BB clarification thread

Give this a read and check out the badges and it should make sense:  All about SKIP

Mike Haasl wrote:Give this a read and check out the badges and it should make sense:  All about SKIP

Thank you, I explored the link extensively and bookmarked it for future reference - it looks very useful. But I'm still not clear how many BB are needed to earn each badge.

Laurie Burton wrote:how many BB do we do to earn a badge? Thank you.

Every badge is different and it ranges from 3 in gardening to over a dozen in food and nest. Some badges have a specific list of required badge bits while others have a long list that you need to pick a certain number (any 5 in animal care) or complete  5 points (metalwork). Reviewing the badge pages can give you insight.

You can take a look at the ideas for easy BBs that other have compiled or the Apple Poll of easiest BBs.

Opalyn Rose wrote:

Every badge is different and it ranges from 3 in gardening to over a dozen in food and nest. Some badges have a specific list of required badge bits while others have a long list that you need to pick a certain number (any 5 in animal care) or complete  5 points (metalwork). Reviewing the badge pages can give you insight.

Yes, after reading more of the badge activities, I think I see now. Thank you!!

Here's a link to the Microgreens PEA BB:  https://permies.com/wiki/157723/Grow-tray-micro-greens-PEA  

I'm looking at a PEA gardening bit (Microgreens), it says:

>> Grow a full tray of greens in an inert medium with only water.

Two questions:  What is an inert medium?  Sometimes I do my microgreens in soil, sometimes atop those jute pads ... I'm thinking the jute is inert, is it?  Is garden soil ok to use for this BB?  I don't consider soil to be inert, yet I see folks using soil for the BB.

Also, what is a full tray?  10x10?  10x20?

Inert sounds like a sterile potting mix.  I'm guessing jute pads sound inert as well.  Not sure why that's in the requirements, maybe so a rogue plant doesn't grow in your greens and get you sick?

For the dry foraging  badge it says cherries are fine, but does it count to dry and grind the pits for flour? And would I count the weight from cherries off the tree or pitts?

Dave Luke wrote:For the dry foraging  badge it says cherries are fine, but does it count to dry and grind the pits for flour? And would I count the weight from cherries off the tree or pitts?

I would research this. I think I read recently that cherry pits are toxic.

It's the same chemical as apple seeds, you can cook it out. I think it's 140f.  It's a thing in Siberia to pick wild cherries, dry and grind them then make it a cake. I've always heard it's really good, but the flours really expensive here so I was going to try making some.  I don't think this is something to do with big sweet cherries, to hard to grind down.

Dave Luke wrote:For the dry foraging  badge it says cherries are fine, but does it count to dry and grind the pits for flour? And would I count the weight from cherries off the tree or pitts?

For foraging BBs it is the fruit that is being referenced. Working with seeds is not part of the dry list (imo).

I'd tend to agree with Opalyn.  I'd weigh the cherries off the tree for the BB, then pit them and dry them.  

You could use cherry pit flour as part of the larger foraging BBs where you have to forage XXX calories.

Be sure to be foraging off of wild trees that aren't in someone's yard.

👍

Dave Luke wrote:It's the same chemical as apple seeds, you can cook it out. I think it's 140f.  It's a thing in Siberia to pick wild cherries, dry and grind them then make it a cake. I've always heard it's really good, but the flours really expensive here so I was going to try making some.  I don't think this is something to do with big sweet cherries, to hard to grind down.

Cyanide is the big concern with the livestock eating fruit stones, but there are quite a few other toxins and anti-nutrients that can harm a human.  I know with peach stones, the almond flavour we can make has to be consumed in very small quantities so it doesn't cause harm.  If I was approving the BB but it's gathering non-standard foodstuff, I would want to see a paragraph (probably with citation) explaining the steps taken to make it safe for human consumption. But even then, it's still an edge case.  The description doesn't specify the fruit rather than the stone, but I think the person making the bb assumed we would dry the fruit and not the stone.  Also, processing the stone would take a lot more time and stuff than just drying the fruit so maybe it's easier just to keep with the spirit of the BB.  

When doing BB's ask yourself "is this easy to approve?"  
The people doing the approval are volunteers and don't have a lot of time to dedicate to edge cases.  They want to look at what you did, look at the requirements and say "yep, that's awesome, approved".  If it takes more effort than that, we usually pass it off for someone else to check... which means a long wait and an edge case or not-approved finding.  

One more, vote to just weight them picked, then process. Personally, I save all my cherry pits, clean & dry them, then turn them into heating pads, trivets, sewing weights, bean bags, etc.

I really wanted/needed a farm apron with big pockets. There's a badge bit for that: https://permies.com/wiki/159850/pep-textiles/Sew-full-bib-apron-PEP

However, I know that PEP textiles is really fussy about natural material (for very good environmental reasons). I would like to make the "across the back" straps adjustable to accommodate more or less clothing for different seasons, and the easiest (read I happen to have a pair salvaged from old luggage straps a friend gave me) are plastic double D rings.

So the precise question is: will it be OK to upcycle two black plastic double D rings for my farm apron for the above PEP badge?

Jay Angler wrote:So the precise question is: will it be OK to upcycle two black plastic double D rings for my farm apron for the above PEP badge?

I would say yes to the upcycle plastic buckle.  
I would not be ok with upcycled non-natural material fabric (polyester for example).

Can you add the straps after submitting the bb?

r ranson wrote:Can you add the straps after submitting the bb?

The straps are already on, but are currently held by 2 large safety pins (diaper size).  I've been testing as I go because I don't have a pattern - just ideas from Y-tube. The rest of the apron is so far made of upcycled "city" denim jeans from a 6' tall friend, including the straps. (City jeans fabric is wimpier than farm jeans fabric - but heavier than most cottons.)

Due to testing, I've already removed and shortened the bib by 2 1/2" because it was just too long. Then I unpicked a part of the neck of the bib and put in a dart to make it a little narrower across the top of the chest because I'm a very small build. A sneak preview of the fabric can be seen in this post: https://permies.com/t/219077/wobbly-gosling-feed-support#1857988 (excuse the adorable, wobbly gosling napping in the pocket!)

I'm thinking about adding one more pocket on the bib, and making it something from my "colourful" cotton cabbage patch, but I wanted to get the bib fitting well before doing that step. I'm pretty happy with the bib now that I've made the two changes I did.

However, during the testing phase, I've been trying to balance between "easy to grab and go" of the crossed back straps with no ties needed, support on the shoulders *not* the neck, and the need to go from button shirt weather to sweater weather.  That's where the adjustability issue arose. If I can just submit it as is, that would be great.

Jay Angler wrote:However, during the testing phase, I've been trying to balance between "easy to grab and go" of the crossed back straps with no ties needed, support on the shoulders *not* the neck, and the need to go from button shirt weather to sweater weather.  That's where the adjustability issue arose. If I can just submit it as is, that would be great.

I really do get the importance of no plastic. I decided to baste the straps in place - ie big enough stitches that I can unstitch and change the length if I want to. I'm too busy for alternatives at the moment, however, I don't know if the apron will be useful in our wet winters, so adjustability may not matter.

If it does, I see two options I can retrofit with. One would be a series of buttons and a button loop. I'd use a loop instead of a button hole as a hole might let the button pop out. Alternatively, I have some aluminium scraps and Hubby has a ball mill bit for the rotary tool which would allow me to manufacture an aluminium double D ring. That would be a cool project, but could be done in the early fall when it gets dark early.

In the meantime, I uploaded the project and can move on to the next project on my list. Thanks for getting me to think outside the box on this one!

could a rolley shelf be considered a “closet”? Specifically the “free shelf” at WL which is all three shelves of the rolley.
Organize a dysfunctional closet

I’m really interested in building one of these, I just need to make sure I’m understanding the instructions of the BB. The corrugated plastic and ridgid insulation cannot be used for this BB? We will have to find alternatives?

You got it.  If I were doing it I'd use metal 55 gallon drums to make a culvert down into the soil 6' that lets the deeper earth temps help heat the stock tank.  Then use a metal tank and insulate with straw somehow.

Ok, caulking a window.

There is a caulking BB under Nest - Straw, but that is written for floors or tile grout. https://permies.com/wiki/157693/pep-nest/Replace-Failing-Caulk-Grout-PEP

Would this go under oddball or possibly the nest one needs adjusted-or-duplicated and moved to apply to windows?

This is regarding caulk going around the outside of windows where the window meets the exterior siding. Thoughts?

I think window trim caulk would fit that Nest BB.  As long as you're replacing caulk, not just applying new stuff.

The "One of the following" list at the end of the PEA Community page is a little unclear. There's no break between the list before it and this one; is doing one of the them a separate requirement, or one of the options for the four BBs?

There's no break because doing any one (but not two or three) of that list is an option for the list above.  

Howdy, SKIPers!  

I was reading through the textile badge projects and noticed that all the fills for cushions and pillows, etc. mentioned only loose fills as being acceptable.  I have done a little research on GOLS certified natural latex foam and was wondering if that would be acceptable.  It would sure make a more comfortable piece of furniture, one that my family would be more likely to use.  It does not seem like it would violate the rules of natural materials, but I would like to know that natural latex (cushion foam or shredded foam) is acceptable before undertaking some of the more time consuming and expensive BB's.  Here are a few websites that I came across with more information on the GOLS certification and natural latex foam.

https://foamsource.com/shop/Natural-Latex-Cushions
https://beanproducts.com/collections/crafts-fills-and-miscellaneous/products/organic-latex-fill
https://organicandhealthy.com/product/shredded-latex-rubber/
https://www.controlunion.com/certification-program/gols-global-organic-latex-standard/

Can you go to a tree and harvest latex using simple tools and processes?

More importantly,  what are the words on the specific bb?

If you can link to the bb you have a question about,  it makes helping easier

r ranson wrote:Can you go to a tree and harvest latex using simple tools and processes?

Yes

More importantly,  what are the words on the specific bb?

"Everything in this aspect [Textile] requires natural materials preferring local/home-grown/harvested materials over anything purchased from a store.  Natural fabrics or threads include cotton, wool, silk, linen/flax, and nettle. Natural materials for buttons or closures include mother-of-pearl, bone, horn, glass, metal, wood, and cloth.  Synthetic materials are not allowed - even if they are recycled or repurposed."

Local is relative.  Preference is not requirement.  Latex foam can be 100% natural with no added synthetics.  Please clarify.

If you can link to the bb you have a question about,  it makes helping easier

The following is one of several BB's that require fill (pillows, furniture, cushions, etc.)
https://permies.com/wiki/161256/pep-textiles/cot-sized-mattress-PEP-BB

I have been denied BB's in the past for following certain instructions very closely that were in conflict with other BB requirements.  That particular example was a cheap test project to learn a skill. But, if I am making something larger with more expensive materials it would be best to have explicit clarification to fall back on.

Thank you!

Textile bbs are working towards growing everything from scratch.  

There is somewhere that Paul outlines what natural means in this context.


But basically if I'm reviewing the bb, I see it as... I can go to a plant,  rock, tree, sheep or other natural thing.  Get the stuff and transform it using human powered simple tools, then that would be what I think of as natural.

Can you show me your process for making latex and harvesting the ingredients?

I've seen harvesting the example materials,  so that's not going to require the person provide extra work to show it is natural.

r ranson wrote:Textile bbs are working towards growing everything from scratch.  

There is somewhere that Paul outlines what natural means in this context.

Can you please share a link to help me find what Paul means in this context?

But basically if I'm reviewing the bb, I see it as... I can go to a plant,  rock, tree, sheep or other natural thing.  Get the stuff and transform it using human powered simple tools, then that would be what I think of as natural.

That is why I am asking this question, because of the ambiguous meaning of the word "natural."

Can you show me your process for making latex and harvesting the ingredients?

Here is a video of how natural rubber latex is made.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUg7r7fu_eo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymPnJOIh_D0

I've seen harvesting the example materials,  so that's not going to require the person provide extra work to show it is natural.

Could a single person grow, harvest and process natural rubber latex?  Yes.  Will I do it in my lifetime in Montana? Probably not.  However, I will also not grow and process cotton or probably linen for that matter in Montana either.  Therefore, since I have to import most natural plant fiber/material I need for any textile badge, I am inquiring if this plant material also qualifies as "natural."   I am sincerely asking a simple yes/no question with provided evidence supporting why I believe the natural material in question should be allowed.  

I don't see enough here to approve the bb if it used latex.  

Other reviews might differ.

However,  the bb provides some excellent examples of what it is looking for.  I would stick with that and then make another one for yourself if you really want to use latex.

I think the simple yes/no answer is gonna be a no.   I think a definitive yes/no answer would require bribing Paul with some coin to drag him away from his work on other things.

I turned a tall lamp into a table/shelf lamp (photos below).  It is more than just replacing a plug (and not quite replace a plug on an extension cord) so I'm thinking electrical oddball for 1-2 points.
wanting to check before I post.