!! SEPP to Boot: Stephen's Experience (BEL)

Hey Stephen, sorry if this isn't the right place but...  Have you guys considered putting the pump house for the new well underground as the "cold supply" for a root cellar or refrigerator?  Perhaps a wofati root cellar or simple Sepp Holzer structure?  It would stay above freezing and help keep the space it's in cold.  Maybe a project for a PTJ one of these years.  

Stephen B. Thomas wrote:BRK #271Here's the asparagus I was responsible for last year. Looks like I didn't squash it after all...! It seems quite healthy. I don't know if this patch is 3 years old yet, but I'm tempted to throw caution to the wind and have a massive spear of asparagus as part of my dinner.

I learned that it is okay to harvest second year if it is coming up healthy- just only take shoots for the first week or two and let it fern out earlier than if it were fully mature. The stalk you pictured looks like it is starting to fern already though, I'd look for another one to pop up...

BRK #272

Happy Friday! I have some critter pictures to share.

First, a picture of a Western Toad. This specimen was found in an overgrown section of the hugel berms at Allerton Abbey this afternoon. I have often heard that amphibian life is a positive sign for a habitat, so I'll take this as a good omen.



Also at Allerton Abbey, there happen to be nine kittens. Yes, I meant that number. Seems like quite a few to manage, but the two mothers are working in tandem and as I hear it the presumptive father figure is also chipping in on daycare duties. And they look awful adorable when all bunched together, I must admit.



Meanwhile, back at Basecamp. Looks like my first iteration for an outdoor litterbox has been co-opted as an outdoor lounge. As I approached, G-Dawg (left) stood up to make a hasty retreat as if he knew I was disappointed that the cats weren't shitting in here. In contrast, there's Little Squirrel, still catching a cat-nap and just not giving a damn about my feelings.



Back to Allerton Abbey at the Lab. Saw this lovely purple flowering fern on the far side near the tree alley.



Finally: there's been another Rocky Mountain Hirsute Dipshit sighting. This time, it looks as though the creature was... climbing a pole? Even I have no explanation for this one. It might have even stolen a drill and an absurdly-long drill bit to commit some vandalism. Weird.



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and make the most of your weekend.

Mike Haasl wrote:Hey Stephen, sorry if this isn't the right place but...  Have you guys considered putting the pump house for the new well underground as the "cold supply" for a root cellar or refrigerator?  Perhaps a wofati root cellar or simple Sepp Holzer structure?  It would stay above freezing and help keep the space it's in cold.  Maybe a project for a PTJ one of these years.  

I can't really speak for Paul on this one, however I have an inkling that may not be too far off-base. In order to have everything sorted prior to the summer events - as well as the fact this is at Basecamp, which is less-strict than the Lab in terms of sustainable criteria - we're opting to go for the well technician's recommended pump house for this one. Oh, and there's also the fact it's being built on a bedrock shelf, and etc. etc...

In other words: sure, maybe one of these years. :) Seriously though, I think we would all benefit from having a legit root cellar here, and I am often keeping an eye out for a potential location.

The purple flowered plant is a lupine, not a fern.