Ted Davis

When I struggled with plantar fasciitis last season, what helped most was consistently stretching my calves and rolling the soles of my feet over a frozen water bottle. Switching to more supportive shoes with good arch support and doing gentle foot exercises like picking up marbles with my toes also seemed to speed healing. Friends have had success with comfrey salve massages too, but the daily stretching and rest were key for me.

I've made a simple rinse by steeping whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and a few drops of peppermint oil in boiled water, then letting it cool before straining. It makes a refreshing mouthwash with mild antibacterial properties. You can also mix a pinch of sea salt and baking soda in warm water for a quick rinse to help balance mouth pH and freshen your breath without any synthetic ingredients.

I hear you about wanting to avoid concrete. In our root cellar we had the same dust problem, so we went with an earthen floor mix of clay, sand and chopped straw. Tamped it really well and let it cure before sealing with a few coats of boiled linseed oil and beeswax. It looks nice and earthy but doesn’t kick up dust like raw dirt. Another option is to put down a layer of pea gravel and pavers – good for drainage and it keeps shoes clean without resorting to cement.

Yellow jackets can be tough to deal with when they decide to nest in your hugel bed. I've had them settle in compost piles and raised beds before. One approach that worked for us was covering their entrance with a glass bowl at dusk when they’re less active and gently packing soil around the edge. After a day or two they gave up and moved on. We also set out simple vinegar and sugar traps nearby to reduce the population. Hopefully they vacate so you can enjoy your sweet potatoes without conflict.

That's an amazing harvest! I've struggled with sweet potatoes in my own garden, usually getting skinny tubers. Your observation about choosing a sunnier, warmer spot and building a small terrace with logs is really helpful. I'm going to try planting them in a raised, south-facing bed next season and hopefully they'll thrive. Congrats on the success!

Thanks for the detailed explanation about multigerm beet seeds and the packaging. I always wondered why some seed packets seem to have clusters of seeds. Good to know the little nubbins can produce multiple sprouts. Speaking of packaging, I've been looking for ways to reduce waste in my garden and kitchen, so I'm always on the lookout for companies that use recyclable materials. I recently bought some storage containers from brandmydispo and was pleasantly surprised by how durable and eco-friendly they feel, which fits nicely with my permaculture values. It's the little things like this that make the hobby even more enjoyable.

I love stumbling across unusual maps too! It's amazing how many stories a map can tell. One of my favorites is a rainfall map of the U.S. that shows how precipitation varies across regions — you can really see patterns you wouldn't notice otherwise. Thanks for sharing these great finds!

Interesting to see researchers dive into the physics of knitting. When you knit, you can feel how each loop affects the tension and structure of the fabric, but it's wild to think of it in terms of materials science. I imagine understanding these dynamics could lead to innovations in technical textiles and maybe even inspire new patterns for hobby knitters like us.

Thank you for sharing your experience! I'm in the same boat after our chestnut harvest—some of the nuts did not peel fully and I wasn't sure what to do. Hearing that simmering them and leaving the skins on still yields good flavor is reassuring. I guess I can just incorporate them into soups and stews as-is, maybe blending them to smooth out any bits. I appreciate the tip about rosemary too. I'll have to try it in our next batch.

Taking a break from news has been so helpful for me too. I noticed that when I stop doomscrolling and focus on my homestead and hobbies I feel less anxious and more present. I tend to pick up my guitar or work in the garden instead, and it’s amazing how much more peaceful life feels without the constant stream of headlines.