Mary Haasch

Mary Haasch wrote:At this very moment I have no idea what I would use the hand weeding sickle for because I have yet to move to my future forest garden. The move will happen in about 3 weeks and I expect there will be more uses for the hand sickle than I have time to do especially since first frost can happen in September in the northwoods of Wisconsin (Zone 4b and on the border with 5a). The land around the cabin has been mostly untouched for the last 50 years or more but it does have some struggling blueberries and other wild edibles like the winter fern and wintergreen as a starting point. The soil is sandy and I expect it will need a lot of care to build up a fertile base. By the time the land and cabin become an inheritance I hope to have a food forest capable of some self-sufficiency so a lot of composting, planning, planting and weeding in my future. I can't wait (well except for all the packing and moving and unpacking).

I really can't believe it's been 3 years. I moved to NE Wi and I bought two additional pieces of land. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing me as one of the winners of this amazing and wonderful tool. This tool has become my most used tool and has saved me more than once when I've used it to clean around a new planting or cut down something for a chop and drop. I keep it handy at all times. As much as I use it, the tool stays sharp enough and I've used it as a hoe of sorts. I admit that it's sharp enough that I worry I'll make a mistake and end up doing myself some damage but so far I've avoided that. A lot of times I run into problems with stubborn roots and this tool always does the job. Just like shown in the video, I do sharpen and oil it before putting it away using a TreeHugger oil on it when I put it away for the season. The tool is perfect and waiting for me the next spring. Had I not won the tool I may have never thought of it again and I can't say enough about how useful it's proven to be for me and although I'll never really know, it's probably saved me a lot of frustration.

I want a sauna. Looked at the plans quickly. This is a great heater but what about the heated rocks to splash with water to increase the humidity?

These are really nice! I love the cat warmer even though I have dogs.

I'm wondering what would make more sense in a cold climate, or as many will be experiencing more often, a too hot climate compared to historic norms, that is trenching or geothermal heat pumps, or perhaps a combination? The trench makes some sense as presented in the Russian citrus growing along with the other citrus plant modifications they employed. I would surmise that the geothermal heat pump method would require a structure and adequate insulation, air/water circulation and passive solar in cold climates. Perhaps a trench would be helpful in hot climates, although a structure might be equally effective (?). Where I live any trench deep enough to have fairly stable surrounding soil temperatures would need to be at least 30 feet deep. That might need some special means to have sunlight or grow lights. A geothermal loop would have to be about 200 - 300 feet per system ton. I'm just not clear on all of the trade-off costs, conveniences and efficiencies. The Russian system wasn't designed to provide somewhat stable temperatures but was instead designed primarily for only not freezing temperatures. Interestingly, stable temperatures would eliminate the necessity of plant adaptations through selection. Stable temperatures would be quicker but plant attribute selection might be more adaptable to changing climate?

Wow! Can't wait to see more of these innovations.

There is so much information in this thread over so many years it's going to take some time to try to digest and organize all of it. I recently purchased about 40 acres of re-growth after the land was forested about 30 years ago. I envision a multi-purpose food forest incorporating managed horse pasture and leaving room for the white-tail deer, the red foxes, the black bear momma, the wild turkeys, the grouse and anything else I don't know about, yet. There are 4 deer stands. There are open areas of native grasses, hazelnuts, and blueberries. It's mostly flat with a rise almost through the middle and a steep hill on the west side. There are two areas with road access but no roads through the land although there are two tracks for a truck or ATV/UTV around and two go through in the N-S direction. There may be one through the middle going E-W but it is somewhat overgrown. The tracks are pretty straight. I'd like to use them but make them with curves which is attractive to the grouse. The land is, in my eyes, a paradise and already an oasis for wildlife surrounded by planted pines on the east and south and some on the north boundaries with neighbors across the road on the west. A river is about 0.5 miles away to the east and north, some of which is a designated trout stream. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

I don't have a clue about the comparison but it was interesting reading.

I'm just starting out and have planted 24 Elderberry cuttings, 8 each of 3 cultivars. I was wondering if there are any companion plants that would help the elderberries but not out-compete them? Or maybe it would be good neighbors for the elderberries? I was advised to plant them at least 4 feet apart with 12 feet between the rows and to plant the rows to facilitate wind pollination. That's a lot of space that I'd like to use wisely perhaps on the order of the 3 sisters. Does anything come to mind?

Helen,
Welcome and thank you for your book. I'm just getting started and in addition to your answer to a question I can't imagine a better resource to think of every decision I make as part of the ecosystem. I have a ton of questions and will single it down for the small farm topic. Thank you again!

thomas rubino wrote:Hi Mary;
These are cool! I have never heard of them before.
I'm thinking that an RMH might cook those eggs rather than keep them warm!
However, using one that shares its heat with your chicken coop might make your hens happy girls.
Happy warm chickens produce lots of tasty farm eggs!

I can hardly eat those pale yellow things that come from a carton anymore, I'm kinda spoiled!
Nothing like a real farm egg, with a glass of cold Jersey cow milk on the side.
Add some freshly baked bread slathered with homemade butter and bacon/sausage from your home-raised piggies...
Living the good life for sure!

Hello Thomas, I was definitely worried about too much heat, also, which is why I mentioned sharing the heat. Your idea of sharing with the chickens is a good one!

You made my mouth water with your description of the good life, I'm getting there. I don't have chickens but will someday. I totally agree with no longer liking the things in a carton from the store. Mine come from a neighbor. I especially liked your bacon seeds.