Richard Huffmon

Mike Barkley wrote:

In Corsica for many years the ruler required everyone to plant four trees a year, an olive, a mulberry, a fig, and a chestnut.  

I like they way they thought.

I'm in. It so happens some beautiful old chestnut trees are dying on this property. No problem replacing them & several times more. Have been working on figs too. Trying to get a more winter hardy version thriving. Have to pass on olives. Will plant apples & other fruit that will do better. Mulberry? Maybe. Have elderberry, and wild blackberry & raspberry going now. A few other random berries. Not sure how mulberry would do here. It's been on the radar though.

Not exactly a new idea but a suitable modification of an old one. The Appalachian Trail has trail angels. Good hearted folks who suddenly appear along the trail. They provide drinks, food, & a helpful hand for weary hikers. If there was a large supply of young trees available something like that could happen in local parks & recreation areas. Seems like the users of those places would be most likely to plant a free tree.


If you want to find a source for young trees at an affordable price, Cold Stream Farms, sells bare root trees with the price depending on size and quantity. Buying more reduces the price. One example, a single 6"-12" tree costs $4.57, but buying 4 of them brings the price down to $2.76 each. Buy 25 trees and the price is $1.21 each. Other sizes available, price reductions for lots of 100 and 500+. It's cheaper to buy 100 than 65, or to buy 25 trees than 12, make a commitment for 500. I plan to order 25 trees, plant 8 in the ground and raise the other 15 in pots with the plan to give them as Easter gifts in 2020.

Hello Lindsay, and welcome. Looking forward to adding this book to my permaculture library!

I live in Utah zone 6, many of the foods I enjoy can only be grown in a greenhouse in this area. Tomatoes and peppers especially. I would love to win a book from Lindsay Schiller

As a lifelong learner, intermediate gardener, and permaculture novice I enjoyed watching the first few minutes of the video. Looking forward to watching the rest of later and the others that will follow. Thanks for sharing.

Part 2 of 2 ended up in Spam. Not sure what to do about it.

Heather Ward wrote:I love to forage, but this year I've kept track of what I ate and preserved and noticed that dock, lambs-quarters, and amaranth are my big three, the ones that put food on the table consistently and without fail and fill my freezer too. So I am asking, not what all you forage, but what do you forage A LOT and consider a staple of your diet? Do share!

The only staple I forage is dandelion. I am unable to find anyone in my area to guide me in identifying wild edibles. I get plantain and miner's lettuce on my property too! The three make a wonderful salad. Is anyone in the south Sacramento county area that would be willing to show me around and help me learn?

Thanks Everett, Now all I need to do is convince my neighbor it is a good idea. I think a hugel bed is a good idea because it will provide a place to grow perennials, sequester carbon, reduce the piles of waste in the yard, and become a solution rather than a problem. I have some maple I would add into the pile too!.

Howdy, My neighbor has about 500 cubic feet of eucalyptus that is weathering away. So, I was wondering if this wood might make a good base for a hugelkultur bed? Does anyone know? Thanks to anyone who replies. Richard Huffmon

Dillon Nichols wrote:I've eaten them thrown into an omelet or quiche.

The simple way is to think of them as a spinach substitute. For obvious reasons it's advisable to stick to dishes that that will be cooked, or that use cooked spinach. I've also heard that they can substitute for kale.

I have a friend who uses them in an onion dip. Yummy. Just steam for a minute, chop, and add to your favorite recipe!