Mandie Garrett

Tim Ries, I am also in Arkansas zone 8a, in Logan County. If not too far, I like to collaborate with you on Biochar topic. At the present time, I have a local guy rig up a huge kiln like a round cone shape size 3ft bottom by 3ft tall and 6ft diameter round top. It's pretty big. It has handled on both sides and metal tubes at bottom for my husband's tractor to lift and dump once charcoal is done. My challenge is finding a way to crush charcoal on a huge volume. If I have to guess, probably a good 2 to 3 yards of charcoal. I have a woodchipper/leaves shredder that can handle about 3inch diameter wood branch but not sure if that will be enough. I need to try to see if it will work. I am new to Permies site and not sure how to post pictures but will try. If you want to contact me, please send email to "fitnesstohealth@gmail.com. Thank you.

Arkansas, zone 7b. May I ask where you get your 2500 gallon tank? Your property is so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Mandie, Logan County, AR, zone 7b; Have 60 acres total but would like to start keyline about 20 acres. We have been looking for someone who is in AR or close to AR with this kind of implements. It's too expensive for us to buy but maybe perhaps we can rent so if anyone can help in any way, please reach out to me (email: fitnesstohealth@gmail.com. We have big vision/goals that will benefit us and our community but having some challenges in finding resources to assist with what we are trying to accomplish. Thank you.

Hi Michael;
Sorry, I have not been on this site for a while, thinking that no one would respond...also have been busy with organizing from our move from TX. We live in the foot of Mt. Magazine so it's about an hour from us. It has been officially 5 months since we moved and so far the experience has been great...considering we don't have farm experience much less living in the country. I am guessing we were "mentally" ready and prepared for this kind of life.   We still have a lot of work to be done on this land. We have big goal/vision for these 6 acres of land but we will start small and learn along the way. We made some progress but not where I wanted us to be. Right now, we live in a temporary living quarters(13 by 40ft) inside a metal shop...while we plan to built our house. We got so excited in planning to built our house till we got couple of builder out and both of them said, the price of the wood went up really high due to the fluctuation of city people moving to country and everyone wants to built house with wood...well, at least that's what it seems like. My husband's dream is a cottage/cabin type of home. So, looks like our future home will have to wait for couple of years...at least hopefully, the price of woods will come down a bit. Not sure if new presidency has anything to do with it...well, maybe it does, because the turmoil in the city cause people to move out to the rural area. Either way, we still love it here and making the best of the situation. Since we are about an hour from big city like Fort Smith, Russellville, etc..., makes it hard to rent equipment.  We already bought 75HP Massy Ferguson and it's a beast. It is huge and very intimidating trying to learn how to operating this beast. I am petite, only 5'1", so very tough for me to operate. My husband mostly the one who uses it but he is working week days and only able to use it on weekend while it just sits there most of the time. Also, what we didn't know that now we know but it's too late...is we get lots of rain here. So far, it just rained and rained. The stat said we get about 40" rain per year and about 60 days of no rain...which be around August, I will believe it when I see it...LOL. So we can't use the tractor when it's raining because rain makes the ground soft and it digs into the soil, making a dip at least a foot thru out our land...so it just park in our poll barn most of the time. This is something we didn't know about and no one told us...oh well, like they said, experience is the best teacher and sometime it's the most expensive teacher...ha!
Well, I will end it here as I have more to tell but it's way too long and don't want to bore you with it..hehe. If you want, you can email me, that way I will get your message much faster as I don't get on here very often but if you want to continue on here, that's will be fine too. I would like to hear your life history of your place, what you do with the land, etc.... Everyone has stories to tell and I believe that's how we all learn...is when we all share our experiences. Thank you. Email: fitnesstohealth@gmail.com

Awesome Glen. Thank you.

Thanks Glen. WOW...looks really nice. Not exactly sure the measurement of your greenhouse, maybe you did mentioned it somewhere in the post. I will have to go back and reread it. I am planning to build a 20' X 40' with about 13 to 16' tall and maybe more since I want to grow some tropical fruit trees like papaya, coconut trees (may have to get a dwarf kind as they grow pretty tall).  Do you think a greenhouse with that measurement will be ok with the heavy wind and snow if I use similar plan structure like yours?...OR I may have to change some things due to the size?

As far as the color of those 2 posts, for me, I would paint them white if I were to have everything inside white.

Thank you so much for your time and kindness for sharing your talents with us:)

Hi Glenn, Location: Magazine AR, zone 7. Thank you for sharing your greenhouse build with us. I have been doing lots of research for a greenhouse that will work in my area as we get a very strong wind and also to withstand a heavy snow storm which we just got couple of days ago. So would you say the structure of your greenhouse will withstand strong wind such as 50 to 70 MPH? Thanks again.

Hello, Location: Magazine AR, zone 7...new to this site. Thank  you for all your input on the greenhouse. We want to build one but still in researching stage on what kind/type, material, location on our land, etc...so many things to consider...and still have not come together in the final decision yet.  Not sure how difficult to built a 20 X 40 greenhouse. We want to build it ourselves to save some money but then we have never done this and perhaps, might be better to have professional/contractor build it for us...like I said, the more we think about it, the more question we have, any advise is much appreciated. Thanks.

Hi everyone, permie here. Almost finish my online PDC course (WITHOUT certification)...with School of Permaculture by Nicholas Burtner in TX . I just want to learn the basic so I can start practicing permaculture concept for our 60 acres we bought in Magazine AR. I know I am far away from everyone but would be nice to have connection with perma folks in NWA area. We moved from Fort Worth and arrived in AR as of Nov. 2020. We are in our 50's and never too late to get started...lol. At this point, we are staying in a temporary living quarter out of a huge shop. We plan to built our house, greenhouse, etc...on these 60 acres....so yes, we will need help from the more experience folks. That's why I am on here reaching out to everyone. I think someone mentioned a facebook of permaculturist out of Fayetteville area. I may check it there. Please chime in and say "hi", would love to hear from ya.