I know this is the busy time of the year for most people in our community, at least in the northern parts of the world. Everyone is busy planting and taking care of their precious food resources and that is exactly as it should be.
So I thought, why not occasionally make some suggestions on specific types of posts I want to see added to Sotall. It keeps you from having to spend time trying to think of something to write about and gets the posts we need added to the direction at the same time!.
Posting Do's and Don'ts
1 - Sotall is about HOW TO POSTS. I know a lot of people want to show off their work, and that is perfectly fine. But, for Sotall, we need that HOW TO part of it. Teach people how to do what you did, let them know why you did it a specific way. It is all about teaching others ideas and ways of doing things that they may not have thought of that could help them in the future.
2 - No copy and paste from other sites. This includes text and photos. Your post should be your original work. If you don't have photos, there are sites like pixabay, pexels, and unsplash that have free photos you can use. You still need to give credit to the site for the image and not simply use it as your own.
3 - Details, details, details. Keep in mind, you are teaching people how to do what you did. They don't know what you are thinking about and can't see the images you see in your head. It is better to give too much information than not enough.
4 - Videos usually don't work. If your post is nothing but a link to your video, it won't be added. We are trying to provide people with information they can use now AND in an emergency situation. A lot of people print out the posts and save for when they need them. Rarely will electricity be available at the time people need your info the most.
Some Posting Ideas
1 - Getting the kids involved. We need more information on how you teach you kids to grow their own food, forage, preserve food, take care of animals and pretty much anything around the homestead. Information on the age at which you start teaching about (anything dealing with the homestead). Any special precautions you have to take around your place because of predator animals, etc., etc.
2 - I'd love to see some posts on specifically what you looked for when you were looking to buy your homestead. What resources were important to you (and why), did you look for specific land features, did the area you bought in have anything to do with your decision. Anything you thought of in choosing your place could help someone else choose theirs.
3 - Skills on finding and identifying wildlife. This could include identifying by the type of tracks or the damage they do to trees and anything else that gives you a clue as to what type of animals is around. Remember a lot of people have never dealt with wildlife more than seeing a squirrel or bird playing in their yard. You'll be helping people find food sources and know when there are dangerous animals in the area to look out for.
4 - Personal Journeys. What made you decide to start a homestead or prep for the worst? Was it a decision made after a specific thing that happened? Was it something that came about due to many different things? What changes did you make in your life to get to where you are now? How much did money (or the lack thereof) play into your decisions, and pretty much anything else that can help others understand the process you went through and that might help them get over any hurdles that might be in their way.
That's about it for this time!
I think I have sat about as long as I can sit for now. Time to go lay down for a while. Stay strong, keep working to create your perfect place in the world and be prepared for whatever the world may through at you.
Love and Peace
From Denise