Podcasts about softwood

Keith Weinhold plays a “financial superhero”, defending investors against the "greedy landlord" myth. A Zillow survey reveals the secret sauce of rental success: budget, location, and bedroom count - with pets stealing the show as the ultimate tenant dealbreaker. He exposes the dollar's sneaky inflation plot, showing how savvy investors can turn borrowing into a wealth-building adventure. Imagine homes that cost half their gold price from 100 years ago - mind-blowing!  Real estate investing isn't just a strategy - it's an epic journey of wealth creation!  Resources: GREmarketplace.com/OklahomaCity GREmarketplace.com/Tulsa Show Notes: GetRichEducation.com/episode/557 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  You get paid first: Text FAMILY to 66866 Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review”  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Automatically Transcribed With Otter.ai    Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE I'm your host, Keith Weinhold. Are Real Estate Investors greedy by nature? Learn why? In a sense, today's homes are actually half price compared to 100 years ago. Then results from a huge tenant survey that reveals the amenities that you must give renters or else they will leave how media headlines can trick you and more today on get rich education.   Mid south home buyers, I mean, they're total pros, with over two decades as the nation's highest rated turnkey provider. Their empathetic property managers use your ROI as their North Star. So it's no wonder that smart investors just keep lining up to get their completely renovated income properties like it's the newest iPhone. They're headquartered in Memphis and have globally attractive cash flows and A plus rating with the Better Business Bureau and now over 5000 houses renovated. There's zero markup on maintenance. Let that sink in, and they average a 98.9% occupancy rate, while their average renter stays more than three and a half years. Every home they offer has brand new components, a bumper to bumper, one year warranty, new 30 year roofs. And wait for it, a high quality renter, remember that part and in an astounding price range, 100 to 180k I've personally toured their office and their properties in person in Memphis, get to know Mid South. Enjoy cash flow from day one. Start yourself right now at mid southhomebuyers.com that's mid south homebuyers.com   Corey Coates  1:56   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  2:12   Welcome to GRE from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm Keith Weinhold, and this is get rich education. 100 years ago, you could buy the average home with eight kilos of gold. Today, it only costs you four more on that later. But first, as a real estate investor, has a critic or a tenant ever insinuated some form of these two questions to you, either, is it ethical for you to own multiple homes, or even, are you greedy? Now, I doubt that you're going to be asked that question directly, but sometimes you can feel that that's the vibe that someone else is on. Well, there sure are greedy people in the world. You could be rich and greedy, or you could be poor and greedy. Even the definition of greed is an excessive and selfish desire for more wealth than one needs, often driven by a destructive motive. All right, that's the definition like you're willing to destroy other people in the pursuit of wealth that is rather different than acquiring wealth, which is usually done only when you first fulfill the needs of others. All right? Well, say that your critic makes $60,000 per year. Oh, well, then that means that they're in the top 1% of global income earners. I mean, sheesh, then they're like the Jeff Bezos of the developing world. So to help even things out, should your critic have to send half of their salary to Senegal or Mauritania or Burkina Faso if the critic's home has more than one bathroom in it, or they even own one car. Well, then they're fabulously wealthy by world standards. Then do they have to give it away to avoid being greedy? What if they ever worked overtime for extra money? Like is that evidence of certain greed? All that stuff is ridiculous, preposterous amounts don't create greed Spirit does. There is no implicit Machiavellian intent. If you have more wealth than average, where would you even draw the line? Like, once you hit seven rental properties? Oh, that's just fine, but eight of them is too many, or once you live in a home that costs 50% more than an area's median, then is that when it becomes greed? I mean, this doesn't make sense. Higher housing prices these past five years has to do with the lack of housing supply and with the. Abundance of dollar printing. It's those two things. The culprits aren't rental property owners. The culprits are burdensome development regulations and the Federal Reserve printing all the dollars, not your local landlord. Responsible landlords provide and maintain sound housing, and they do that for complete strangers, they're taking a lot of faith. Oh, so then could the tenant actually be the greedy one, if they both resent and expect that treatment from a stranger for free? I mean, real estate investors, hey, we take on risk, DEBT, TAXES, maintenance, insurance, market volatility, and we have the responsibility of building and maintaining a good credit score in most cases. I mean, you're the one that's truly invested in the property, not a tenant that can choose to move out in 30 or 60 days. Landlords are a bit like umpires. They're rarely appreciated, and they only get noticed when they do something wrong. I know I mentioned to you before that when I buy a property pretty soon, I casually mention to my tenant that, you know, each month, I just have to make them aware. Each month I make a big mortgage payment and I have to pay for property tax and insurance on this place. I mean, it's amazing to see how far that little mention goes with both timely rent collection and that they don't resent you as a landlord over time. See, tenants often don't know this because they've never owned property themselves, and actually, as you know, since I use property managers now, I don't make this mention to tenants anymore. See, to tenants often it can feel like they're just sort of renting air, and the rent payments they make to you are very visible to them. What's invisible to them are all of your expenses. You're the one as the investor that's contributing to communities. You are the good steward of a neighborhood's housing stock, and you provide homes for people who either can't or don't want to buy the myth of the evil landlord. It really just ignores realities. I mean, mom and pop investors own 72% of single family rental homes, and the typical landlord owns fewer than three units. Many don't have 401 Ks. I mean, rental properties are their retirement plan. So most landlords, real estate investors, they're not cigar chomping tycoons twirling mustaches atop piles of gold like Scrooge McDuck. They're regular people. So perspectives like this that can really help you ward off both critics and unaware tenants. And you know what odds are, if they had the opportunity, they would often do the same thing at a time when pensions are rare and inflation runs rampant. Who could blame anyone for seeking assets that grow in value and generate income. Here's what you need to know. Everyone plays the financial game in the context of their own economy. You Your critic and your tenant, your awareness and your mindset from listening to the show is merely more broad than others. If everyone understood that being wealthy is actually a choice like you do, we would all be better off. So the bottom line here is that real estate investors are not villains. They're just people trying to build a financial life raft in a financial ocean that is full of icebergs. Rich people aren't necessarily greedy, just like poor people aren't necessarily lazy. Greed exists in somebody's spirit, not in the amount of your net worth or whatever your income level is,.    All right., Well, heading into the summer here, there are more tenant moves than any other season. Rental demand has stayed fairly strong, not super strong, just fairly strong, with rents only up about 2% annually. When you amalgamate single family rentals and apartments, the share of rentals with a concession is dropping because the rental market is fairly strong, and when renters find a place, a lot of them are staying put, like it's the last lifeboat off the Titanic. Of course, these are all phenomena on a national level, and each local area is different. I mean that right, there is something that I could say on nearly every episode with low affordability, the home ownership rate is down and renter numbers are up. Now. I told you a while ago that it would go down that home ownership rate, and in the latest quarter ended, that home ownership rate has dropped from 65.7 down to 65.1 Percent. And that might not sound like much, but homeownership down six tenths of 1% in just a quarter. That means that there are at least about 500,000 new renters in America. More renters means more rental demand, more occupancy, and it's crucial for you to know what those renters want so that you can best serve them again. You're not greedy. You're trying to serve them as well as you can now, Zillow has an arm. It's called the Zillow group population science. It's something I hadn't even heard of until recently. What Zillow did with this group is they surveyed 36,000 US renters of both single family rentals and apartments to find out what trends are and what renters want. And I read their entire lengthy report. I think it was 40 pages, so that you don't have to and what I did is I pulled out the most salient pieces to help you attract and retain tenants, and the top three criteria that renters really consider essential when deciding whether or not to rent your property are the first thing, and 95% said this is that it's got To be within their budget, second, at 85% preferred location. Hmm, does that mean near tacos and coffee shops? And then the third most important thing renters consider essential at 84% is the preferred bedroom count. After that, the Floor Plan and the layout that fits their preferences was most important. After that, it's the preferred number of bathrooms. So note that the preferred number of bedrooms, then, is more important in making the rental decision than the preferred number of bathrooms, although they both matter. And then after that, in order of decreasing importance, is broadband internet, allowing pets and having common amenities like a gym, a business center, a rooftop and a lounge and those things, those common amenities, they were substantially more important for apartment renters than for single family home renters, as you would imagine. And here's key, a separate survey question was asked, What is the main reason that you passed on a particular property and decided not to rent it. Number one easily was that the property prohibited pets. The second biggest choice had to do with pets as well. It was that the property restricted the pet breed or size. The reasons that renters passed on a particular property are so centered around pets. What do pets rule this housing market? Now, that's kind of how it seems. Now, another thing that this survey revealed is like, gosh, it also seems like the age for doing almost anything in America is up. The median renter is age 42 did you have any idea there? 42 probably older than you thought. And the older people are, generally, the quieter they are, and the less they move. The most common application fee paid is $50 that's what the survey found. Hey, maybe that's one thing that hasn't been slapped with tariffs. It's an online world. The typical renter surveyed reported taking only one in person tour. Everything else is swiping, scrolling or going deep on Google Street View. Basically what tenants do is they check out everything online, and then once they've chosen the place that they want to rent, they often make that decision right there online, and then basically that one in person visit is just them showing up to confirm that there aren't any red flags at that place, that they mostly know that they won. And this is good for you if you're self managing and you're showing the places yourselves. I mean, there are just fewer tire kickers than there were back in the day. I mean, hey, talk to your parents. 25 years ago, rental ads were like four lines in a newspaper, no photos at all, so tenants then they had to show up in person to see what a rental place even looked like. Let's look at the percent of renter households in America by household income, less than $50,000 57% of renters were in that range, 50 to 100k 29% and 100k or more, 15% as far as how much security deposit you need to give, 75% of renters said their first month's rent was required to Secure the rental, and only 25% said that they also had to fork over last month's rent to secure it. In a really strong rental market, you can more often ask for that both first and last month's rent to get in. 40% reported getting their entire security deposit back at the end of the rental. Hmm, I guess the. Others pay for that mysterious carpet stain. Most pay additional fees on the rental, 58% and that's things like water, sewer, garbage, recycling or other utilities. And it even includes payment processing. There some landlords charge for that. And again, what I'm talking about here is single family rentals and apartments combined. All right, so more single family renters are going to pay for separate utilities on top of the rent. Of course, about half of American renters have renter's insurance. At 48% I suppose the others are living dangerously. A typical renter uses four websites or apps in their search and as I'm continuing on here with the results from this Zillow Rental survey of 36,000 renters, it also showed that the top three reasons that current renters say that they decide to stay long term are and this is big. I mean, this is about your retention rate. 72% stay long term because they say rental costs are a good deal, that's why they stay next most important is quiet neighbors. Yes, no drum kits or free range toddlers will help in apartments. One noisy neighbor can upset a lot of tenants, but a noisy neighbor that might not be a problem at all when people are dispersed in a single family rental and then the third most important thing in long term retention is 68% of renters stay in a unit because they can't afford to move elsewhere. Two thirds of tenants said their landlord or property manager notified them of a rent increase in the past two years, 37% of renters said they would be very or extremely likely to buy a home if mortgage rates fell. All right, that's about three in eight renters say that as far as the length of leases in America, 64% signed on for a one year lease, and 24% said their lease is longer than a year. So really, to summarize what you've learned here from that survey is that you need to know your audience, 42 year olds with pets and a strong preference for quiet neighbors. Keep your pricing competitive. Embrace tech. People want to apply and pay and do things online, and your tenants will stick around longer. You can either give a man a fish and feed him for a day, or teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime.    Here at GRE, we do both get riched occasion.com. Is where you learn through this very show and our videos over there, and our blog articles and more. The name gre marketplace.com is where you take action and see the markets and providers that make the best income properties nationwide. GRE marketplace is also where you get access to our totally free investment coaching strategy sessions with a real human being that has both an MBA and investing experience. And that's something we added three or four years ago that really helps you be profitable as an investor, get paid five ways so that you can have more income and wealth and perhaps even retire early. We help you find the right exact property addresses. That's what we help you do compared to 100 years ago, homes are half price today. This is fascinating. I'll get into that shortly. I'm Keith Weinhold. You're listening to get rich education.    The same place where I get my own mortgage loans is where you can get yours. Ridge lending group NMLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than anyone because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your pre qual and even chat with President Caeli Ridge personally while it's on your mind, start at Ridge lendinggroup.com. That's Ridge lendinggroup.com. You know what's crazy?    Your bank is getting rich off of you. The average savings account pays less than 1% it's like laughable. Meanwhile, if your money isn't making at least 4% you're losing to inflation. That's why I started putting my own money into the FFI liquidity fund. It's super simple. Your cash can pull in up to 8% returns, and it compounds. It's not some high risk gamble like digital or AI stock trading. It's pretty low risk because they've got a 10 plus year track record of paying investors on time in full every time. I mean, I wouldn't be talking about it if I wasn't invested myself. You can invest as little as 25k and you keep earning until you decide you want your money back. No weird lockups or anything like that. So if you're like me and tired of your liquid funds, just say. They're doing nothing. Check it out. Text family to 66866, to learn about freedom. Family investments, liquidity fund again. Text family to66866   Speaker 1  20:17   what's up? Everyone? This is HGTV. Tarek al Musa. Listen to get rich education with Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream.   Keith Weinhold  20:35   Welcome back to get rich Education. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, the headlines say homes are so expensive that you'd think millennials would be forced to live in IKEA showrooms. Now, a year or two ago, here on the show, I think I mentioned to you that at that time, it took eight kilos of gold to buy the average home, about 100 years ago, and at that time, only six. Well today, it took eight kilos of gold to buy an average home in 1920 but it's only four kilos now, in terms of gold, homes are half the price today, and I sent you that pretty shocking image showing this in our newsletter a month or two ago. So what in the monetary twilight zone has happened in the past 100 years? Well, a lot of things. The 1913 creation of the Federal Reserve inflated away your dollar's purchasing power over time. This was basically like giving your teen a credit card with no limit and hoping for the best, then removing the dollar's last link to gold redeemability in 1971 that freed the rains for unlimited dollar creation. And Robert Kiyosaki was here to discuss exactly that on the show with us on episode 358 go back and listen to episode 358 if you haven't heard it and you want to. Before long, dollars got so flimsy that dive bars started stapling them to the wall as decor, and it seems like the next stop for the dollar is kindling for your backyard fire pit. Now, there is, however, an affordability problem today that keeps renters staying as renters. But part of the calculus here is that homes only seem expensive because their values are usually compared to dollars. But that's faulty, because dollars are a moving measuring stick. This is like saying that an hour has 60 minutes in it this year and next year, it'll only have 55 minutes in it. That doesn't work. I mean, she should a few years, everyone would run a marathon in under an hour at that rate. Okay, so changing the measuring stick defeats the very purpose of a measuring stick. Here's what's even more amazing than that fact about the gold, despite that, homes only cost half as much today as they did in 1920 in terms of gold, you also get more home today. Today's homes have smaller lot sizes, smaller yards, but otherwise they have amenities that people couldn't have even dreamed of in 1920 I mean, this is really interesting. Let's compare a typical 1920 new home to a 2025 new home. We've gone from 1048 square feet up to 2411 so the size has more than doubled. Back then there was no Garage. Today you've got a heated garage. Back then you had one bathroom or even an outhouse in 1920 Oh, today you have two or three or even more indoor bathrooms in just the average new build home back in 1920 you had a wood burning stove that you had to keep loading, and you're like splitting and stacking firewood and storing that somewhere. Today, you have central heating. Just push a button. Back more than 100 years ago, you had no AC. Today, AC is completely standard. You had no insulation a lot of times in 1920 homes today you've got smart insulation. You used to have a very basic kitchen. Today you've got a center island and granite and quartz countertops. You had an ice box back in 1920 and a nice refrigerator or two. Today, back then, you had no dishwasher or garbage disposal. Today, you have both. Back in 1920 you had to use a washboard in a ringer to wash and dry your clothing. Can you imagine that today you have a washing machine? You had an outdoor clothesline back then today you have a dryer back in. 1920 you had these claw foot bathtubs, and often no shower. Today you have both bathtubs and showers, and several of them. Back then you had nothing where today you have a dedicated laundry room, and a lot of times a home office, and sometimes even a gym. I mean, so all those changes right there over the last 105 years. This really puts the exclamation point on the fact that homes are cheaper today. In terms of the value that you get, today's homes might be a third or a quarter of the price that they were a century ago. You can't point to mortgage rates either. They're still below their long run average of 7.7% per Freddie Mac the thing you've got to point to, the big problem here, the elephant in the room, is that salaries have not kept up with inflation, and that is the real crux of the problem in hurting homes affordability. Look, and this could be a real epiphany for you here that affordability fact is even more reason to move today's depreciating dollars into real assets and move that with emphasis and with urgency, dollar savers are just such massive losers. All right, so then, what is the opposite of saving dollars? Some people think it's spending dollars. No, the opposite of saving is not spending. It's borrowing dollars. That's how you go negative on that. The opposite of spending is not saving, it is borrowing. That is how you go negative and short the falling dollar. This really it's all just a fresh approach on what people need to consider doing. Borrow dollars, own income property, let tenants pay your debt, let inflation also shrink your debt like a cheap shirt that spends too much time in a clothing dryer, and just watch inflation pump up your asset price at the same time. Now you are just winning all over the place. You are racking up more wins than Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open. That's why I am resolute about saying what no one else out there says real estate done right is not an inflation hedge. A hedge is a defensive investing strategy where you break even. I mean, no one plays a game hoping for an outcome of a tie, spending money as an inflation hedge. That's why I refer to borrowing for income property as inflation profiting. That's the reason why. And see, other people's money pays down your debt, both the tenant and the inflation are whittling that away for you. Oh, and hey, for my fellow math weirdos, in 1920 a new home cost $6,300 and there are 35 ounces in a kilo of gold, and you can figure out the rest from there to see that homes cost half as much in gold. Now the bottom line here is that the real estate market is not broken. The dollar is and that dollar measuring stick is so miserably distorted and perverted that some people can't even see what's going on anymore. I've got another interesting way of helping you see this.    Let's look at something more recent than 1920 let's go back 30 years. Do you have any idea what the median us home price was then? Any guess 30 years ago, that's kind of charming. It was a modest $130,000 All right, with an 80% loan and zero principal pay down your mortgage balance would be a featherweight 104k today, that is a clear way of seeing how inflation debases your debt. And of course, the tenant would have paid it off for you by now as well. But I mean a loan balance of $104,000 without any principal pay down, sheesh, that's less than some people's American Express card limit. Really think about that by removing the principal pay down component, you can really see with transparency and lucidity the effect of inflation whittling down a loan balance to 104k and that is just 25% of today's median home price of $416,900 that is a stark example of inflation profiting, how your debt got relentlessly debased by the Fed. And of course, rental properties tend to be less expensive than this median number that I'm talking about. So the typical rental property is. In this scenario, you might just have a loan balance of 75k today, here, 30 years later, and the property would be worth, say, 300k inflation makes your loan balances feel like a featherweight over time. All right, now let's go somewhat further back in time again, 1950s Florida.    Last month, in our newsletter, I sent you those fascinating old newspaper clippings from a real estate sales ad from 1955 in the Miami area and a two bedroom, single family home, one bath, screened porch and a carport. Its price was $7,450 for the entire Miami area home. And the ad also showed that your monthly payment is $48 and then, okay, so that was a two bedroom, single family home this Miami area, three bed, one bath home with a screen porch, $7,900 so only an extra 450 bucks for an extra bedroom, that is the purchase price of the entire asset. And the monthly payments on this three bedroom are 50 bucks a month, a little more than the 48 bucks a month that it was for the two bedroom. And here's the thing, the monthly payment amount, as shown in this old newspaper advertisement, $48 and $50 that was principal, interest, taxes and insurance all together, a jaw dropping sub 8k for a Miami area home, not just Florida, but pricier Miami. I mean, can you imagine a Florida couple's home buying conversation in the mid 1950s there at Florida, honey, you're crazy if you think we're going to pay an extra $2 per month for a third bedroom. I mean, this is just astonishing. And yeah, my apologies for leaving you flabbergasted so many times in one episode. Gosh. Now to be sure, wages were lower back then, but back then, only one parent had to work. They still managed to buy homes, raise a family, and even pay for a milkman who actually delivered the milk. And now, you know, if we fast forward to the future, future generations, they're going to marvel at today's incredibly low median home price of 400 to 450k Yes, therefore you will be the one doing the flabbergasting, and you'll leave people From 2070 feeling abjectly flabbergasted when the median home price is $4 million then, I mean, it realistically could be, it could be more than that. It's the same way that today we're astonished at 1960s McDonald's menus where a burger was 15 cents. Yes, 15 cents is seriously how much McDonald's hamburger cost in the 60s. And of course, this is when restaurants also serve real meat and french fries cooked in tallow rather than seed oils, and shakes had real cream in them. That's all evidence of simultaneous skimpflation. But getting back to the monetary inflation, you know, as recently as 2011 we can even feel dazed and amazed about how the median home price, then was just $211,100 Yes, as recently as 2011 you're surely dazed and stupefied here, one thing I know, though, is that this did not leave you slack jawed, because Between you and I, we know there's only one slack job between us, and we know full well that that's not you. The bottom line, the bottom line here is that zooming out over time reveals a clear, uncomfortable truth. Savers get roasted, borrowers get rich. This is just a new way of looking at it.    And if you're a newer listener and you don't get our newsletter yet, it is free, full of value, and I write every word myself. There are more AI generated newsletters out there. That is not what this is. This is me to you, and to get the newsletter right now. Text. GRE to66866, 66866, we don't send you a bunch of texts that would be intrusive. It's an email newsletter. You can get it by texting GRE to 66866   Now, earlier this year, I talked with you about how home sales have crashed. When people read a media headline like that, home sales crash. You know, some people think that home prices are falling, but that's not. What that means is, you know, it means that the quantity of sales has fallen a lower transaction volume. With that in mind, to help you out in the future, when you're reading. For real estate and economic headlines, I jotted down a few fictitious headlines here, but yet they're the same type that you've seen before, and you'll see these again in the future, and they can be misleading. So let's straighten this out. Okay, here's the first fictitious yet realistic sounding headline, what people often think it means and what it really means. Developer uses tax loophole to deliver 200 unit apartment complex All right. Now, some people read that and they think that the developer is doing something nefarious or underhanded. No. Sometimes reporters use this word loopholes to describe legally created incentives to get much needed housing built. Reporters are often doing yeoman's work on behalf of NIMBYs. If this thing is producing more housing, then we need more loopholes, which are really incentives just like it. Here's another misleading headline. Now, almost all of the 50 states have a lower level of housing inventory than they did pre pandemic, but this headline says, Tennessee housing supply 4% more than pre pandemic levels. All right, some might see that headline and think, Oh, I guess that housing is a little oversupplied. Now, no, not necessarily, because most states had a scarce supply of inventory even before the pandemic hit back in 2020 the next headline is existing home sales fell off a cliff. All right, Did you note that this only includes existing homes, meaning resale homes, because, again, the headline is existing home sales fell off a cliff. So this doesn't include new builds. And there's nothing inherently falsified about some of these headlines. They just get misinterpreted. Softwood lumber prices hit all time record high. Okay, well, with persistent inflation, this might not be reason for alarm. Is it even an inflation adjusted high or not? Here's a headline, California leads the nation in out migration. All right, some people see this and assume that the California population is dropping. Well, maybe, maybe not. Again, the headline was, California leads the nation in out migration? Well, raw numbers aren't per capita. Cali is the largest state by population at almost 40 million. And also, if their in migration exceeds this out migration, well then they had positive net migration. And all of this doesn't even count births or deaths. You'd have to factor that in as well. The next headline is foreclosures Spike 50% year over year. Ooh, that sounds bad. And although this is a fake headline, just like the other ones that I'm telling you about, a phenomenon like this did recently occur, actually, but it's still at a really low level. It just rose from an extremely low level, two tenths of 1% up to three tenths of 1% that's a 50% gain. Here's a headline. You might see mortgage rates have dropped 2% this year. Maybe you'll see that in the future. Most people read something like this, and they assume that real estate values will resultantly soar. Well, maybe, maybe not. It sounds like homes are more affordable, and they would be, but the Fed might be cutting rates because the economy needs the help. It could mean we're in a recession. So if wages are down, even if mortgage rates are down, it might not actually be less affordable. The next fictitious headline is Philadelphia new build home prices surge 8% Oh, you're thinking that's got to be good, right? Well, I don't know what if new build Philly homes are constructed with 10% more square footage this year, but the price is only up 8% so they're actually selling at a lower cost per square foot. And this is also why existing home price change is more meaningful. The next fictitious headline is unemployment claims jump 30% in a week. All right? Well, this usually doesn't mean that there are mass layoffs and some economic Armageddon. If initial jobless claims rise from 200 up to 260k that's a 30% jump, but it's still low relative to recession levels, which are typically 400k plus and the last fictitious headline, Warren Buffett, b, u, F, F, E, T, invests $10 billion in apartment REITs. Oh, well, Buffett was spelled with only 1t Buffett should be spelled with a double T. Have you ever noticed that it is the most frequently misspelled name in financial media that's all for the headlines, so having the wherewithal about these sorts of things can help you better interpret what's happening in Real Estate's Future and the economy's future.    One of the most inexpensive national markets, I'll say, outside the Midwest, where you can own income property, where the numbers really make sense. An investor advantage place is in the state of Oklahoma. Some of these Oklahoma properties that we've begun dealing with here, they're pretty small. Like check out this single family rental I want to tell you about that's just 864 square feet. You know, more tenants desire this type of housing. Family sizes are smaller today, yet they want separation in the privacy of a single family home. And this one is brand new build, two beds, two baths, and the price is, get this $155,000 for new build. Yes, you heard that, right, and the projected rent is really strong. $1,250 I mean, this sort of cottage sized new build home is the type of product that can make the best rental, because if it were double the size, you might only get 50 or 60% more in rent. Now there's no garage on this new build 155k property, and you get all the finishes that you would expect from new construction. The second Oklahoma property to tell you about is this Tulsa duplex. This one really stands out. And Tulsa has over a million people in the metro. It was built just several months ago, $2,900 rent on a purchase price of about 360k and these ones, they've consistently appraised in the 375 to 380k range. So you could very well get some built in equity here with this duplex, where the numbers work pretty well as it is, each side of this new duplex has over 1300 square feet, three beds, two baths on each side, free management the first year, $3,000 cash to you post closing, all the nice finishes you'd expect with new build in this Tulsa duplex. So these two properties I've discussed here are really investor advantaged all new build. And that 155k single family rental was in Chickasaw, Oklahoma. And then the Tulsa duplex in the mid to high three hundreds. The next one is the last one. I'll mention. It's not as good of a deal, but it does look nicer because it's a brick faced new build single family rental for 320k in Lawton, Oklahoma. Lawton is more southwestern Oklahoma, with $2,400 rent, and it's 1800 square feet in this new build and just a little positive cash flow. The property tax rate is 1.1% property insurance is just 1250, a two car garage, all the types of finishes that you would expect with new build. So a property like this is if you're looking for a better quality tenant. Oklahoma City has had more happening than usual. You might have heard that the tallest building in the United States is planned to be built in Oklahoma City, yes, taller than anything in New York or Chicago. The Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team has been performing well. You know, those things are merely interesting and have almost nothing to do with the investor advantage. Rental properties, again, all three that I mentioned, there are new build. Not only are we in this persistent national housing shortage, but these entry level homes that make the best rentals, they're the ones that are in even shorter supply. That's a fact I probably don't mention to you often enough. The home ownership rate is down because of strained affordability, so you may very well have a long term tenant in these properties, and then you layer on the fact that they're new build, and it really looks promising for tenants wanting to stay for the long term. Check out the market and the provider. Learn more at either gre marketplace.com/oklahomcity or slash Tulsa. Yes, new build Oklahoma properties, if you're not sure about the exact address, that's going to provide you with the highest returns, our free investment coaching can help you with that as well borrow dollars with long term fixed interest rate debt that both tenants and inflation just relentlessly pay down for you while your expected price appreciation. Can leverage dollars at the same time. Start at gre marketplace.com/oklahoma, city or slash Tulsa until next week. I'm Keith Weinhold. Don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 2  44:52   Nothing on this show should be considered specific personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional. Additional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  45:16   You know, whenever you want the best written real estate and finance info, Oh, geez. Today's experience limits your free articles access, and it's got pay walls and pop ups and push notifications and cookies disclaimers. It's not so great. So then it's vital to place nice, clean, free content into your hands that adds no hype value to your life. That's why this is the golden age of quality newsletters. And I write every word of ours myself. It's got a dash of humor, and it's to the point because even the word abbreviation is too long, my letter usually takes less than three minutes to read, and when you start the letter, you also get my one hour fast real estate video. Course, it's all completely free. It's called the Don't quit your Daydream letter. It wires your mind for wealth, and it couldn't be easier for you to get it right now. Just text gre 266, 866, while it's on your mind. Take a moment to do it right now. Text, gre 266, 866,   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth, building, getricheducation.com.

Dean continues to share his little things, tips and skills list. The secret of using a screwdriver. Dean recaps the show's tricks, tips and techniques & discusses the different colored meanings of wire nuts.  Dean talks about the splitting of hardwood and softwood & how to avoid it.+ how big should pilot holes should be. Dean explains the differences between a wrench and pliers.

Preliminary Rates for Anti-Dumping Duties for Softwood Lumber in the U.S. Department of Commerce's Sixth Administrative Review GUEST:Kurt Niquidet, President of BC Lumber Trade Council Metro Vancouver Updates GUEST: Mike Hurley, Mayor of Burnaby, Metro Vancouver Board Chair The Agenda: Has the Canada-US relationship permanently changed or is this fight temporary and under Trump's regime? GUEST: Mary Polak, former B.C Liberal Cabinet Minister GUEST: Moe Sihota, former B.C NDP Cabinet Minister Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BC Lumber Trade Council is condemning the U.S. government's 25% tariff on softwood lumber, calling it an unjustified protectionist measure that harms both Canadian and American economies. Guest: Kurt Niquidet - President of the BC Lumber Trade Council Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How is BC preparing for the softwood lumber battle? Guest: Ravi Parmar, BC's Minister of Forests Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the latest and most important news of the day | https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca To watch daily news videos, follow us on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@CdnPress The Canadian Press on X (formerly Twitter) | https://twitter.com/CdnPressNews The Canadian Press on LinkedIn | https://linkedin.com/showcase/98791543

In the latest episode of the Veg Grower Podcast, host Richard and guest Scott delve into a variety of gardening topics, offering listeners practical advice on plant propagation, pest management, soil health, and food preservation. This comprehensive blog post will break down each segment of the episode, providing detailed, actionable tips and expert insights to help you enhance your gardening and culinary skills. Propagation Techniques: Maximizing Plant Growth Softwood Cuttings Richard begins by emphasizing the importance of propagation techniques, particularly softwood cuttings, to maximize plant growth. Softwood cuttings are taken from the current year's growth, unlike hardwood cuttings, which come from older wood. Here's a step-by-step guide to taking softwood cuttings: Gathering Cuttings: Use sharp secateurs to cut approximately ten centimeters from various plants. Place the cuttings in a plastic bag with labels to keep them moist and organized. Preparing the Cuttings: Cut the stems at an angle just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves to prepare the cuttings for rooting. Using Rooting Hormone: Dip the cuttings in rooting hormone to enhance the success rate. Planting the Cuttings: Place the cuttings in pots filled with seed and cutting compost, which is more sandy and allows roots to penetrate easily. Keep the compost moist and cover the pots with a lid or plastic bag to maintain humidity. Layering Richard also discusses another propagation method called layering, which occurs naturally in some plants like blackberries. Here's how you can use layering to propagate plants: Securing a Branch: Secure a branch to the ground to encourage it to root and create a new plant. Using a Plant Pot: Place a plant pot filled with compost under the branch to make it easier to propagate various plants. By using these propagation techniques, you can increase your stock of plants like rosemary, lavender, sage, currant bushes, gooseberry bushes, Sichuan pepper plants, and olive plants, all while saving money. Tackling Blight on Potatoes Blight is a fungal disease that can devastate crops, particularly potatoes and tomatoes. Richard shares his experience with blight affecting his Aaron Victory potatoes and offers the following tips for managing this issue: Identifying Blight: Look for early signs of blight, such as dark spots on leaves and stems. Types of Blight: Understand the difference between early blight (rare in the UK) and late blight (more common and can kill crops overnight). Removing Infected Parts: Cut away the infected foliage to prevent further spread. Disposing of Infected Foliage: Ideally, burn the infected material. If bonfires are restricted, consider composting or burying the foliage deep in the soil. Growing Resistant Varieties: Focus on growing blight-resistant varieties while experimenting with different types to find the best flavor. By following these steps, you can effectively manage blight and protect your crops. Exploring Soil Health Healthy soil is crucial for growing robust plants. Richard shares his insights on soil health and offers practical tips to improve it: Testing Soil Health: Bury an old pair of underwear in your garden beds. If the underwear decomposes significantly within a month, it indicates healthy soil with active microbial life. No-Dig Gardening Approach: Use layers of compost to retain moisture and improve soil structure, especially in hard clay soil. Observing Soil Life: Look for insects and worms as indicators of soil health. An increase in worms suggests improved soil conditions. Beneficial Microorganisms: Introduce beneficial bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi to the soil. Companies like Empathy provide products to enhance soil health. By focusing on soil health, you can create a thriving garden ecosystem that supports plant growth.

The central character of the 2021 GameStop frenzy tweeted a meme and the market went bananas. On this week's TLDR, was the latest rally a sign that memestocks are alive and well? Or was it the last paroxysm of a bygone era? Plus, what the Canada-U.S. battle over softwood tariffs tells us about the trading relationship between the two countries. And, how OpenAI is shaping the future of artificial intelligence — and, possibly, human relationships.Editor's note: This episode was recorded on Friday, May 17th. On Monday, May 20th, Wired published a story reporting that Scarlett Johansson claims OpenAI ripped off her voice for ChatGPT4-o and intends to take legal action. The piece states that Sam Altman approached Johansson on two occasions before launching the new product, and both times she declined. The story is ongoing.This episode was hosted by Devin Friedman, business reporter Sarah Rieger, financial educator Kyla Scanlon and former hedgefunder Matthew Karasz. Follow us on other platforms, or subscribe to our weekly newsletter: linkin.bio/tldrThe TLDR Podcast is offered by Wealthsimple Media Inc. and is for informational purposes only. The content in the TLDR Podcast is not investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell assets or securities, and does not represent the views of Wealthsimple Financial Corp or any of its other subsidiaries or affiliates. Wealthsimple Media Inc. does not endorse any third-party views referenced in this content. More information at wealthsimple.com/tldr.

Is it too late to take softwood cuttings? That was a listener query from last week.  Technically mid-July is a little late if you follow textbook rules, however, I have always found that they will root perfect at this stage of the year.  What will I need to take softwood cuttings?  An airy growing media you can mix perlite through to add air to the rootzone.  A plastic zip lock bag to put cuttings in straight away to avoid transpiration.  Rooting powder is useful but not essential. Small pots 9cm (about 3.54 in) to 12cm (about 4.72 in)  Plastic bag or propagator to cover cuttings after use.  How do I take softwood cuttings?  Take new fresh growth 10cm (about 3.94 in) just below a leaf node ideally with a set of leaves on the leaf node another set of leaves above and a growing tip.  Remove the bottom set of leaves and dip in rooting powder.  Fill your small pot with compost and make a hole 50mm (about 1.97 in) deep with a pencil.  Insert the cutting into the hole firm in and water.  Cover with a poly bag or propagator and keep in dappled sun (avoid full sun if possible)  Keep a regular eye on them to ensure they do not dry out and watch for the new roots which will appear in 3-4 weeks.  Then they can then be potted on to create a new plant to be planted out next spring.  There will be a blog post on this episode very soon on my website. This blog and previous blogs along with all podcast episodes are available on my   Website :https://mastermygarden.com/    If there is any topic you would like covered in future episodes, please let me know.   Please like and follow Master My Garden on the following channels    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mastermygarden/  Instagram @Mastermygarden https://www.instagram.com/mastermygarden/  Twitter:https://twitter.com/tweetsbyMMG  or email info@mastermygarden.com    Until next week  Happy gardening  John Support the show

In this episode, Peter interviewed Maddy Glenn, author and owner of the self-publishing company, Softwood Publishing. They talked about the pros and cons of traditional publishing vs self-publishing, how Softwood Publishing helps authors through the publishing process, and about her own writing process. If you're thinking about self-publishing and want to learn more, this is the episode for you.You can find Maddy here:Twitter: @_maddyglennSoftwood Self Publishing: https://www.swspublishing.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddyglenn/Buy her books: https://mjglennauthor.sumupstore.com/productsYou can support our podcast and access exclusive content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DetDelDragonsTwitter: @detdeldragonsInstagram: @determinepodTikTok: @determinationdragRead the Pana stories for free on Inkitt.com: https://www.inkitt.com/stories/fantasy/971853Producer/Editor/Host: Peter MarkotsisCo-Host: Izzy PerezFeaturing: Maddy GlenMusic: Julie WilsonArt: Gloria Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maddy Glen Softwood Self-Publishing, Writer   Softwood Self-Publishing was founded in 2017 by Maddy Glenn. Since then, it has gone on to be one of the most successful small business of its kind with awards and accolades from the Surrey Enterprise Awards 2018, and the Daily Mail in 2019. In 2022, Softwood was announced the Self-Publishing Specialists of the Year in London and the South-East by the Prestige Awards and was a finalist in the Mid Suffolk & Babergh District Council Innovation Awards. Maddy has a degree in Philosophy and English Literature from the University of Reading and is a member of the Society of Young Publishers. In 2022 she has been a guest speaker at the UK National Centre for Writing, the Atlanta Writers Conference (USA) and at the Prima Donna Festival. Her second novel, In the Dark was published in July For more details https://www.swspublishing.com   To support the podcast and get access to features about guitar playing and song writing visit https://www.patreon.com/vichyland and also news for all the creative music that we do at Bluescamp UK and France visit www.bluescampuk.co.uk   For details of the Ikaro music charity visit www.ikaromusic.com   Big thanks to Josh Ferrara for the music    

Lower tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber are a good thing but Canada wants them removed. Listen for more on today's Two Minutes In Trade.

Show Notes: Talk about a strong start to the Year of the Tiger: three Canadian tech companies have announced a combined ~CA$511 million in funding yesterday, a sum that amounts to around a fifth of what Canadian companies raised in all of Q1 2021. The internet is divided–again–only this time, it's surrounding The New York Times' (NYT) decision to buy Wordle, the new and wildly popular online puzzle game that has captured the hearts and minds of users around the world. The US plans to reduce tariffs on most Canadian softwood lumber producers in a move that might offer some relief to the lumber dispute between Canada and the US that's been dragging out for over three decades…talk about holding a grudge. Celebrating something? Let us know for a shoutout here: https://thepeak.typeform.com/to/GuHjLDoa The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

Delegates for the Canadian government are in Washington nowto fight a made-in-U.S. vehicle credit that could seriously harm our industries in this country. What is the immediate and long-term impact of such a thing? Guest - Werner Antweiler, Associate Professor with the UBC Sauder School of Business See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chrystia Freeland says Canada may retaliate against U.S. softwood lumber duty rates; General Wayne Eyre is appointed as the permanent chief of the defence staff; And the Environment commissioner's report says Canada “has become the worst performer of all G7 nations” on climate change.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/woodshoplife   Huy 1) Hey guys.  This is definitely more of a "beginner" question, but can you elaborate on how you determine what speed setting to use on your router?  Does it change depending on the hardness of the wood?  Or the type of grain you're routing?  Or maybe the size or particular profile of the bit?  Whether you're routing in a router table or freehand?  Plunging versus edge work?  I own the DeWalt (DW618PKB) plunge router with speed setting 1-6.  I always leave it on 6 and never think twice about it.  But I'm wondering if I could get better results (less tear out, less burning) if I pay more attention to the speed setting?  Thank you for all the interesting information every week.  Thank you!  Matt @WoodMillerDesigns 2) Hey everyone! Love the show. Have heard you talk about shellac for an initial coat or 2 of finish, then topped with something else such as a water or oil based poly. I know an only shellac finish can have clouding issues if someone leaves a drink on the surface, ie drink rings. I know shellac also could dissolve if an alcoholic beverage was spilled and not cleaned quickly. My question is:  would you still have these issues if you did 1-2 coats of shellac and then several top coats of water or oil based poly?  Or does the poly topcoat eliminate these shellac drawbacks? Ron   Sean 1) Hey there great podcasters! Just wanted to say after you kindly answered my question about grey streaky raindrop trails in my water-based poly finish (your suggestion was that I was using waxed shellac) that I did check what shellac I had used. Sure enough, it was waxed bullseye shellac! I had a can of the sealcoat de-waxed that I had finished and must have picked up the regular, waxed stuff by mistake. (I know, I know, I should mix up my own...) Thanks so much for your excellent deduction and help! Not sure if you're still in dire need of questions, but if you are, I have one you could use: are any of you making woodworked holiday presents this year? If so, what are you thinking? If not, what's the best small, wood-based gifts you've made for people in the past? 2) Second, in a separate conversation, I said I sanded 80, 120, 180, 220. My boss sands 100, 120, 150, 220. (We both sand 320 after the first two layers of finish and 400 is any further sanding is needed.)  When he heard that I went from 120 to 180 he said "I don't skip grits." Which didn't make sense to me because he "skips" 180. It made me think about all the advice on sanding I've heard. I always heard "proceed through the grits, don't rush, don't skip grits." But rarely does anyone mention a specific grit besides where they stop (which can be anywhere from 220 to 400). So where do you start and what are all of the grits you use? Mike   Guy 1) Heyy-o! I am a new woodworker and in the process of trying to get my shop together so I can start making custom pieces.  I am also a new listener. My  biggest question that I have searched and searched for and cannot seem to find a satisfactory answer is: How do I decide what type(s) of wood I should use for a project? I know that there is hardwood and softwood, but which is which and how do I know which to use and when?? How do I know what types of wood are paint grade or stain grade, or just clear finish grade?  It seems like everyone just skips over this, and doesn't really explain the differences. Your help on this would be awesome and super beneficial! Thanks, Daniel 2) Hey Guys, Looking for some direction on Slab style kitchen doors. I've got a small kitchen, walk in pantry and laundry room that needs some cabinets. My wife wants smooth style modern doors so they are easy to clean and wipe down.  And she wants them painted. I've made plenty of frame and panel doors but curious how you guys would tackle the construction of these. Is it just as easy as cutting up a sheet of MDF or Plywood laminating some edging and spraying them? Or would you make stave cores? Other details. These are full overlay doors, I think the tallest door might be 36” tall in the laundry room. But everything else is standard heights and widths for a kitchen. Thanks guys keep up the good work!! Jessee  

With Special Guest Jerry Howard! In our last segment regarding the softwood lumber trade dispute, we shift to the homebuilder's perspective to add insight on the real-life implications of this dispute. In this episode, we speak to Jerry Howard, the CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, who has been in the housing industry for over 35 years. Howard speaks with Chris & Scotty about the consequences of soaring lumber prices and the threat it poses on U.S. homebuilders.

With Special Guest Mike de Jong! In Part 2 of this 3 Part series, we look at the longstanding softwood lumber trade dispute from a different lens. Adding his unique Canadian perspective on the issue of softwood lumber is Mike de Jong, member of British Columbia Legislative Assembly, who currently serves as the Official Opposition Critic of the Attorney General in Abbotsford. Seeing as Canada is the world leading exporter and second-largest producer of softwood lumber, with British Columbia representing around 63% of exports, de Jong's insight of this dispute offers a unique look at real life consequences for the lumber industry.

With Special Guest, Senator Trent Lott! The softwood lumber dispute is one of the longest, yet most important trade disputes between the United States and Canada, with the affects still felt in the lumber industry to the present day. In Part 1 of this 3 Part series, we invite former U.S. Senator Trent Lott to walk us though the effects of the historic lumber dispute from a U.S. lens as the implications are paramount to both countries.

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://donnyferguson.com/2021/06/01/steeper-tariff-on-canadian-softwood-lumber-isnt-solution/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/donny-ferguson/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://donnyferguson.com/2021/05/25/tariffs-on-canadian-softwood-lumber-hitting-us-homebuyers-hard/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/donny-ferguson/message

Covid-19 is still leading the news in the province. And right on cue Albertas premier shoots himself in the foot! Alberta coal consultation terms of reference rule out land use, water concerns: Does the UCP think you are completely stupid? We find out! My conservative UCP-rooting neighbour completely embarrasses himself over softwood lumber- I have words! Conservatives are having strokes in droves as they now have to defend a “climate-plan” as we laugh and chuckle about it. No co-morbidity can be blamed for kneeling on a human beings neck and, Marjorie Taylor Green says the quiet parts about the GOP out loud! Thanks for listening to the www.Albertastan.ca Podcast!! Check us out at www.albertastan.ca and please consider a donation to the show! If not, please share, comment, rate and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts from! Same goes for the YouTube channel!!! Spotify URL https://open.spotify.com/show/5JRQyDXMDEnltrdoU5NKas ApplePodcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/albertastan-ca/id1431546582 GooglePlay https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/Iomv5nweqb4yijczcxx5bxdyyte?t%3DAlbertastan.ca%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16 Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=389474&refid=stpr AND YOUTUBE!!!! http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbGhoUAByTXOHd-h3WZq9Uw Follow us on face book https://www.facebook.com/Albertastanca ***Help make this possible***  Pay pall https://www.paypal.me/albertastanca Join us on Patreon !!! https://www.patreon.com/albertastan Join us and help kick ass for the middle class!

What is the REAL price of a home right now? Jason Hartman reminds listeners of what goes into calculating or predicting housing prices, including some old basics like the cost of lumber, as well as scarcity.  Jason and Dave talk about the unseen inflation in goods and services, how inflation has affected the family income, and how we can spend. With a more in-depth look at inflation, David uncovers a bit more of the unseen inflation like the depreciation of product quality. The question continues to be, how far away from ideal are we moving, and will this progression cause the US to implode?  Key Takeaways: [2:15] Let’s talk about housing prices, who’s annoyed?  [5:40] If it does NOT produce income, it isn’t an investment - it is only a speculation.  [9:25] US Housing prices fell more than expected in January amid soaring lumber prices. [13:13] Softwood jumped a record….? Dr. David Collum [20:20] Jason and David speak on the disfunction of the mess we the people are in with money creation and negative interest rates.  [23:45] We are in the most overvalued bond market in history. [30:00] How has inflation changed, and how has the expectation of goods and services changed along with inflation? [32:10] Products are built not to last, adding to another unseen inflation, Dave refers to as depreciation. Websites: JasonHartman.com 1-800-HARTMAN Twitter:@davidbcollum 

Auxilio Tovar from Davey's Chicago office talks about the best wood to use in your fireplace, safety tips when handling a chainsaw and how to determine when you should leave work for an expert. In this episode we cover:Softwood vs. hardwood in fireplaces (1:13)Letting wood sit before burning it (2:57)Chainsaw safety gear (4:31)Determining what work to leave for the pros (6:40)Chainsaw sharpening (9:03)How Auxilio started his job and his favorite parts about it (11:14)To find your local Davey office, check out our find a local office page to search by zip code.To learn more about cutting your own trees, read our blog, The Best Advice on DIY Tree Removal and Cutting.To learn more about chainsaw safety and other landscape safety tips, read our blog, Landscape Safety Tips Every Homeowner Should Know.Connect with Davey Tree on social media:Twitter: @DaveyTreeFacebook: @DaveyTreeInstagram: @daveytreeYouTube: The Davey Tree Expert CompanyLinkedIn: The Davey Tree Expert Company

On today’s show we’re talking about the shift in housing supply during the pandemic and what it means for new builders. Housing starts were up 12% for the year according to data just published by the research team at Fannie Mae. Multi-family starts are down 13.6% compared with a year ago. Total housing starts of all types were up 5.8%. Now through the year we had supply chain disruptions which meant that some items were difficult to source. Those hard to find items naturally went up in price. Lumber is priced as a commodity and lumber futures trade on the commodities markets like many other commodities including copper, pork bellies, wheat, and energy. Softwood lumber is priced per 1,000 board feet. The math is pretty easy to work out. If lumber prices are at $1,000 per 1,000 board feet, you’re basically paying $1 per foot. The simple test is how much would an 8 foot long stud cost you to purchase? You might expect it to cost about $8-10, and that’s exactly what we see. We’ve seen lumber prices fluctuate wildly throughout the year. Prices dropped to $264 at the end of March, and were up to $367 by the end of May. Once summer hit and we had a succession of hurricanes make landfall all over the country. Lumber prices hit $970 in mid September before dropping into the $500’s for most of the fall. Through Q4, prices rose into the $800’s and have remained around $850-$880 for most of January. The impact of these high lumber prices, along with all the other supply chain shortages is that overall construction cost has increased about 10-12% in less than a year. The price increase by itself would have made it difficult to start any new construction. The saving grace has been that the falling inventory has pushed prices up to the point where higher sale prices have made new housing starts viable. If prices hadn’t jumped an average of 11% across the nation for existing home sales, the market conditions would not support new construction. Fortunately for builders, prices do support the higher cost of construction. But there is also an opportunity. It turns out that steel framing is less expensive than wood. Steel framing has commonly been used in commercial construction. It has the advantage that it doesn’t warp or shrink, or swell with humidity. It’s also very strong in compression when properly installed with drywall. Some might be tempted to switch materials from wood framing to steel in certain applications. Sadly it’s not that simple. The carpenters who frame out of wood are not necessarily experts on how to frame out of steel. In addition, your architect would need to design the building to have the proper lineup of materials and cross sections. What you might save in materials, you could easily lose in labor, complexity and rework if things are not done properly. But if you’re looking to build cost effective housing, this could be an area to explore with your architectural team. Unless you’ve been able to secure your materials or your subcontractors are willing to reconfirm and guarantee pricing, you might face a situation where a subcontractor walks off the job and refuses to honour their contract. You could sue them, but at the end of the day, you have a project to complete and a law suit won’t get the building finished on time and on budget. 2021 is turning out to be a year of value engineering, where the owner, the architect, and the general contractor will need to get creative about adapting to material shortages, price jumps, and optimizing your negotiations with subcontractors.

Sara Schaefer comes on the show to talk about jury duty, soft wood flooring (plus how to harvest it), and gives advice to everyone who likes Tweety Bird too much. Please rate, review, and subscribe.Follow on social media:Instagram @ForcedOpinionsPodcastTwitter @ForcedOpinionsWebsite forcedopinions.comSubmit topic ideas to Forced Opinions! by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts! LINKS:SARA SCHAEFER• Twitter @saraschaefer1• Instagram @saraschaefer1saraschaefer.com TOM BRINK• Twitter @radt0m• Instagram @coolradguy• radtom.com FORCED OPINIONS!• Apple Podcasts• Spotify• Twitter @forcedopinions• Instagram @ForcedOpinionsPodcast• ForcedOpinions.com If you like Forced Opinions! and want to get me a coffee, you can Venmo @tombrink.

Bonus episode time with special guest author, Glacia Cronk! Listeners are in for a treat as we discuss her writing superpowers, writing deliberately vs stream-of-consciousness, as well as how she became one-third of the author hosts behind the Authors In Chains Podcast! These things and more await inside along with an incredibly haunting, and riveting reading!  Glacia Cronk on Amazon Glacia's social media links, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram The Authors In Chains Podcast Website with social media links Scrivener (use coupon code CHAPTER to save 20% on the regular desktop version!) U-Stor-All Pop Goes the Culture Project Entertainment Network    

U.S. Importers of hardwood and softwood plywood will face scrutiny and potential increased duty liability.  For more information listen to today's TMIT.    

On today’s show we’re examining the price volatility of a critical building material and the impact that it can have on the cost of both construction and renovation projects. In March of 2018, the White House imposed tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber. Overnight, prices jumped nearly 25%-30%. The impact on the construction industry was felt immediately. Softwood lumber makes up about 16% of the cost of new home construction historically. So the overall impact of that price increase was about 4% on the total cost of building a new home. It’s a significant increase in less than 30 days. After that, regular market forces continued to play a role throughout the year. There is an annual pricing cycle that is tied to demand. Demand for construction materials is lower in the 4th quarter and the 1st quarter of each year. Every year, prices fall in November and December, and they pick up again in the second quarter when construction activity heats up the next spring. Today, prices for softwood lumber are at their lowest level in more than a year. The assertion that low pricing from Canada was the reason why softwood prices were so low is, in retrospect a bit of a red herring. The real story starts back in the 1980’s, when there were millions of acres of timber land planted in the southeastern US. The managed forests were planted as investments by companies that promoted forestry as a great long term investment. So much forest was planted at once, that many of these trees are now of harvesting age at the same time. The surplus has crushed timber prices in Mississippi, Alabama and several other states in the southeast. At the depths of the 1980s farm crisis, when prices for agricultural commodities plunged, the Reagan administration launched the Conservation Reserve Program. Starting in 1986, it promised farmers annual payments of about $30 to $50 for each acre they planted with trees or grasses. By 1994, more than 2.2 million acres of farmland in the South had been converted to pine forest. Other federal programs added about 2.5 million acres more to the supply. It has been a big loser for some financial investors, among them the country’s largest pension fund. Calpers spent more than $2 billion on Southern timberland, and harvested trees at depressed prices to pay interest on money borrowed to buy. Calpers sold much of its land this summer at a loss. The 2008 crisis worsened the situation. We went through years with little new home construction in many markets. That depressed demand prompted many owners to postpone harvests. Numerous sawmills closed. Even with new demand from the housing recovery, there remains about 25 years worth of supply in the Southeast. Adjusted for inflation, the price of Southern pine is down about 45% since 2007, Saw timber used for making lumber, is at a 50-year low. To put this in perspective, today tree growers are getting about $20 per ton of wood headed for the mill. The finished product you buy at Home Depot in the form of kiln dried 2x4’s is being sold at $2.69 per 8’ board. That comes to a price of $489 per ton. That’s a huge markup. Most land owners are stuck with whatever the nearest mill is paying. Hauling logs cross-country chasing better prices isn’t an option. Waiting for better prices has its own risks, because after a certain age, trees become more susceptible to disease. The constraint in lumber supply for construction is not the supply of raw material. The saw mills are the bottleneck in the supply chain. Georgia Pacific and Canfor have both announced billions of dollars of new saw mills and plant expansions. If you’re looking to undertake a new construction project, it definitely pays to shop around. It’s clear that the lumber industry is filled with inefficiencies. It also pays to shop at the right time of year. You can definitely get some good deals right now

On BIV Today… Two BC NDP ministers join the show to talk trade and tech. Bruce Ralston, minister of jobs, trade and technology, and Minister of State for Trade George Chow (1:09) discuss softwood lumber and newsprint tariffs, B.C.’s international trade strategy and the province's economic performance amid Canada-U.S. trade challenges. Tyler Orton and Hayley Woodin host, see more at https://biv.com/.

BIV reporters Tyler Orton and Hayley Woodin discuss the continuing escalation of the softwood lumber dispute with Canada's decision to go to the World Trade Organization to argue against new tariffs. Later, Tyler and Hayley discuss Alberta Premier Rachel Notley's trip to Vancouver to discuss the benefits of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. See more of Tyler's and Hayley's reporting at www.biv.com/

Paul Whittaker of the Alberta Forest Products Association comments on the latest tariff ruling on softwood lumber from the US Commerce department.

On today's 'Global Exchange' Podcast, we examine the North American softwood lumber industry, and the current bilateral trade dispute ongoing between Canada and the U.S. in the shadow of a NAFTA renegotiation. Join our host Colin Robertson in conversation with a softwood lumber expert, Rick Doman, for an in-depth conversation of the current continental softwood landscape, as well as recommendations for the future of the industry. Bios: Colin Robertson (host) - A former Canadian diplomat, Colin Robertson is Vice President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and a Senior Advisor to Dentons LLP. Rick Doman - Chief Executive Officer of Eacom Timber Corporation and Chief Executive Officer of Western Forest Products. Book Recommendations: - Rick Doman - "To Pixar and Beyond: My Unlikely Journey with Steve Jobs to Make Entertainment History" - by Lawrence Levy (https://www.amazon.ca/Pixar-Beyond-Unlikely-Journey-Entertainment-ebook/dp/B01912OSA0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500305628&sr=8-1&keywords=to+pixar+and+beyond) Related Links: - "Managing Trump: The Canadian Response" - Colin Robertson [CGAI Policy Update] (http://www.cgai.ca/managing_trump_the_canadian_response) - "Canada-U.S. softwood deal possible by next month: forestry analyst" - Ross Marowits [The Globe and Mail] (https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/canada-us-softwood-deal-possible-by-next-month-forestry-analyst/article35688203/) - "2nd wave of softwood lumber duties sets up 'dangerous' talks for Canada" - Janyce McGregor [CBC News] (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/softwood-lumber-anti-dumping-advancer-1.4171528) Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on Linkedin. Head over to our website at cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Jared Maltais and Meaghan Hobman. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

President Donald Trump told reporters to expect a 20 per cent tariff on softwood lumber going into the U.S. from Canada. Chief Political Correspondent at Global News joins the show and talk about how bad this is for both countries.

The United States Commerce Dept. has levied a 20% duty on Canadian softwood lumber imports; something Prime Minister Trudeau has called punitive and unfair. The decision to slap a duty of about 20 per cent on our U-S-bound softwood stems from a long-standing dispute over whether Canadian companies' access to public land constitutes a subsidy. But does it mean the beginning of a trade war between the two countries? Marvin Ryder, professor at McMaster University

The US government has imposed a duty on softwood lumber. These preliminary duties can range from 3% to 24% and are affective as of next week. Guest: Michael Veall, Professor with the Department of Economics at McMaster University.

Comments by a local MPP suggest that the province is open to discussing the Eastgate extension for LRT. Will this appease the anti LRT councilors? Guest: Larry DiIanni. Former Mayor, Lobbyist, City of Hamilton. Residents by Spencer Gorge, Webster's and Tews Falls are tired of people abusing the area surrounding their homes (defecating on lawns and using their patio furniture without permission). Now they're saying a shuttle to the falls is the last thing they want or need. Guest: Mark Osborne, Preserve and Protect Webster's and Tew's Falls Greensville. Guest: Lisa Burnside, Chief Administrative Officer, Hamilton Conservation Authority.  The US government has imposed a duty on softwood lumber. These preliminary duties can range from 3% to 24% and are affective as of next week. Guest: Michael Veall, Professor with the Department of Economics at McMaster University. Guest: Harry Nelson, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia.

Today we are going to explore the Belgian Hare. History Now, the fist thing that surprised me about the Belgian Hare was definitely the body shop.  Unlike the mandolin body shap of most rabbits that I have learned about.  These Rabbits look distinctly like a hare.   Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first examples of this breed were developed in Belgium in the early eighteenth century by crossing wild rabbits with domestic breeds in order to create a good meat animal Much of the information I have learned about this breed is from an article titled "Belgian Hare Origins"  By Frank Zaloudek. The Belgian Hare can be traced back to the "leporine" developed in the early part of the 18th century in the Flanders area of eastern Europe by the selective breeding of domestic and wild European rabbits. Leporines were imported from Belgium and Germany to England in the 1870s by Mr. W. Lumb and his brother-in-law Mr. B. Greaves, importers of small stock from continental Europe. Wilkins (1896) wrote that after their introduction into England ..."they (were) bred continuously, but with two and distinct objects - in the one, for size, and the other, ostensibly to develop a rabbit of the form, color and fur of the wild hare. The larger race has been called the 'Patagonian', but is now recognized as the 'Flemish Giant', the other has been named 'Belgian Hare' rabbit." It was explained that the redder colored Leporines resembled the common wild hare of England (lepus Timidus), and a number of adventuresome rabbit aficionados and natural scientists undertook the task of employing selective breeding to make the Leporine look more like lepus Timidus. These early breeders included Mr. Lumb, Dr, Barham, and Dr.J Salter a Physician, Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Zoological Society.  Fellow of the Linnaean Society, an friend of Charles Darwin.  Their rabbits were called the "Belgian Hare"-- "Belgian" (to recognize their origin) and "Hare" (to recognize their resemblance to Lepus Timidus which was a true hare).  Breeders of the Belgian Hare began to compete in small livestock shows and standards were first written in 1882. The breed was further refined to make the Belgian Hare appear even more like the English wild hare (lepus Timidus), i.e., more racy in shape than the breeders were then producing.  This new, more racy, Belgian Hare was described in a 1889 revision of the standard.  In addition to the more racy shape, the new standard called for ticking more like the wild hare (more distributed in waves), a bold eye, greater length of limb, and no ticking on the front limbs, ears, or hind feet (however, a small amount of ticking was allowed on the front feet).  In 1888, E.M. Hughes of Albany, N.Y. brought the first Belgian Hare to America. Mr. Hughs along with Mr. W.N Richardson of Troy, NY and Mr. G.W. Fenton of Barr, MA promoted and exhibited the Belgian Hare at small stock shows across the US and should be given credit for the early popularization of the breed in this country. Shortly after Mr. Hughes importation of the Belgian Hare from the UK, The breeders in this country formed the "American Belgian Hare Association". Mr W.N. Richardson of Troy, N.Y was named Secretary.  However this association lasted not much more than one year.  Mr. Crabtree wrote, "Although started in a liberal Spirit, and with the best of intentions, it became disorganized on account of the wide scattering of the membership making it difficult to obtain a quorum at meetings".  A second attempt to organize was made in 1897.  The "National Belgian Hare Club of America" was formed, with headquarters in Denver, CO and Mr. P.E. Crabtree as secretary.  Twelve years after the formation of the National Belgian Hare Club of America and as additional breeds were introduced in the US, a new "all-breed" club, the " National Pet Stock Association" was formed. After several name changes, the National Pet Stock Association became the American Rabbit Breeders Association.  As the years past, the National Belgian Hare club of America also passed from existence.  In the June of 1972, a group of Belgian Hare breeders gathered together to apply for a specialty club charter from the American Rabbit Breeders Association to replace the defunct National Belgian Hare Club of America. In July of 1972 the charter was granted and our present club, the "American Belgian Hare Club" was established. The Boom Years After introduction into the United States in 1888, the Belgian Hare enjoyed much popularity, and large rabbitries were built for their production.  Large numbers of rabbits were imported at fabulous prices. It is recorded that Hares fetched prices of $500 to $1000 each (in pre-1900 Dollars!).  This was called "the Belgian Hare boom." Remember, this was at a time when labor earned 10 to 15 cents per hour.  This would be 2X3 times a laborers annual wages. Mr. C. H. Lane reported that a center of Belgian Hare popularity existed in Los Angeles area where the weather was particularly advantageous to the propagation of the hare. In 1898, there were no less than 600 rabbitries there carrying from 75 to more than a 1000 head of stock each. He further stated that in 1900, over 60,000 Belgian Hares were being raised in Southern California alone and numbers were on the increase! In 1900, the National Belgian Hare Club of America held its first Exposition, which was reputedly the first and certainly the largest exposition seen up to that time confined to only one breed of rabbit. The National Belgian Hare of America club promulgated Standards of Excellence for TWO varieties , one for the "Standard" (fancy) Belgian Hare and one for the "Heavy Weight" (commercial) Belgian Hare. Today, the American Rabbit Breeders Association recognizes only a "fancy" variety in their "Standards of Perfection." The End of the Boom  Inevitably, supply caught up with demand and the Belgian Hare Boom was over. James Blyth in his article "King of the Fancy" in the October, 1973 issue of Countryside & Small Stock Magazine, had some additional insight into the end of the "boom". He wrote, "Until about 1917 Belgians led in entries. When the Hares were judged, the show was about over. The Hares were hurt when they came out with a standard for the heavyweight Belgian, Trying to make a meat rabbit out of this fine racy animal certainly was not for the good of the race horse of the rabbit family. At this time the Hare began to lose its place in popularity. Each breed has its place, and when you strive for meat-type in a fancy rabbit, you have lost much of that alert and fine, clean-cut appearance." The Belgian Hare is best known for its distinctive body type and temperament, as well as its important history.  Although hares are not among the most common breeds today, if not for them we might not even have a rabbit fancy in the United States. Prior to 1890, rabbits were not widely raised in America, and those that were usually went to feed the family.  In England, however, the rabbit show circuit had been blossoming for a while.  In 1888, the first Belgian Hares were imported.  That was when the “rabbit show bug” bit America, and the fancy took off like a shot.  Men from all over the country flocked to get their hands on some of the hares.  Companies formed for their production and dispersion.  One British shipping firm transported  6,000 hares to the United States between 1898 to 1901.  Clubs sprung up in most large cities.  Millionaires such as J. P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller became interested in promoting the hares.  Prices on show stock were exorbitant – one buck went for $5,000 in 1900! That same year, breeders in Los Angeles county alone were believed to own 60,000 Belgian Hares.  Eventually interest died down, the market became saturated, and the Belgian fell under the shadow of more popular rabbit breeds – but not before the people who raised it had developed systems of rabbit housing, standards, and tattooing, and had founded the club that would become the American Rabbit Breeders Association. Overall Description The Belgian Hare is a fancy breed of domestic rabbit, that was developed through selective breeding to closely resemble the wild hare in physical appearance.[1] Averaging 6 to 9 pounds in weight, the Belgian Hare is characterized by its long, slender body and agile legs that closely resemble those of a hare, and can live up to ten years or more. The Belgian Hare is most known for its distinctively close resemblance to a hare, with a long, fine body with muscular flank, and distinctly arched back with loins and well-rounded hind quarters. Their head is long and their tail straight and carried in line with the backbone. The fore feet of a Belgian Hare is usually long and fine-boned and perfectly straight, while their hind feet long are fine and flat. They are believed to be the only breed of domestic breed featuring a deep red, rich chestnut color of the Belgian Hare, together with black ticking of a wavy or blotchy appearance and an extended down the sides. The Belgian Hare is a distinct rabbit, with a deep red “rufus” coat with black, wavy ticking. It closely resembles a hare, with a long, fine body, muscular flank, and arched back with loins and well-rounded hind quarters. Body The Belgian Hare, although a domestic rabbit, was bred to closely resemble to a wild hare. It is for that reason that this breed has a long, muscular body with an arched back. They have long heads, a straight tail, which is carried in line with the backbone, and tall, slightly wide, erect ears. ears and eyes Coat The Belgian Hare has a short coat and if kept clean, requires little grooming other than an occasional rub over to remove any dead coat. When in moult the coat benefits from a good combing through every other day to remove the old coat. This will help bring the new coat through faster and minimize the old fluffy undercoat matting up when its on the way out. The Belgian Hare has short, glossy fur that requires little to no maintenance to keep it in pristine condition. Rabbits are genuinely clean animals. They should never be given a bath, as this causes great stress and can lead to heart failure. Occasionally, rub your Belgian Hare down to rid the coat of any dead fibers (no brushing required) and their coat should remain in good condition. colors The ARBA accepts only one kind of Belgian Hare coat color: a bright tin rust, with a red/orange tint. The entire body consists of this color, and markings include lighter-colored eye circles and “ticking” on particular parts of the body, such as on their upper back and hips. care Due to their difference from other breeds of domestic rabbit, the Belgian Hare may require different dietary and housing requirements to other rabbits, and as a result, they may demand more attention and care. Housing Belgian Hares are constantly on the move, especially when you are around, performing their graceful ballet. Therefore, for both the animal's benefit and for your enjoyment of it graceful movement, you should provide a large cage with at least 24 x 48 inch floor. The floor should be solid (not wire), because the 1/2 x 1 inch wire most commonly used for flooring will not adequately support the Hare's front feet and can lead to broken toes and toe nails. These solid floors should be bedded with a layer of clean and bright straw, shredded computer paper, or whatever is available in you area. The cage should be high enough to allow the Hare to stretch and leap; 24 inch height should be adequate. Breeding/brood cages should be larger, say 30 x 60 inches, to allow the doe to move around adequately without trampling her brood. It is important to remember that you need to able to reach the back corners of the cage for cleaning. Proportion your such that you can do this without putting you head and shoulders into the cage. Cleaning and sanitation will be less onerous of you follow this advice! Due to their size and energetic nature, it is recommended that the Belgian Hare be provided with a large hutch or cage to enable them to move freely. For an outdoor rabbit the ideal home is a hutch with a waterproof roof, and raised off the ground. If the rabbit is going to live indoors then a hutch can also be used or a cage. Belgian Hares should have a cage with at least a 24 by 60-inch floor and a height of 24 inches. A breeding or brood cage should be 36 by 72 inches, at least. All rabbits must have an adequate exercise area, whether it is an outside run or an enclosed area in the house. Softwood shavings should not be used for the floor of the hutch or cage as they can cause respiratory problems. Fine sawdust can cause eye irritations so this should be avoided. Bedding material should be provided especially in cold and wet weather for the outdoor rabbit. A recommended practice is to place the straw on top of a layer of the hardwood shavings in the sleeping compartment, in order to ensure warmth and insulation for an outdoor Belgian Hare. The rabbit home should be cleaned out weekly and any old food removed. If it is necessary to wash the home then only use a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning rabbit hutches. Environment and Sanitation The sanitation requirements of Belgian Hares do not differ from that of any other breed. Cages should be cleaned every 5 to 7 days and all bedding replaced. At the same time, feeders and water bottles or crocks should be washed and sterilized. As with any rabbit breed, ventilation should be adequate, but without drafts. If you can smell ammonia when you enter your barn, either sanitation or ventilation (or both) is inadequate. Belgian Hares are no less susceptible to extreme heat than other rabbits. If you live in a location where the temperatures get above 90, you will have to be prepared to keep them cool or lose them! They seem to be able to cope with temperatures down to 0 F if provided with ample bedding and shielded from the wind and snow. However, the Belgian Hare doe's short hair is scarcely in adequate supply to line the nest box sufficiently to keep her bunnies warm. To avoid losses during kindling in very cold weather, it would be advisable to have a warmed space available for kindling. When the bunnies grow a good thick coat in 4 to 6 weeks,they can be slowly introduced to the cold outside temperatures. Diet As the Belgian Hare has a very high metabolic rate, it may require more food and more consistent feeding than other breeds of domestic rabbit. The specific dietary requirements of a Belgian Hare do not differ significantly from other breeds of domestic rabbit, and like the majority of rabbits, the most important component of the diet of a Belgian Hare is hay, a roughage that reduces the chance of blockages and malocclusion whilst providing indigestible fiber necessary to keep the gut moving. Grass hays such as timothy are generally preferred over legume hays like clover and alfalfa. Legume hays are higher in protein, calories, and calcium, which in excess can cause kidney stones and loose stool. This type of hay should be reserved for young kits or lactating does. Belgian Hares also require an unlimited amount of fresh water, usually provided for in a water crock, tip-proof ceramic pet dish, or hanging water bottle. Automatic watering system fonts or ball point water bottles should be placed high on the side of the cage to encourage the animal to stretch. Some breeders will place a board 6 inch high across the floor in the middle of the cage to force the hare to leap over it as it moves about its cage. Both these things are thought by some to enhance the development of the animal for the show table. Feeds Belgian hares do not have any special feed requirements. Use a pelletized "complete" feed that is readily available and known for its consistency. Do not overfeed Hares. If you allow them to become fat, they will do poorly on the judging table and the does will have trouble conceiving. About 1-1/2 small tuna fish can-fulls each day seems to be about the right amount for seniors. When it comes to their diet, this rabbit breed needs access to clean, fresh water and high-quality hay.  Hay should be 70 percent of their diet while the rest consists of a  healthy balance of pellets and rabbit-safe vegetables, fruits and leafy greens. There are some foods that should be avoided (iceberg lettuce, for example, does not have enough nutritional value), while others are fine in moderation (apples and carrots are a wonderful treat). Health While Belgian Hares are not susceptible to digestive issues such as Wool Block (like long-haired breeds such as Angoras, for instance), care has to be taken in order for them to live long, healthy lives. Two problems that are most common in outdoor rabbits are ear mites and fly-strike.  Fly-strike is common to rabbits that have soiled fur during the summer. Flies lay their eggs in soiled fur and when the eggs hatch, their primary food source is the rabbit. It is extremely painful and symptoms include lack of appetite, fewer droppings in your bunny’s cage and sudden jumping/thrashing in pain. If you suspect your rabbit may have fly-strike, take them to your veterinarian for treatment. Temperment/behavior Belgian Hares are one of the most energetic and intelligent breeds of rabbit. They are very clever and they will require lots of physical and mental stimulation in order to keep them happy. They are extremely alert and as such can be skittish. The Belgian Hares can easily learn their names and will occasionally come when called. As they are active in nature and have alert temperament, they can be startled by sudden noise or movement very easily. The Belgian Hare has been called the ‘poor man’s racehorse’ because of their active personality. Despite their cute appearance, the breed is not ideal for very small children and for the beginners. Usually the Belgian Hare is an energetic and long lived animal. This is a very clever little animal that will require lots of physical and mental stimulation in order to keep him happy. They are extremely alert and as such can be skittish – many owners recommend keeping a radio playing nearby at all times so they get used to loud or strange noises. They can easily learn their names and will sometimes come when called. The Belgian is not a beginner’s rabbit due to its speed, power and slightly nervous disposition, however for an experienced enthusiast they are rewarding to keep as ensuring the rabbit remains healthy and well is incredibly satisfying. As a result of their active personality, they have been called "the poor man's racehorse".  They can also be taught to play simple games, which can be great fun. They will tolerate handling, particularly if they’ve been used to human company and being picked up from an early age, but again, because they can be unpredictable they should not be handled by children. A panicking rabbit is more powerful than you might think and can easily cause injury as he struggles to flee. Breeding and Raising By Frank Zaloudek If you decide to try breeding and raising Belgian Hares, be prepared for a challenge! Some people have said that you have to throw out all you know about breeding rabbits when you go into Hare raising and use a whole new system of rules, but I assure you that you will need to use all the knowledge and experience that you have to be successful with these beautiful and graceful creatures. You will find that many problems you will experience will be as a result of the Belgian Hare's more excitable temperament than other breeds  They can react to unexpected events in the rabbitry with a fury that can move cages off their supports, dislocate joints, and break bones. This is compounded by the fine bone structure and extreme length of the animal which seems to invite broken backs and legs. Also, this nervous nature seems to complicate breeding, because, in many cases, fright and panic get in the way of normal mating urges. Most important, this nervous temperament seems to translate normal events in the life of a Hare to an overall stress level that can compromise its auto immune system and open the way to bacterial and viral diseases. Perhaps, this nervous tendency came for past breeding attempts to make the Belgian hare more like lepus Timidus which was suppose to be so fearful so as not to close its eyes even in sleep (Wilkins 1896). Although you might be led by these remarks that breeding Hares in an impossible endeavor; that is not true. You only have approach your breeding and raising activities with one thing in mind: maintaining a peaceful, serene, and healthy environment for your hares, and with a little luck and skill, your nest boxes can be filled with grand champions. Unexpected noises or voices seem to startle the Hares excessively and can set off a panic in the barn that can lead to injuries. A radio playing loudly 24 hours a day or a noisy exhaust fan seems to accustom the Hares to noise and avoids these panics. Classical music, mostly Mozart, seems to work for me, but I'm sure that it makes no difference to the Hares. Before throwing open the door to the barn, its always good practice to talk to your rabbits or make some noise to announce your arrival so that they will not be surprised by your entry. uses Belgian Hares are kept mainly for show purposes.  The Belgian Hare was mainly developed as a meat producing breed. Beautiful as they are, Belgian Hares are not the best choice for a beginning rabbit breeder.  The breed is known for delicate constitutions, flighty personalities, and limited fertility.  Teaching young hares to pose takes time and patience. However, experienced rabbit raisers can find great rewards in carrying on the legacy of such an important breed to the rabbit fancy.  One breeder named Shannon Kelly realized these rewards when her Hare won Best in Show at the Louisville ARBA Convention in 2008. While this breed can theoretically live indoors, indoor rabbits tend to be pets and this rabbit breed isn’t the best pet due to its nervousness. Sudden noises or unfamiliar sounds cause them jump high into the air and go into a running frenzy inside of their cage, where they could accidentally hurt themselves. While they do have a sweet nature and are known to enjoy petting (so long as they are used to the person’s presence and are not suddenly spooked), Belgian Hares are not the breed for everyone and are used mostly for show purposes. While they can be picked up, a lot of care needs to be taken to ensure that if they do get spooked, they don’t fall onto the floor.  Breeders use tricks to lower the risk of scaring their Belgian Hares by announcing their arrival before they open their barn doors, installing a loud fan inside the barn or playing loud music for the majority of the day. Training and Showing By Frank Zaloudek When you look at the picture of the Belgian Hare in the ARBA Standard of Perfection, your attention is immediately drawn to its pose, standing on the toes of its fully extended front legs, ears erect, body carried high above the floor and with a wild look in its eye. If you have been around Belgians for a while, you will learn that this is the pose it takes only when excited, startled or when it is eagerly anticipating food or drink. It is not a pose that it would take in a relaxed, non threatening situation or in the intimidating surroundings of the showroom. How do you get you Belgians to pose as it the picture? The simple answer is that they have to be trained! But, before we start our discussion of training Belgian Hares to pose, we first must note that there is nothing in the ARBA Standards of Perfection to guide us on how a Hare is to be posed or even if a Hare should be posed at all for judging! Indeed, some judges don't try to pose Hares, but rather just let them move about normally on the table or in special Judging cages if they are provided by the club sponsoring the show. However, most breeders and judges will agree that a Hare will show off its features best if posed in its "on alert" stance with its body carried high above the table on its tiptoes and with a wild expression in its eyes. The problem is that there are many ways an exhibitor can train a Hare to pose, and there are just as many ways that judges use to pose a Hare. If the Hare's training and the judges set-up technique "click", then it might be successfully posed; otherwise, the judging can degrade to a "wrestling match" ("acrobatics at a Halloween party" as characterized by the late Dr. Terry Reed) between the judge and the Hare during which time is wasted and the Hare, no matter how deserving, will be at a disadvantage to Hares that pose easily. How can these "wrestling matches" be avoided? Is it the responsibility of the judges, of the breeder/exhibitor, or both? Perhaps we can get some answers to these questions if we look at techniques used and advocated by some judges and breeder/exhibitors. There seems to be a number of basic methods in use at the present time. These methods can be characterized in the following descriptive terms: The "natural pose" method The "shoulder pressure" method "Ear lift" method "Head lift" method "Body stretch" method and combinations of the above. Training Hares to Pose By Maureen Hoyle I don't start training my hares until they are 10 weeks old. I was told that it is better to let their bones strengthen and I can see the sense in this. I am probably in a small minority who don't start training Hares from a young age. However I find that it is no hinderence to the speed they learn. I think you need a surface that they can grip onto. This sheet is not ideal but I think shows the sequence of improvement perfectly from the first one where she is pulling back and how she gradually relaxes along the sequence until she is posing beautifully. Club The first of these clubs was known as the "American Belgian Hare Association". With a wide and scattered membership the club lasted not much more than a year. In 1897 the "National Belgian Hare Club" was formed. Twelve years after the formation of the National Belgian Hare Club of America, and as additional breeds were introduced in the US, a new "all-breed" club, the "National Pet Stock Association" was formed. After several name changes, the National Pet Stock Association became the American Rabbit Breeders Association As years passed, the National Belgian Hare club of America also passed from existence. In June, 1972, a group of Belgian Hare breeders gathered together to apply for a specialty club charter from the American Rabbit Breeders Association to replace the National Belgian Hare Club of America. In July, 1972, the charter was granted and the last, and most prominent of these groups, the "American Belgian Hare Club" was established, that continues to exist to this day. A rather fancy type of domestic rabbit, the Belgian Hare was developed specifically to resemble the wild hare in appearance. The Belgian Hare is instantly recognisable thanks to its lithe body and long, slim legs. Due to its breeding the Belgian Hare is one of the more intelligent rabbit breeds and they are also very active, needing lots of exercise and plenty of opportunities to run and play. The breed is quite long-lived, with some examples living up to 10 years, and most animals weigh between six and nine pounds. The American Belgian Hare Club (ABHC) is dedicated to the raising, breeding, promoting, and showing of Belgian Hare rabbits. The ABHC is sanctioned under the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) and includes 90+ members in 25 states, as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. The Belgian Hare is one of the oldest breeds in America, dating back to the 1880’s. Today the Belgian Hare is one of the rarer rabbit breeds, and is considered threatened, according to the American Livestock Breed Conservancy. Today, Belgian Hare continues to be one of the less popular rabbits in America, because, in part, they are difficult to breed successfully. Three centuries of various degrees of line breeding have diminished their hybrid vigor, and, today, too few breeders pursuing too few bloodlines have further exacerbated the situation. Raising Belgian Hares involves a lot of hard work, expert animal husbandry practices, and a lot of luck! The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) maintains the breed standard for all of the recognized rabbit and cavy breeds for it's international membership.  Recognized breeds are eligible for Registration and Grand Champion recognition. The AMERICAN RABBIT BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. is an organization dedicated to the promotion, development, and improvement of the domestic rabbit and cavy.  With over 30,000 members throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad, its members range from the pet owner with one rabbit or cavy to the breeder or commercial rabbit raiser with several hundred animals.  Each aspect of the rabbit and cavy industry, whether it be for fancy, as a pet, or for commercial value, is encouraged by the organization. The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is a British showing organization for rabbit breeders. Originally founded as The Beveren Club in 1918, its name first changed to British Fur Rabbit Society and finally to The British Rabbit Society. Today, the BRC among other things investigates rabbit diseases, maintains a catalog of rabbit breeds, and sets rules for about 1,000 rabbit shows annually in the UK. Owners of house rabbits are also encouraged to join the organization to learn how to care optimally for their pets. Have I Missed Anything? If you know something about the breed standard, history or status of this rabbit, please let me know.   Do You Have a Story About This Particular Breed?  What do you love about them? Do you have any tips or tricks up your sleeve for what might make this breed happiest? Perhaps you're a breeder of this type of rabbit. Let us know, and maybe we can set up an interview? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Hare http://www.belgianhareclub.com/ http://rabbitbreeders.us/belgian-hare-rabbits https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/belgian-hare http://www.petguide.com/breeds/rabbit/belgian-hare/ http://www.roysfarm.com/belgian-hare/ https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/breeds/rabbits/belgian-hares/ http://petcaretips.net/belgian-hares.html Plant of the Week: Cabbage Word of the Week: Common

Dr. Daowei Zhang and Dr. Brady Deaton discuss his thoughts about the contemporary and historic trade dispute between Canada and the United States regarding softwood lumber: i.e., "The Softwood Lumber Wars."

Softwood for a workbench, establishing your design style, using a router as jointer, and choosing wood for a table top.

When it comes to differentiating between hardwoods and softwoods, it's not a matter of hardness or density -- it's all about plant reproduction. Marshall explains what angiosperms and gymnosperms are in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

When it comes to differentiating between hardwoods and softwoods, it's not a matter of hardness or density -- it's all about plant reproduction. Marshall explains what angiosperms and gymnosperms are in this episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers