Devin Lavign

pollinator

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since May 01, 2015

Biography

uggg...I hate trying to describe myself. * last updated spring 2019 *
I moved to 40 acres of raw land with an existing pond in the WA Okanogan Highlands 3 yrs ago. I have been busy observing and making trails.
I am planning to start building a house this year. Though I am probably going to hold off on planting anything until I finish building a house and just work on infrastructure.
I am looking forward to finally put into practice the ideas I have without having to compromise due to it being someone else's land.
Some history and background about me.
I have traveled and lived most of the continental US. So have a decent grasp of the different areas of the US. As a kid I preferred going into the woods to play over going to a park or friend's house. Still I will almost always pick nature if given the choice.
I worked trail maintenance in the Cascades and that was likely my most favorite job ever. I lived, worked, and played in the forests of the Pac NWet. I learned a massive respect for pack goats during this. As they hauled the majority of our gear up the trail every day. Amazing smart animals and I can't wait to get my own goats to enjoy.
I lived and worked at Arcosanti for 4 yrs in AZ. Including managing their 15 1/2 acres of edible and medicinal landscaping. A fun place to meet lots of wonderful people and pick up skills. I have spotted at least one other Arco alum here who I know. Who lived there previous to my time, but who I did meet and hang out with several times both at Arco and to go see him in Prescott.

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Pac Northwest, east of the Cascades

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Recent posts by Devin Lavign

Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

Just got the Tigers Teeth sharpener, will let you know how it works.

1 day ago

gear

Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

So this is an idea that takes an ancient tech and updates it. Olla are Terra cotta basins in the earth that allow water to slowly go into the earth to water plants. The big thing Thirsty Earth did was build an auto refill system for their cups. You can definitely DIY your own Ollas for a lot cheaper, but the water refill is what Thirsty Earth excels at.

They have a 2.0 system that does away with the strap holding the cup to the top, got rid of the screw to purge air from (you just don't fully seal the fill area until all the air is out), and the made the lids without a lip that could collect rain water and screw on so you can easily access the inside if the interior collects gunk for easy clean out.

Ollas are great for dry weather gardening and if you don't get these (they aren't cheap) I would recommend DIYing some out of Terra cotta pots just to have some and use less water.

If your area does freeze, you need to store them out of the ground for winter. You don't want them breaking from freezing.

6 days ago

gear

The Best Log Splitter EVER

These are called the Paul Bunyan Wood Chopper, a guy watched the videos and designed a version that used the best of all designs. You have to build it yourself but he does sell plans for it.

You do need to be able to weld or know someone who can. He does a wheeled version so you can move it around.
The website is https://paulbunyanwoodchopper.square.site/

2 weeks ago

low tech

What are some quirks of your region?

Christopher Weeks wrote:

reminds me of a joke I heard 25 years ago:

In Los Angeles, when a stranger says "Hey, how's it going?" it means 'fuck you!'
In New York, when a stranger says "fuck you!" it means 'hey, how's it going?'

yep pretty much

1 month ago

meaningless drivel

What are some quirks of your region?

Having lived all over the country something I noticed about the difference between coast was, as a man people on the West coast would trying to talk to you at urinals while on the East coast they would ignore you.

On that point I actually knew a guy for 3 years on the West coast, even living with him. Only to find out that he never liked me. While on the East cost within 3 days of knowing someone you know if you like them and you WILL tell them.

What I have figure is that the West coast tends to be polite, even if it ends up rude in the long run. While the East coast tends to be very forward even if it is rude in the short term.

Neither I find better, just a. different way of behaving.

1 month ago

meaningless drivel

What are some quirks of your region?

Christopher Weeks wrote:People don't take the last of something communal. At a potluck, you can expect to see many dishes with tiny little portions left, no matter how popular because no one is allowed to take more than half of what's left. It's the Minnesotan version of Zeno's Paradox..

Interesting the potluck was original called the Potlatch and it started here in the PNW as a result of Alaskan natives raiding down the coast into the PNW in winter when food was hard to find. It started as the locals realized the were after food so they literally started throwing food at them. Later as it progressed they started trading and exchanging. Potlatches were an honor to see who could give away the most.

Nicole Alderman wrote:I think one of our weird linguistic things in the pacific northwest is that we call land isopods "potato bugs." Most places call them "woodlice" or "rolly polly" or "pill bug"

I call them woodlice or woodlouse, but that is due to me actually knowing what they are. BTW they are good eating when cooked and taste a little like shrimp. That said I have noticed in my travels and living all over the country that YES they call them different things in different places. Though I have noticed that there are outliers who call them differently than the people of that area.

1 month ago

meaningless drivel

What's the best spice?

So my feeling is that these is multiple classes of spices.

Sweet
Sour
Spicy
Salty

I think the debate on herbs vs minerals vs spice. I would say it depends on proportion. If it is a small amount compared to the whole then no matter it's source it's a spice as it is used to alter, accentuate, or improve the dish.

As we all know herbs and minerals are often called spices for these very reasons.

According to wiki spices are from plants, but it does not incude minerals which I do.

That said my favorite is curry, which is actually multiple spices combined.

2 months ago

cooking

Cool Tools, lesser known tools that can improve your life

So I wanted to let people know that if yur planning to buy a Prong tool you might want to do it. The owner passed away and the company is in uncertainty.

I will let this video from Self Sufficient Me's Youtube explain more

3 months ago

gear

Wheelbarrow vs 2-wheeled cart

I've gotten both the Gorilla Cart 4 wheeler and the Gorilla 2 wheel barrow.

I like them both. I'm planning to get a single wheel barrow for concrete as my old one got a hole that leaked concrete out with. The big reason I'm going with a single wheel is the are cheaper and it's just going to get coated in concrete.

4 months ago

haulers

You know you're a permie when...

You know you're a permie when before you even finish your house you make sure you has a fridge for your seeds working and stocked.

10 months ago

meaningless drivel