evan's ant village log

I think my two favorite plants from Arizona were yucca and agave. I couldn't tell them apart, but a Navajo guide said yucca used to be their "hardware-store-in -a-plant". Another person said agave only blooms once every 100 years (?).

Day 350

We're in the process of revamping our Patreon, which we're renaming Ava Permaculture, so we took some silly pictures. It's in a transitional phase right now, but it's still live and we'd still appreciate your support!

Ava Permaculture on Patreon

Much love and gratitude to the amazing folks who are already our patrons! Feel free to share your thoughts and give us some feedback as we change things up.

Another delicious feast at basecamp, this time with shredded beef tacos! Also an appley dessert custard at Burra's behest, in honor of my digital apple abundance. Thanks Burra! And thanks for the yummy grub, Paul and Jocelyn!

Day 351

Ran some errands in Missoula. Josh the gapper came along and took us disk-golfing! It was fun! Thanks Josh! By the way, Josh has a thread here on permies y'all should totally check out. It's got some sweet pictures:

Josh the Gapper's thread

I'm looking forward to incorporating a couple holes of disk golf into the diversigolf course on Ava. Besides disk golf, diversigolf will also have some mini-golf, some archery, and maybe some other crazy golf-ish stuff that might include zip-lines! Diversigolf! Diverse diversions in golf form!

Checked the mail and discovered a huge package from Thomas (Rob) Griffin! 1000 earthbags! Thanks Rob! Can't wait to build some structures with these!

Day 352

There's a deep puddle in the road just outside of Ava that seems to hold water better than almost anything. In fact, last spring I was scooping water from there to start seeds in my garden. Until the ponds on Ava fill up a little better, it's the nicest pond around. So I took the ducks on a little field trip.

Got some junkpoles cut and limbed. And made a big pile out of the limbs to help block the view of the greenhouse from the road until we get the fence up.

Day 353

Spent the day mostly at basecamp. Knocked out a bit of bounty work. Three more 3-log benches now adorn the volcano.

Day 354

Intended to get some more 3-log benches built down at basecamp, but the weather was somewhat unpleasant for outside work so I spent most of the day inside on sketchup. I was hoping to get some models done that Paul wanted but I didn't get very far. Not a super productive day, but it cleared up long enough in the evening for me to put together another bench.

evan l pierce wrote:
...Patreon, which we're renaming Ava Permaculture, so we took some silly pictures.

I like the new branding and the silly pictures! May Sharla realize her dreams! Keep up the good work, and the silly pictures!

Thanks Kerry! I'll do my best to keep things rolling. Thanks for your support!

Day 355

So many plants coming up! Loads of maple tree sapling stowaways from that maple leaf mulch on the berms! And a thick little micro-field of cilantro in the greenhouse!

Did some more junkpole limbing, sowed a few more seeds, and cut some firewood. It may be almost spring but next winter is on the way and I plan to be fully prepared for it this year.

Day 356

Split and stacked some firewood. The greenhouse should have a bit more thermal storage now. It's usually been dropping below freezing in there overnight despite getting up to maybe 80 during a sunny day. And while wood isn't particularly massive compared to say, rocks or water, it should help a little and in the longer term be more useful than storing rocks or water in there. More dirt would help too; I really need to get a few more boxes built and filled and planted. And I'm especially looking forward to building an earth-sheltered greenhouse and doing a side-by-side comparison this fall.

Sharla and I set up a tent on Ava and Sharla decorated it quite nicely. I'm hoping to launch a gapper program here soon to encourage folks to come out and help and gain experience. This tent in Entshire will be one available lodging for gappers on Ava this year, and quite a glamorous lodging it is. More information on this opportunity is forthcoming and I'll link to it soon, but you can sign up now if you're ready. To be a gapper on Ava, sign up here!

Day 357 (part 1)

Finally launched the thread for the Peasant Workshop and Festival! Come on out for this workshop in October and party like a peasant!

A delicious easter feast at basecamp! Thanks Jocelyn and Paul!

Also, naturally dyed easter eggs! I think the blue ones were purple cabbage, the reddish ones were yellow onion skins and some had turmeric, and the black ones were hibiscus! Super cool!