Da Bearded1

Spock wrote:

Offering three blade lenghts 90, 60 and 40 cm long (1 cm = 2.54 inches),

Your conversion is backwards, it's 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

David 'DaBearded1' Wise

They are not totally harmless, as I have seen them dining on my strawberries.  And there are reports of them eating sprouting seedlings.

David 'DabeardedOne' Wise

A tribble with dreadlocks!

South Carolina wrote:
Vela, I am very intrigued by your wicking bed.  I looked at a number of your pics and links.

I have a kiddie pool that I think could be put to good use in this manner if I sink it a bit.  Might also help with the dreaded voles.  Two questions:

1. The bottom of the wicking bed does not appear to have holes – am I correct that this should be water tight?

2. I couldn’t figure out the white pipe sticking up that it attached to the black pipe that runs along the bottom (it’s purpose might be obvious but humor me – I’m slow).

I also like the ease of attaching netting over the top; I could just as easily cover with plastic in the winter – we don’t have much of a winter here so I only need a little protection

Yes, the they are watertight.  The idea is to create a reservoir of water that the plants can access between waterings.
The white pipe is the fill pipe, where you put the water.  You could put a light stick on a bit of foam in there to gauge the water level, adding water only when its down.

David Wise, Dabearded1
   

I recommend Root Cellaring - Natural Cold Storage of Fruit and Vegetables by Mike and Nancy Bubel.

http://www.amazon.com/Root-Cellaring-Natural-Storage-Vegetables/dp/0882667033/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308970787&sr=1-1

They have many examples of cellars of different types, even a few that failed.  There are lists of the foods the can be stored in a cellar and the different conditions they need.  Also recipes to use the stored food in.  Good Book.

Another is Build your Own Underground Root Cellar By Phillis Hobson.  This is one of the Storey County Wisdom Bulletins.  It contains material list and step by step instructions to build a 12 X 8 Ft cellar.

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-underground-Root-Cellar/dp/0882662902/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308970787&sr=1-3

David Wise, DaBearded1

To grow Potatoes you can save some of this years to use as seed.  Use some that are tennis ball sized that are uninjured ( no nicks or bruises) and have 3 or 4 eyes.

Here is a link to a blog/video that shows how to raise the slips to grow sweet potatoes.

http://engineeredgarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/growing-your-own-sweet-potato-slips.html

Covering with mulch is for potatoes only not sweets.   What you are doing with the mulch is the same as hilling the potato plants.  Most late potato varieties will grow potatoes from the stem as the plant is buried.

David Wise, DaBearded1   

Cider Press !!  Actually the grinder that is used to crush the apples prior to pressing. 

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://static.squidoo.com/resize/squidoo_images/590/draft_lens7091962module58279122photo_1260592240antique-cider-press2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.inetgiant.com/AdDetails/antique-cider-press/3047004&usg=__2aUUKQ8c0tsD38SxQAEHhL5zJxY=&h=300&w=450&sz=26&hl=en&start=5&zoom=1&tbnid=x8t2Bd25nhPzZM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&ei=lbgCTunnCIy4sQOYn5j4Aw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcider%2Bpress%2Bpictures%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3D4Yw%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1241%26bih%3D895%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&biw=1241&bih=895

Dave Wise, DaBearded1

I would Hugelculture it.  Burning would kill the bugs (if any) but would release most of the nutrients to the atmosphere.  It appears to be to old to grow mushrooms on, it probably as many fungus spore already.  So... options 1 or 2.

Dave Wise, DaBearded1
 

Here is the Bio on Mr. Smit that is on TED.com.

http://www.ted.com/speakers/willie_smits.html

Before you clear the weeds, you should read this http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/weeds/WeedsToC.html .  Some of the ideas have been superseded but the main idea is pure permaculture.

Dave "DaBearded1" Wise