are around other smokers.

5. Realize it will never be just like smoking. It won't taste like smoking. It won't feel exactly like smoking. It's best to not expect that or you will be miserable. It is different. Although it's not exact, it's close. And it's alright. There are somethings that suck about it. And there are some things that are way better.

Examples: You can smoke inside. Your clothes won't smell. Your car won't smell. You can vape and your throat won't hurt. You will save hundreds of dollars a month. No one can bum a vape off you. You can take a puff in your parents bathroom at Christmas time. When it's freezing or raining outside, you can vape indoors. You will be able to hold your breathe longer under water.

6. Buy a Mig Cig. Why? Because it is easy to get started and it actually feels like smoking. I spent more time trying to figure out which device to get than actually using the device. Don't overthink it. Get the Mig Cig starter kit here: $40 starter kit.

--Choose one automatic and one push button. I liked the automatic for driving and the push button for home.

--Choose the stainless steel color.

--Choose the tobacco "flavored" cartridges. Mig Cigs has two tobacco flavored cartridges a red one (Marlboro like flavor) and a brown one (Camel like flavor). Buy one pack of each and see which one you like more. Remember to buy a pack of nicotine free cartridges, too.

Once out of the packages, there is no way to identify which cartridges have zero nicotine and
which ones have nicotine. I write a zero on the no nicotine cartridges with a Sharpe marker.

How did it go?

I started vaping March 2017. I vaped and smoked cigarettes for a month. Then, I just went to vaping full time. I didn't even think about it. I still have half a pack of stale cigarettes on the top of my fridge. I didn't put a deadline on myself. It just happened. One day, I preferred vaping. Crazy, right?

It gets even crazier. Three months later, I stopped vaping. YES. I just wasn't into nicotine. I mean I liked it. But I can honestly say for me, I was not addicted to nicotine. Maybe I was addicted to the rat poison or formaldehyde or tar. Or maybe they laced my cigarettes with a street drug? I don't know. But whatever sick nasty good stuff they put in cigarettes that made me want them whenever my eyes were open, it wasn't nicotine. It wasn't in my nicotine e-cigarette. I still use my e-cigarette sometimes when I am around smokers, but it's the zero level cartridge.  I still carry my e-cigarette in my purse in case I get into a fender bender in the Food Lion parking lot or for a long trip in the car. I find comfort in knowing that I have my Mig Cig around just in case I need it. I keep it in my tool box.

I hope this helps someone. Just try it. Do it. Every cigarette you don't smoke is a victory.  Half ass commit to cutting back today. Oh and the prayer above really helps, too.

Thank you for reading.