G Freden

Request:  I would find it helpful if permies had an AI policy to reference for questions like these, could that maybe be in the works?

This time of year, trying to do it on my own:  probably not going to get far.  Enlisting some help (I can usually collar my teenage son, or sometimes husband):  better.  

I was at my kitchen sink and saw this out the window, having a munch on my grapevine:  an elephant hawk moth caterpillar.  Evidently they are common?  But this is the first time I've ever seen one and was seriously amazed at its size.

Judith Browning wrote: a scrubber thingy for my scalp...I have always liked to use a dog brush (I don't share) for my hair and head...hard headed I guess🙄

Is the scrubber an actual dog brush or is it something else?  Intrigued!

I did resort to using corn starch dry "shampoo" a couple times while transitioning.  Shake it on scalp, massage in, comb out well (don't let it get wet!).  It certainly mopped up the extra grease in my case.  

About once a year or so I still do a vinegar rinse, to counter the hard water we have here.  I know to use it when my dry hair doesn't look clean and bouncy after my water wash.  The first time this happened, post- no-poo, I actually tried to shampoo my hair and it got worse:  it was still limp/greasy looking but very frizzy and dry at the ends.  

I haven't used soap or shampoo in years.  I think I must be closing in on 20 years;  when I initially made the no poo switch it took about two months and I had long hair and it was gross.  I wore a bandana constantly.  So all I can say is, it might take a while!  

Does Permies have an AI policy?  

I have chickens and ducks who get free range access under my trees which has helped, though not eliminated it.  In my view, the maggots don't really render the fruit useless;  I cut them open and wash them out.  Obviously this won't work if I'm selling the plums (I'm not);  for personal use, I'm fine with it.

I've also noticed that my maggoty plums ripen first and the clear ones ripen a few weeks later.  This second ripening are the ones I usually give away.

This is my plot in Cornwall. I have only had it for a couple of months most of which has been spent cutting back weeds, very little of what I planted grew but the potatoes that volunteered seem happy.  

When my teenage son and I were forking over my newly harvested potato bed about a week ago, removing couch grass and runners, another allotmenter asked what were we harvesting?  Grass:  I grow the most lovely grass!  

Actually we had a good crop of Charlotte potatoes too  

I wanted to bring this thread back to life with another suggestion:  make chard into namul.  Cook the leaves to the desired texture, then immediately plunge into cold water to stop them cooking any more.  Once cool, drain them and then grab a handful and start squeezing all the water out--get it as dry as you can.  Once it's all compressed, chop the leaves and season with a touch of soy sauce and vinegar and then a more generous splash of sesame oil.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired, and serve chilled or at room temp.

I make this a lot in the spring and summer, with all sorts of leafy vegetables including chard and beet greens.  Also things like radish tops and broccoli leaves, though they required a lot longer cooking time than the chard.