Nancy Reading

Given that this thread was started in late October, I wouldn't worry too much about the yellowing leaves, just looks like autumn to me!

Interesting that the comments say that chestnust prefer acidic soil, as I thought that was one reason my trees (European chestnut) haven't been doing so well. My soil is rather shallow, but generally moist, so I don't think drought is my problem either. I came to the conclusion that chestnuts just don't like Skye.

E Nordlie wrote:does anyone here know more specifically what medicines might be problematic, or in which contexts?  

I don't know. I always think if it is going to be filtered by healthy soil biota (if) then there is not much to worry about. Some medicines getting into groundwater or run off can be more problematic - I believe even caffeine is very persistent.

Oh I've broken a few forks - usually through misuse (and yes stainless tines are brittle!). I've learnt not to use my digging fork for prising rocks or trees out of the soil. I have a mattock which is a far better tool for that job.



They look like a pickaxe, but have wider heads for cutting and chopping, but are long enough to pry with too. I gather they may also be called a polaski in the USofA.

So much great design in this permaculture site; Permaculture Island on the Isle of Wight, UK:

In no particular order, these caught me eye:

Elevated night time shelter for chickens (avoiding predators and never needing cleaning out - I wonder whether it is effective against stoats and mink?)
Integrated animal systems (pigs and chickens and goats)
Donated community green waste for mulch and animal feed
Totally off grid electric system with walk in converted lorry larder (using ventilation cooling in winter and shading in summer)
Wicking beds using grey water from house
Sunken greenhouse with more wicking beds fed by rainwater catchment



They are on a sloping site and use mulch and trees to mitigate landslip risks.



More on their website

One of my new garden resolutions is to use my urine more effectively in the garden. Our indoor toilet is attached to a sceptic system, so my nutrients are lost a little there. I do wee direct outside, but not on my crops as yet.
It is interesting that adding woodash gives a more balanced fertiliser, and it's all free....

I think all parts of all alliums are edible, most of them are pretty tasty too!

Correction - the tray is removeable! I was looking for makers' marks and turned the table on it's side, having removed the glass surfaces, and the tray fell out! What I thought were welds were just blobs of paint.
I couldn't see any maker's marks though. The wrought iron is bent into the shape of stylised tulips. I guess the table could be factory made. I can't find anything similar on a web search.