Jess Ziegler

Loving this thread! Just wanted to add that we keep our essential documents in the freezer of our fridge. A fire proof box!

C. Letellier wrote:Can you just skid them?

the terrain is not smooth and we'd be trying to pull them uphill so lifting the leading edge will be critical. I'm starting to think of building a sled for the nose of the log at least.

We have a woods where we can harvest firewood, but we'd like to figure out how to get some of the larger logs uphill for easier bucking and more efficient gathering. We have a 1/2 tonnes pick up, but I'm looking for suggestions on how to build a log hauler (not metal, we don't have a welder) that we might be able to use with a comealong. Hopefully I'm explaining this alright. I have a picture in my mind of a tripod of poles with a pulley at the top through which a rope or chain can be led to a cinch around the log, then use the truck as the anchor for the comealong.
Any thoughts or suggestions welcome.
Thanks!

We're expanding our bean garden to increase our homemade stash. Because we are off grid,  having protein dried on the shelf is super important aaaand exciting! I'm in love with black valentine and an italian heritage bean called gialette. Orcas (yinyang like those pictured above) were fun but not as prolific.
One thing I've noticed is that my Bush beans are becoming half-pole beans as the years go on. Does anyone know why that is?

Wow, these are great! Nicely done!
Here's my kick at the can.
Self portrait.

We usually have a filter barrel between our roof and cistern,  but it's temporarily off (read: I need to fix it) but I was wondering if anyone has ever used clay flower pot pans as a rough filter for non potable water cleaning. Same premise as a berkey,  but with a bisque fired clay pan as the separator between the raw cistern water and the reservoir of cleaner water?

We have noisy neighbors who are also within eye shot and although the plants won't stop the noise (recreational quad and dirt bike), these hops give us a sense of privacy. They're only 3 years old but getting fuller every year.
In the garden, I had pruned out some prickly ash to start a wattle fence but that was an epic failure. However two years later when I disassembled the failed fence, all the prickly ash had lost their prickles and turned a lovely white. This year they're acting as a pole bean trellis, poked into the ground and tied at points with baling twine.

We used to use the milk carton bottoms as well, and they're a great size, durable enough, and rip easily off the seedling for transplanting. We've since moved to litre bags of milk (oh for a cow). Has anyone considered using large trays I.e. either wood with a drop-floor, or cardboard box with cardboard dividers? The former would have more legs over time but the latter would tear away leaving the root balls for transplanting.

Hi everyone. We have planted a few sea buckthorn pants over the last couple of years and finally one has berries!! They're gorgeous--both the plants and the berries-- but i have a few questions for seasoned growers. First, what's the best time to harvest berries and second hope so you extract the goodness for something like salves? What do other people do with their sea buckthorn harvest? Thanks in advance!

Chris Kott wrote:Jess, I am glad to hear of your ramping-up. I think that rather than weeds, my concern with imported hay would be persistent pesticides and herbicides. I hope you don't have any unpleasant surprises when you go to germinate tender greens or some such.

Indeed, we're taking a risk there. We're trying to stay organic and in the vegetative sense of the word since gleaning means we're susceptible to other people's activities. This might change over time.

Chris Kott wrote:Don't despair of your rototiller, incidentally. If you haven't perused the threads yet, Dr. Redhawk's Epic Soil Series has enough soil info to cause a brain hemmorhage if you try to take it in all at once. <snip>

But your gardens look lovely. I wish you every success.

-CK

Thanks Chris. Great tip! There's so much information on these forums! And it's encouraging to be part of a community of positive action instead of negative reaction.
Stay happy!
-jp