Thekla McDaniels

Oh yeah!  That’s a beauty!  I wouldn’t mind having a similar one !

Post a photo after the blocking is done!  I am really curious!

There is a fascinating (shocking, even) recount in Intelligent Gardener by Steve Solomon of dietary deficiencies developed from his family eating primarily from their very composted humus rich garden soil.

It’s not that I don’t support the idea of humus and compost improving soil fertility and productiveness.  I very much do, but IMO it’s just not the whole story.  

I also add clay to fine sand based soil.

Hi Kees, so sorry you are having so many frustrations.  It’s been a year now that you’ve been working on getting a rocket stove hasn’t it?

There’s so much that goes into a wood stove, and so much more for a rocket stove.

I wonder if you want to look into buying plans for a riser-less rocket stove from Matt Walker.  He has several designs.

https://walkerstoves.com/shop/

When I finally get the support built, I plan to use one of Matt’s plans inside my house.  I don’t think I could live with the frustration you have endured.  Matt’s planns tell you brick by brick exactly how to build, and I think he has a good track record and possibly a good guarantee.

The rocket stove is complex, and you started with complex modifications.  

As hard as you have worked, I really hope you finally get a nice rockety rocket! And SOON. Good luck!

I did sew on a treadle singer at some point in my childhood.  I thought it was great…  In the 50s people were getting rid of so many classic machines for the modern new things, for the industrialized post war experience….

A treadle on a sewing machine can be used as a power source for any number of other things.

When I read the original post I was fooled.  I thought it was a case of not understanding all the various kinds of sewing done by different machines🤣.  Was tempted to step in and “splain” there are sergers and hemmers, “baby lock, blind stitch and zig zags  and so on.

I wonder if gathering up sewing machines is similar to growing heritage breeds of plants and animals, to bring them through this crazy fit of destruction and deliver them to a future where they may be appreciated once again…. In case just wanting beautiful old things was not justification enough.

Or, like me, after I finished with academia, I have gathered up “old” skills such as cheesemaking, spinning, weaving, dyeing, gardening including propagation and seed saving, culling livestock to develop a landrace perfect for my set up… herbal remedies and preparations.

A rough unprotected childhood of being exploited enhanced my desires to not be dependent on anyone for anything!  And then Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring.  After I read it I was convinced that one dare not rely on experts.  It was then I decided to study biology.  I got a basic explanation of how things work, what all needs to be considered, etc, and I have been questioning just about everything anyone says ever since!😊

Sounds elegant and lovely.  My first thought, or something to try if blocking is a bust: a decorative patch of some kind.

Maybe steaming would shrink the fiber without melting it.

Another possible strategy would be running stitch on the back side, then gathering?

And another thought,(my mind just keeps pumping out options!) what if you put it in the dryer with a moist towel?

I hope something works 😊

I’m storing firewood in the greenhouse this winter.

This year it’s because hail knocked holes in the polycarbonate glazing and I haven’t repaired it yet.  Just tied an old tarp over it, then chicken wire over the tarp to keep the tarp from flapping/ self destructing in the wind.  (Whick is working well for now.

It might be that I will continue the practice.  I don’t imagine using it all as growing space.

The wood is mass, and may also temper the swings in humidity.

Wood that has been in the snow I dry before burning.  I never knew standing it on its end speeds the drying, though.  Thanks for that bit!

Understanding CEC is crucial!

I used to prefer sandy soils because they didn’t stick to my shoes…  Pure clay has the potential to become rich loam, which sandy soils will never match.  Of course a blend is nice.

I would like to mention the book “The Intelligent Gardener” by Steve Solomon.  That’s where I learned about CEC, about soil pH and how it affects nutrient availability to plants.  Living in the arid and alkaline and dry west, I was so glad to learn this, as well as soil testing and the futility of chasing lower soil pH.

I bet it’s available second hand from online book resellers for very little 😊.

Solomon founded Territorial Seed Company.  Later sold it.  He also tells of his experiences with soil amendment through large amounts of compost, the health challenges of his family, and how they were alleviated by an extended trip to a region with mineral rich volcanic soils, and eating the food from that soil.

It’s really truly worth reading.

What possibilities these trenches suggest!  I WANT one😊

My 6 acres of sheep pasture slope gently NE.  (Northern hemisphere ) This is good for stone fruits that can flower too early, and the fruit is then often lost to a late frost.  The sunward facing slope warms earlier, and dries out faster.

I am trying to figure out how I would shape a trench, and what orientation towards the sun would be best.

I wanted to build an earth sheltered house, but couldn’t figure that out, and now it’s the same question, including how to prevent flooding the trench when I irrigate, or from runoff.  My irrigation water comes to the highest corner of my property, in limited amounts for 3 or 4 day periods.

But this level of puzzle is a great anti dementia activity!

It’s great to put waste glass to use.  I think we need to aim for less waste glass.  In the 50’s the no deposit no return glass beverage bottles had not been invented, or introduced.  The bottles were more substantial.  You paid a deposit on every bottle- I think many states require a fee for the bottles and cans when you but a beverage- but prior to the disposable bottles, you got your deposit back when you returned the bottle.  The same truck that delivered the full product bottles took the empties which were cleaned and refilled.  It was a workable system, just less convenient for the producers.

But it was wonderful for kids because we could collect bottles from the roadside to get a little pocket money.  (to go buy a nickel candy bar😁) The bottles were substantial enough that they seldom broke, even when thrown from a car at highway speeds.