Zach Baker

Dan, thanks for writing, it's much appreciated. I believe it is a modern well but I will double-check.

I am putting in a fence around our yard and wanted to plant a nanking cherry hedge along the outside of it. 7 feet out from the fence line there is a well. If my hedge is four feet wide, I would want a two foot space from the fence, so the bushes would be planted about 5 feet from the well, is that too close for comfort? My concern is exploring roots damaging the well in any way. I was thinking I will have to I plant the cherries on the inside of the fence although that is not my ideal location. I want to plant a maypop somewhere on the fence too, but am wary of planting it anywhere near the well because of it's aggressive spreading. Should I be concerned? Zone 6a

This is the best dog training book I've ever read. It really transformed and deepened my relationship with my dog. Purely Positive Training, Sheila Booth.

http://www.amazon.com/Purely-Positive-Training-Companion-Competition/dp/0966302001

Thanks Tal, that is good to know. I'd say about 100 ft. It hasn't been bucked up yet.

Anybody have any thoughts on uses for pine? We've got a big pine that's been felled.

I've read that it's ok to burn if seasoned well, so I thought some could be used for firewood. My hesitation in using it for firewood is the lower amount of BTUs it has. There is lots of hardwood around here; we'd be getting less BTUs for the same amount of processing labor with the pine.

I was thinking of using the limbs for mushroom logs with Laetiporus conifericola. I read here and there that this variety of chicken of the woods is possibly more likely to have negative side effects when eaten, but it is the one sold at Fungi Perfecti. It would seem like they think it's OK. We've gotten some off of what we think is cedar and it was fine for us.

Any thoughts on using boughs and needles? I was told that a lot of the tree, with its lots of limbs, wood would be to knotty to be worth having a portable mill come.

Thanks John! Hahaha, I do hope that's not it though, I don't see that one gaining much traction here.

I think it is a great idea. Go for it and make it happen. You can build it incrementally.

Have you listened to the recent gourmet restaurant review podcast? If not, check it out, it will really put a bee in your bonnet. Thanks to Paul and Jocelyn for that episode. I found it fascinating, I listened to it three times. It inspired my girlfriend and I to suggest doing a pop up restaurant with permaculture/organic/local food at our friends' tavern where she works. It looks like it may happen. Our intention is to get food from local permaculture or organic farms, plus what a network of us are growing, and over time increase the food that our group is growing to eventually be the majority of what is served. This way we won't be pressured to produce everything initially.

Paul and Jocelyn mentioned that there is an Italian word for a restaurant that serves food that is grown on-site. I tried finding the word with some Google searches, but couldn't. If anyone knows it, can you post it? I think it would be a great meme to promulgate.

On her site, Dolly chapman has some PDF downloads with some good general info:

http://www.sharpcrosscut.com/saw-flyers

I'm looking online for a sighting compass and have seen prices ranging from $12 to $170. Will a cheaper one be OK for surveying properties? Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks all, lots of good information to keep me busy with. I've been surfing around Craigslist looking at the Tacomas in my area, but I've read some good reviews of Ford Rangers as cheaper, reliable alternatives to Toyotas. I opened up about 25 tabs with Ranger ads and 95% of the Fords were being sold with some kind of mechanical problem. It was a stark contrast to the Tacomas, where about 5% or less had mechanical problems. As Tom guessed, I haven't seen many older Dodges out there.