! Josiah’s Bootcamp Log

#65

#66
Priority number one at wheaton labs right now is developing the food systems. At last years PDC Alan Booker did a soil microscopy workshop and helped us identify that the microbiology here was poorly developed, being predominantly bacterial. So I am rocking a thermophilic compost pile that we will use to make aerated compost tea to apply to all the new hugelkultur that we will be building in the next few months. Thanks Alan!

  elsewheres in the neighborhood they're doing something different with the forest. Remarkably, this willow does not mind growing on a steep slope 1000 feet above the creek.      

That willow could well be an indication of an underground spring, or the water table may follow the contours of the land, which happens sometimes on hills. Willows like water.

#67

I pulled the plastic tent off the cutting tray yesterday to check for root development. It shows callus on the white tagged kiwis. The willows and cottonwood are leafing our on the other side of the tray. Only one of the red currants is showing callus and even a little bit of root. I put the tent back and expect to check again in four days.

#68

#69

#70
Here is today’s highlight reel. I learned that bark is pliable and slippery in spring, making for an excellent slip’n’slide.

#71

#72

Cool.  Do you have microscope and skillz to evaluate who's living in the finished tea?