Nikki Roche

My first dollar came by putting a product on a site that does some advertising for me...sites that already draw a crowd and I just have to fit into the right search terms to be found. I did Amazon and Smashwords for an ebook and TeachersPayTeachers for a few files of school curriculum.
I have a blog with very little on it that hasn't been updated in a couple of years, but I just got a small surprise check from an affiliate link. I credit that to having info that stays relevant rather than following short-lived trends.

My property is on the edge of an oak forest, and I'm slowly working to incorporate more varieties of species into the edge. I let some areas grow completely wild and drop their own leaves, and I chop and drop other areas. We've had a good deal of rain this year,  and all areas look lush and green. You're right, the wild areas have plenty of mulch without my involvement.

The edge follows a general cycle of blackberries > Japanese privets > oak trees. Honeysuckle has really taken over this year, too, and there's a few elder, persimmon trees, and greenbrier vines. The wild areas are tightly woven masses of greenery and prickly old canes that are left for the deer and birds.

In the chop and drop areas, I have some choice in what grows and how big they'll get. That's the only benefit that I see, but it's a huge benefit since I can get in there to harvest/forage things.

Annie Collins wrote:Perhaps you can spray around the table as well as the table legs themselves with a scent that dogs and cats don't like. A scent that is not unpleasant to humans, or can barely be detected by us, but one that animals definitely don't want anything to do with. You'd have to look up what that may be and hopefully something you can put together yourself so that it's very inexpensive, but being that animals have such amazing abilities to smell, I think it may be a solution to make it uninviting for animals to check out your table and its wares.

That could help. I'll have to look into it, thanks!

Skandi Rogers wrote:Cat's don't seem to care to much unless it's raining and then if your stand is nice and dry they may take up residence, we have lots of cats round here and they don't bother the stand as most cats are not keen on strangers. Maybe a little fence would work for the dogs? it's less offputting for customers to have to open a gate than a door.

I was so focused on not wanting a door, I didn't even think about a fence and gate. Sounds like a bigger project than I initially wanted for a roadside stand but definitely something to consider. And I think you've helped me get over my hump to think outside the box!

John C Daley wrote:Unless you are selling bones, would there be any issues

I don't know. They're curious dogs who occasionally seem underfed. They would definitely pee on the legs of the stand, but I'm just not sure if they would nose around what's on it. And I imagine the cats would jump on whatever they can.

I like the idea of a roadside stand and honor system. But besides using a building with a door, what are your tips and tricks for dealing with animals? There are a few dogs and cats that wander my neighborhood, and I'm worried what they would do to the produce. What are your experiences?

The temperatures have been amazing lately! I've been harvesting radishes, asparagus, greens, sugar snap peas, rosemary, and thyme, and I'll pick red clover and elder flowers when there's a break in the rain.
I baked wood sorrel sugar cookies. They were good, but I think I'll add some lemon next time to brighten the flavor more.

A cold snap came through followed by lots of rain and wind. Many of the plants are a little yellow and slow growing, and a young pawpaw tree was blown over. The rains caused the fire ants to seek higher ground, so they've infiltrated my potato mounds and have killed a few of those plants.

The photo of lemon balm is shortly after the cold snap. It's on the edge of a small hugel bed, and the plant and hugel bed have been there for 5+ years. It's interesting that you can distinctly see the line of where the hugel ends. The part of the lemon balm on the hugel bed is taller and a darker green. The part off of the bed is yellow-green.

I planted the blueberry years ago, before I knew anything about soil pH or growing conditions. It's doing well, considering it was randomly plopped there and is rarely watered during droughts. It's shortly past the entrance posted above and is surrounded by plantain, red clover, strawberries, thyme, peppermint, and volunteer radishes.

My husband came home today with a truckload of free wood chips and said "happy anniversary." Best gift he could have gotten me!

L Allen wrote:Love the arch! I'm also an artist and sculptor, and I appreciate art in the garden.

Good luck with your deer. We have black tailed deer here and they'll eat anything and everything. I don't suppose I blame them, since all those yummy veggies are, well, yummy, but I'm with you: I'd like some too. We went for a fence too, and so far, so good.

What kind of sculpture do you do? I do mostly 2D and am amazed by what people create in 3D.

I hope your fence continues to work! I don't know what kind of deer are here, but "anything and everything" is an apt description of their diet. I laugh at the lists of fruits/veggies that deer supposedly won't eat.

Rana Moore wrote:
You know, I totally understand not being able to do certain things because of similar limitations.  I really felt like you were saying that it takes more than what one or two people can handle. Have you ever thought about www.workaway.com or wwoof USA?
You can host other permaculture enthusiasts who will work for you.  
I have an affinity for community living and see a lot of benefits... in that it is the epitome of permaculture.  I think it's the answer to all societies ills ( of course, I'm an idealist)
But if I could... I'd come down there and help you 😊💕
Instagram Rana.Moore
storehouseherbs@gmail.com

proverb 15
"Better is a dinner of bitter herbs where love is
Than a feast of stalled ox with strife and hatred"

For awhile, I had panic attacks at the idea of having people over, so inviting helpers didn't cross my mind. I may need to consider it now, thanks! I love the concept of community living, of us really helping each other. I agree, it could solve so many issues. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know many of my neighbors and am looking for ways to fix that.

I have multiple lists, on paper and Google docs, and about half are prioritized. This year, I've been taking a few priority things from the ongoing lists and moving them to a new list at the start of each month. If an item is not done by the end of the month, then I assume it wasn't as important to me as I had thought, so I get rid of it and start with a fresh list the next month. It's helped with my procrastination so far.

"Earth goddess vibe" makes me think of a wildflower area with a focus on edible flowers and edible "weeds." Workshops for blending wildlife into everyday life, like incorporating wild foods into meals or drinks, making plant-based paper or other plant fiber crafts, creating wildlife habitats, making fairy (or toy dinosaur) gardens. I imagine places in the woods to hang out, maybe semi-secluded off the main trails, with a rustic picnic table, a wooden swing, or a hammock.

I don't want to sound impatient or greedy, but should I have gotten an email asking for my info by now? Have you others gotten an email, yet? Just making sure I didn't miss it.