Patricia Holmes

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!   I'm looking at all of them.

The only thing that I found worthwhile on comfrey was this article.   There is controversy over the affect on the kidney's but I think from my research,  that is from over consumption and more likely,  exposure to herbicide and or pesticide because of not knowing where it came from.

But it seems mostly to be great for breaking up hard soil and pulling nutrients from poor soil and then used to amend the soil for other plants.

I'm thinking that I may do a vlog/blog on my experience and progress as a 50 something starting her next chapter in the wild world of permaculture 😉😁😘

I'm in search of information on northern wetland food forests.  My woods are pretty flat and were designated wetlands to halt further wind turbine building in the area.   I'm thinking wild mushrooms, as one of the main thing's, as finding was to make this place my life's work instead of a job is the main objective.   And ideas for other things that grow well in this area.

Thank you

Patricia

Hi Ed and thank you for the welcome.

I'm actually working with a gentleman with the New York epa,  who was very helpful in finding a fix for the,  they are not hunters honey that I have no problem with (I raised one)   they kill over bait that's in the middle of an area cleared of trees which are used as a obstacle course with the bait in the center and a extremely well built "deer stand" so the deer have no chance.   This is not hunting and I will put a proper end to it.

Sorry for the soap box 😬

Any how,  so I have already made working with the land a priority.  

Any help and ideas for a wet land food forest please speak up!

Off to enjoy the sunshine and spend some time bonding with my forest before spring work starts in force.

Oh,  and I am currently looking for gainful employment to pay the bills while I get the living off the land stuff in place.   I'm a former nurse,  have a degree in the culinary arts and have worked with animals from alligators to horse's and rehabbing an assortment of wild creatures.  I have taught cooking skills to children and adults,  I have a special place in my heart for developmentally disabled people and love working with them and helping them find their "super power " .  Basically I am hard working and not afraid of much.

And yes animals 😍

I plan to start with chickens and eventually goat's and milk cows,  I have a passion for Highland's,  yes I know they are usually raised for meat,  but I am a vegetarian and their milk has a mad high butterfat content and that will makes amazing cheeses.

I'm weird quirky and completely passionate about everything sustainable,  permaculture and off grid.

Lol I will try to cover all the questions to the best of my ability.

I am 4.3 miles from the Canadian border in western Clinton county in New York.   This property has designated wet lands and is quite flat actually.   Due to extenuating circumstances I was not able to be up here in the past 11 years except for the end of my father's life and then last summer the end of my mothers life.   And, I needed to relocate immediately during that time so here I am.

What used to be old forest was clear cut and for 5 to 8 years unacceptable hunting practices have been used by people not related to me personally,  I don't care what my sister says 😈😉😂.

There are more standing water and flooding issues than erosion.   It was unfarmed for at least 2 generations when my parents bought it.   The dream was home steading and self-sufficiency.   My dad and I spent years while he was in the military planning and practicing growing in the garden plots the air force offered.  Mom hasn't grown as much the past 5-6 years as dad declined and she had to finish her journey alone.

So, outside of the issue that will soon be rectified.  I'm starting with a clean slate.   But I am also,  dealing with a trust and 2 extremely conservative sister's and one absent sister.  But,  I'm the only one who wants to live here and I have spent most of my adult life trying to get what I had here when I was a girl 😉.

I'm quite introverted,  but if I am comfortable with people I can be a chatterbox about anything I am passionate about.  

Some of the first things I have to address are ways to strengthen the ground between the house and road and create a snow and wind block that  will feed the birds and wild life.   I have a thing about multi purpose.   Everything should have multiple purposes😉  and this should feed pollinators and everything through the year 😉.

And some french drains around the house with some proper grading 😬  no one thinks I'm capable of doing or even coming up with this common sense stuff cuz I'm a girl 😒  the challenge of being a progressive hippie chick in a conservative family.

I want to bring back the sugar Bush and create a food forest that feeds me and for sale,  I hope to make this my "job" between the produce,  food and art.   Have other things on the back burner,  but I need to start the foundation of it all this year.

Reacquainting myself with the cycles of the land and starting our rebirth like the Phoenix this land and I will rise again and be a force to be reckoned with 😊😇😈😉

OH and Art music and food lots of art music and food....  Dancing too lots of that.... 😍

Thank you for your kind welcome Chris.

First is to start the food growing again,  and expanding that aspect.   I am open to ideas that work up here.

I want to create areas to feed the birds around the house

I have started some arborsculpture in the woods,  I plan to have several buildings from living trees.

Oh and bat house's asap......  That one needs to be worked on like yesterday....

Out to wonder the woods and pick my next location and start bending some trees

Peace love blessings and joy to all

Hi I'm new here and I am hoping to learn and grow here.   I moved back to my parents home after losing our mom last summer.  It is a 70 acres and,  despite my sisters difference of opinion,  I plan to fulfil our parents (and mine)  dream of a self sufficient homestead.  

But,  I plan to take their dream and amp it up a bit.   I want to repair the damage done by certain people married to my siblings and create a permaculture / arts center here.

I would love to meet local people who are on the same page as me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and have a beautiful day

Patricia