Matthew Nistico

Inge Leonora-den Ouden wrote:Added note: for gardening work I like 'coveralls', the kind of suit that covers all my other clothes. It has several advantages (keeps clothes clean, can be worn over as much or as little clothes as needed in every season).

I was surprised to read a couple women in this thread decrying that their coveralls don't fit them well.  A lot of women wear coveralls; there must be companies selling them in women's sizes, no?

Mk Neal wrote:I think I speak for many women when I say this poll is missing my most accurate answer “with my hips.”

I think that should fit within the "proper waist size" category, yes?

I just submitted a vote for "belt."  And truly, that is what I wear.  But if the OP had included a category for "bracers," I'd have been sorely tempted to give them my apple.

FYI, bracers are distinct from suspenders.  Suspenders clip onto your pants, any pants, while bracers attach via buttons (on the pants) and button holes (on the bracers).  Bracers are more spiffy looking in my opinion, and certainly more secure, though they do require suitably modified pants to use them with.

I do own some bracers, gifts from an old ex-GF who thought they were quirky-sexy.  I used to wear them on business trips.  Today, I only ever wear belts.  Wearing bracers while sitting in a wheelchair would just look pretentious as hell.  Though in truth, I wear belts often and for a very real purpose.  Even though I never stand up, scooting around on your ass all the time means your pants are even more prone to come off if they are at all loose around the waist.

Like the OP, I am also in Zone 8a.  Right on the border with 7.  I am currently on my 3rd attempt to establish Ostrich ferns on my property.  It is a challenge!

They really like cooler climates.  And they really like moister soil than what I have to offer.  But I have a deep shade spot - in the shadow of my home; gets just a couple of hours of sun each afternoon - that I don't know what else to do with except for ferns.  So I am trying all the deep mulch and summer irrigation I can and hoping to get a few past the establishment phase.

Will update if I can ever get any transplants to grow for longer than one season.

Lots of good advice here.  I particularly like Matthew Woods' advice, above, to reserve a little bit of space for some sort of aquatic system.  I hadn't immediately thought of that, but it it is true that they are inherently more productive than any terrestrial system.

You will need to layer your permaculture plan in time.  Perennial system elements are great at reducing required inputs, including your labor, but they won't be feeding your family this year.  Root crops and legumes are probably the easiest solutions for that.  Over time, you will rely less on those crops.  Just remember that how your property functions at first doesn't have to be how it functions forever.

I am intrigued by the "additional acreage" that you possess in steep native forest.  You didn't describe that space at all but, like others here have stated, I'd be interested in exploring the foraging potential there.  Also, a great way to expand your agroforestry potential without impinging on your 10 acres of prime crop/pasture land.  Find good trees among the native forest, possibly just near the edge where they are easiest to access, for pollarding to feed your animals.  Find or make little clearings and add productive trees of your own - hearty trees on their own roots that can compete with their native neighbors.  Find places to plant mushroom logs.  All this will add to the future foraging potential of those Zone 4/5 acres.

Sounds lovely.  But I hope that your homestead(s) are far from any cities.  I read that things are pretty crazy down there in recent years.  Have you seen any of that?  Just curious...

M Ljin wrote:I forgot to mention, mayapples are delicious!

I grew up seeing mayapples in the woods.  Didn't even know they actually produce an "apple."

Word of warning...  This is from Wikipedia, so take it as you will:

"All the parts of the plant are poisonous, including the unripe green fruit and perhaps the ripe fruit eaten in excess.[14][15][16]."

And further:

"Mayapple has been used by Indigenous Americans as an emetic, cathartic,[19] and antihelmintic agent.[19]"

None of those actions make me think "food."  They make me think "medicine," which has to be approached very differently, taken in different quantities than food, and for different reasons.

Marie, I am far from your part of the world.  And I'm guessing I am far from your age group.  But I sympathize with your problems and with your goals.  What you are seeking may be unusual these days, but it is not unreasonable and it is not unattainable.

Just wanted to wish you the best of luck!

Alina Green wrote:Some people buy chicken feet (aka "back scratchers"  haha) to add to bone broth, for the gelatin in all that skin and connective tissue...and toenails.  ugh.

Oh yes, they make a great addition!  If my freezer bag of accumulated bones and veggie scraps is at all short on bones, I will totally throw in some purchased chicken paws to round out the batch of bone broth.

Pigs feet would also make a great addition, but where I live chicken paws are cheaper.

Hi Michele, why don't you tell us where you are located now?  Or where you would like to settle?