Samantha Lewis

Jen Anderson wrote:Can you use ash instead of sawdust???  That I have a lot of!

Hello Jen!


We just had a webinar on willow feeders and someone asked that very question.  

I believe the answer was:
You can build a willow feeder and use only ash.  It will safely and effectively manage your poop.   Ashes and wood shavings behave differently in the bin.  Either one will work but you cannot use both in the same bin.
Pick one or the other and use that exclusively for each bin.

You might want to check out the recent webinar to get the full details.

Here is the link:
https://permies.com/wiki/271114/permaculture-smack-Willow-Feeders-Dec

I think you will have to get pie to see the replay:
https://permies.com/pie


We do live webinars on different permaculture topics almost every Saturday.  People with pie get to participate and ask questions. It is a lot of fun.

Hello Ellanor!



I got a great little DC submersible pump from Backwoods Solar.  It will pump dirty goose water up about 6' and uses a small solar panel.   They have great customer service and you can ask all your questions.  If they don't have just the thing you want they will order it for you.  
https://backwoodssolar.com

Hello Hans!

Thank you for posting this!

I have been wanting to read more Roy Bhaskar books.  I could not find them used and they are pretty spendy new.

World of Books has a whole page of Roy Bhaskar!

https://www.worldofbooks.com/collections/author-books-by-roy-bhaskar

Thank you!

Hello Josh!  

I have been buying eggs this winter.  About $10 per dozen here for organic free range eggs.   I feel ok about it though.  I am glad that folks who are making this a business are getting paid.

My hens and ducks stopped laying this winter.  I could have supplemented them with fats and more protien but I just let them take a rest.   Now spring is coming closer and they have started laying.  I realize how much I missed having my own eggs!

I plan to bring on new hens this spring so I can keep my family in eggs year round going forward.  
I think it helps a lot to ferment the feed.  They eat less and get more nutrients.  I also save the extra bits from butchering time.  We do a sheep harvest in late fall and I save all the offal for pet and chicken feed.   This year I let them eat it up early and did not have any left to carry us through winter.   So I paid for my mistake with having to buy eggs.

I preserve our surplus eggs using the techniques in this book.  My favorite is water glassing with hydrated lime.  Or I pickle them with lacto-ferment pickle juice when hard boiled:

https://permies.com/t/192096/Preserve-Eggs-Leigh-Tate

I love how Leigh explains things.  All the little details to keep it safe and be so much fun!


If eggs get broken or old they go to cats and dogs.

Hello R!

Somebody, years ago made bent wood tongs at Wheaton labs.  They were so cool.  I don't remember what wood was used but bamboo would probably work too.  I have made wooden spatulas.  Maybe two wooden spatulas could be fastened together in a springy way.
Good luck!

Hello Leslie!

Welcome to the forum!
It sounds like you have had quite a ride.  I am glad you are doing ok!

Wheaton labs is a wonderful, peaceful community.
https://wheaton-labs.com/

They have cozy cabins surrounded by gardens and tucked into the woods.  You can have the best of privacy and community.
You can rent a cabin long term, live in peace with your chickens and jump into community stuff when you fee like it.
If you want to build your own place or park an RV you can do that too.

Some folks come to Wheaton Labs to get a permaculture education, for these people we have the permaculture bootcamp!
https://permies.com/wiki/bootcamp

If you are interested and able to work 8 hours Monday - Friday, you will learn permaculture and homesteading skills needed to build and maintain a place, produce and preserve your food and meet most of your own basic needs in a clean and healthy way.  



Maybe this would work for you!
https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies

Hello Rebekah!

This is so great!  I am glad you are writing and bringing Gert to life!  
Is there a draft copy we can read??
Does Ferd come into the story?

My dad is a self published children's book author.  He uses IngramSpark https://www.ingramspark.com/
They do on demand publishing and will do the shipping for you too if you want.  

Two of his books are here on permies in the digital market as e-books.

https://permies.com/wiki/179537/ebooks/Longest-Darkest-Night-Peter-Lewis



https://permies.com/wiki/213689/ebooks/Pickleman-Bickleton


Permies is a wonderful place to get your content in front of tons of people who will love it.  You can and make ads and get thread boost!
https://permies.com/wiki/61482/Thread-Boost-feature


You can even get a mention in the daily-ish!


This sounds like a great way to earn the passive income bb!
https://permies.com/wiki/151870/pep-commerce/Develop-Residual-Income-Streams-mo

Hello Carl!


I still pluck by hand.  I only do a few each year and if I get them at the right time they go pretty quickly.

I find the geese and ducks easiest to pluck just after they molt.  So all the feathers are new.  I dunk them in hot water, give them a good scrubbing and let them sit in the water for a couple of minutes.  Then I start by pulling out the big feathers.  Once the big stuff is off, I put the bird in an old pillow case, face first so just the feet are sticking out.   I pluck the down and tiny feathers into the pillow case.  Starting with the legs and working up to the neck so the bird is clean and all the down is in the pillow case.

 I stitch the pillow case closed and throw it in the washer and dryer.    This takes care of all the blood and the finished down is ready for use.

For me, a big part of making a stew super hearty is having a nice joint to throw in first.  All that connective tissue makes the broth so rich.  
For veggies I like to have chunks of celeriac, sunchokes and turnips.  They add a nice texture.    

Of course, a heavy dose of onion, garlic, ginger and celery to round out the palette.

I think a stew is a nice place to add medicinal or tonic herbs.  Maybe start with a medicinal mushroom tea as the broth.  Reishi and Chaga are mild tasting.  
Nettle makes a good solid base too.

Good morning Everyone!


We are starting the Permaculture Smackdown in a couple minutes!

Last chance to get some pie and come join us!

Here is the link!

https://permies.com/forums/pie