Baltimore Friends Records – A blog about travel

What’s the difference between food safe and food grade

Posted by Baltimore on September 24, 2019 in blog

The most ideal approach to understand the terms food grade and food safe, to know which sorts of containers can be utilized for gardening applications, is likely to investigate what aspects are standardized. Understanding the codes and images that are frequently stamped on the compartments themselves will educate you whether the container you are intending to use for your nutrient reservoir, your irrigation station, some other part of a hydroponic system or container gardening will be safe to use

Food safe and food grade defined

For any container to be viewed as reasonable for coming into contact with food, in this manner regarding it to be either food grade or food safe, it must not be made of any material observed to be risky by proper governing authorities (i.e. the Marketed Health Products Directorate in Canada or the FDA in the United States, and so forth). When all is said in done, containers promoted as food grade and food safe are for the most part intended to be suitable for food storage in the long run. This implies they are not made out of any substance that will leach or breakdown into the food being put away.

Decoding plastic numbers

Without becoming too involved with the semantics of food safety, a gardener can determine the relative wellbeing of reusing a container view of the symbol or number that is generally found on the base of the container. A few quantities of plastics are considered safe for contact with food meant to be consumed instantly, however not intended to be reused; these, among others, should be avoided or stayed away from.

1-Plastics marked with this number are produced from polyethylene terephthalate or PET/PETE. These are not known to leach any synthetic compounds or be unsafe for human wellbeing, making them reasonable for re-use in a garden or for best low carb tortillas.
2-These plastics are HDPE, otherwise called high-density polyethylene. These are viewed as the best airtight containers for reuse in either a garden or food storage. These are not known for leaching any synthetics and are generally more solid than the number 1s.
3-PVC plastics or poly vinyl chloride. These ought to never be used for any garden application or for anything that will come into contact with food. Synthetic substances used to make these plastics are known to be cancer-causing because they can leach out chemicals.
4-Similar to number 2s, these are low-density polyethylene (LDPE). They are not thought to contain anything bad and won’t leach out synthetic chemicals. These can be used as best coffee storage when seen but they are not as popular as number 4s.
5-These are plastics made of polypropylene (PP). This is a judgment call on if they should be used in your garden system or reused. They do contain hazardous materials but sadly, they do not leach out.
6-PS or polystyrenes are made of a known cancer-causing agent called carcinogens. These ones are bad and should not be used for gardening purposes like number 3s.
7-Plastics with this number fall into the “other” classification but are typically made of polycarbonates (PC) and regularly bio-plastics made of a few materials like corn. This is where the initial use of the container is considered food safe, but after some time, chemicals drain out making their reuse not safe.

By the day’s end, in the cutting edge planting industry, choosing materials that are food safe might be similarly as vital as choosing materials that are food grade.

How To Keep Cereal Fresh?

Posted by Baltimore on June 27, 2019 in blog

Nutritious cereal is a quintessential health gift of nature bestowed on people. Through the skillful processing of human beings, nutritious cereals that become essential foods for people from children to the elderly, all need them at every stage. It is not only providing a rich source of nutrition, but also works very well with good health and beauty.

Currently the needs of people who regularly use nutritious cereals are increasing but most do not know how long is cereal good for and how to keep cereal fresh? That’s why we will show you how to preserve nutritious cereals in the best way!

How long is cereal good for?

Most cereals are best used in a few months, should not be left too long. No matter how good the preservation is, the nutrients and flavors of food will also be reduced. You should use all of the cereal within a few months after purchasing. And to extend the shelf life of cereal you can store it in the refrigerator but not for more than 1 year.

The cereals often have different shelf life and the specific shelf life of each kind is as follows:

Oats: If preserved in the appropriate environment, the shelf life of oats is only 1 year. For oats processed into starch, it can be used within 5 months. If you leave oatmeal for too long, it will lose nutrients or lumpy and moldy. So if you want to eat oats, you should buy them in small quantities to use them gradually.
Rice: Shelf life from 6- 8 months, if left too long or the environment is not good for storage, rice is easy to have weevils and mold.
Peanut: 9 months
Cashew: 8 months
Almonds: 12 months.
Legumes: 12 months.

Tips for preserving cereals are fresh

#1 Choose suitable containers

When storing cereal, you need to store it in a dry, covered container. It is best to choose high quality plastic and glass food containers, lids with rubber rings, fit snugly into the box body with high tightness. In these items, cereals will be preserved longer.

#2 Bring containers when buying cereals

If you buy odd grain at shops or supermarkets, not available in a separate packaging, you should bring items to store cereals. You should minimize the contact of cereals with plastic packaging, which easily reduces the quality and nutrients in rice and cereals.

#3 Store in a well-ventilated location

Cereals whether you buy a lot or not, you should also store it in dry, ventilated places such as dresser and kitchen counter.

Do not place them in humid places, in places with high temperatures or direct contact with the sun, as it will make the cereal reduce flavor, quality and nutrients very quickly.

Conclusion

Either way, each type of nutritious cereal will have a certain shelf life. If after the overdue, the cereal is still fragrant, usable, you should still remove and replace new cereal to ensure safety.

Enjoying regular cereal dishes will be good for your health. The nutritional cereals have instructions before use and are easy to process with low cost and suitable for all subjects in the family or relatives. However, depending on the type and purpose of use there will be different ways of preservation, this is extremely important, so be aware. For pregnant women and young children, consult a doctor to properly use cereal.

You can easily polish your shoes at home

Posted by Baltimore on June 29, 2018 in Hiking

Have you been thinking about how to clean or repair your shoes at home and sparing both cash and time? I know a good number of people will laugh at this question!

For a very long time now, I have a lot of people ask me how I manage to keep my shoes scuffed up. I do all the polishing at home and it really surprises me that the vast majority don’t know how to do all their shoe polishing at home.

Let me quit all the blabbing and simply demonstrate to you the simple strides to polishing your shoes at home. It takes just a few minutes to get it done!

The most effective method is to utilize a cream shoe polish

The kind of shoe polish I love is the kind you find in a container. This is cream shoe polish and it is the most elevated quality clean available. It not just expels the scuffs on your shoes, it also conditions the leather to make it look newer for a much longer period!

If you intend using a cream shoe polish, first put on thin gloves. You can get them cheap in any store and they prove to be useful around the house when you require thin gloves. Over the glove, wear an old sock. You could spend a lot of money trying to purchase polishing clothes, or you could just get your old socks and use them for this purpose. Using your old socks for polishing saves you money and the best thing is that they still give you the desired effect!

For you to apply the cream shoe clean, put a touch of shoe polish on the tip of the sock, and tenderly rub it into the leather sections of the shoe in a round movement.

When you are applying the polish with the sock, make certain to cover the whole scuff, and any section the shoe looks dull. Also, ensure to rub everything in until the point that the leather has a matte and flat look. When you don’t see any clusters of polish, your leather is prepared to be buffed!

Step by step instructions to shine your shoes at home

When you are finished rubbing in the cream shoe polish and your leather now have a matte look, it is time to buff the shoes to become gleaming new! With a horsehair shoe shining brush, make a roundabout movement over the whole shoe. This will buff the shoe clean and create a sparkling look. Be prepared to tip yourself because your shoes will look brand new!

It is essential to put resources into a decent brush. I’ve had mine for about twenty years and despite its old age, it still produces the ideal result. You will likewise require a top-notch, shoe cleaning brush. Horsehair brushes are top quality but you could also get a lot of synthetic versions out there.

In conclusion, I h2ly recommend cream shoe polish. You can find them in jars and I recommend owning one dark container, one leather conditioner, and one medium darker container. You will require various darker polishes in the event that you own plenty of brown shoes in various shades. If you own white shoes, include a white shoe polish container to your existing collection. Make sure you take time to match the shoe polish to the exact shoe color.

Thanks for reading!

How to Choose the Right Travel Backpack

Posted by Baltimore on June 1, 2018 in blog

There comes a time in your traveling plans when you have to choose to turn the page, write another book or just close it. It’s all about shifting from the past miserable trip experiences with backpacks. An appropriate pack will determine the success of your travel.

What should you consider when buying a backpack?

In the first place, you have to inspect before you invest. Consider getting answers to the following questions pertaining comfort, security and the convenience of the backpack.

Why do you need a pack?

As fundamental as it is, this question entails much significance. Most definitely, you could be having an activity with you at hand or just in mind. You may be opting to buy a backpack only for an emergency in case an outdoor need arises, for instance, an impromptu mountain climbing or hiking exercise. After you’ve got the answer correct, then choose the right backpack?

What is the capacity of the backpack?

Consider the volume of the backpack. We measure the magnitude of a kitbag in LITRES. How can you visualize ‘litres of space? ‘Here is a general guide to that:

20 L: Also referred to as daypacks and is best for day trips. Here, you only carry simple light stuff like drinks and lunch.

30-50 L: It suits best for winter day trips or weekend adventures.

70-80 L: Best apply for expeditions and camping trips that take more prolonged periods.

Worldwide, three standard backpack sizes are recognized: small, medium and large. Consider your needs and decide the most appropriate type of the pack. Determine the bulkiness of the gear and other stuff you intend to carry. Have in mind the number of seasons you are going to be out.

What is the backpack’s fit?

The most appropriate backpack is the one that fits your torso length (not your overall height). It should grip on your hips comfortably. The pack should fit on your shoulder. Sagging and misfit of backpacks is a result of inaccurate scales.

Which material best meet your needs?

Choose durable material that is light and of high quality. The standard fabric used in making packs include nylon, canvas, and polyester.

What kind of frames do you need?

Backpacks can either have adjustable frames or fixed frames. Flexible frames allow you to shorten or lengthen the pack. The structures enable you to adjust to your torso length for perfect fitting. Depending on one’s turn to carry the backpack, adjustable frames allow sharing one pack between two people. Shopping for fixed frame model needs some testing first. Load the package with some weight, walk around and see that it’s right. Mostly, storekeepers will only allow you to test from their stores.

Does it have compartments?

These are separate divisions on the inside of the backpack for particular purposes. They include pockets for keeping cameras and laptops. Choose packs with mesh pockets that are easy to reach. These are essential for fixing water bottles. Choose pockets that are secure. Some backpacks have a zippered stash which is at the bottom. It’s called a sleeping bag compartment, and it functions when you don’t opt to use the stuff sack as a sleeping bag. Most of the packs have a removable daypack. It is a unique feature of summit hikes and day trips. Some also have top lids which can separate from the main pack and act as hip belts for day trips.

Are the hip belts well designed on the backpack?

The bulk of the load in a backpack is supported by your hips and not the back. The best straps are the ones that run around your hips and further cross your stomach. Well-fixed quality belts balance the load in the backpack. The weight is made stable on the back of the carrier. If you intend to reduce the strain on your spine and shoulders, then fix the hip belts correctly on your hips and not your waist.

What kind of padding does it have?

Hip belts and shoulder straps that are padded to reduce discomfort on long hikes with a heavy pack. Most campers neglect this, during the summer season. They carry backpacks with rough strapping fabric which end up rubbing through their lightweight clothing.

Belts should be broad, thick, and easy to adjust. Quality straps make you carry the backpack comfortably. They enhance the distribution of weight evenly across your shoulders. Inferior belts cause pain on the travel.

Is the backpack waterproof?

How embarrassing is it, to get yourself caught up in a downpour, then all your gear gets soaked. Backpacks made of waterproof fabric are the most appropriate to help you keep off the worst weather conditions.

Does it have proper ventilation?

As mentioned, this option is a plus point in the latest customer survey of backpacks likes and dislikes. People that sweat all time should choose a backpack with a unique, designed ventilated mesh. This feature provides an allowance of air circulation between the pack and your back.

Does it have a hydration reservoir?

Almost all backpacks have a hydration reservoir. It is a unique sleeve designed inside the pack. It enables you to slip a hydration reservoir plus one or two “hose portals.”

What is the brand of the backpack?

Verify the company of your choice. Determine the reputation and efficiency of the firm. The aspect of quality in the company’s production is also a factor to consider. Make necessary confirmation on a substantial guarantee basing on material and manufacturing faults. Check and validate that the company in question has a support desk for customer services.

I consider this as an informative guide to folks out there, who are planning for travels soon. Begin a thorough survey in the market stores, on the different backpacks in the market. Plan adequately in advance and go for the right choice of the pack. By so doing, you will enjoy your trip experience to the fullest.

How to stop morning backpack pain

Posted by Baltimore on May 3, 2018 in Hiking

Our lives have become like machines where we are constantly shuffling between our job and house responsibilities. For single people, the pressure of balancing a personal and professional life is not as difficult as those who are in a marriage and have kids.

The constant running around between work and home often leaves very little time for an individual. Taking the kids to school, preparing their breakfast and lunch, working in the office and then coming back home and doing household chores; the day never seems to end.

In the midst of all this confusion, the worst part is that we do not pay attention to ourselves.

Body pain, acute stress, lack of sleep and so many other factors can take a toll on our body. Even before we reach 40; we are already prone to various ailments and joint problems. Our back takes the biggest brunt of our lifestyle.

The constant pressure of continuously sitting or standing can create a lot of tension in the back region. In fact, studies have even pointed out that on an average 5 out of 6 people are diagnosed with chronic back pain issues.

Although many people do manage to take out some time throughout the day to do a few exercises, most of the people do not focus on themselves what so ever. This in turn equally harms the body in many ways.

The common problem of back pain in the morning

One of the most common problems, a lot of people face is morning backpack pain. The pain can get so severe at times that it is difficult to even get out bed. To prevent the pressure mounting on our back as well as to ease the tension on the region, you can do a variety of short stretches before getting out of bed. These stretches are effective and will help to release the pressure from the back.

Stretching is a great way to ease the pressure out of your body. Even experts and fitness instructors recommend that a person should stretch as much as possible. The only catch is that you have to do it right and make sure that you do not overstretch yourself.

Keeping short counts and holding your stretch for a few seconds before releasing will improve and strengthen your muscles. They are also perfect to ease morning backpack pain when you do them everyday. Here are some of the different back centric stretches you can do

Twist and turn

To release the morning backpack pain on the lower back region, this exercise is a good choice. All you need to do is lie down on your back with the soles of your feet touching the bed. Then place both the knees close together and slowly tilt it to the left side. During this time, make sure that you do not lift your feet up.

While tilting, the lower body, the upper body should be moved to the opposite direction. For example, if you are taking your knees to the right then your neck and chest region should be tilted to the left. Maintain this stretch for a count of five and slowly come back to the original position. Do the same thing on the other side. This will help to reduce the tension on the lower back and hip region.

The cobra pose

Another great way to reduce morning backpack pain is to do the cobra pose. For this pose, you need to lie on stomach with your toes touching the mattress or bed. Then place your palms on the sides making sure that it is aligned to your shoulder level.

Slowly lift yourself up and during this make sure you do not move your lower body. Maintain this position for at least ten counts and then slowly go down again. Doing this at least four or five times will equally help to reduce chronic back pain.

The plank

The plank exercise has an overall benefit and is perfect for people who do not have time to hit the gym. Through this exercise, your entire body can get a good stretch and it will also help to strengthen the muscles.

In this exercise, you have to make sure that you do it properly to get the best results. For this, you have to lie down flat on your stomach with your toes touching the mattress or ground. Then slowly raise your entire body by putting the pressure on your arms, hands and elbows.

Maintain this position for at least a couple of seconds before you can come back to the original position. There are many variations to this exercise, choose the one that is suitable for you. This will even help to reduce the effects of morning backpack pain.

Piriformis muscle stretch

A very easy and simple way of stretching, this is something you can do at any time. This stretch focuses on the Piriformis muscles and helps to reduce leg and back pain. For this stretch, you need to lie down on your side and place the opposite leg in front of you.

Then slowly pull your knee towards your chest until you can feel the muscles in your butt region stretching properly. Maintain a 30 second hold on this stretch and then go back to the original position. Repeat the same thing on the other side as well.

The full body stretch

A great way to start your day, doing the full body stretch will help you to boost your energy levels and also take care of the best backpack stove. For this, you can lie down flat on your back and place your arms over your head making sure that your ears are covered with your arms. Also make sure that both your palms are closed like how you would do when you pray.

Slowly stretch your toes out and maintain this stretch for a couple of seconds. The take your toes back inside pointing it to your chest. Keep on alternating this stretch for at least two to three minutes. This will help to release any tension on the overall body as well as the back.