John Craig

I have made sour dough breads on and off for a quite a few years. I keep two starters in my fridge and feed them when I remember. If I forget for a while, no problem, they have always restarted fermentation when feed. I only make whole wheat starter, as I like it better than white flour starter. I have a Nutramill and grind my own whole wheat flour. The reason I keep two starters is that my recipe uses a large starter and I don't want to have to wait to build a large amount if the notion strikes me to get baking some bread.

I tried peanuts a few years ago, and the plants that the chipmunks allowed to sprout grew well. However, when I went to dig up the new peanuts, I discovered that the chipmunks had beaten me to them. If you want to grow them, but have chipmunks or squirrels, you are going to need a way to keep them out of your patch

I have mostly raised garden beds for my vegetables. I don't till perse, but use a broad fork to loosen the soil in spring, after moving the winter mulch, then add composted manure and what compost I have. I plant and replace the mulch. Seems to be working well for me, as I have heavy clay soil under about 6 inches of topsoil.

Jordan, finding good quality fire brick can be difficult.

Pottery Supply stores will stock insulating fire brick. Many foundry suppliers will stock hard hi temp bricks. Sometimes farrier supply stores also stock firebrick.  I suggest that you do an internet search for these businesses near you.

John

I have planted large perennial gardens in the front and back of my property to attract pollinators, be they butterflies, insects, or bees or wasps, and  many plants that provide for birds during the growing season(for humming birds), insects for birds, and seed pods for overwintering birds. I provide bird seed and suet during the winter, and have birds feeding throughout the winter. By feeding the birds, I also am providing food prey for hawks, and the occasional young bald eagle, that  come to my back yard in search of prey. Unfortunately, the hawks and eagle haven't feasted on my abundant squirrel population!

One of my most useful tools is my broad fork.  I have a smaller one that fits perfectly in my raised beds. I used to dig my beds with a long handled shovel, but find the broad fork to be way more ergonomic and helps to loosen the soil, without destroying all the micoryseal network.  Does the job in half the time and better for the soil profile.
The second most useful, is the hoop hoe. At 75 yrs bending isn't what it  was cracked up to be. For me, the hoop hoe beats the standard hoe hands down. It is light, sharp, and maneuverable. I don't destroy the plants I want to keep, as I plant more intensively than most row Gardeners.

My response to the issue of splitting wood is to build a spring assist log splitter likethr one shown. Mine should be completed by end of summer 2024.

T. blankenship, thanks for the great video and pictures of your build.  Congratulations on being an oven rocketeer!  It looks as though your rocket oven is in a covered area.  If you decide to move it out into the elements, you will need to seal your cob realy well.
My outdoor oven's cob was sealed with waterproofing compound. This spring I noticed that there was some flaking of the cob. Apparently I hadn't sealed it well enough.
My solution was to spray flex seal on the cob, and it seems to have made it weather proof. Time will tell!

Yes please share your video when it is done. We are such a visual culture that seeing it, may inspire others to see in themselves the ability to make a rocket barrel oven for themselves.  Making good progress on yours. The big issue for those not retired is finding the time when we can to keep at it.