Paula Wilkinson

Wow! I just saw this thread and it is from 7 years ago! I wonder how the Groves Family adjusted to their "scary" environment. I wonder if the children were allowed to learn "hands on" about Earth Science or if they had to "watch" from a window?  Did the parents use the great advice that was given to better equip them for a whole new lifestyle change? Would love to know the ending of this 'story'.  

Steve, what camera are you using to get these great up-close photos? I have an old Minolta X-700 that I haven't used since 80's! Its so heavy for me now in my 70's but I'm sure it would be better than my phone! LOL!

Steve, I too enjoy seeing the anoles coming and going all around our yard & even our porches! Ever since I was a little girl anoles have fascinated me due to their being similar to chameleons. Here in central Alabama we also have beautiful colorful skinks & some big red headed ones! Love the pics you take! I can never seem to get close enough for a really good pic or I miss a great moment because I went out without the camera! duh! Maybe I need to sew a camera/phone pocket on all my shirts? Thanks for your web site and teaching us to keep our eyes open for the small wonders lurking in and around our "forests"!

Robin, I love your garden! I really like the idea of sitting on top of the logs, my son bought me one of those seats but the thing wiggles and it makes me feel very unstable!

My hubby gets his medicine scripts mailed in plastic bags that are silver color inside, looks like mylar.  I cut holes in them and turn them inside out to use as grow bags because sadly he gets so many of them! My Herb garden was beautiful, everything came up & kinda cool since the pots were medicine bags!

Steve, that is an awesome insect! I need to really get out and investigate my area and see if my woods are sheltering these marvelous little guys/gals!

I have used concrete blocks & 4x4's  to make raised beds in the past. Want to be thrifty and I love to repurpose, so I was looking at these really strong cardboard boxes that many of our shipped items have come in; thought wouldn't that work for a raised bed? I can fill them with mulch, compost & soil and the cardboard will eventually compost too!  I suppose the sides will deteriorate during rainy weather, so I have to think that one out. Any thoughts out there? Love these boards for learning and just being part of something wonderful!

I too have been thinking strawberries, but the wild type! I am hoping to plant them under an area that has a large Oak, several privet & Ligustrum growing. Thinking I could lay down mulch of pine needles, which is abundant here in our zone 8-Al., then dig into the soil & plant ! The birds would love this I think and so would little critters.

Thanks for the encouragement Steve! I also have found a local source for my DE!

Does anyone have a problem with ants in their Food Forests? Here in our area zone 8 central Alabama, ants should be our state insect! LOL! I constantly deal with these guys! I used to have a feed/seed supplier for DE, (sadly big box store ran them out of business)  and for some reason, people around here just don't use it and there are few places to purchase, online is very expensive for very little!  Whenever I call other feed/seed places or garden centers, they act like I'm from Mars! I am an elderly lady and I have known about DE since the 70's, where have these people been? Anyway, getting back to the ants! Do you all have problems or is it just this area? Maybe years of cotton planting in this state has depleted everything but the ants? Boiling is a short term solution, they just move  to another area. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.