tuffy monteverdi

I don’t like relish that’s made with vinegar but I love and make fermented things like kimchi all the time. I’m an addict. Cabbage, daikon and the cucumber varieties. All yummy. Esp with grilled cheese. And fried into an egg pancake with charred scallions.

Thekla McDaniels wrote:I have had Icelandic and Finn.  I haven’t noticed the fleece on my Finns being as markedly “double”.  Finns wool is not as finely crimped like Merino, it’s more “wavy”, not as tight a curl,  but it’s not itchy, it’s soft and lusterous.

Ah nice, thanks
Is it more like Shetland?

Samantha Lewis wrote:I have Finnsheep.  I really enjoy their wool for spinning and felting.

Finnsheep are a super interesting breed!
Is their wool double-coated like the other Northern Shorttail breeds?
(Meaning having both that soft undercoat and the more course, resistant outer coat…)

Thanks

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:

tuffy monteverdi wrote:...
I don’t know what clogmakers did before rubber was invented? Maybe used thick leather on the bottom of the wood sole?
....

I don't know what they did in other countries, but here in the Netherlands traditionally the wooden shoes are all one piece of wood, nothing else. When the underside has become thin, a new pair is needed. I saw an interview from the 'wooden shoe museum' and they told that a farmer needed a new pair of wooden shoes each month!

Ah ok👍
Thank you

Wool and linen for me. [edit: hemp and silk items too, for durability]. Made or bought in beautiful ways with quality fabric. Shoes and boots are leather or sheepskin and last forever. I don’t wear underwear. My stuff lasts a long time and I patch and remake much. That’s it for me.
My problem is I don’t get rid of things, or compost them, even if I don’t buy a lot. So clothing adds up. That’s something I should work on more👍

r ransom wrote:

But back to the boots.
What would I use for soles?  

Thick layers of leather? Glued or tacked or sewn w deep holes so string doesn’t wear out? I believe that is a very traditional way to make soles in Europe…?

Cécile Stelzer Johnson wrote:
…..In cold climates, they do not offer the comfort of a warm shoe/ boot that can cradle your foot and keep it warm and dry….
…Beside slipping, if you walk innocently and jam your foot in a rut, you could very easily get a twisted ankle, maybe a torn ligament….

Clogs can be made with full thickness (or double if needed) wool or sheepskin on top of the wooden footbed and the uppers too of course.

Being Scandinavian, I grew up wearing only clogs until I was about 10. And then on and off thereafter (I always have a pair, but not handmade unfortunately!) There was the summer pair with only leather slip-shoe uppers, and the winter pair that were fully sheepskin lined and made into boots. I think the wood soles in fact must be more insulating than rubber synthetic boots against the cold? Rubber outsoles though were indeed attached to the bottom of the wood for less slippage for the winter ones.

I don’t know what clogmakers did before rubber was invented? Maybe used thick leather on the bottom of the wood sole?


As far as foot injuries, twisting an ankle, etc, any shoe or boot can unfortunately cause this, because we’re not barefoot (and even then it can happen if one places the foot incorrectly on uneven ground). It’s about practice. As children, even the very very little ones, we ran around all day in slip-style clogs doing chores, making forts and running through fields. None of us ever had injuries. Nor did the adults who also wore them. But, being used to it, I suppose is the key. And it’s easier if one grows up with that.
My innate feeling of clogs is they are super stable.

We do
Sheepskin boots that are warm and practical, easy to slip on and off.

But not necessarily for earthquakes, tho that’s a great idea and that will become part of the reason now 👍

We do it because of fire possibilities, which we also have, and because we raise and keep animals both in our house and in the pastures/barn. One never knows when getting up to do or take care of something animal-related overnight is needed.

We also have to-go backpacks w clothing, and other necessities.

Thekla McDaniels wrote:Are alpaca good dairy animals?

In my experience, I would say alpacas are not dairy animals, no.

Can one milk them? Absolutely YES!

One can milk any animal. (If the animal is trained to it).
I milk my non-dairy breed of sheep. And I did milk my neighbor’s llama to help get colostrum to her cria (baby).

In other parts of the world, horses, camelids, caribou, yak, etc, are all milked.

It’s just that not a lot of milk is obtained in one milking session, and it’s also much harder to do, as the udders are very small, higher up, and teats are much smaller than our domestic cows, goats, and sheep - most especially dairy bred ruminants.

One can buy branded camel milk actually, so it’s certainly possible to milk camelids. I suspect that there may be camel breed lines or varieties that are higher producing than others.
https://desertfarms.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorzkkLgKg6SKBNKcCpzL6u8KtfZKdeeKV2PuMES5owmU4MIj4Qp


By the way:
‘Dairy’ is a standard agricultural term that refers to breeds specifically bred for high quantity milk production, as opposed to meat or wool. A few examples of these breeds:
Cows: Holstein, Jersey
Goats: Saanen, Nigerian Dwarf
Sheep: East Freisian, Assam, Awassi, Lacaune

It doesn’t mean other animals can’t be milked though, or that they don’t produce fairly well, especially Maternal breeds - another standard term.
(Dorset sheep and Icelandic sheep - would be examples of Maternal breeds not bred specifically for dairy, and nowhere near as productive as a dairy breed, but who can produce a fair amount of milk).

Cara Cee wrote:
It's not easy to find pants, especially, that are all natural, and 100% cotton jeans are few and far betweenc!

Levi’s still have 100% cotton jeans both new on their website, and used. They also have 100% cotton tshirts and jackets as well.
There are also lots of small vendors that sell 100% cotton as well.