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BioPharming for Meds

Education, , , , , , ,
science tools for study of biology
study of plant biology for medicines

Plant Made Pharmaceuticals, PMP

Bio-engineering – the field of study that utilizes engineering techniques to improve the health and well being of people aka biomedical engineering– Encyclopedia & Dictionary of Medicine & Allied Health.

Bio-Engineers in Bio-Pharmaceuticals

Research and development personnel of Pharmaceutical companies don’t just spend their time in laboratories or out in the field collecting samples. They can be found on plant farms that are specifically designated and segregated from the public. Let’s examine the world of ‘Biopharming for meds‘.

The farm may be growing alfalfa, corn, duckweed, rice, safflower, tomatoes and tobacco to name a few crops. These crops are used in bio-engineering for new drugs, to combat disease that afflicts people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Bio-engineering requires knowledge from a mix of studies like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and cell biology. These skills can also be utilized in other industries such as chemical engineering, agriculture, information technology and bio-robotics.  Pathobio-technology refers to the exploitation and modification of pathogens or it’s compounds for beneficial effect.

The use of plants for medical research has found compounds that assist with integration, catalyzers, metabolizing, attachment, and, non-toxicity. It is the ease and edibility of the use and structure of the plants, for recombining and modification, that makes this science exciting and successful.

Exploring plant types

Plants such as the following have been manufactured by pharmaceutical companies for treatment of various illnesses ;

Papaver somniferum – Codeine, treatment of pain

Catharanthus roseus – Vinblastine, treatment of cancer.

Cinchonas officinalis – Quinine, treatment of malaria.

Hyoscyamus niger – Atropine, treatment of iritis, bradycardia.

Digitalis purpurea – Digitalis, treatment of heart conditions.

Beginnings of a Bio-Pharmaceutical Farm

Permission from the government is required by the pharmaceutical companies to open this sort of farm. An application for permits must be submitted. Inspections a few times a year are done. They are never de-regulated.

All equipment is dedicated, meaning that use is specific for the crops and farm only, and, never to be available for public use. These crops are confined for pharmaceutical use only. It is a very tightly controlled industry to maintain safety for both personnel and the public.

Journey into a Science career

A career in these areas of science would be exciting and highly recommended, if you enjoy the idea of helping discover new medicines. Who knows? maybe your son or daughter may find the cure for our worst diseases.

Monetary rewards are great even for new graduates and this type of research, is an ever-evolving and on-going field. Check out the types of pharmacy related science fields at colleges and universities online!

Extra Reading

BioWorld, The Daily Biopharmaceutical News Source

Careers in Biopharmaceutical Sciences 

Biopharmaceutical  Salary

Learning in Motion

I hope you found this article informative and gained some new insight. Please feel free to leave your comments and share your new found knowledge with others. Use the ‘Ask a Question’ form to make a request on a topic of your own interest. It is FREE to subscribe by email or RSS feed.

 AIC\ An Informal Cornr, all rights reserved. Ginsense writes articles on business skills, development, health, science, technology and society and enjoys advocating for independence, security and a better world for all of us.

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How to Start a Rental Guest House

Home Biz Ideas, , , , , , , ,
a Guest Cottage

The idea of entering and starting a ‘cottage/guest house‘ rental side business, can operate with success, if done with great marketing and management. Let’s explore ‘how to start a rental guest house‘ for a second income.

A search online having to do with cottage rentals, you will find quite a few listings about such places. Such an endeavor can provide an extra source of income. Where do we start?

2nd Income Trends

A trend in the housing and rental industry was recommending to have a ‘guest‘ house built on your property. One could use it for their elderly parent or as a rental income.

You will need to do research into local municipal by- laws, zoning laws and regulations about providing such accommodations. Applications and fee’s can be found at the local municipal city hall office. Also, one must get a business license to operate such accommodations.

Cottage/Guest house short-term rentals have been an ongoing popular operation and source of income, for many years. Those who are able to afford buying their guest house may live in their own primary residence or have a second cottage for personal use.

It does take money to begin this project but the long term pay off can be quite rewarding. A successful operation can bring repeat business, continuous bookings, a good reputation and sense of prestige. A family could poor their money together to have one built, get it successfully listed for repeat rentals, and then build another.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Operating a rental business does require knowledge in the hospitality and tourism industry, local Landlords Act along with business management skills.

It is IMPORTANT to have these skills, and I do recommend at least taking a course in these areas. A business plan will help you keep ‘direction‘ and ‘overview‘ of maintaining the following skills ;

  • business
  • marketing skills will help you learn to promote, advertise
  • know your competition
  • financial skills will help you stay in operation
  • business law will help you be aware of rights and responsibilities ,as an owner and for the customer/tenant.
  • Paper work is involved with this business, as all businesses do have to provide for tax reporting.

The owner of a cottage or guest house will have some steps to follow once skills and knowledge are gained. A first step is having the property, for a cottage or guest house, and figuring out, how to set it up their occupancy rates.

second income rental
earn with second income property

A Peek into a Part of this Type of Operation

If it’s a two to three bedroom, one can offer a occupancy of three to six people, if functioning as a ‘cottage‘. This is done if you have bunk beds in the bedrooms and/or pull out beds. Furniture would have to be sturdy and removal of ‘personal‘ items done. Keep it to bare necessities as the ‘guests‘ will bring their own. Just think how a hotel room provides for their guests.

A method to deliver keys for the guest(s) would be required. Some may have a ‘lock-box‘ on site, a key pad lock may also be used or just go out and meet them in person, to deliver the keys. A major consideration and requirement for any business, is insurance.

Liability and Equipment for Safety

Do shop around and meet with insurance agencies who can provide for ‘vacation‘ or ‘rental‘ accommodation businesses, and they provide a good pricing range. Insurance protects you, your property and customers.

Hotels have computerized programs which help them with their booking schedules. As a small owner/operator of your guest house or cottage, you can also find computer software programs to help you with your own booking schedules.

One can also offer to add the traditional method, of signing a guest book upon arrival and departure, if you’d like to add sense of ‘vintage‘ to your operations.

gypsy wagon rental
gypsy wagon beach rental

Promotion for Building Awareness

The advertising and promotion of your cottage or guest house will create awareness and bring customers. This can be done with attending trade shows related to the tourism and hospitality industry, registering with ‘vacation‘ or ‘rental‘ agencies, creating your own website with option to ‘book‘ a time schedule. Check on how to get on tourism sites, partner with local hotels.

Excellent photographs will be needed since these will help provide prospective customers with an idea of what they will find. This is also a good time to share available local sights and amenities, available activities and resources (boat, canoe, etc.). It’s suggested with your advertising, that it be done on international, national and regional sites to build and gain a wider awareness of your service(s).

Live in Action

Extra Reading

How to Start a Bed and Breakfast in Ontario

CMHC- Dealing With Problems

Brian’s Backyard Tiny Guest House

Conclusions

Owning a cottage or guest house can provide an interesting and rewarding experience. You can eventually hire and allow a property manager to oversee this small venture once able to afford the extra costs of hiring.

This area of business would be considered part of the real estate industry and why it’s popular. It can provide a source of supplemental or eventual full time income, and improve your quality of living. It will take patience to learn all that’s involved along with the costs to acquire such a property but as mentioned, the long term benefits can be rewarding.

I hope you found this article informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share with your Friends. Use the ‘Ask a Question’ form and recommend a topic of your own interest, for the next Post! 

AIC|An Informal Cornr, all rights reserved. Ginsense writes articles on business skills, development, health, science, technology and society and enjoys advocating for independence, security and a better world for all of us.

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How to Earn Extra Cash – Enlarge Photo’s Service

Home Biz Ideas, , , , , ,

tools for photo editing serviceHow to Earn Extra Cash – Edit Photo’s Service

A corner of your apartment or even a converted closet, can be a suitable work space, to begin your own niche business, offering ‘photo editing services‘, specifically, enlarging photographs, and earn some cash. How do I start?

How to Start a Photo Editing Service

The technique described here is to provide yourself with operating a basic service and pricing will be up to you. Just remember to not view customers as cash cows. Your little business service, if done well, will grow over time, as will your income. Treat your customers well and they will return but most importantly, they will send their friends and family. Word-of-mouth advertising, is beyond priceless.

A little of your own investment for equipment will be needed, as follows:

  • Computer
  • Scanner
  • Paint.net (Free online photo editor to download)
  • Printer + ink cartridges
  • Photo paper (optional)
  • Flash drives (optional)

Steps to Edit Photos

Let’s begin, here are the steps :

1. Take your photo that needs enlarging.
2. Place into scanner, usually face down, set or save, as a PDF. Some scanners will auto-open while others may require to save the file. Remember the NAME of the file!

amom90sa

Should look like this when opened with Adobe Reader. Good job! (Is that me? Yes, back when I was young and sporting that metal, rock and alternative rock gal, image). Be ready to have a couple windows, and programs, open.

3. Open your Paint.net program, or other photo editing program, and have it ready.
4. Once your PDF photo is open, tap your PrtSc or Print Screen key. This will capture an image of your PDF photo.

agetpicbttn

5. Go to your Paint.net program and under Edit, scroll to Paste. Your image should now appear. Again, you may want to SAVE this new file. Close your Adobe Reader program. Your Paint file should look like this image, with the dotted lines.

aenlrgpic5

6. Move your cursor to the bottom right dot. A little hand should pop open. Click on that corner dot, and HOLD your mouse and DRAG the corner, to enlarge your photo. Do your best to keep it’s original shape. ( Yes, that’s a different photo I captured).

7. Once you have it to your desired size, click on IMAGE  (3rd button from File at top bar) then scroll to ‘Crop to Selection’, and click. SAVE your new enlarged photograph. Again, remember the NAME of your new file. Unfortunately, your photo size is limited to what you can see in Paint.net program. My photo’s are about 4”x3” but you can paste into a word processor program, enlarge again and print on photo paper or save to a USB flash drive.

8. The size of your new file can be found under Image, scroll to Resize. A box pops open and right at the top will tell you the size. (My own enlarged photo is 1.8Mb).

9. All you have to do now, is transfer the NEW enlarged photo to the Flash drive for your customer. They can either purchase a Flash drive from you (meaning you will need a few on hand) and those will also bring in extra cash! or the customer can bring their own. All other image and pdf files can be stored in separate customer file.

10. You can use your Printer and photo paper to offer customers a print-out of their new larger photo, one or more copies, again, for extra cash, price fairly. Ensure you adjust your Printer for Photo’s since you can print one or more. Do your best to not waste your Photo paper.

11. Another method of delivery to your customers is by email. Attach their new photo to the email and send.

Photo Appearances Vary & Other Services

A few notes to think about in providing this service. Some digital photo’s appear to blur as they are enlarged whereas a photo from 35mm cameras (yes, those old photo’s stored in photo albums) can keep it’s appearance along with any ‘age spots’ but they do remain clear.

Other services you can provide with your new found business, is offer people services to ‘digitize‘ their photographs or important documents. Again, save it on a flash drive or send by email to a cloud service (Dropbox, One Drive, Google Drive, etc.), where customers can download them. This is a service so be sure you charge a fee.

Marketing your Photo Editing Services

Marketing can be simple such as posters, stating your business name and services with contact information on tear away strips, such as this image.(Psst!  Do your best to have yours looking spiffier than my example).

acornrsmplpstrPlace these posters in high traffic areas where people will NOTICE them. Apartment buildings, free boards, laundromat, food store, etc. Other promotional methods include :

  • Tell your friends and family to pass the word along.
  • Business cards, hand them out to store owners, restaurants, etc.
  • Network at community events with elders, parents, pet owners. Give them your business card.
  • Use a T-shirt iron on transfer with your business name on it. Print your business name services and contact information on transfer paper, iron on t-shirts.
  • Check your newspaper, to post a free ‘Announcement‘ about your business.
  • List your business online in business directories.

Business Reputation Management

Operate your business with utmost security of confidential information about your customers. Respect and friendly service will help build word-of-mouth advertising and repeat customers. You can go online and learn about the special effects the Paint.net program offers, and add these skills to your services, and then graduate to the professional programs such as Adobe Photo Shop suite.

Learn about as many photo editing programs as possible and how to use them. Some are free and others will require outright purchasing. An article by FroKnowsPhoto writes that the Adobe Photo suites is offered as a ‘subscription‘ only with prices ranging from $20 – $50 per month.

Learning in Action

Extra Reading

Money Home Blog  

Digital Photography School

Canada Business Network – Online Marketing Info

Small Business + Start-Ups Forum  

The end of the day, this little niche business service may not be totally glamorous but does offer the opportunity for a little ‘extra income’,  work at home and consider yourself an Entrepreneur.

Learning from this little service business may help towards launching, adding more services, or entering, a larger business. Nothing wrong with dreaming about the infinite possibilities available.  What’s your dream?

AIC|An Informal Cornr, all rights reserved. Ginsense writes articles on business skills, development, health, science, technology and society and enjoys advocating for independence, security and a better world for all of us.

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