Today I went Live on Youtube to kind of rant about CBD companies that are popping up all over the place but most of the people either don’t know what is actually in the CBD or that they even have choices! I am on the search for a CBD company that is 100% pesticide free, 100% GMO Free, HEAVY METAL FREE, and TRIPLE TESTED for Mold, mildew and other crap that could harm me if I take it. People do no switch to CBD from their regular medicine just to get more crap and chemical in their body. They do it because it is a more natural alternative. But no body should be paying an arm and a leg for their products either. There are a TON of growers and manufacturers out there, but if it does not clearly say PESTICIDE/GMO/Heavy Metal Free…it is not! I am on the search. Send me companies you know of and want me to research. Send me products you may have used. Let me find out what is in those products and maybe together we can find a good and inexpensive company to purchase CBD products from!
New video out on our YouTube channel….
Cleaning the #composttoilet
I just show what I do every week I have to clean the toilet and explain why we chose it and some more info on it!
Check out my #youtubelive video(s) today I did #cleaning our #solarpanels! I get half done and Had to stop bc i accidentally #trapped 🦀 in the bus! Whatever…LOL Keep scrolling below for PART 2
What is the
difference between Marijuana and Hemp?
This is a
classic common misconception when it comes to the topic of Cannabis. People do
not know the difference and commonly misuse the words causing even more confusion
and unintelligent conversations to happen.
Marijuana….hemp…..isn’t
it all the same? Well, no…it isn’t.
The classification for Cannabis is actually still unclear! Cannabaceae has been said to be the FAMILY and Cannabis being the Genus. It is unclear on if the species is only Sativa and then broken into subspecies of Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis and then Hemp and Marijuana are subspecies of those:
Or if the species itself is All three Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis; and Hemp and Marijuana are the subspecies (1):
Wow. That was a lot of info, right? Regardless of how we
decided to scientifically classify the species and subspecies of Cannabis, one
thing remains true; Marijuana and Hemp are two totally different Sub-Species of the
Cannabis Plant. We will get into the species break downs in another
article, for now, let’s just talk basics.
For over 10,000 years Cannabis was farmed and used in
medicine and religious practices in a majority of the world. They knew the
differences between Hemp and Marijuana. Although the plants look very similar, Hemp
has a tall and skinny stature, even with skinny leaves, compared to its sibling
Marijuana, with a more Short and bushy appearance, and big wide leaves and
buds. It was actually illegal not to grow Hemp in the 1600s because it was so
versatile in textiles and medicine!
Hemp (5)
Marijuana (4)
Not only are the looks different, but the uses are different as well, from ingesting to creating everyday products. Inside of a Cannabis plant contains over 100 of what scientists call Cannabinoids. The reason you want cannabinoids in your body is because you already have cannabinoid receptors all over your body and in your brain! This “biochemical communication system” is called the Endocannibinoid System, and it plays a vital role in regulating our physiology, mood, and overall every day experience(2). This is a scientific FACT! These cannibinoids are attracted to those receptors and can build bridges and help someone live a healthier life in many different ways depending on the receptors effected. This all is a very personal experience and depending on your individual body chemistry determines which strain of Marijuana and Hemp you will have different reactions to.
Many of the cannibinoids found in cannabis have not been
found in any other plants! The two most prominent and mostly studied of the
100s of cannabinoids found in Cannabis are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD
(Cannibidiol). THC is the psychoactive
component that is found in Cannabis, but Hemp only contains .3% while Marijuana
contains 30%+. A person would need to ingest at least 7% of THC to FEEL any
type of reaction. Your body still absorbs all of the nutritional benefits of
THC even though you can not feel the effect. This is why people prefer to
purchase Marijuana’s Buds/Flower to get the “high” feeling, and not Hemp. THC
also includes many medicinal benefits, other than a euphoric feeling. It is the
better of the two cannibinoids in relieving pain since this gives a head high,
and will help block the pain receptors causing people with seizures, epilepsy,
arthritis, multiple sclerosis and spasms, and many other medical issues get
some relief in a way that is more organic than other forms of traditional
medicine today. The THC cannibinoids will bind to the brain cells responsible
for controlling excitement and regulating relaxation. The flowers are not the
only part of the plant that has benefits either. The stalk and leaves all
contain amazing components of CBD and other cannibinoids that give nutrients
and healing properties to the human body that has been recognized for
centuries, and it grows right out of the ground!
CBD is completely non-psychoactive and found in high
concentrations in both the Hemp and the Marijuana Plants. CBD has been known to
treat anti-inflamatory, pain, anxiety, side effects of chemo therapy in
patients like nausea, and many more. I like to refer to it as more of a nutritional
supplement like any other vitamin you would take every day. It has also been
used to help stimulate and protect the immune system in patients with low
immune systems. People who suffer from PTSD have claimed it helps with their
anxiety. It even works in our furry friends that can get anxiety during
fireworks or separation…bacon flavored! Like Marijuana, the entire Hemp Plant
contains nutritional cannibinoids, stalk, leaves, and very high concentrates in
the flowers, especially. You can’t
physically feel anything happening, but a whole plant extract is high quality
and is a great shot of vitamins whether you drink it, eat it, or swallow it in
pill form.
Now that you know the basic differences between HEMP and
Marijuana when it comes to the effects of the THC and CBD cannibinoids if you
inhale or ingest either plant, what about other uses?
Hemp is an amazing agricultural crop that could and has been
used to treat over farmed or contaminated soils, and even everyday items like paper,
building materials, fuel, beauty products, clothes, textiles, plastic
substitutes, and nutrition. Before 1883, 75-90% of paper was hemp based and
hemp was used in 80% of the world’s textiles. The seeds alone contain Omega 3
& 6 Fatty Acids, Protein, Vitamin E, and can be eaten raw, made into an
oil, of ground into flour. Farmers could use Hemp as a rotational crop to plant
between seasons because of its decontamination properties and ability to add
nutrients back into the soil. It does not require pesticides to keep alive either!
It does such a great job of decontaminating soil that it has been used for over
20 years to help rid the soil of toxins in and around Chernobyl.
All of these amazing benefits, and the government is finally
getting on board. In 1970 Cannabis was listed as a SCHEDULE I drug under the
Controlled Substances Act. Back then, there was no separation of the Cannabis
plant. It was assumed the entire Species was “Bad” because Marijuana was
claimed to have caused “Reefer Madness”, but now people are realizing that was
all a sham, and the only “madness” caused by smoking or ingesting too much THC
is fear of time travel and an overkill of the munchies and sleep. Finally, over
30 years later, President Obama signed the 2014 Farm Bill which legally gave a
difference between Marijuana and Hemp, thus legalizing Hemp to be cultivated
for RESEARCH and COMMERCIAL Purposes. This opened the door to the newest bill,
2018 Farm Bill, signed by President Trump December 2017 to allow industrialized
Hemp to be grown and sold to consumers without the farmers losing any
government benefits (3). The bill is not perfect. Neither was the last one or
the one before that. There was a lot more in the Farm Bill than just legalizing
Industrialized Hemp, and they still have a lot of work to do, but at least we
are getting there.
To the people who say the US government doesn’t make
progress, BOO YAH! Yeah, it’s slow…but a little at a time! We didn’t earn our independence
in a day, and we didn’t become the most amazing country overnight. I have faith
we will continue to make progress toward the full legalization of CANNABIS and
finally will be able to make good choices about our overall health. Keep
sharing the education, that is the only way we will win. Knowledge is power!
My Warning:
Now that America can grow and produce Hemp products, there
are a lot of companies popping up all over wanting you to buy. DO YOUR
RESEARCH!! Any company you buy from should not be using pesiticides or GMO
products. They will have this clearly labeled on their site or product. Many
companies also offer heavy metals testing, mildew/mold, E. Coli, etc testing. Also,
just because it is cheap, does not mean it is good! But if it is expensive,
that does not mean it is the best! So buy your Hemp oil, CBD oil, etc from a
company that doesn’t take the cheap and easy way out, but also is not charging
a ridiculous amount. I am currently working with a grower and manufacturer and
will hopefully be offering GMO free, pesticide free, triple lab tested CBD oil
for the whole family, including your pets. Stay tuned for more related articles!
(Article as featured in November 2018 Bus Conversion Magazine)
After spending a year and a half converting our ‘99 International Genesis, Chitty Bang, into a Tiny House/Skoolie for our family of four, I started to wonder how hard it would be to park at a typical rv park or campground? What about a resort? Would they love my bus as much as we did?
She definitely does not look like an RV with the few school bus windows that are still showing from either side. The RV door does not disguise her total originality of previously being a big yellow bus that carted kids and boogers around Arizona’s ISD.
Of course, we did not want to “run with the pack” and be in crowded places. We wanted to boon dock and use this amazing solar setup we installed. We wanted to park on friend’s and family’s property while we visited and explored their state and sights.
So who cares if we don’t fit in at an RV Park with all of those unoriginal motor homes? The different “suburbs” of the traveling world, as we came to describe them.
Well, believe it or not, despite our passion for off grid living, we did find ourselves staying at just a few RV parks, campgrounds, and even a resort while traveling around the last 2 years.
Randomly, I would see a post on a Skoolie or Bus Conversion Facebook Group Page where yet another bus converter was turned away from an RV park because of stereotypes, the way their rig looked, the rules of the park itself, etc. It totally happens!
After seeing this become more of a common post, I began to exercise my due diligence before having my husband drive our big rig and entire family somewhere just to get turned away. It really is stressful enough driving our big rigs, isn’t it?
So, I researched. I start with GOOGLE MAPS and search the terms “RV”, “rv park”, “campground”, and “resort”. Then I search the area where we are wanting to go and search a certain radius. Next, I open up each place’s website (if they have one) and write down any contact info they have.
The website itself can give a lot of information about a place. You can see the amenities, the costs, the rules and regulations, pictures, how close it is to attractions, etc.
My requirements on where we stay usually depend on the reviews, what kind of rules they have, and how it looks. If I do not think we will be comfortable there, then I pass. I also use the street view on the maps as well to get an idea of the surrounding area.
By the time I go through the site, I know if it is an adult park where kids aren’t even allowed, a 55+ park where none of us are allowed, or if they even allow rigs older than 10 years, or my English Mastiff.
Let me tell you a secret though, even though they have these rules, if you really want to go, JUST ASK.
Email them. Call them. I have emailed many places just being honest about how old the rig is, who is traveling with us, that my husband is Retired Army (I think that helps let them know our character as well), and I send pictures of the bus (one inside and one outside), as well as a family pic of all of us. I feel honesty is the best policy especially if you are staying there for more than a few days.
To my surprise, I would get responses from 55+ and Adult parks saying it was totally fine if we stayed, but no more than a month since we did not meet the age/no children requirements. I would get replies from parks that would not allow rigs 10 years or older, but yet we were invited to stay.
Now, a few things, I believe, influenced the decision from these folks. One, we were always asking parks during their non-busy seasons. Two, we keep our bus pretty well maintained and painted, and she looks really nice inside, which is why I send the inside pics. I think it helps to show people that we are clean and will respect their property if we respect our own. Three, I also mention that we were in Bus Conversion Magazine and send the Cover Photo from the Magazine! That definitely helps!
I get the occasional replies, “We are full,” “We don’t take older rigs,” “We don’t take school bus conversions”, or no response at all! That is fine. Do NOT get your feelings hurt! Just take your answer and move on.
We did not get into this kind of a tiny home or lifestyle if we wanted an easy route or to fit in with the crowd. We just research, reach out, take the answers, and celebrate or move on.
(The park is High Chaparral in Casa Grande, AZ. We have landed in an Adult park with a pool, spa, laundry facility, dog park, level/gravel spots, outside pickle ball courts, etc. and made friends with the management. Come to find out, they love vintage RVs and motor homes alike. They invited us back this year when we drove through again and we were happy to accept. We are always needing a space during their “off season” so the park is pretty empty, which we like anyway! They also own a couple of golf courses near-by for those who like to golf! Let Kay know we sent you!)
(This past summer we were parked at Distant Drums RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ. They have Full Hook Ups and some great features; fitness room, laundry room, pool, spa, dog park, trails all around, vineyards, Sedona near-by, swimming holes, etc. IT was during their “off season”, but they had a “No rigs over 10 years old” policy. I emailed a couple of months before we needed to arrive and they were happy to accept us. We paid $600 per month +$35 flat rate for electricity. You could also apply to workamp there.)
As the features and amenities added up, so did the price of our rent. We had previously stayed on private land for $100/month, $200/month, with just water and electric hookups; Workamped for Full Hook Ups at a campground; Workamped in the middle of a city with full hook ups and we get paid for that gig as well; on the higher end, the Resort we stayed at was $635/month. So as you can see, the prices vary greatly depending on where you go, what you get, and what work you do.
We are the type of road warriors that like to stay in one spot for a month or more to really figure a place out. We learn about the people, the sights, and the opportunities for the kids to become a regular somewhere. We found that we also save money when we are not always traveling because the cost at places is less for a whole month as opposed to weekly or daily rates. And you save money on gas!
In the spirit of saving money, let us not forget about the FREE places that most already know about, but why not list them here too? Places like BLM land where you can stay up to 2 weeks for free boondocking, but there is no special requirement for your rig and they have some pretty great spots to camp (i.e. South Rim of the Grand Canyon)!
We have even stayed at truck stops from one night for up to 3 days! Rest areas are a great stopping place for a break too, as well. Most have a “No More than 8 Hours” Rule, but we have always stayed like 10 or 12 hours and never had any issues.
(FREE! Parked at a Rest Area in New Mexico completely off grid!)
(Parked at a Truck stop in Roswell, New Mexico for 3 days to check out the alien sights. We went to Walmart on the 2nd day and asked to borrow their outside hose at the garden center to fill our fresh water tank. They were super nice and had no problems with us doing that.)
You may ask, “How do you know when a rest area, truck stop, or free place is available and how far are you from it?” Great Question! Technology has really come a long way helping those of us who live a life of traveling!
I use the apps TruckersPath and FreeCampsites.net. There are also a number of great RV park/campground applications you can download that all pretty much do the same thing for those search options.
I mostly use the two aforementioned apps while plotting the course to our destination before we head out, as well as during travel. TruckersPath will have up to date information on if there spaces available at rest areas, truck stops, and parking lots (i.e. Walmart, Home Depot, etc) as long as people are using the app.
FreeCampsites.net app links you to their website and shows a map of places people have personally used and reviewed to camp or park for free or small fee. Lots of BLM land, state land, parking lots, truck stops, etc. Use the tools at your fingertips to make traveling less stressful!
With every place we went, the price changed, the effort for services was different, and amenities were variable. You pay to play. If you are traveling in your bus conversion and just never bothered with the perks these other RVers are taking advantage of, take it from me, it is definitely worth the ask.
Just make sure you research and do your due diligence before you roll into a place, get rejected, and have a bad night at a rest stop somewhere! Take advantage of technology and apps, prepare as much as you can, and enjoy the journey! Safe Travels!
(Parked on site at our winter Workamping Gig (managing a pumpkin patch, tree lot, fireworks stand) in Arizona. Totally fenced in, with lock and key. We were the only ones on the site and had water from a local business, gray water dump service, and generator power provided by the company. We also had 2 weeks off in between seasons and were allowed to stay and use the generators and all while we went and explored. Free Hookups and Paid Gig.)
(Private property in East Texas near my parent’s house. This spot had a 30 amp electric hookup meant for a food truck. There is also a big building pretty far from the hookups that the owner runs a flea market out of Friday-Sunday. Gray water was leached onto an area she wanted us to water via an old hose, and there was a dumpster on site for our trash. We had lots of privacy here too! Paid $200/month.)
(We met a local farmer whom we sold some honey for while we workamped the tree lot who offered us a spot on his private property for as long as we needed. We only stayed a few months, but we had a water hookup, 30 amp electric, and the gray water leeched a dead area he wanted some grass to grow at, a dumpster was on site, and it was fenced off too! The people you meet on the road may surprise you so keep an open mind and be friendly! $200/ month +electric which was normally $75)
(Parked at a friend’s house in Washington State Spring-Summer with water hook up only. The panels and batteries provided 100% of our power and the gray water went into a drain that was installed on the property. They let us use their laundry room and did not charge us to stay. Great friends!)
(Parked on a friend’s private property completely off grid with full water tanks. We stayed a week before hitting the road. Ask friends and family what they may think is available, because you never know who has a piece of property you can boondock on for a bit! The neighbor even let us fill our tanks when we got low towards the end of our stay. No payment!)
(Workamping at Kamp Klamath in California the Redwoods during our first Summer in the bus. We had a spot away from other RVers, Full Hook Ups, local attraction discounts, free laundry, free BBQ on Saturday, food from the garden we would help tend, and a store discount. The cost was us working 4- 5 hour days in the office/store. We were in charge of reservations, selling items from the small store on site, rv escorts, and simple store/office cleaning duties.)
(In Cortez, CO at Mesa Verde RV Park in late March. We got a snow day which had us extend a couple of days, but it was our first RV park ever that we stayed at and a great learning experience. A great spot to stay for a few days. This was about $30/day for full hook ups and a laundry room.)
(We stayed at Black Canyon City Campground in Black Canyon City, AZ about 45 minutes North of Phoenix. The spot was cool and out of the dust of Phoenix for the month of May when we were there. The pool and hot tub they featured was not cleaned very well. We paid $575 for that month and were ultimately disappointed. They ended up charging us $175 for electricity that month as well, which is by far the most I have ever paid. Bus Conversion friendly, but at what price?
(Stayed at a friend’s house out in the country in Central Texas for a couple of weeks. This was actually our first trip after the conversion was complete and was our half way point on our trip to East TX. We were totally dependent on the solar for two weeks with access to water to fill the fresh water tank They also let us use their laundry room! Great friends!)
Also check out my other blogs/vlogs that will correspond with this article and more on our experiences. Links are below:
