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

BEL #635

Now that things are settling down and there's a lot less activity around the house - and the Library, specifically - the cats are returning to their usual hangout spots. Both Peaches (pictured first) and Goat are showing up on the regular once again. Peaches is still standoffish and Goat is still a weirdo who wants to show his butt to you all the time.





Speaking of the patio, after today's efforts it looks a bit less like a construction site. Mike Haasl tells us he'll be back in October-ish to put more work into the patio roof. The support posts already look very cool. And up the hill from that, Jason - from the PTJ and SKIP events this summer - has been sticking around to add more coats of linseed oil to the yurt floor (pictured in the background here). Big THANKS go out to both of you for your efforts...!



While doing some touch-ups over at Allerton Abbey today, I discovered a copy of Art Ludwig's Water Storage. Considering this past summer and how water is so precious round here - and up at the Lab - it would be well worth my time to consider how to build some kind of water storage basin. I've been low-key obsessed with natural swimming pools ever since I'd learned of them... Maybe this book will provide some insight (or bring my expectations back town to Earth)?



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BEL #636

I'm starting off with an update on two notable garden areas.

First: the Boots' GAMCOD hugel berm. Well, if you like sunchokes and squash, it's doing quite well. I ought to take a closer look, but from what I saw today I think that's about it for the moment.



Next up: the Corn Scoop, just around the corner from GAMCOD. Again, quite healthy. Today I was on a prickly lettuce hunt. It would be great to eliminate those from the Abbey garden. It would be great to eliminate the thistles too, however unlike prickly lettuce (which has barely any flower to speak of), at least the thistle provides for pollinators.



Common Tansy is a plant that is also endemic to the Allerton Abbey garden spots. At this point in the season it loses most of it's fragrance and instead produces tiny yellow or white flowers, like these.



Fellow Boot Brian and I completed a towing task today. Judy (our big red hauler) refused to go any further, merely 100 yards out of the driveway of Basecamp. No amount of cajoling or consoling we produced would bring her out of her funk. And so we resorted to bringing her back in the hard way. I piloted the tractor, while Brian steered Judy as she rolled backwards. We made it into the driveway without problems, then Brian navigated Judy as she coasted into a parking spot at the nearby Turtle Lot. He was rolling awful fast, but had a handle on it. I was impressed.



I was also impressed with how he wrapped the tow strap between the vehicles. No worries here. Well done, man...!



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

Great Tansy pics! Thanks for sharing!

When I know I'll be on the computer for the day I save your posts to read "first thing in the morning". It starts my day on a positive note!

Your efforts are appreciated.

BRK #637

Up at Allerton Abbey, it apparently became harvest time for these wild peas: they had completely trellised themselves over this sapling, and then dried out. We have the seed pods drying in the Fisher Price House kitchen.



Speaking of the House kitchen, the mini-split (our emergency air-conditioner in the summer months) started falling off the wall. While Ben and I were discussing our approach to designing a repair remedy, Paul piped in: "I want to 'hillbilly' the shit out of it!" So Ben and I set to work. Here's an "action shot" of Ben trimming the bark off this bit of roundwood in the Shop.



Well, Paul wanted a "hillbilly" solution... Be careful what you ask for.



Being the High Commander has its ups and downs. For example, I earned a nickname during last year's summer events, and it persisted into this year. Earlier this week I received this card as a combination congratulations and thank you for my efforts. It was very touching, and all the kudos and well-wishing have been treasures.



There are difficult decisions to be made as well. Bidding farewell to a Boot is likely the toughest part of this role. I hope Rio is able to return again, next time to stay for the long term. When it comes to building community, timing can mean everything.



(probably my first-ever "vagueposting" here at Permies... My apologies.)

That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!

BEL #638

I've enjoyed our less-hectic, non-event pace, though clearly there's plenty to be done.

The GAMCOD hugel up at Allerton Abbey is lush with squash and - of course - sunchokes.



The sweet potatoes in the Truly Passive Greenhouse are going strong. A few vines have fallen back, but I think everything in there looks lusher overall.



One of the things I've wanted to prioritize is caring for the large number of saplings that we've brought in this year. Here's one of a couple dozen healthy apple saplings we're helping out this year.



And some of our pecan seeds have sprouted...! Little pecan buddies are popping up here and there, which has us all pleased.



Speaking of pleased: a replacement Tree Jack has arrived...! BIG THANKS to frequent guest Alex for her contribution...!



That's all for now. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your day...!