Joe Netzl

Adam Swenson wrote:I'm going to go out on a thin limb here and say I don't use toothpaste. At all. For over a year now.

I don't use toothpaste either...for years and I've never had a cavity. My tooth care is not very impressive, I suppose it's more like a freak show. I have to admit it is fun to see how shocked people can be about it.

We'll see who gets the last laugh when my teeth finally fall out I guess, but for now they work pretty good I think. They don't look half bad either.

H Ludi Tyler wrote:
Any suggestions on how to get the neighbors to stop wasting resources?

Maybe you could show them how costly poor land management is and how beneficial good land management is. Share the produce and the information behind it. Show them what rich soil looks like, etc.

Folks spend comparable amounts time and money on their yard and have little to show for it. Most don't even use their yards for anything. I see zero-turn mowers everywhere...I say, for a couple thousand dollars you could do a lot better.

John Polk wrote:
This subject can be a two-edged sword.  In an urban/suburban neighborhood, if we are not in harmony with our neighbors to a certain extent, we are not in harmony with nature.  Being in harmony with the microbes, insects and other wildlife is a mute point if we live in constant conflict with the human element.

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I don't mean to be rude, but trying to appease the wrong, the vain, the "human element" is worse than fruitless and has nothing to do with nature (unless you think everything is natural maybe). The neighbors should stop wasting resources (land, water, fuel, etc.) instead, then all our lives would improve - and not just in the superficial sense that they would the other way around. Its rather disgusting to think the permaculturist should have to, in part, become wrong to be "right".

If you keep the post dry it won't rot. Moisture can move through soil though, sideways and upways, even if you have drains some could probably still get around to your post. An untreated cedar or black locust post would surely last a while. If you wanted to use a easy to rot piece of wood maybe it could be coated or charred or something like that?
Another question you could consider, will it be replaceable in the event that it does rot or is eaten by termites?
Also, could you build a barrier for the post that could break up capillary action - like setting it in gravel or something more complex.

Hello, first time poster here. I was wondering if it would be possible to train a goat to avoid poisonous plants - by feeding/introducing small quantities of poisonous plants (like mtn. laurel). If deer in the wild can learn it, maybe goats can too with my help?