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Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

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Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#391

Post by Loughla »

johnthedebs wrote: post #282

I got into fig (and since then, more broadly, fruit) cultivation. Figs have a rich history, lots of variety, and there are very active online (and in-person) communities where you can buy or exchange plants and cuttings, advice, and fruit. This grew out of an initial interest in gardening, and the long-term goal is to create a food/fruit forest around our house where me, family, friends, and neighbors can walk around…

I started cultivating dewberries and chokecherries because they're dying out near me. The chokecherries are good for like 2 weeks, otherwise they taste like soap.

Dewberries are a real bitch to get started and don't produce a ton of fruit, but are EASILY the best berries you'll ever eat in your life. The native variety are very tart compared to bred plants, but they're legitimately the best things that you can grow. If you have a spot where grass doesn't grow well, plant these!!

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#392

Post by foresto »

desmondmonster wrote: post #381

I build Tiki Tube Amps - hifi stereos inside carved tiki heads. The tikis are carved from solid logs and hollowed out before I wire up all the circuitry inside. It's all analog vacuum-tube-driven circuits soldered point-to-point. They're really difficult to make but super fun to listen to. When I'm carving I have to plan out how the circuit will be laid out, ensure there's enough space inside for the transformers, co…

Looks like there are examples here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIRDOcSQGe8

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#394

Post by timbeccue »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #374

Guess this doesn't count as a hobby since I switched careers, but I left software recently to attend violin making school. I'm happier than I've been in a long time. I'd encourage all "mental work" folks to engage with something physical in the 3D realm (art, cooking, gardening, etc.). I really believe humans have a special affinity for creating refined objects, and I don't think software "scratches that itch".

Really cool! I split my time between cello and software so I'm decently familiar with this line of work. What inspired you to switch careers? I imagine it's not easy to get a foothold as a luthier either. Do you feel like you're taking a big risk?

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#395

Post by dboreham »

Looks like nobody has claimed this yet so I'll add: heavy equipment (excavators, loaders, chippers bigger than they had in "Fargo"...). Began as a solution to the "can't find a contractor to dig that hole" problem but like most things turned into an interesting rabbit hole and money pit. Interesting social side in terms of learning how to deal with mechanics, parts suppliers, welding, hydraulics, getting to know your way around a gravel pit.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#396

Post by apgwoz »

ogou wrote: post #198

Printmaking. In a tiny apartment I did linocuts and Gelli prints on my kitchen counter for a few months. https://lucidbeaming.com/art/prints

I like your stuff! I’ve been coveting a plotter for a while, but I’m pretty sure it won’t get used enough to justify the expense. :/

I do find the term “printmaking” hilarious because there’s just sooo many ways to make prints. I tried to get into linocut fairly recently, but the battleship grey linoleum I had wasn’t very good. It cracked and crumbled pretty easily. I did get some of pink Speedball “blocks,” but it gets expensive pretty quickly. I guess more to the point is the feeling that I lack much to say. But, that’s an excuse. :)

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#397

Post by ryandrake »

sashank_1509 wrote: post #369
ryandrake wrote: post #174

If you like to work with your hands and have space, build something physical: big and complex, and actually finish it. I built a single engine two seat kit airplane in my garage, did all the flight testing, and now have an interesting way to travel/commute as a result. The "finish it" part is the most important bit. Computer people spend too much time working on projects that don't have a "done" state. Change that up…

How long did it take you to complete this project. How did you maintain motivation?

6.5 years. What helped most was doing a little bit every day. Taking time off the project would probably have slowed my motivation. Also, at some point, you have spent a lot of money on a project like this, to the point where you kind of have to finish it or you've lost a lot of sunk cost.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#398

Post by madmountaingoat »

Ancalagon wrote: post #59

I’m obsessed with powerlifting. Not only because big numbers get bigger but also the physical changes that occur with a healthy dose of lifting each week. It’s also easy to track lifting stats and there are tons of analysis tools out there if data analysis is something you enjoy. Also, I’m trying to learn guitar - right now following the Justinguitar.com lessons

For guitar I followed Justin up into his intermediate level stuff but then switched to in person lesson and they made a big difference for me. I think I got lucky with my first teacher though, as I've not really gelled with teachers I worked with later.

I'm obsessed with Strongman style functional lifting.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#399

Post by cspada »

Vermiculture - breeding worms and harvesting their casting.

Outside of software development I enjoy gardening, farming/breeding worms and collecting their compost for the garden was a fun hobby I could dive into. It is a great amendment to my garden's soil and just a unique thing I can do on my own. I would like to start a small side business selling the castings, extracts, and worms one day.

Re: Ask HN: Any interesting niche hobbies?

#400

Post by kukkeliskuu »

So interesting to read from other's hobbies!

I believe we all have three major parts: emotional, intellectual, and physical.

I have been very intellectually oriented, meaning I used my intellectual part even when it was not so useful for the thing I was doing. For example, thinking about emotions or how to do something when it is better than just feel or do.

My aim has been to become more balanced human being, meaning choosing pursuits that activate those other parts as well.

What has stayed with me over the years has been couples' dancing, which fits nicely with physical/emotional side. You just need to find a teacher whose apporach is not intellectual, i.e. based on steps and sequences! I am still doing it 2-5 times per week.

I am also doing regularly: - yin yoga - tai chi - winterswimming

I have had several other niche hobbies throughout the years, like: - fencing - improv theatre - leather works -- I ended up on a very demanding leather shoe course and made my own dancing shoes - wood crafting -- wooden spoons - traditional survival skills -- various kinds of traditional fire making skills, making traditional traps, making emergency tents, making emergency drafts, learning about plants, learning to skin/handle game etc.

Something I wanted to try but did not yet: - flint knapping

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