A Mix of Elections & Moonvember?

💰Financial Tips: 9 Surprising Lessons That Made Me a Multi-Millionaire

First book I’ve ever read on personal finance was in 2009 titled: “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi, and holy shit did this send me down a path, that to this day, I still find myself. That path is financial freedom. Watch the video (below) as a brainstorm session & follow Ramit for effective & stupidly simple insight at: (https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/)(I Will Teach You To Be Rich, 2024) (1) .

🌱Permaculture Practices: Aerate Your Garden Beds Post A Season of Abundance.

Although we had a decent harvest, for our first year of learning how to actually garden & grow our own food, there is definitely much room for improvement. One of our biggest problems was that our many sections within our vegetable garden either grew up super small, or sadly, not at all. There could be a few reasons for this, that we continue to monitor, but can include: Less biodiverse soil ecosystems & Poor soil texture(s): Compaction, Crusting, Poor Drainage &/or Hardpan.

Compaction: Soil compaction happens when soil particles are densely packed together, which reduces the spacing between particles. A reduction in particle spacing limits air & water flow. This density prevents roots from penetrating the surface &/or forces them to work much harder to spread its roots throughout the soil it was born in (Soil Science, p. 16). Compaction will not optimize the plant’s growth potential.

Crusting: This occurs when rainfall seperates the soil into thin layers, which can harden your soil when rapidly dried (think of: summer showers). Therefore, heavy rains followed by extreme heat can cause soil seperation or “crusting” to occur. Crusting will inhibit your plant’s ability to sprout aka your seedlings to break the surface, which will lead to its death before it even emerges (Bray, 2023)(3).

Poor Drainage: If your soil cannot drain water efficiently, it becomes waterlogged soil that will drown sensitive plant roots. The key with water drainage is to find balance, as too much water drainage can starve your plants too (Bray, 2023)(3).

Hardpan: This is a dense cement-like layer in the soil, usually 2 to 4 feet underneath your soil’s surface. Hardpan can occur during normal soil formation, or can be man-made, but in both cases hardpan can take a long time to form. Hardpan prevents water absorption & limits a plant’s ability to send its roots into the Earth. Therefore, if hardpan gets broken up, it likely won’t reform in our lifetime & will give your plants more freedom to spread.

The Aeration Process

Being a person who likes to solve problems, it didn’t take me long to discover a process known as: Aeration. This is a process that you should perform at least once, or ideally, twice per year, is a process to help improve your soil’s structure. The ideal time perform this task is post-harvest (October/November) & again before your next harvest (February/March).

The benefit of improving your soil’s structure is to prevent compacted soil, where if these poor farming practices continue, can potentially lead to less biodiverse soil ecosystems & essentially poorer health. Why poorer health? Because your soil is directly correlated to your health. The more optimized to soil structure is &/or becomes, the more optimize your health is &/or becomes. “The soil is essentially the stomach of the Earth, as it consumes, digests, & cycles organisms & nutrients through its system (Bray, 2023)(4). It all boils down to our soil’s microorganisms - Smaller Organisms: Bacteria, Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, Archaea & Larger Organisms: Mites, Nematodes, Springtails, Earthworms & Insects such as ants, etc. This is your soil’s food web & your gut microbiome (aka gut health).

However, thanks to the process of aerating your soil, not only can it prevent your ground from becoming less prone to flooding & wind damage, but it’ll allow your plant’s to optimize themselves (Permaculture Principle #2: Catch & Store Energy & Permaculture Principle #3: Obtain a Yield). So here are the steps to aerate your soil.

Step One: REMOVE DEBRIS

Step One, Part One: Clear Your Garden Beds

Remove any & all weeds, dead plants or large debris from surface of soil. This clearing step makes the aeration process easier & prevents damage to your tools.

Step One, Part Two: Consider Mulch

Remove any mulch temporarily, as it can hinder your aeration process.

Step Two: LOOSEN SOIL

Step Two, Part One: Use a broadfork & NO TILLING!

Note: To Till or Not To TIll is a personal preference, but, the less your plants (& their roots) are disturbed, the better.

Step Three: CREATE HOLES

Step Three, Part One: Spacing

Space the holes about 6 to 12 inches apart. This process helps to ensure that you are aerating your ground evenly.

Step Three, Part Two: Angle

Work at an angle if you are using a fork. Repetitively move both Left & Right, then Front & Back several times. These movements help create air channels.

Step Four: AMEND YOUR SOIL

Step Four, Part One: Add Organic Matter

You want to apply & cover your soil with organic matter as soon as possible (from immediately to no more than a few days). There are different types of organic matter that can be used (Compost, Aged Manure, etc.), but compost is my preferred method.

Step Four, Part Two: Soil Conditioner

If you have clay-heavy soil, adding some sand or gypsum can help improve aeration & drainage.

Step Five: LEVEL THE BED

Step Five, Part One: SmoothThe Surface

Use a rake to level your soil’s surface after aeration & amendment. This prepares your bed(s) for planting.

Step Five, Part Two: Re-Apply Mulch

Of mulch was removed, you can reapply it. If no mulch was removed, feel free to add some at this stage.

Step Six: WATER THE BED

Step Six, Part One: Gentle Watering

Water the bed lightly to help settle the soil & to begin the decomposition process of the organic matter.

Step Six, Part Two: Avoid Overwatering

Saturated soil can undo the benefits of your aeration process.

Step Seven: MONITOR & MAINTAIN

Step Seven, Part One: Inspect

Inspect regularly to ensure that your soil remains loose & well aerated. If not, repeat the aeration process on an as necessary basis aka each season, if it comes to that. But hopefully, after repetition, your soil begins to save time & less work over time. However, keep the mental note that: Aeration might need to be repeated each season, especially in heavy soils or high-trafficked areas within your garden.

🚀Bitcoin Breakdown:

An update from last month historical interpretation on Bitcoin cycles, we were one day late on “predicting” the acceleration on the Q4 move. To summarize, the Halving/Q4 acceleration didn’t begin in the second week of October 2024 (so between October 6th, 2024 to October 13th, 2024) as I “predicted” based on historical data. The Epoch #4 acceleration actually one day later, landing on October 14th, 2024 (3rd Week of October). Therefore, having squeezed around the same period of time, and occurring 6 months post-halving, this will be an indicator that I maintain in my personal treasure chest for future references.

Monthly Returns Chart by Percentage (%):

1. As of writing, the Bitcoin price has dropped from around $64k to $60k to start of October in red (!) (CoinGlass, 2024)(5).

2. During the month of October it rose from around $60k & tagged $73.5k.

3. Finished the month of October in green at around $70k & a monthly return of +10.76% (CoinGlass, 2024)(5), making it an official exit from its post-halving consolidation. This crucial step gets us closer to a definitive slicing through our old all-time high (ATH) barrier from the stunted 2021 bull market highs. If we break above $74k, its game-on.

4. As we start off with a November Monthly Return in red (!) (similar to October) at -1.35%, it is also the month where we find out who the next President of the USA is, so we need to anticipate high volatility this month (CoinGlass, 2024)(5).

5. Note to Remember: No matter who wins the Presidency, Bitcoin doesn’t care long-term. Buy on dips when we get stretched from the 200-day moving average, & expect 20 to 40% pullbacks. Pullbacks of 20 or 40 or, maybe even 50% pullbacks are normal in Bitcoin aka the highest volatility asset in markets. Bitcoin on exchanges are running dry, so expect both pullbacks to the downside & squeezes to the upside. Have a plan & stick to it.

Quarterly Returns Chart by Percentage (%):

1. Recap: Q3 is historically Bitcoin’s worst 3-month combination (Average: +5.39% & Median: -4.64%)(@caprioleio & CoinGlass, 2024) & Q4 has historically been Bitcoin’s best 3-month combination (Average: +88.84% & Median: 56.90%)(@caprioleio & CoinGlass, 2024)(6)(7).

2. :Since last month, the Q4 2024 Bitcoin’s Quarterly Returns currently stands in green at +9.26%, as we wait to see how November, the elections, & financial markets play into Q4 culmulative results by month’s end. My opinion: November may be the bumpiest month, as markets (including Bitcoin) hate FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, & Doubt, and FUD is what we get with elections, stock market ATH’s, another Federal Reserve meeting, threats of war, etc. Expect the worse & hope for the best. But no matter what, Bitcoin is the life raft, if all else fails. Make sure you protect your Bitcoin via SELF-CUSTODY! Self-Custody is absolutely crucial. I repeat….Self-Custody is absolutely crucial. Buy a Cold Card here: (https://store.coinkite.com/store).

As for a final Bitcoin update this month, I think the bull market has officially begun, yet, is still in its early stages. The reason for this belief is two-fold: 1) A LOT of Bitcoin news (both positive & negative) are starting to hit the news cycle. Yet, it is always the FUD news (Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt) that seem to trigger big moves. The biggest news FUD, in my opinion is the latest FUD article on Tether, a company which oversees over $120B Market Cap for its USDt stablecoin.

“Rumor has it” as of Friday, October 25th, 2024 (last day of financial markets before the weekend hits) that the Tether stablecoin is yet again under investigation. Go Figure… (see figure below)(8).

But one of many things that Bitcoin can teach us is: “Don’t Trust, Verify.” So, I wanted to help break down news, as this action can help prevent dismissal, judgement, lack of trust, in what is being presented. So, I have questions to try to understand the “why” it was news to begin with. What might be the motive behind this story? Lets see what we find…

Question #1: Who wrote the article?

Answer #1: The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)

Question #2: Who owns The Wall Street Journal?

Answer #2: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

Question #3: Does BlackRock have any ties to New Corp & other major media outlets?

Answer #3: According to Dr. Letitia Wright, “BlackRock does not own all the media, but it does have a significant stake in many major media companies. According to a 2023 report by the Institute for Public Accuracy, BlackRock and Vanguard are the two largest shareholders in the six major media companies that control more than 90% of the U.S. media landscape. Together, BlackRock and Vanguard own 18% of Fox, 16% of CBS, 13% of Comcast, 12% of Disney, and 12% of News Corp.” (Dr. Letitia Wright, 2023)(10).

Question #4: Has BlackRock been involved with Tether’s biggest competitor, Circle ($USDC), in any capacity?

Answer #4: BlackRock has been involved with Circle & its $USDC stablecoin in a few ways: 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽

1) BlackRock's tokenized asset fund: BlackRock filed for a tokenized asset fund with the SEC, which included $100 million in $USDC (0xKira, 2024)(11). 

2) BUIDL fund: BlackRock's tokenized BUIDL fund can be converted to $USDC through Circle, the issuer of USDC. This smart contract allows BUIDL investors to transfer their shares to Circle for $USDC (Partz, 2024)(12). 

Circle & Coinbase co-founded a consortium called Centre that previously managed $USDC, but Circle is now the sole responsible party (Circle, 2023)(13).

Oh! But wait, there is more! BlackRock is also gearing up to challange Wall Street, & do it alongside the US Bitcoin Hub of Texas. Connect the dots & I will dig in more on this subject at a later date, but here is a headstart…(How Money Works, 2024)(14).

Question #4: Who is the custodian for BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF?

Answer #4: Coinbase (BlackRock, 2024)(15).

Now, we can somewhat extract a few reasonable & logical outcomes which may have led to a business defamation against Tether & its USDt stablecoin. But wait, it gets better… BlackRock wouldn’t be BlackRock without cornering & controlling markets). Therefore, this is what I believe to be the real ultimate goal of BlackRock & whoever is behind the Tether FUD. Voila! Now that we likely know the WHO, read the article below & critically think deeper about the WHY, the HOW, the WHERE & WHAT this means for BlackRock, its competitors & society at-large.

Once you start deeply understanding financial markets & your specific areas of interest(s), you also begin to understand the games that get played. Those that get hurt the most in such unfair games, are retail investors: the investors simply looking for a safe place to store their hard-earned cash & for that cash to potentially grow to have for when they reach retirement age.

This is why I choose, & continue to choose, Bitcoin. I refuse to choose BlackRock Bitcoin (aka ETF), or Fidelity Bitcoin (aka ETF), or any other form of Bitcoin, besides Spot Bitcoin. Bitcoin that I actually hold & control. An ETF may give you or I comfort, in not taking responsibility over our assets, true Bitcoiners understand to: “Don’t Trust, Verify.” And unless Bitcoin custodians &/or brokerages begin to show Proof-of-Reserves, it is a risk to trust what you cannot verify yourself.

By taking responsibility of my Bitcoin, I can guarantee safe storage for my wealth, which doesn’t require taking part in these risky alternatives played by the “few, not the many”. Unlike any ETF, once I make my Bitcoin purchase(s), I am exempt from paying custodial fees on my Bitcoin, no tax until I decide to sell, & risk zero confiscation.

However, Bitcoin is still volatile & in Bitcoin bear markets, stablecoins can be provide safe & stable storage for your digital dollars, until we reach the next Bitcoin bottom. My advice: Buy Spot Bitcoin & Always self-custody your Bitcoin yourself (you do not need an ETF to do this for you, period); Take a few chips off the table, for “lifestyle chips” as Raoul Pal says, & buy Bitcoin with the intention to passing them down to your kids & your future descendants.

Mental Note: BlackRock has their tentatcles in every aspect of financial markets, past, present & potentially the future, but lets hope not. You can keep them from cornering Bitcoin, if you SELF-CUSTODY YOUR COINS! Buy a Cold Card here: (https://store.coinkite.com/store).

All For Now, Peace ✌️☮️

#SowSaveSustain

Raven at Finperma

1  I Will Teach You To Be Rich. (2024, February 15). 9 Surprising Lessons That Made Me a Multi-Millionaire. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE_PkJtg52s 

2  Walton, G. (2016, November 29). How To Aerate Soil Effectively. Retrieved from Rate Equipment: https://www.rataequipment.com/blog/how-to-aerate-soil-effectively

3  Bray, R. (2023). The Soil Food Web. In R. Bray, Soil Science for Beginners: The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Soil Health – 9 Steps to Stellar Soil for Traditional, No-Till, Raised Bed and Container Gardens (p. 16). Berlin: Monkey Publishing.

4  Bray, R. (2023). The Soil Food Web. In R. Bray, Soil Science for Beginners: The Vegetable Gardener’s Guide to Soil Health – 9 Steps to Stellar Soil for Traditional, No-Till, Raised Bed and Container Gardens (p. 20). Berlin: Monkey Publishing.

5  CoinGlass. (2024, October 04-31). Bitcoin Monthly Returns (%) . Retrieved from CoinGlass: https://www.coinglass.com/today

6  @caprioleio, & CoinGlass. (2024, September 17). Bitcoin Quarterly Returns (%). Retrieved from X: https://x.com/caprioleio/status/1835972005595906070

7  CoinGlass. (2024, October 31). Bitcoin Quarterly Returns (%) . Retrieved from CoinGlass: https://www.coinglass.com/today

8  Berwick, A. (2024, October 25). Federal Investigators Probe Cryptocurrency Firm Tether: Authorities looking at possible violations of anti-money-laundering and sanctions rules. Retrieved from The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/finance/currencies/federal-investigators-probe-cryptocurrency-firm-tether-a13804e5

9  Walton, J. (2024, September 30). Who Actually Owns the Wall Street Journal? Retrieved from Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/111215/who-actually-owns-wall-street-journal.asp#:~:text=The%20Wall%20Street%20Journal%20is%20owned%20by%20Dow%20Jones%20%26%20Company,the%20world's%20largest%20media%20owners.

10  Dr. Letitia Wright, D. (2023, July 22). Does BlackRock Own ALL the Media? Retrieved from LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/does-blackrock-own-all-media-dr-letitia-wright-d-c-/

11  0xKira. (2024, March 25). Week in DeFi: BlackRock Drops $100M USDC to Ethereum Address. Retrieved from Yahoo! Finance: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/week-defi-blackrock-drops-100m-070629298.html

12  Partz, H. (2024, April 11). Circle enables USDC transfers for BlackRock’s first tokenized fund. Retrieved from CoinTelegraph: https://cointelegraph.com/news/circle-blackrock-transfers-usdc-buidl

13  Circle. (2023, August 21). Ushering in the next chapter for USDC. Retrieved from Circle: https://www.circle.com/blog/ushering-in-the-next-chapter-for-usdc

14  How Money Works. (2024, June 10). Why BlackRock is Building a New Stock Market... In Texas. Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3jjy3EanGc

15  BlackRock. (2024). iSHARES BITCOIN TRUST ETF (IBIT). Retrieved from BlackRock: https://www.blackrock.com/us/financial-professionals/investments/products/bitcoin-investing#:~:text=IBIT%20is%20managed%20by%20the,largest%20institutional%20digital%20asset%20custodian

16  Adeyemi, B. (2024, October 18). BlackRock To Challenge USDT And USDC’s Dominance With New Proposal. Retrieved from CoinGape: coingape.com/blackrock-to-challenge-usdt-and-usdcs-dominance-with-new-proposal