Phil Clove

I haven't purchased the land yet. Though, I am looking in northwest Oregon, which is zone 8b. The reason I was asking about the drainage was that the precipitation is 80 inches a year there.

When I make hugel beds, should I make them in the fall so that they could 'charge' from the winter precipitation then plant them in the following spring? What is the optimal amount of precipitation for a hugel bed in a year? Is there a point that there is too much precipitation or would I simply need to put rocks or gravel under the logs to help them drain the excess water? Finally, should I wait until the logs are weathered such that the nitrogen levels are higher? or, should I add extra manure to the soil?

Does anyone know of any building workshops coming up? I was dismayed to find that Aprovecho is not providing any courses this year and am looking for a course that is similar to what they typically provide. Here is a link to their website: http://www.aprovecho.net/programs/natural-building-programs/

So; stretches, electroshock, and massages: seems obvious, I should've guessed as much. Though, I am happy to know that I won't be the only one; this gives me the sense that establishing a permaculture system is within my abilities. Thanks, everyone!

I am interested in developing a permaculture system. Has anyone done this with some measure of back pain? I have some after an amount of strenuous activity. After the initial setup, is there much I have to be concerned about?

The vicuna produce a very fine wool that is highly valued. I want to find a way to pasture them at a lower elevation than they are used to in the Andes.

Does anyone know if these animals could live at lower elevations than they're used to in the Andes? Also, how does the wool turn into fiber?

I am wanting to grow Italian Stone pines on a terraced/swale system of a south-facing hill. Do I need excavation equipment to make this? If so, what are the alternatives to getting large machinery? Is there possibly machinery that I could walk behind that is used for digging? Also, could I grow the pines in hardiness zone 4 or 5? Are there hardy varieties of the Italian Stone pine? When the pines are tall, is harvest done from the tops or from the dropped cones? What are the ways to harvest large amounts of the nuts from cones and then the seed husks?

Much of them are legumes with pods, as far as I know, but are there any that disperse with the wind?

Could gappers and/or bootcampers participate in classes and workshops through volunteering? I am wanting to come there to have an immersive experience that is going to expand my knowledge in permaculture and natural building.