Suzette Thib

How is this experiment going? I am so impressed and inspired!

My son grows peppers and they love the raised beds of peppers, which comparatively in the veggie world can take pretty dry conditions. He has figured out that a steady tiny small stream set in the middle of the bed/ pot/ etc drives all of the fire ants out. I have adopted it for my compost too because of what you are mentioning. If one night doesn't do it, we increase the flow ever so slightly and do another night. Hoping you have water access that would allow you this experiment! Best of luck. And like many permies say, the problem is often speaking to you. I do find when they arrive it is because my compost is not adequately moist. Also they do a brilliant job of turning clay soil into workable Earth, for what its worth those mean ants do have a place and are communicating to us stewards!

Very excited to try out this book! Thankfully the library has it.

Ulla, thank you for including your lot size! That is very helpful / hopeful for me! I am impressed by how many farm animals you keep. Congratulations on the lbs and lbs of harvest!

French press (stainless steel) sometimes we grind whole bean, usually we buy it ground. Love New Orleans blend (coffee and chicory).

@TimothyNorton

Germinating flower seeds seems to be next level super powers! I sow and sow veggies after sowing flowers and then remember, oh my! There might be flowers here. haha! I would definitely love some quality starts - hope they go great for you!

Trying out bush beans, especially Blue Lake 274 and Dragon's Tongue. Hoping for lots and lots of green beans to eat and put away! Also hoping to try many varieties of Japanese turnips!

I have had inconsistent success using dock leaves on small areas where I bumped or rubbed on poison ivy. Has anyone else had success consistently with dock? We went all out on it this winter but as expected it is popping up out of the ground with a vengeance.

Very grateful for the resources here!

Mike Barkley wrote:Going to try some moringa from seeds. Also some alpine strawberries. Have never grown strawberries from seeds before.

On a similar theme ... I built a squash tunnel this year. Have wanted one since the first time I learned of that technique. It will have butternut squash, yard long beans, Dragon's Tongue beans, cucumbers, & probably a few tomatoes climbing on it.

The alpine strawberries took very very long to germinate but I finally got two plants out of an entire seed pack. The two plants multiplied and in less than a year we have 11 plants. They have to be divided, no runners. They are so delicious it is nothing like a store-berry. :-)