danny doud

Soil extension office would have soil maps and someone that can read them. This is critical to find depth of soil (before rock) for foundation plans like basement. Also, soils are critical to find if there is any grey clay in the area. Grey clay absorbs water, swells and shrinks and is killer on foundations. If there is any evidence of grey clay, the best insurance is to plan on doubling your footer. So if standards call for 18"x 24", make it 36" x 48" (I am not kidding).

Search for tax records:  search internet based on your county name and GIS. There should be a link for Parcel Viewer (ISV). This is typically a free viewer to look at tax records. You can go to the map and find the location or enter a owners last name many times names are common so you have to sort it out with the map.

Welcome, I am soon to build a greenhouse like this attached to my shop. I want to learn the best way to heat in mild zone 7 winters to support the current aquaponics system I will be building around. I am thinking of the buried pipe and black water filled barrels.

Thanks for putting out info to help us, Danny

I planted my trees close together on micro swales and they are semi's. They are well mulched with wood chips and have extreme growth even through a drought. I am ready for the first pruning and wondering if there is a strategy for closely planted trees?  They are all in rows angled toward S-SW direction. Rows are about 15 feet apart. Should I just take some height off the straight up central branch for the first year and worry about shaping next year?

Thanks for any guidance

Man I would love some of those cards. They look Bad

Welcome, I am in progress on a half hoop greenhouse off my shop on east side with south and east exposure. I have a basic hoop covering aquaponics system now, but working on final. Any thoughts on double layer design with positive pressure (is it worth it)? Glad to have you in the permies forum. Danny

Thanks for the book. I am not quite done, but it is awesome so far. People I have told about it love the title as well.

Question, I have a remote cabin and would like to level it on a new foundation. How would you approach this task if it is really hard to hire anyone local?

I am in 7b North Alabama and have the brown figs and they do great. Should have full sun, mine fruited the second year. I will share cutting if you like...Danny

Awesome,
I listened to your Ted Talk. Amazing about the teacher. I was a Boy Scout Scoutmaster and that was what I had with my troop for a short time. I did nothing the senior patrol leader ran everything other than minor consult. That is the definition of a "Boy lead troop".
Stories are awesome. I tell a lot and my buddy tells a ton. My wife calls them "Man Stories" when she gets tired of us telling them.

Welcome aboard to permies

I have no patience, one has come up again, there is hope. Thanks all for chilling me out...

I am zone 7 (maybe b) in north alabama on top of hill ~750 elevation. It surprised me because the first two years they went gang buster. Maybe the cold winter did get them due to being raised an not enough mulching.