Nancy Reading

E Nordlie wrote:Has spruce been planted in your area before?

There are a few spruce plantations on Skye. I won't say where I got some of my starts from! but yes they do seed around a bit. I think the deer and sheep take care of any seedlings they can reach, so I have not heard of spruce being invasive as such around here. There are some much older ones locally and no sign of regeneration. I did consider quite hard before planting the spruce because of the downsides you mention, but haven't regretted it - it is such a good windbreak once it gets going that I could forgive it almost anything else!
The only downside I have had, is that they are so good at shelter that I have difficulty persuading my husband that I need to take some of them out! Many of the first ones I planted, I interplanted with other trees on the assumption that the spruce would be harvested first and the other trees woud have more room to grow. Since those spruce haven't been harvested, the other trees that were interplanted are now being shaded out by the spruce . I may sneakily take one or two of the spruce on the edges down to give some of the other trees a chance, but on the whole that was an idea that didn't really work. We like the windbreak effect at the edges of the field, even though I still worry a bit about funnelling effects, potentially concentrating the wind at any breaks and edges.

I wish I had more space and time, anyway!

Don't we all!?

The two things about permaculture? Here's mine!

1) Observation
2) Relationships

By coincidence there was an article in one of the national papers this week (Daily Express if you're interested) about standardising colour charts for clinical diagnosis. This is the one for urine - a fair rainbow! - although they don't give diagnosis against the colours.

Some good ideas for comfrey alternatives here on this thread.
Comfrey grows great here with me, so I'm very happy with it, but it occurs to me that Turkish rocket (Bunias orientalis) might be a good alternative in drier climates - It's a bit like a giant dandelion: deep tap root, edible leaves and flower shoots, dies back in winter.

spring leaves

I don't know what the nutritional profile of the leaves might be, but it seems to generate a fair amount of boimass. Quite cold hardy and drought tolerant. The only downside I can think of is that there is a possibility of it seeding around - but if you eat the flowers it won't!

Heritage Farm,
I have merged your topic into this topic. I hope that helps.

Julia Franke,
I have merged your topic into this topic. I hope that helps.

I merged your stuff with the following thread. I hope that is okay by you.

I knew we must have an interestingly shaped vegetable thread somewhere!!!