Last week I started an initiative called the #sub500. You can read all about it here. Basically the idea is to help good writers with less than 500 Steem Power by featuring their posts on my blog, and I would split the prize with them + a 10SBD award from me.
Unfortunately, not many steemians were up for the challenge. Maybe making a competition wasn't the best option. Nevertheless, a handful of people joined the initiative and actually wrote really good articles.
Because I want to touch on important subjects like ecology, sociology, science, nature etc. the posts need to be well written and interesting to read. On the subject of plastic waste and how we can reduce it, @relicliberty wrote a wonderful and surprising post how wine bottles can actually replace plastic waste and use them is ingenious ways.
Also, check out @casparleuzinger 's post which by now accumulated more than 20$, and the very illustrative post by @sir3nal.
I'm very grateful to all the participants, and as promised all the SBD from this post will go to @relicliberty plus a 10SBD price.
To make #sub500 more interesting I will change the rules little with the intention to make it more appealing to minnows. I'm not going to feature any more posts on my blog, so anyone who wants to participate just needs to put the tag #sub500 and write on a subject I present. This way it's possible to edit or add something to a post at any given time. Also, I don't feel this should be a competition, just by participating you are already a winner. I think what will drive people to use the tag is the content itself, not the rewards. As I mentioned I want to see posts on serious subjects, topics that affect us all, topics we all have our own opinions. As for the rewards, anyone who participates will receive a 100% vote from me. Currently, I have around 10 300 SP. I will make sure I have at least 90% voting power before I upvote you. I hope this will grow to become an independent corner on Steemit where we could discuss important topics and help the minnows along the way. I encourage any dolphin, orca, and whale out there to support this cause, not because of me, but because minnows really count on us. If you have any suggestions how #sub500 can become better, don't hesitate to give me pointers. This project is still in its early development and I'm also experimenting here, and any help is welcome. In a future post, I will submit the new topic. I'm still thinking about what it should be. Also, you can suggest some topics yourself in the comments bellow.
I'm leaving you with the very interesting and informative post by @relicliberty on how wine bottles can help reduce plastic waste.
The zenith of breaking away from plastic would be a massive boom in research and development of a hemp market. Everything from clothing to bio-degradable containers, to fuel, can be produced from hemp. What could be further studied would be the production of the ethereal and coveted Carbon nanofiber. From there, anything is possible: replacement for rebar in concrete, greater batteries in both capacity and longevity, even space stations. However, the fight continues for individual liberty and to control one's destiny (which includes growing whatever can be grown with no consequences). In the meantime, there is one item that can drastically reduce plastic in your life: the humble wine bottle.
1: Water storage/thermal battery.
Unless you are LDS, you probably drink wine. If nothing else you know someone who does enjoy this nectar of the gods. If there is one thing we have in common it is we have piles of empty wine bottles. One thing that I have repurposed them for is water bottles. Coupled with a Berkey water filter, you can keep a couple gallons stored in a refrigerator. This is an idea I enjoy because it is quite nostalgic to pull a cork out and chug several deep gulps of fresh cool water. Another reason to keep cold fresh water in a fridge is that it acts as a “cooler” battery. Recently I had my power go out for a few days, and I was worried that the vegetables I harvested from my garden would have gone bad. To make things worse I was out of town. When I finally made my way home, I was surprised to find that the fridge was cool. Warmer than I would have preferred, but still cool. Keeping the two dozen bottles on the top shelf certainly helped.
2: Gardening
I was using PVC pipe and plastic containers for both of these, but if you have rubbing alcohol, yarn, and a steady hand this next tip is easy. You can cut wine bottles to help in a garden! There are two ways I have found a use for them, the first is the neck. You can place the mouth of the bottle into a bed or container, and by pouring water into the wider body of the bottle, this will help with watering and preventing the development of holes. The next is the bottom. The bottom of most bottles is concave, meaning they plunge into the bottle. In the indention, pour a small amount of alcohol and light it, then douse it with ice water much like how you’d normally cut a bottle. Take a Phillip’s screwdriver and hammer to punch a small hole. You now have a reusable seed planter! The divot acts as a drain, and when ready to plant, just shake the whole thing out. (Also makes a wonderful micro pot.)
3: Survival Radiator
While on a snowmobile trip in Island Park, a friend and I tested an idea we had: take a wine bottle with the bottom cut off and place it over a survival candle to act as a radiator. We used hand sanitizer, braided grass, a lighter, and snow to cut the bottom off. From there we built a snow cave shelter and warmed it to the balmy mid-60s. Simulating mild hypothermia by drinking a 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, the loopy nature of drunkenness helped in providing a measure of incoordination in the experiment, but we still managed to pull it off.
There are many ways to repurpose wine bottles, from light fixtures to candle holders and storage of Reece’s Pieces. Please post any tips and tricks you’ve come across in the use of wine bottles with your intellectual travels in the comments below. Thank you for the read, and please follow @relicliberty
