Jenna Sanders

I just cut up about a dozen t shirts and made them into yarn. My husband made me some awesome knitting needles from large dowels and I have been having a ball! I was thinking it would be fun to knit a patchwork type of hammock with the yarn, using the netting patterns used for the grocery bags, k2tog, yo...what do you think? Will the yarn hold up?

Hi Jason,
My husband and I have three small children and have wanted to start our own homestead for sometime. What kind of care are you looking for your homestead? Would it be a situation where my husband would be able to work outside of the homestead as well, in order to bring in some income? Or is your homestead a full time job in itself?
Thanks!
Jenna

This is a very intriguing offer. What kind of housing is available? Would room and board be provided or would we need to make our own accommodations? Also, would you be willing to take on a family? Or are you looking only for couples?
My husband and I are In our twenties with three children. We would love to learn more about what you are offering.

I ran across this on pinterest ( I really have a love affair going with pinterest) and was greatly intrigued.



unfortunately I don't think they are available for purchase in the U.S. The closest thing I could find to this was one of those terra cotta pot coolers with the sand. Sorry, I can't recall the name. Might be fun to play around with making one of these for ourselves. Any ideas?

Not to be redundant, but we homeschool too! Actually, this is our first year with our 5 year old. We have two younger girls who will be joining him when they get a bit older. I love the philosophies of both Charlotte Mason and the Waldorf schools, which is a lot of reading, playing, nature and creativity. Its been a lovely, and somewhat exhausting time. We are in town trying our hand at as much homesteading as we can squeeze on to our small lot, which is a whole lot of learning in itself. I'm so excited that this thread was created and look forward to hearing all about your homeschooling experiences along the way!

Hello Michigan Permies!!
I am looking for bees to purchase and was hoping that some of you may know of a good apiary or beekeeper to buy from in this area?
We will be new beekeepers, with a top bar hive.
Any tidbits you have to offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

I am a mother of three small children, and I am homeschooling them. I have little time, money or to be quite honest, energy but as an artist, I know the importance of art and creativity in a young child's life. Now, don't get me wrong, these children, when left to their own devices are more creative than most people I know. I would, however, love some ideas for some permaculture type projects that I could work with them to instill a love of nature, art, and of course all things permaculture
Thanks!

If I'm recalling correctly, some of the foxfire books have information about planting during different moon phases...it would take some research, but this would be an excellent resource to have!

I have this shrub in my backyard, and I think it may be a gooseberry, but I'm not sure. In the eight years we have lived here it has never had any flowers or berries of any kind. It is in full sun, which, I assume would be a problem if it is in fact a gooseberry...
Can anyone help me i.d. it? And how would I rehabilitate it?
I don't think you can see in the picture but it does have thorns, as well...
Thanks for your help!

My husband is in Haiti as we speak, building chicken coops at an orphanage that our church sponsors. I have yet to visit, but this thought has constantly been nagging at the back of my mind too. The first project was implementing a water filtration system, because the girls were drinking was could nicely be referred to as grey water. Now the chicken coops, which is another excellent thing...
But I would love to see some sort of food system established there. The woman in charge of the organization has said that they tried to plant things before but the conditions were so terrible that the plants just died.
I have a feeble grasp on the major points of permaculture, but zero knowledge of the climate in Haiti, or what would grow well in that climate. Where should I begin my research for this?
While he's down there, my husband has promised to check out the lay of the land, so I have a bit more of an idea of what we're dealing with...
short term:?
I need to know where to start my research...Geoff Lawton's work in Jordan?
long term: I would love to be able to design and implement something that would not only provide them with a sustainable food supply, but teach them how to work in the harsh conditions...
(I hope I'm not hijacking this thread...feel free to move it if you like...)