Peter Zeen

Hi Leslie,

very cool initiative you're running! I am very interested in rocket mass heaters myself and plan to build one down the line but it's not on the plate right now. There will be a workshop soon on building nomadic (improvised) rocket heaters - if you're still around it might be interesting to check it out:

https://fb.me/e/2lCsg7Mhc

I'm about an hour and a half drive away from Velence. Not sure I can be of any help with your current project but if you're interested I'd be up for connecting!

All the best,

Peter

Hey Anna,

I'd be happy to connect and help if I can!  I emailed you and wonder if the message went through?  Please let me know on here or via email.

Hope to hear from you

Peter

Anna Julia Lake wrote:hi again,

I am writing as I have decided to try to buy land in Hungary. Could I ask you for advice?

I speak Hungarian reasonably well (my mum is Hungarian) and have lived there (in Budapest) and want to finally move back to live as off grid as I can.

If you could email me or message me here. My email is AnnaLeBarillec@protonmail.com

Koszonom!

Anna

John C Daley wrote:I have 4 hectares in Australia, its what we call lizard country because its poor quality soils. And the rainfall is about 500mm as well, so I use large tanks with about 65000L storage to get over droughts.
Is sounds idyllic, house and barn as well.
I would like to watch progress of the property if you get a chance, good luck with the companion!

What part of Australia? Have you been able to improve soil life since you've been on the land?

John C Daley wrote:I cannot help with the partner issues, but I am interested to know more about your block.
I take it the soil is arable?
What do you do for water and housing there, is the housing stone, timber etc?

Hey John,

The soil is loess -  most of the site has been grazed (cattle and horses) for 5-10 years, it is rather fertile, except for a portion that was (ab)used for industrial agriculture (growing corn I think) for years; that part has observably different vegetation and less humus.

The site is located in a valley, rainwater collects at the lowest parts where there are also several springs.  Ground water is at almost surface level, swampy after even minor rain events, making it ideal for establishing several connected ponds.  I have yet the observe what it's like after an extended dry period, though - July/August tends to be more and more dry in this climate (with occasional monsoon like rain events).  Rainwater catchment  is yet to be set up from the main building and the barn roofs, storing the 500mm of precipitation we get here on average is likely to cover most of the irrigation needs of the heavily mulched vegetable gardens.

The main house was built sometime in the last 5-8 years or so using bricks/modern building materials.  Timber and strawbale would be more ideal but it is well oriented with large windows to south so it has ample sun exposure.  

Hey Permies,

I figured I'd give this forum a go as it seems like a lovely congregation of people!

I recently bought a 4 hectares beautiful land in a cute little village in Hungary.  Recently graduated at Geoff Lawton's Permaculture Design Course and am excitedly turning the theory into practice on this property (whilst making all sorts of rookie mistakes, which is quite fun).  I live with a dog, a cat and a small flock of chickens who roam around the place.  A small herd of sheep, a few more chicks & ducks, maybe goats and definitely a donkey (for the entertainment) will follow.

In a previous life I used to work in technology, travelled a lot and lived the life of a digital nomad.  That indeed seems like a lifetime ago – very happy to have had the privilege to do it but I wouldn't go back from the self-sustaining quiet homesteader life.  To share the joys I am looking for a fellow (female) permy soul who loves growing food, watching the animals do their thing, and learning something new every day.  And laughing about the mistakes made in the process as that is rather important to grow ourselves.  It would be great if you had a green thumb as I must admit mine isn't quite as green as I'd like it to be one day.

Other than permaculture, I enjoy doing yoga, cooking, baking sourdough bread, listening to and making music (mostly psychedelic stuff; psy-chill and goa trance – used to play keyboards in a psychedelic post rock, also a lifetime ago).  I'm not religious in the traditional sense but certain buddhist practices are my way of keeping an optimistic outlook at life.

I'm single, no kids, 47, but most people still think I am 30 and that's how I feel, too.  

If this resonates please message me on here!

Have an awesome day everyone.

Peter