Giselle Burningham

Need help.. trying to buy some of the packs.. I’m in Australia.. no ability on the system to change it to international shipping please help.  Universalpuzzle@gmail.com

Interesting problem that is very common . I agree remove what you can asap then you can turn over the soil to loosen it,
then dig into the soft soil at a angle and  pull  through the soil a grill/ grid/mesh through the top soil…  Like a sleigh!!. I would use a machine to pull it. It will take out the worst. I also agree that looking after the micro soil bacteria should fix the paint chips. Have fun

Hi.. I live in Zone 9 Tasmania, Australia with a very short growing season. Seedlings do well in my garden but seeds just rot.. too wet. So after months of looking at expensive propagation systems.. I went cheap cheap cheap.. and it works!

I used a 6ft VEGEPOD (a raised bed) with a hoop cover. But any flat bed with a sides of 6to 8inches will do.

I filled the bed with builders sand (any sand will do) leaving two inches from the top.

I placed a old Christmas rope light (sealed) as a heat source.. and wiggled all 15meters into my 6 ft bed .. then connected it to my only expense of $50 of a hydroponic thermostat plugged into the electric. (i keep it at 23 deg C) Then covered all the rope light with two more inches of sand.

Then I double bagged the whole bed in thick plastic and duct taped it down.. I didn’t want water getting into the bed.

Then I placed my trays of damp seeds on the top (i double tray mine so no water leaks) and shut the lid.. (watered as necessary)  TEN days later I have seeds I can transplant!  It has saved me a fortune!!

When the plants get to two leaves -  I move them to a diy cold frame so the plants can toughen up.. then when I have  a plant about 3 to 4 inch high.. i plant them out.

With a 100% survival rate.

Leigh what have you started me on??? I went down a rabbit hole on cooking with Ash…. And found so far that …“ A recent study noted that Navajos use ground Juniper ash in their bread flour. It increases the nutritional value of the bread, and adds calcium.” https://www.onondaganation.org/blog/2011/cooking-with-ashes/


And Do not cook in Aluminum pots or use aluminum spoons when working with wood ash.  According to American Macrobiotic Cuisine by Meredith McCarthy, “The Lye in the wood ash reacts strongly with aluminum to produce hydrogen gas, which is both flammable and explosive.” The Ashes can ruin your aluminum pots and spoons due to the alkalinity . Stainless steel, ceramic, and wooden spoons are a great alternative.

This is fun! Giselle

Hi I have not come across your book before.. and was instantly interested as I never have baking powder on hand and the shops are kilometres away. (I am in Tasmania, Australia on a rural property ) I’m curious on using ash!!! For baking? .. I would love to try and win your book.! Please! Giselle

Hello from Tasmania Australia! I believe the canning first started because of Napoleon who needed to have consistent fresh food for his troops! Technique is known as sterilising in Europe. However most of these techniques have been lost. I purchased a canner from the US however I have absolutely no idea how to use it. I’ve watched a couple of videos but what I need is a step-by-step guide. I got a Canner as I live on a homestead property in the bush and a long way from the shops so this would really help me out.

I must admit I’m quite nervous because my only experience of pressure canners was from school science laboratory where one blew up and the lid ended up spinning in the ceiling! Lolol I know there is a difference between a pressure canner and a food Canner,  but I don’t know why.

Thank you for being on this site this week it really helps. Giselle

In 1975 the BBC in the UK aired a show called ‘The good life’  and at the age of 14 I was hooked...Since then it’s been a journey of learning and experimenting. I was clearly ahead of my friends and work colleagues in understanding about working with nature instead of against it...I was called a hippie a lot! Even though I wasn’t one. But finally it seems the world has worked it out.... you do less work, for more gain!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00732tl

I found this info....If you are starting from scratch, you’ll have to decide what to plant with elderberry. White pine trees or quaking aspen are good elderberry companion plants, if you want something taller than the shrubs. For a plant about the same size, consider winterberry. Remember that elderberries do not like their roots disturbed once they are established. Therefore, it’s a good idea to install elderberry companion plants at the same time you plant the shrubs.

Other good ideas for elderberry companion planting include edging your vegetable garden with the shrubs or mixing them with other berry shrubs, like currants and gooseberries. Phlox and bee balm work well when you are planting with elderberries in this way.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Elderberry Plant Companions – Tips On Planting With Elderberries

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/elderberry/elderberry-plant-companions.htm

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/vanilla-substitutes/

The big one as a replacement is maple syrup.. so you could tap some trees.

I would talk to a professional permancuturist.. they are very good at looking at land and how microclimates can be created. .. and they definitely understand water!!