Q: During the wet seasons, bamboo is more starchy and will be more difficult to cut and could cause splitting. Plan to harvest your bamboo during the fall or winter so the bamboo is the easier to harvest. Start your harvest before sunrise since the starches will still be held in the roots at that time. Shorter shoots will grow on the outer edge of the bamboo patch. Avoid using shoots that are soft to the touch since this could mean they are diseased. Don’t use bamboo that has visible mold, fungi, or cracks in the shoots. Hold the loppers near the end of the handles to have the widest range of motion. Open them until the stalk fits between the blades and close them slowly so the bamboo is not damaged. Cut the bamboo as close to the ground as you can.  Loppers can be purchased at any gardening store. Closing the loppers too fast could crack and damage the bamboo stalk, preventing it from regrowing. Stab the blade of the shovel into the ground underneath the shoot you’re pulling out. Push down on the shovel handle to loosen the shoot and the dirt. Once the dirt is loose, pull the shoot from the ground. Try pulling the shoot sideways with your hands first. They may be loose enough to pull by hand. Use a sharp paring knife to cut into the outer skin of the bamboo, but do not cut all the way through the shoot. Twist the woody outer layer off of the shoot and dispose of it.  Fresh peeled bamboo only keeps for 1 to 2 days. You can cut the shoots to any size that is convenient for you. Use ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt per 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a large pot. Bring the water to a boil and then turn down the heat so they simmer for 5-10 minutes. This helps remove the bitter flavor but keeps them crunchy.  Store the shoots in salted water for up to 5 days. Put the blanched shoots in a jar of salted water with ½ teaspoon (3 g) of salt per 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Label the date you prepared the bamboo and place the jar in the fridge.  You can also freeze the shoots in salted water to preserve them for longer.
A: Harvest bamboo at the start of the dry season. Choose shoots less than 6 in (15 cm) tall with a wide base. Use loppers to harvest bamboo less than 1.5 in (3.8 cm) thick. Dig the base with a shovel to get the whole shoot. Peel the skin off of the bamboo. Blanch the shoots over medium heat.

Q: 4G and 3G are designed to deliver high bandwidth to cellphones; however, the distance between the transmission tower and the cellphone must be within a certain range of each other to be effective. The farther away you are away from one, the weaker the signal is going to be. If it is absolutely important for you that you can be reached for calls and texts, consider switching your phone to a 2G network instead. 2G offers a lower bandwidth than their newer counterparts but in turn you will have decent coverage in most places, especially where 3G/4G signals can't penetrate very well.  Imagine in between dense housing or enclosed spaces. Because of the lower data rate, 2G signals are able to get to hard to reach places. The only downside is that your internet connection won't be as fast. At any rate it is perfectly usable for calling and texting. To top it all off, your battery will not drain as fast since 2G doesn't require that much power. Consult your manuals of your phone on how to enable 2G networks. A new category of Smart Signal Booster is emerging. This new category of boosters utilizes super-powerful baseband processors to clean the signal before it is rebroadcast (hence the "Smart" in the name Smart Signal Booster). Most of the Smart Signal Boosters have gains of 100db (compared to analog booster's gain of 63 to 70db).  That's a 1,000 times to 2,500 times difference. Some of these new boosters, while more expensive than the traditional analog booster, are completely plug and play: you plug them, and they usually work right away without the need for complex installation of outdoor antennas (usually the donor antenna is inside the booster box).  Truly plug and play, they can be used with almost any carrier, require no installation and actually work. Most of the time, Smart Signal Boosters are carrier-specific (i.e. you need to get the one that works for your carrier). If you are having cell problems in one location, such as your home or office, then try installing a cellular repeater. Cell phone repeaters pick up low cell signal with an antenna, boost the signal and broadcast it over the coverage area. They typically need at least 2 bars of signal where the antenna is placed (usually outside or on the roof) but can substantially improve cell reception, as well as battery life and data download speeds. Some repeaters might need technical knowledge such as the frequency of your carrier, and only work for one service provider. For a less technical approach that improves reception on all carriers, use a dual-band cell phone repeater. A few cell phone manufacturers make a "Hi-gain" antenna for their handsets, which may be changed in-store or by the user at home.  Although these won’t improve signal as much (or at all) as a repeater these antennas are relatively inexpensive and you are not confined to one location. Most networks operate independently of one another, using their own frequencies and constructing their own cell phone towers. Chances are if the signal is bad with one network you can improve by switching. Most cellular networks these days allow you to transfer your phone number when you change provider. Some will offer you a great deal if you're a new customer – big companies are running out of newbie customers, so they have to look to customers from their competitors. Search around for who has the best service in your area and who is offering the best deals. This may take time, but where cell phone reception is inadequate, property owners can host small cell sites on their properties for major wireless carriers. 3rd parties with Wireless Revenue Programs allow you to register your property to be eligible. Then when there is carrier interest in the area you'll be on the short list of places they choose from and will have optimal coverage. They may even pay your phone bill. What's not to like?
A: Try switching to a 2G network. Utilize a Smart Signal Booster. Install a cellular repeater. Upgrade your antenna. Change networks. Host a cell site.

Q: Take a ½ cup of vinegar, a ½ cup of sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoon of salt and mix them together in a small bowl. Then take a whisk or spoon and stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved. This should take one to two minutes. Once the sugar has dissolved, set this bowl aside along with the radishes and onion. Take a glass jar, like an old jam/jelly pot or Mason jar, and place the sliced radishes and onion wedges into the bottom of it. Once everything is inside, take the vinegar, sugar, and salt mixture and pour it over the radishes. Make sure that there is a little bit of space between the liquid marinade and the lip of the jar. Also, when putting the lid on, make sure not to secure it tightly as you want to leave room for carbonation to escape.  You can also add 6 heads of fresh dill weed or a tablespoon of pink/black peppercorn for extra flavor. You may have to place a weight or other item into the jar to keep the radishes submerged. For example, you can take a smaller jar full of water and put it into the jar to weigh the radishes down. After you’ve put everything together, you need to let the radishes ferment. Allow the jar to sit at room temperature for anywhere between six days to two weeks. While the radishes ferment, they may lose their vibrant color. However, the flavor should deepen and they should remain crunchy. Keep in mind that fermented radishes have a pungent odor that may increase the longer they are jarred.
A:
Make a marinade. Put everything into a wide-mouth, pint jar. Let the mixture sit.