Dot Gorale

Hi Kaylee!  I get what you are saying.  I live about 2 hours south of you.  I'll send you an email.

Hello Hoosiers!  I am just over the border in MI, slightly north of south bend/mishawaka IN.  If anyone is in the area let me know.  
I bought a house on 1 acre over a year ago and I've been playing around outside a bit while working a full time job.

testing pic upload

It's been a year since I posted about this and I wanted to share a great update....my neighbor moved his burn cans!  SUCCESS!!  Woo hooo

Thanks permies for the advice and support.  I feel like I have more space to grow things now.

Jeffrey that sounds so wonderful.  I would definitely like to learn from you and your wife, and in general make some permie friends in real life.
I live about 40 minutes away from three rivers.  I moved to michigan last year and this is my first time trying to actually grow things.  I have a few berries and bushes going and I'm experimenting with other stuff on my 1 acre lot.

If you and Renee are interested in meeting up let me know.  It's good to know like minded people are near by.  

Hey!  I just moved to Michigan a few months ago and I've been learning about permaculture and loving nature for many years now.  I finally have some property to try things out on.  I am pretty far south in the state (Cassopolis area) but maybe we can meet in the center someday?  

Thanks Anne and John.  I appreciate your thoughtful replies.  

Anne, I hadn't thought about the gas service person or utility maintenance needing that open access.  That's a good point.  I was quite focused on what is going on below ground.  

John, that is an option to talk to the neighbor.  I'm kind of trying to approach this lightly with the neighbor.  I don't want to start a riff with anyone but I'd also like to take care of my area.  
I'm gonna noodle on the idea of catching the rainfall.  I'm not sure yet how that's all gonna go.  That might be for year 2 on the property.

Hi All,

I recently purchased a home and some land in SW Michigan and I'm really excited to get things started.  Being a new homeowner....I have a few questions I hope you all can help me out with.

1.  How close to the foundation of the home can I plant things?  Right now 3 of the 4 sides of the house already have about a foot of rubber material and stones on top of that.  Can I start planting right outside of this foot perimeter?  Maybe short rooted things?

2.  How much space should I leave around utilities and an LP gas tank (and a sewer valve pop-up)?  I'm imagining pipes and things underground that I probably want to avoid.  I'm not sure if I need to avoid planting in the whole area.  (I'll try to include pics here to help)

3.  My neighbor burns trash right up against our property line and the plumes of smoke are going where I expect to plant my food.  Is there any shrub or tall plant that I can grow to filter this/protect my space?  Some of the stuff that's burning is pretty gross.  I've seen plastic bottles from car oil, tin, other plastics, etc.  I'll try to include some pics here.

Thank you!

Hello WI permies!  I am currently in IL but looking for property up there in your nice state.  I hope to you join you all soon in permi adventures in WI.

Shout out to the Antioch people.  I lived there over the winter at my friend's place.  It's a nice area.