Timothy Norton

I'm a novice when it comes to plant identification so when the wild parsnip/wild carrot/poison hemlock starts growing, I just appreciate them from afar.

Do bees reproduce in a way that a population, with enough time, could become locally adapted?

When I think of the benefits grasses bring to a permaculture setting, I generally hone in on their root systems. Keeping in mind how the previous comments have already mentioned the frustrations that can come from running types of grasses, the fibrous root systems of grasses can be beneficial to certain terrains.



The dense fibrous root systems of grasses do a great job holding soil in place. Depending on the variety, the roots can mine down deep into the soil to extract nutrients and bring them to the surface. Some grasses are tenacious and can take quite a bit of abuse making them a valuable forage for livestock. Native grasses can be utilized as an attractive screen as well as valuable habitat for pollinators and birds.

You are a fiber artist!

Well done, I'm blown away.

Do you have a rough estimate of the time it took for you to do this project? It sure does look like a labor of love.

My understanding of utilizing a yeast 'slurry' is to act as a biostimulant for the existing microbe populations. This helps balloon the populations in the soils which then assists with nutrient cycling in the soil for the existing plants.

Personally, I have not tried it but it makes some sense to me. When I finish my experiments with brewing, I will add the lees (leftover settled yeast and solids) to my compost. This acts as a shot of nitrogen and tends to get the compost temperatures to rise.

Personally, I would use the sludge.

You know what it is made up of, the carbon will balance out the excess moisture, and the worst thing that may of happened is you lost some of the nitrogen content from your greens from sitting.

Once it is all combined and starting to process, your compost will tell you what it needs.

I have been making an attempt to drink a glass of chilled green tea a day. The attempt is not to make sure I drink a glass but rather I ONLY drink one glass. There is something about a nice cold glass of plain green tea that I really like.

I've found that if I keep water around me, I tend to drink more of it. My wife and I made a point to start carrying what I refer to as an adult sippy cup around to make sure we hydrate enough in the day.

I consistently harvest peas early in my growing season which starts the itch to start growing more veggies. I did not get my fava beans in early enough (first year trying) but I could see the potential for them to be another early harvest.

I'm fortunate enough, most years, to have semi-regular rains and moderate temperatures which means I only have to supplement water occasionally to my growing spaces. When plants are first germinating or are transplanted, I utilize a hose and a sprayer nozzle to deep water the soil. After the plants have established, I find they are more resilient and I will look for signs from the plants to determine if I need to water or if I can wait.

I'm planning on starting to transition to rainwater capture and watering from a bulk capture tank but I'm still early in the planning process for that.

I have had a variety of small mammals go after my strawberries, ripe and unripe, before.

Thinking about hugels, do you notice any vole/mole/mouse pressure? In my experience, I have a very well fed chipmunk who I have a steady peace treaty with over the last couple years. I plant him his own strawberry plants and I have a more protected section for me. He has, in the past, hoarded the berries in one foul swoop so I'm leaning towards those pesky little critters.