Jill Dyer

Ooh - this could make twinkly bird deterrents. . . on string, blowing in the breeze.  For plant markers I use the wooden sticks from ice confections (sometimes they are used as coffee stirrers).

Afraid so!   Quartered sheets of the Radio Times on a string in the outside toilet, which often froze in the winter.  Also the interleaved sheets of shiny "not fit for purpose"  resembling today's baking paper. I can't remember how old I was when "proper" toilet paper made an appearance.  Covid lockdown initiated serious thinking on the subject when the supermarket shelves emptied and/or the rolls were rationed, especially since we are connected to a septic tank system.

My asparagus was started with crowns and took 3 years to establish.
All well until we had a fire came through.  Most plants escaped damage, so I moved them closer to the house.  Another 2 years to come back to harvesting size stalks. In the meantime, through human agency and the birds several plants have come up elsewhere. . . Since I didn't see them until they were at the fern stage, no idea yet if maturity has been reached.   If plants are where they aren't wanted then they are "Weeds" and given the transplanting experience, I don't think they should be too hard to eradicate.  Best of Luck.

Or maybe a rattle made by filling a dried gourd with seeds?

asked Christopher Weeks
Short answer only if you agree to pay to have it irradiated* to kill any potential hitch-hiking pests and/or diseases. No exceptions.
*gamma radiation

Hello Christopher I've found https://www.edenseeds.com.au/ helpful and also my friend swears by:-
https://www.diggers.com.au/collections/australian-heirloom  and I've also dealt with:-
https://allrareherbs.com.au/  mostly for dye plant seeds.  Actual plants may be a problem, because the internal regulations get in the way once again - "not shipped to WA or Tasmania"  etc. but packets of seeds should be OK. Even "Mr Fothergills" seeds have heirloom and organic varieties.

I just read the Goofy Weather Swings post and can't quite believe what folks in the North have to live with.  We experience quick changes in temperature when a cold front hustles through - but nothing like those really dramatic fluctuations.  We have had Oh S**T it's raining mud, does that count?
Anyway I feel bad now having to confess that I just add an extra layer -
T-shirt/hoodie + padded vest.   Rain jacket maybe the third layer if needed to keep a fierce wind out.

Daily check of news from the world of Archaeology -
https://archaeology.org/news/2025/12/11/roman-concrete-ingredients-at-pompeii-analyzed/
and I vaguely remember that the sea shells were heated/burned to produce the quick lime.
When our large concrete water tank sprung a leak, the "solution" recommended was a substance called Krystol, painted onto the inside (yes all the water had to be transferred or perish the thought, wasted) but it worked.  It is something that's used on underground carparks that start to bleed water.

Beans removed from the pods - dried - then cooked, and the tough skins removed. A bit of a challenge, but possible, then 'meat' pureed and turned into a dip like hummus - add garlic, tahini and lemon juice.
Nice also made with fresh beans to make a lovely green spread.

In the UK my mother would start "early" seeds in a cold-frame - which is basically a small scale greenhouse with no powered heating.  A frame of wood, or bricks, placed in a very sunny spot with a pane of glass on the top.  Not too big, or it gets hard to lift the glass to water seedlings.
Hopefully you have enough sunny days in the Pacific Wet Coast.  I have heard that it can be Very Wet!

My folks used to make elderflower (and elderberry) wine.  Flowers or berries simmered and strained off,  liquid decanted into a large bowl from a Victorian jug and bowl bathroom set,  slice of toast, spread with yeast floated on the top, covered with a cloth and left to ferment. I don't remember how long this took - but I remember the result being strained thro' cheesecloth and then bottled.  Then left on the cellar steps to mature. Opened at Christmas.