David Nicholls

thanks for explanation, would not have guessed post was in wrong place, assumed content undesirable in some way, so that's good.

I'm a bit perplexed my topic under "Permaculture" called "Another likely cause of descent" (or something like that) was deleted, after a few likes. Deemed off topic or too political I assume, I notice your site is not very political. You might retain contributors if you explained reasons for deletion or directed to guidelines if there are any.  

I thought this recent alarming You Tube video:

What the Disappearance of Insects Means for Humanity and the Earth with Oliver Milman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3auCYkPpoc&t=9s

seemed likely to be of interest to some permies,

He talks about modern monoculture farming as major culprit in dangerous decline of insect numbers. Diverse home gardens are good, ironically making most cities better places for insects. Also "untidy", "messy" nature- fallen leaves, rotting logs  etc best for insects

"To stop the draft at the top when the curtains are closed, a pelmet over the gap can help, or make sure the curtain brushes the ceiling or top of the window aperture. Pearl had a good idea which seemed to work even when the curtains are open at the bottom: https://permies.com/t/237768/Waterfalls-Odd-window-insulation-working . It slows the flow of cold air off the bottom of the window making draughts in the room, and can easily be rigged up with a bit of stiff card.."

to stop heat escaping, cold entering, at top of thermal curtain think I'll put the rail 8 or more inches above top of window, at bottom think I'll make curtain too long, so it drags on ground......?  

Perhaps with a tall tree crop canopy Morrows Honeysuckle & Japenses barberry could be tolerated, ignored or periodically slashed into mulch. I see Oriental bittersweet climbs to 60 ft, vines are one thing I kill by hand, seems no other way unless that gene targeting virus  in last James Bond movie, No Time to Die, is developed.

That's a pity

Yes I intend to get thermal curtains in lounge, and was thinking about the gaps a top and bottom.

One permanent solution to weeds originally mentioned, multiflora rose, honey suckle, Japanese  barberry, Oriental bittersweet etc, is shading them out as you mentioned, they all like sun I think.

You could plant usefuk trees for a canopy, then full shade tolerant edible plants or mushroom or fungi in understory. Might take a long time to get a canopy main problem.

My place has an area of mature holly, ilex aquifolium, growing wild, only a few shade loving native edible ferns growing underneath and no weeds at all. Mosty bare earth. I decided to leave them there as they are holding  up the bank even though a mild stimulant leaf tea ( containing theobromine, like cocoa )is their only use I can see.

I have spent a lot of time reading up on full and deep shade edibles, there are many but mostly little known, such as broad buckler fern, ginseng, umbrella plant and palor & pacaya palm- the flower shoot is a commercial crop in Central America, and many others.

Mostly doing well.

I don't know if this would suit your site or intentions, but one way of avoiding weeding sun lovers IF you don't enjoy weeding.

I have black plastic tubs, one quite large and half wine barrels primarily because looking at water is calming, pleasing and to grow aquatic edible plants. I really had to use plastic as my section is too steep, above a road to make a natural pond. Black also raises the temperature of the water.

Many birds come and drink from them and bathe in them. I was also very pleased to see they attract dragonflies. I am hoping they will lay their eggs in them, the aquatic  nymphs of many are used as food by traditional cultures. No record of this with the ones around here but am going to try them if I can.

My tubs are really the focal point of my garden/ forest, I gaze at them a lot.