Nancy Reading

Kate Downham wrote:I am not quite sure what to make of the OP’s claim that tiny solar electrical systems will leave you “very disappointed, cold, hungry, and in the dark.”. IMO it’s never a wise idea to rely on solar electrical for cooking or heating. There are way more efficient ways to heat and cook, using homegrown wood, solar passive design, or electricity-free solar cooking.

I thought this too (and I'd still go for wood heat in my circumstances) but 'Maximus Ironthumper' apparently uses electricity for hot water, cooking, and a few appliances quite successfully in the UK with a moderate PV array and battery banks video link off this thread. I've been looking into it a bit, since using the hot water as a useful load dump for the excess PV could be an alternative to batteries or grid feed-in in summer.

I love how if you get things right nature does all the hard work for you! I'm planning on letting Angelica (plant) dig and clear some of my new garden beds next year

Jay Angler wrote:How do you use brush as mulch without chipping it first?

Or (fire precautions allowing) a big brush pile Here's my examples : https://permies.com/t/264888/Brush-pile-garden-bed-creation and there's a BB for that: https://permies.com/wiki/108150/pep-animal-care/Brush-Pile-PEP-BB-animal#884510

nathan luedtke,
I have merged your topic into this topic. I hope that helps.

I merged your stuff with the following thread. I hope that is okay by you.

paul wheaton wrote:I want people to not burn brush.  That organic matter is a brutally valuable resource.  Transform that material into hugelkultur, rocket mass heater fuel, mulch (but without a chipper), junk pole fence ...   there are dozens of good uses.  Better uses.  

Or if you are going to burn it, turn most of it into biochar at the least....

Congratulations on achieving plums (and pears!)

Hmm, I can see that's going to be tricky - not least to avoid damaging the branches you want to keep. I've heard that cherries and plums are better pruned in early summer when they are in active growth, but I don't think that applies to the remedial pruning you need here. I think you'll need to prune back the smaller branches enough to get access to the centre, but I'm worried that you'll end up with a big wound that will be difficult for the tree to heal and as Nynke suggested will lead to a weak crotch.

What is the flow rate? As it is a low head I wonder whether a ram pump may work for you.

Day 4 update:
Temperatures still 16/22 deg C
The jars are still looking good, the one I removed the floaters from is not growing them back. The other had just a wee scummy patch which I scooped off.

I had a taste! The brine is getting sweeter and seems to be less salty, I could see this getting rather yummy! The rutabaga just taste like raw neeps still. Will they get less crunchy as they ferment? They are pretty firm in texture.

Hi Gordon - have a look at this thread There are various strategies to improve the digestibility of sunroots, including letting your gut adapt to them gradually.