Anne Miller

My preferred way to start seeds is in the garden.

If I feel that they need help sprouting, I use the paper towel method in a plastic bag.

A west porch will be shading in the morning and sunny in the afternoon.  

An east porch will be sunny in the morning and shady in the afternoon.

I feel you picked the best porch for starting them.

Welcome, it is good to have you join us here at permies!

I am looking forward to learning more about Edible Yard and the plants that will work in an edible yard.

Thanks for the tip, Phil.  Great to know!

I didn't see any potatoes though I will check the next time I water.

I totally failed at mounding!

1) I could only mound the plants at the end of the rows.

2) I didn't have any straw so I had to use dirt.

3) When I watered, I use a sprinkler on low, and usually water until the bed is flooded about 10 - 15 minutes.  

4) The sprinkler washed way my mounds.

5) I feel I will still get potatoes just not as many and maybe small.  I will find out someday!  

We have a similar problem, we have a/c though our machine room doesn't have any a/c.  Weather forecast is "excessive heat warnings" with triple digits.

Our problem is all the machines are starting to overheat. If the one for our phone system goes out we will be without any phone service.

I suggested freezing bottles of water, then have a fan blowing over the frozen bottles.  That would help cool the room.  This might be something that might work for you.

Here is how to make a DIY swamp cooler:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Swamp-Cooler-1/




Here are some pictures I found on Pinterest to give you some ideas:

Hand washing with a little vinegar or even handwashing in just plain water would work fine, just hang outside on the line to let the sun do her magic.

I have been washing my clothes in vinegar for at least four years. I rinse them in plain water with no softening stuff. I am happy with the results.  After hanging them in the sun the clothes have a nice fresh scent like line-dried items.

I use 1 cup vinegar to a load.

Acetic acid (aka white vinegar)is a disinfectant.

Lately, I have been making Potato Corn Chowder.



I basically make the potato soup:

I cooked three diced potatoes, half a diced onion, and a stalk of celery with the leaves that I sliced thin.  Cooked these until the potato was cooked.  I removed the potato and left the onion and celery in the pan.  Melted a couple of tablespoons of butter and added a couple of tablespoons of flour.  When the flour-butter mixture started to brown I added a cup of milk then stirred until it thicken and added the potatoes and enough milk to cover the mixture.

While this was thickening, add salt and pepper to taste.

Then I add a can of whole kernel corn.  I would use fresh corn if I had some.



I sometimes add some ham:



It is also good with smoked sausage:

Happy National Kitty Day


What is more fun than playing with some kittens on National Kitten Day!






And since it is also National Pina Colada Day, here are some kittens drinking pina coladas:





https://permies.com/t/143663/Happy-National-Pina-Colada-Day

Happy National Pina Colada Day!




This is the day to celebrate Pina Colada

Let's get out the pineapple juice, a can of cream of coconut and light rum to celebrate National Pina Colada day



Here's a recipe:  https://www.thespruceeats.com/pina-colada-cocktail-recipe-759330

Maybe make a pina colada dessert or snack on pina colada jelly beans.




Piña Colada Frozen Dessert

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/pina-colada-frozen-dessert/c60688ef-0744-42ac-a1d6-32d2d29b4e0a




Piña Colada Dessert Squares

https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/pina-colada-dessert-squares/089ae645-6111-48da-95a5-c01f9213ecd9


Here are some threads you might enjoy:

https://permies.com/t/26147/permaculture-projects/food-drink-project#206334

https://permies.com/t/40/68024/favorite-adult-beverage#1057096

https://permies.com/t/21252/hooch#175365