Diane Emerson

Now that it has been identified as Aegopodium podograria, I have some info on how to get rid of it.  The roots run for a very long way, and all parts of the root must be removed or it will sprout again from the remaining root pieces. Here is the trick to getting rid of it: If you cover it with 4-6 inches of wood chips, the roots will migrate up close to the surface of the wood chips after a few months. Once that happens, you can easily pull 20 feet of root at a time up through the wood chips. I have successfully removed this plant from a client's garden this way.

One can also sheet mulch the area if nothing needs to be saved there.

Also, like any variegated plant, sometimes the variegated version of this plant, which is frequently planted in gardens, will revert to the plain green form. And yes indeed, once they do that, they take over.  So if you have an variegated bishop's weed, keep an eye on it and quickly dig out any plants that revert to plain green.

Here is Bob Vila, on how to make a great gravel driveway:
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-make-a-gravel-driveway/

Great ideas on this thread! Here is a poem by my friend Phil Knight. I have this posted in our laundry room.

Ode to a Sock
Phil Knight

I did a wash yesterday. Today I’m grieving.

Oh sock, you were my favorite
You and your mate
Fitting the foot so comfortably
Your worth I cannot estimate
A friend you were to me
Why then, my friend
Did you decide to flee?
You were in the basket
I saw you in the basket
I know you were in the basket
When I put you in the wash
But after the drying was done
You chose to run
But where?
But why?
Why have you left your mate
All alone?
Are you somewhere
In the Twilight Zone?
I sit here grieving
Everyone misses you
Especially the shoe
Shit.

Ryan M Miller wrote:I wonder if anyone has tried to compost humanure in a suburban environment..

. We are in what could be called a suburban environment, and our system works fine.  When we empty the compost toilet, we put it into a holding bin where it ages for another year or two. Because of the wood shavings  or sawdust we use, it doesn't smell, even when taking it out of the house, so there is nothing to attract attention. When we empty the holding bin and spread the compost on our trees and shrubs, it is beautiful stuff.  I do wear bright yellow rubber gloves when doing this, so that might raise an eyebrow. But doing it early in the morning, or wearing clear latex gloves, would take care of that potential problem.  They never need know.

VISIBILITY and SAFETY
I have been riding as my main form of transportation since 2007, and have owned a heavy electric bike, and now am very happy with a light e-bike kit conversion.  Being seen is being safe, and I have not had a road accident yet. Here is what I think keeps me safe:

1. My LED reflective vest from Maxsa Innovations: https://www.maxsainnovations.com/reflective-safety-vest-with-16-led-lights/.  Currently available on eBay for $21 including shipping. ( I never buy from Amazon). The lights are on the sides, as well as the front and back. I ride with them flashing, and several times over the years cars have pulled over or stopped on the road and the driver has thanked me for wearing it, and wished all cyclists would wear one.  Runs on 2 AA batteries, and lasts a long time if you don't stuff it into a bag and break the wires. I wear this vest on every ride.  Wearing it during the day comes in handy if I need to stop and get some obstruction off the road (most often a dead animal, but sometimes a big branch, or something that fell off a truck. It looks so official, you see, and motorists see me.

2. My flash flag, 18 inch long that sticks out into traffic, and really keeps the cars a safe distance away. Even an inch or two helps a lot!  The wonderful former Canadian Mountie, Terry Smith,  who created and sold these has retired, and no one has picked up the business. I bought a bunch of them when he was closing down, so should have a lifetime supply now. $30 on eBay right now, including shipping.  This flag has a clip and a spring so you can easily bend it out of the way and clip it to your bike frame when riding on a trail, or walking it on a sidewalk, or bringing the bike in and out of a building.  I know it works to keep me safe because some days I forget to unclip the flag, and wonder why the cars are coming so close to me all of a sudden. Then I realize my flag is not out there helping them to keep their distance!  Here is Terry's valuable guidance to being safe after sunset: http://www.safetyaftersunset.com

3. My mirror: I have tried many mirrors over the years. The handlebar mirrors get smashed when the bike falls over. The helmet mirrors vibrate too much, they are too small, and they need constant adjusting as my helmet shifts on my head. I am delighted to report that I have found my best mirror yet: The Bell SMARTVIEW 300 UNIVERSAL WIDE ANGLE BIKE / BICYCLE MIRROR • FULLY ADJUSTABLE.  Available right now on eBay for $20, including shipping. I love being able to glance down any time and see what is going on behind me.

4. My helmet, with attachment options for front and rear lights.  I first saw a helmet like this in Portland, Oregon, and loved how the cyclists were more visible with that back light so high up, so I bought one. When riding at night,  I love having both a  light on the front of my helmet, and a second one on the handlebars. My helmet light lets me see what obstacles might be in the way on the side of the shoulder, and further ahead. I can even use it to help drivers realize they should dim their headlights to keep from blinding me. The Blackburn Flea lights that came with the helmet are no longer being made, but there are other lights out there now that can be attached to a helmet.

5. Riding without sunglasses.  I make firm eye contact with drivers who are about to pull out into the road, so they know I am there, or at intersections, etc.  Even then, sometimes they pull out anyway. That seems to happen in the mornings, when people are heading to work and are totally on auto pilot.

6. I never, ever ride with earphones. I want to hear what is going on around me at all times.

7. My small wind chimes. A friend gave me a small set of wind chimes (metal, 3-4 inches long), in 2008, when I was living a nomadic life, and only had my tent and bike. I couldn't hang them on my round tent, so I put them on my bike. They are still there, and have saved me at least once from being 'doored'. I was riding along a row of parked cars on a busy street in the summer, and just after I passed a car a man called out to me: "Hey, I almost opened my door into you, but I heard your wind chimes!"  Wow. They also help me avoid accidents with pedestrians up ahead of me, when riding on a path or on a shared road shoulder, because they can hear me coming. When riding with other cyclists, they can hear if I am still with them. The sound is gentle, pleasant, and always there.

8. Turn signals. I just bought these, and have only used them once, so can't really say how well they are at keeping me safe. But I need to make a left hand turn onto my street, from the 50mph curvy highway near my home, and drivers can't see my arm sticking out there at night if I am sitting stopped on the highway waiting for a chance to turn left.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when I make that turn safely - day or night.

Tyler Ludens wrote:I don't want to purchase wood shavings for composting toilet, so I'd like to know if leaves and forest duff, of which I have plenty, is a good substitute.  Is there a particular reason people use shavings, or is it just convenience and aesthetics?  Are leaves not sufficiently absorbent?

Thanks for any insight.

I tried using forest duff and old crumbly tree stumps in our composting toilet for a few months. Not good. We had so many flies and spiders and other creepy crawlies in our bathroom, and it didn't smell good.  Once we switched to wood shavings or sawdust, the smell, the flies, all went away.  We can still get ours free. You might want to put the word out in your community that you are looking for wood shavings or sawdust. We get ours from a friend who does a lot of woodworking. Hope you can find some too. They work great!

Welcome, Joe, to Permies! So glad you are here on this forum.  I read a previous edition of your book, have a SunMar composting toilet which is working beautifully 15 years on, with no smell, no flies.
I am very much looking forward to reading the latest edition.  
We need to do more Humanure, and less sewage sludge composting. Smaller, decentralized systems are the way to go for sustainability.

From The Spruce:https://www.thespruceeats.com/making-nocino-walnut-liqueur-2020552

"Nocino is a complex, nutty, and slightly bitter dark-brown liqueur that is usually served as an after-dinner digestivo. Nocino can also be used to “correct” a shot of espresso (espresso with a shot of liquor is called a "caffè corretto," or "corrected coffee"), poured over gelato, mixed into cocktails, or used in place of vanilla extract in baking, especially when making biscotti."

Being a locavore, I love the idea that it can be used in place of vanilla extract. Vanilla orchids are rare here in Cascadia....

A friend gave me some  seeds from a thin-shelled black walnut developed in New York state 5 years ago. They are growing well. Once they start making nuts, I will use some for Nocino, for sure, as my husband is half Italian, and enjoys making all kinds of extracts like this. Yay!

Julie Reed wrote:Holy cow Diane! That’s some expensive gravel! From your numbers, that’s just over 40 yards. Maybe in your area it costs that much, but 3/4 minus is usually around $10/yd, which would be $400 for the gravel itself. I realize you have delivery, raking and compacting, but that’s still not much trucking (4 trips) and labor (1/2 day maybe?) for the additional $2600. Might be worth getting a second price?

Oh yes, it is very expensive here.  It is an island only accessible by ferry, and I want the gravel to come from on-island to support our local community.  And I am working on getting 3 bids, but so far, this is the only one that has come in.

Henry Jabel wrote:I vote for more gravel. Of all my customers the drives with 6" of gravel hardly needs any weeding, compared to others which need reweeding every month or so during the growing season. By the time you factor in your time and money buying and applying spray etc several times a year in the long run more gravel is really the sensible option.

Personally I find the flame weeding rather slow and while the vinegar does work it is less effective when it rains, which can happen almost any time in England!

Thank you for sharing your experience with the deep gravel. I suspected that was the case. When I researched creating gravel driveways from scratch, what I found was exactly that: really deep gravel!   I think people cut costs, and put down the minimum, and then sprayed Roundup to keep them clean.  I just got a bid in on 3 inches of 5/8 inch minus (with the fines included) for $3000, for around 4480 square feet, including compacting.  If this can keep the driveway pretty free of weeds for even 2 years, it would be cost effective, compared to hiring a team of folks to spray, hoe, or flame every couple of weeks in our very long growing season. Teams here charge $30 an hour per person.

In saying that, if the canvas works, that would be the cheapest solution of all, even if you have to buy a new heavy duty canvas tarp every year, at $60 for one 10 by 12 foot tarp.