Podcast – The Age of Discovery – Exploring the New World

Prince Henry the Navigator, Christopher Columbus and the Age of Discovery
The Age of Discovery took place from the 15th through the 17th Century and featured a vast expansion of the European’s knowledge of the world. Two men played a crucial role in that era, Prince Henry the Navigator and Christopher Columbus. This episode discusses those two men, which form the opening chapters of the author’s book, The New World Discoverers. Learn about the explorers that led the exodus of settlers that flooded into the New World. Continue reading Podcast – The Age of Discovery – Exploring the New World

Podcast – Tulip Trestle Bridge

First, the raw statistics. The bridge is 2,307 feet long and 157 feet off the ground, at its highest point. It has 17 – 75-foot deck plate girder spans. These alternate with 18 – 40-foot deck plate girder spans. The west end of the bridge has 2 – 50-foot spans and 2 60-foot spans on the east end. The bridge, if placed on a gigantic bathroom scale, would weigh 2,895 tons. The cost to build the bridge was $246,504, which would be $212,000,000.00 in 2024 dollars. Continue reading Podcast – Tulip Trestle Bridge

Indiana Photo Gallery – Jackson-Washington State Forest

Jackson is a multi-use property. Hunting, fishing and trapping is permitted. The State of Indiana conducts periodic timber sales in the State Forests. The monies obtained by the sale of licenses, fees and timber go into the Heritage Trust fund that the State uses to procure more property. The State began acquiring the land that now encompasses Jackson-Washington in the 1930’s. The other activities offered at Jackson-Washington are camping, hiking, boating, fishing and horse trails. Continue reading Indiana Photo Gallery – Jackson-Washington State Forest

Corydon – First Indiana Capitol Building

The Indiana Territory Legislature contracted with Dennis Pennington to build the new Territorial capitol at Corydon. Pennington was a builder and prominent citizen of Corydon and served as Speaker of the House. He began construction of the building in either 1811 or 1812. The building would serve as the Harrison County Court House at first, then as the territorial capitol when it moved to Corydon. When the legislature did move in 1813, they met in the building. Continue reading Corydon – First Indiana Capitol Building

Building a Worm Farm

I recently constructed a worm farm to put kitchen waste in and have the worms reduce it to compost and worm tea. The worm compost can be used as a potting soil ingredient and soil amendment for the garden. Worm tea is a brown liquid that drains out of the tubs and is collected and used to water seedlings or plants in the garden. I used 3 plastic tubs to make the worm farm. Continue reading Building a Worm Farm