Nancy Reading

Here's a resource on biomass possibilities from trees.


At present they have only developed an app for the UK, but maybe in time will expand to cover more of the world. The free version gave reasonable results for me.

I had a lovely trip round the Isle of Skye on the Waverley, what is thought to be the worlds only ocean going paddle steamer.


image source

The boilers are oil fired, and she has a triple expansion steam engine. Interestingly she dates from the late 1940s, so even in her time was becoming archaic. The outboard paddles make her stable in high seas, and her shallow draught and manouverability practical for navigating coastal waters.


Anyway it was a super way of sightseeing, and when we got cold on deck we could warm up by going down to the engine rooms and listen to the songs of the pistons.

That's a good point John - focus on what you're doing: something that is meaningful, but not stressful. I find knitting or cross stitch embroidery also fit the bill. Jigsaw puzzles, although less useful perhaps, exercise the brain in a peaceful way that can really help with healing thoughts, rather than stress contributing thoughts.

Rico Loma wrote:One caveat on oil changes that leaves me a wee bit skeptical: synthetic 10k miles or one year, whichever comes first.  Yes, viscosity is degraded somewhat by time, but it's hard to buy old school oil anymore so.....
I make my own tiny stickers on the window after my driveway oil changes, just to be sure of timing. Your opinion?

I think that's what my hubby does if possible. Lower mileage often means shorter journeys which are harder on the engine. Most of our engines are older, and I'm not sure he uses synthetic oils. Some engines are more notorious for needing more frequent oil changes. If I ever get my Range Rover back on the road that V8 cooks it's oil, so 3000 miles or one year on that I should think.

David Nightingale wrote:  Is weeding the garden a form of meditation?

Funnily enough this came up on my firefox click bait links this morning (and got me!) - about 'super-agers'  and how important managing stress is to longevity: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/health/a71335818/superagers-how-to-destress/ The author spent time in Okinawa Japan, which is reknowed for it's long lived inhabitants.
As well as gardening daily

Gardening requires a sufficient amount of physical activity, so it’s a great way to get daily movement while also shedding stress.

they also suggested getting a dose of morning sun to reset your body clock, develop a laid back rather than rushing about, and being part of your community in person not online.

I bought asparagus seed to plant this year and was also given some from a local lady who collected them from her plant. I sowed them in 'seed snails' on the windowsill, so maybe 15 deg C with a little overnight fluctuation, but not too cool. The local seed germinated really well, the bought seed not at all. Maybe the store bought seed has higher dormancy and would need vernalisation, but fresh seed was fantastic.

Hi Karen, I think Joao has given you good advice. I think your elderberry is just too happy. I often get strong new growth broken off the main shrub though, so I don't know if cutting it back will help a great deal. You could try cutting it back half in length in summer, so that the growth is shorter overall. It sounds like it would be an ideal woody chop and drop plant for you for generating biomass.

Thom Bri wrote:I am getting 50-60 bushel/acre using open-pollinated seed with no added fertilizer. Northern Illinois. Conventional ag can produce 200 bushel/acre of corn here.

Am I right thinking you get other crops from the same space though Thom, you have a three (plus) sisters plot going on?