paul sanass

Thanks Sam, they are Cobnuts, I couldn't remember the name ... must do a little more research.
Cheers

I have several of these trees that have loads of catkins early on, but I've yet to see any nuts! Is there anything I could do to help achieve a bumper crop in the future? TIA

Sorry to hear about the misfortune you've had ... but it hasn't held you back, I really hope someday to have a forest that looks as good as yours, we're in the UK but looking at the USA and France for one final move ... if only we could find that wee place, Good Luck.

I've seen thatch like that and I'm afraid that its way too much work for me, so I'd say if you have no animals to eat it all off, that getting a tractor and topper in would be the quickest option and keep the resulting harvest as mulch. Thereafter if you keep on top of it mowing it with your scythe should be much lighter work.

In my part of the world we have reflectors along the side of the roads in deer country that reflect the car lights and scare deer back from the road, so less danger at night. The reflectors are supposed to mimic the eyes of a wolf, I find it interesting that the LED's keep the fox's away, has anyone got any research on these?

Thanks I'll have a look at those ...

I've been looking for other forums that cover homesteading, permaculture, organics etc and thought it might save loads of time to ask on here for help as a few I looked in on were not being used very much.
My reason for looking is, well I'd like to see if I'm missing out on anything! Links would be great ...
TIA

We too have had to move home just lately and know how you are feeling ... we have spent 26 years getting our forever home just the way we wanted it, lots of fruit and hard woods, fruit bushes, no dig gardens, greenhouse, stables, etc.
We are now having to start a fresh, I see it as having improved our last property as we all should do, but when someone buys it, well its theirs to do with as they please ... if they rip it all up, well it will be in their karma ... it gives me some peace.
Cheers

I found that you need to be planting into soil, the mulch becomes soil but it takes a couple of years at least. For me the fact that the deep layer of mulch suppressed the weeds was enough reason to do it, but then the system started working and as the mulch becomes soil very rich in nutrients everything does so much better.

Cheers

John Seay wrote:This is very possible. With a move to a more perennial crop system and a little bit of luck there could be plenty of cheap food if those producing it were willing to take less money. This is exactly what I'm trying to do now. I live with almost zero cost (compared to most people) and have been blessed with my parents allowing me to farm their ten acres of land. This isn't a lot of land by any means; but it is enough to produce food for my family, my friends, and myself. I'm working towards being able to produce more, longer to be able to sell food much cheaper than anyone I've seen. My idea is that I currently live off of $400 a month. If I make more than that selling produce then I'm making a profit. I would like to still be able to buy more land so I would need much more than that to be able to save up enough. I believe a lot of the issues is that people aren't getting into natural farming young enough. Starting young, networking, and refusing to use banks is key to producing cheap food. Not everyone would be able to do this of course; butsomecan. If some can then yes, it is possible.

I admire your ideals, and I wish you every success ... you're one of the few who know when they have 'enough' more like you will make a difference, I wouldn't want to try and change things, but like you making a difference is 'enough' for me too.
Cheers