George Wright

thanks tom, some great thoughts. I have done slate roofs and gave some thought in overlapping them in both directions, kinda complicated but thought it might work. Great point about the expansion, thanks for that, george

Hello, bumping this up to see if anyone has come across some sort of  really good quality seal for between panels to make an array water tight?  The BIPV, building integrated pv market has some but the information is hard to find an actual product that I can buy. Thanks to anyone with input, george

My wife and I are building a small cabin on a remote island. We want some big south windows, not just for solar gain, but for the view.

The idea of transporting large windows in a 'tin' boat is dodgy. We do want big windows for the view.

Has anyone ever found a perfectly clear 'poly' or other film that we could fasten very tightly that would suffice as a window.

Hast to be: perfectly clear, not stretch and start to make noise in the wind, last at least a few years.

Any recommendations on material and fastening methods would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks george

All farmers near me tile drain their land on 25 foot centers now. Used to be 100, then 60, then 50, now 25. We get a lot of rain, we have a relatively high water table.

Even on hilly land local farmers tile the whole farm.

There is overland runoff and some erosion but the majority of the problem is high water table at times during the growing season. Our organic matter is about 7% and we have cover crops over the winter and spring.

Because we are organic and not no till like everyone else around, we do about 5 times the passes with tillage compared to notill. Unfortunate but the way it is.

I have taken many permaculture workshops but none convinced me that any of the earthworks.....work in a wet environment like ours. We are three hours north of Lake Placid NY.

We grow mostly grain crops so raised beds and small scale stuff does not work.

We have done some ridge tillage and planting with some success.

For the first ten years I farmed I would wait till the wet areas were almost dry and work them and plant all. I now farm around the wet areas. I have seeded mostly reed canary grass there, graze or bale it and get a relatively good production from it. The unfortunate problem is that to farm around wet spots is very inefficient from a tractor efficiency and compacted headlands all over the place. On a ten acre field, I feel I drive 12 and plant 7 from the inefficiency.

I just need some recommendations for earth works for an environment where water, rain, runoff, ditches, and ground water are all a problem.

Thanks in advance for any advice. george

We farm near Ottawa. Our biggest problem is too much rain. I have taken several permaculture workshops and I am completely convinced of all the earth work changes in a dry or "getting drier" environment. I am yet to be convinced that the same earth works or other types of earth works, work in a wet and "getting wetter" location. Please convince me, please supply me with evidence/case studies/farmers who have made changes to improve my land for the better. I want to be convinced but am not as of yet. Thanks to everyone. george

I am building a carport. I am looking for affordable and effective seals to go between the panels to prevent water from leaking through. Some use the term BIPV, building integrated photovoltaics. I want to be able to see the panels from beneath, open air.
Any references on materials and methods would be greatly appreciated. Thanks george

I am just asking. Rest assured I am not running out tomorrow to do this.

Does anyone run four skinny spare tires full time. I know the tires are not rated for more than temporary use or high speeds.

Normally the tires are slightly smaller than stock wheels. But larger diameter ones are available from vehicles with larger diameter wheels. There are mountains at my local scrap yard.

Lower rolling resistance, plus skinny tire advantage in the snow.

Remember, just for discussion, please no judging.

Thanks to everyone who shares experiences. george

Hello, off grid for 30 years. Environmental laws prevent me from buying used lead acid as I have for this whole time. I am also tired of lead acids.

I am planning to buy some Lithium Batteries from China, off Alibaba.

Can someone recommend a supplier please.

I really just want to hear from people who have successfully done it and are happy with their batteries.

Thanks george

My favourite farmer's booth is at the Ottawa Farmers' Market where many other farmers market their goods.

That one helps me a lot.

If you are marketing your food to smart people, you'd better talk and write like them. Remember fewer people eat less cake. If you can count it, it's "fewer", if you cannot, it's "less".

Another one that helps me.

Please correct me if I am wrong on any of these. My customers are in Canada and thus the spelling of "favourite".

george

Another related quesiton:

Is there a design of water pump that does not destroy water energization?

I have an artesian well that can flow though the forms without pumping, but cannot be captured in a place where it does not have to be pumped. I could reverse it, pump it up high first, into the forms and then gravity feed it to where I need it. The first would be easier, but if the pump is going to destroy all I have gained in the energization, perhaps I should avoid it. I primarily want the forms to liberate some sulphur, so that would be accomplished either way.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

george