amanda boyce

Hi! As a girl who has had many, many cats all my life, let me tell you that they either hunt or they don't. It's not something that you can train them to do. I have found that females, on the whole, are better hunters and more motivated to do so. I think this is leftover from being lions where the women do the hunting.
Male cats, once they are fixed, seem to lose all ambition to hunt as well as a lot of their self preservation instinct.
As far as breeds go, it is very difficult to find a cat true to breed anymore unless you want to pay big $$ and go with a rwgistere breeder.
We live in the city with a rather large stray cat population, and it gets very cold here in winter (30 below is pretty normal). There are at least two out there that have "lived off the grid" for upwards of seven years, they look a little rough but they are healthy and never miss breakfast!

Well, the thin layer of dirt or mulch laid over the top should take care of that. I'm not sure what it would look like to a helicopter though

Hi! Have you ever heard Paul talk about his "stealth pond" idea? This is the one that convinced me he's quite brilliant.
Basically, you dig a hole that isn't a hole, and you end up with a pond that isn't there! Sounds like you have plenty of rocks to fill it up! Big stuff on bottom, work up to smallest stuff on top, then cover with dirt or grass. Water will stay in the hole among the rocks, and hey, what pond?

Hi! Not so much for the public restroom discussion, I just wanted to say that anyone who has their (home) toothbrush/paste hanging on a holder or sitting on the counter is at risk for fecal contamination! Use your medicine cabinets people!

Hi. Eating snow is a bad idea for any warm_blooded animal. Snow is mostly air with very little actual water content, so the amount you or the bird would need to consume would be huge. Add this to the fact that warm-blooded creatures must sacrifice their own internal temperature to melt the snow means that more food will be required. Everything costs energy whether it is caloric, thermal or chemical.

Hi again Rob. I just thought of something. Being winter there (as it is here), maybe you could create an ice skid path for your logs through the forest. Watch your step though!

Hi! The process you want is called tushing. First you must remove the horizontal branches to create as straight a log as possible. Hook a stout chain or very strong rope around the leading end ( usually the base) about 2 feet from the end. To get moving, lay some of the larger cut off branches in front of the log as rails (90 degrees to log). One big lift and pull, get the end of the log onto the branches, and now it will roll over them. It won't be easy but perseverance will pay off.
Still can't move? Try a lever and pulley system with another tree for leverage. Hope this helps! Happy tushing! Amanda

Hi Txong thanks for responding! Arkansas sounds lovely but we are Canadian citizens which would severely limit the amount of time we can spend south of the border. I wish you all the luck, though, and happy holidays. Cheers! Amanda

Hi Kobyn thanks for responding! I've never been to Peace River, but I love the mountains. How's the weather around there?
We will not be ready to leave the city until springtime, and I'd like to stay in manitoba (family), but your offer is intriguing. We will message you again when we are closer to a decision. Happy holidays! Amanda

Hi permies my name is Amanda. I have lived in Winnipeg, Mb all my life and I have had enough of the concrete jungle rat race. I have researched all I can find on permaculture and sustainable living, and I am bursting with energy and drive to make it a reality. I have been reading this forum for awhile now, for a moment I was wishing I was American so I could take advantage of some of your wonderful US opportunities.
So, I am looking for a piece of land to rent OR an existing farm who will rent us a portion of their unused area (back 40).
The boyfriend and I are both very keen hard workers, taking us on would be very beneficial to your farm. Billy is a plumber and I am a jill of all trades (officially, waitress but don't let that fool you). We wouldn't require much in the way of pay or resources, we are very good at living cheaply and maximizing our resources and productivity.
I want to build the Kramaterhoff (sepp's farm) here in the prairies! Please email me at amandaboyce80@gmail.com or post here at permies! Love and respect to all of you.
Amanda