William Bagwell

Ned Harr wrote:
The problem with books is that they may be out of date; the National Electrical Code is updated every three years to keep up with changes in technology and safety standards, for good reason. If you're going to go from a book that's fine, but make sure it's been published recently (like, it should at least not be talking about cloth-sheathed wire and stuff) and if possible try to verify that its author is a qualified authority.

Built my house in the early 90s using the 1984 code. Wanted something newer, but in the pre-internet days current code books were very expensive. No inspections back then (other than septic) so this was not an issue. Also found the McGraw-Hills companion to the NEC invaluable to my understanding. Set up in numbered sections that match the NEC and explain it in a more layman friendly way. Both books are still on my shelf behind me.

Agree with the premise of this thread that *most* homeowners should not do their own electrical. Would add that *no* contractor that is not an electrician should. Personally have seen as bad or worse work done by jack leg contractors than homeowners. Plus contractors sometimes try to hide dangerous things that a homeowner would leave exposed.

Christopher Weeks wrote:
Yeah, some of the "weirder" ones might make better middle names than firsts.

Agree, and exactly what we did for both of our kids. Nice normal first names and odd middle names. Equipment used in the sport where we met and not Permaculture related, but this was almost 40 years ago.

Roger Whittaker had at least three whistling songs. Most talented whistler I have ever encountered, not a bad singer either. Bit soft for my tastes but my parents loved all his music. As for movies, The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) has a very good whistled version of The Colonel Bogey March. Will not post them, but the WWII alternative lyrics they were implying are a hoot. Changes the whole meaning of that scene when you know.  

Back in the 70s, it was three jars in the trunk of a car. Can not remember what was in each of the jars, but agree that Jill was close.

A jointer that has been modified to put parallel grooves in wood. Useful in building bat houses.

Nancy Reading wrote:
Hmm, thanks for showing us that. I'm thinking if you added a scoop or two of soil in as well, it would mix in with the branches and you'd get good compaction that way. Then all it would need is top soil, seeds and mulch .
Do you think a curved bucket would get the bundle rolling quicker?

Worth a try to deliberately include dirt, will report back later. Have noticed it will sometimes pick up small amounts just moving / rolling across soft plowed ground. Might not show in the video but the box scrape is also curved on the back. Do not have an ordinary scrape blade to test if the back of one with a reverse curve will work. Might be better or not work at all? Still photo below is the same pile after moving quite a distance and slightly more compacted than at the end of the video.

Anne Miller wrote:I see no benefit of making compact brush rolls in a hugel though if it works for you then that is great.

Or is that an experiment waiting to happen ...

Experiment in progress since early spring. Rather ambitious and unusual Hugel in other ways besides possibly including a bunch of brush. If I decide to not include brush or just do a tiny test section will drag out the hose and burn most of it October 1st when the summer burn ban ends. Bio char and ash are good too.

The compacting involves a tractor and box scrape. Video below is worst case scenario since that pile was mostly tree limbs with no sticker vines or feral pear trees with thorns. And on smooth hard ground, rough ground such as a gravel drive and it would have started rolling much faster.

Thank you both! Had to look up "Brash" in this context, new one on me. Yes, some tree brash but mostly privet hedge and feral pair trees that have been popping up everywhere since a neighbor planted Bradford's:-( Logs are mostly pine since on the rare occasion a hardwood dies it gets scarfed up for firewood long before it starts to rot. We use some pine for kindling but never keep up with the supply.

Anyone interested in a way to compact brush into a roll? Discovered it by accident last winter, does require a driveway maintenance tool some folks already have.

Other than the extra work of covering it with dirt, is there any reason to not mix some brush with the logs? Searched a bit here and did not find much on this, did find mentions that chips rot too fast. (And the thread about chippers being evil.) Brush should fall in between in how fast they rot, perhaps even closer to logs if the brush is fresh and the logs already partially decayed.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:
Sir, I consider myself a Country Gentleman, and as such I do not consort with Hoes.

Nods, unless they are mortar mixing Hoes;-)