Jack Edmondson

Anne,

Thank you for putting your time and knowledge out there for everyone.  That certainly deserves an 'apple'.  I wish I could attend but time zones and schedules don't mesh.  it would be great if it could be recorded and put up on a service somewhere for future reference.

Best wishes on your webinar, I hope it reaches a wide audience.

Anne,

how do you access the internet?  Do you have wifi?  A quick internet search tells me an Iphone 6 is wifi capable.  If you use your iphone to make a call while you are on the internet then you don't use your phone service or your minutes...so free.

Look in your 'settings' icon for wifi.  find your router name and log in like your computer does.  Once you are connected you will no longer send and recieve via phone service.

I spent some time volunteering at and even on the board of directors for a food bank.  I would not do the board group again.  Still volunteer in community  shelters and donate to food banks.

I will offer this.  Most of the people I encountered in food banks were not people unwilling to work, but who had limited options to work.  Yes, there were some on other programs designed for assistance.  Most were not.  It is easier to go to Walmart and swipe a SNAP card for exactly what you selected from the shelf than go and pick up some staples at the food bank.  Most people at the food bank were working people whom just could not get ends to meet or keep them tied together when they could.  Working poor is the more common demographic at the food bank.  (Cerainly some overlap with single parent households using WIC and other programs)

What I wish I could have achieved at the food bank was making the fresh food you describe the norm and not the off the shelf, boxed, pre-packaged "food" that is a large part of the Western diet.  I was in a minority on that and a few other opinions, so bowed out of my role.  However, if you have an outlet that is willing to do 'real food', then I would strongly encourage you to pursue the opportunity.  I would suggest you explore the organizations you want to help to see if they actually see it as help.  Volunteer 'on the front line' to get a measure of the clientele, and also the need.  1 or 2 afternoons working with the group will give you a good idea of how you fit into their plan.  

And thank you.  The world needs more people whom will "do for others".  The need is certainly there.  There are abuses.  But volunteering should be for you, first and foremost.  (feed your soul.)  Then you will find the right need that you can fill for others.

no shade against vetch.  I just don't have experience with it (yet.)  However vetch is in the mix I posted from Green Cover seed.  

ceral rye will be done by may (in kansas) and something else will have to take its place.  I suggested it combined with winter clover as it is reported to give the highest tonnage forage for a cool season green manure.  It is not perennial so perhaps a bad suggestion.  Sainfoin and alfalfa may be your best perennials mixed with cool and warm season clovers as reseeders.  

I don't know how red river crabgrass does in your area.  It will go in zone 6.  I don't know how productive it would be in the winter, but gives a lot of good tonnage in summer.  

Red River Crabgrass is commonly found throughout Nebraska, south and east to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Red River is adapted to many soil types, but will grow best on sandy and clay loam soils that have good drainage. Great for revitalizing pastures, Crabgrass can be utilized as both hay and grazing. This variety of crabgrass will produce highly digestible forage and high crude protein content. Non-GMO.

Planting Rate: 5-8 lbs per acre

Planting Date: Spring, Summer & Early Fall

Planting Methods:  Ideal pH 6.0-7.0. Seed must be placed in a depth range on the soil surface up to no more than ½ inch deep. Best planted on a very good fine, firm, freshly finished seedbed by broadcast and drag or shallow no-till drill after soil temperatures are 65 and rising. Easy double cropping with cool season annual grasses and legumes.

Care: Graze when grass reaches 6-8 inches. Best known for its ability to spread and regrow after grazing, if allowed to go to seed will germinate as a volunteer forage the following year.

A repeating muti season green manure may be the holy grail for permaculture.   I will be interested to see what solutions you find.

For your zone, I would pick cereal rye and clover.  If you had longer growing seasons sunn hemp and sorgham sudan grass.  If you are looking at perenials don't forget alfalfa.  

Green cover seeds has an over winter and a cool season soil builder mix he may want to check out.  Good diversity, low cost.  keeps roots in the ground from fall to spring.  overwinter mix

I have one and use it regularly.  Slow, but orders of magnatide easier and faster than swinging a maul.  My only complaint is (like most imported tools) is a lack of parts to service.  Mine has developed a leak in the pressure seal.  I will have to break the cylider down and go into NAPA and match up a seal, rather than having a part number or ability to order a part from a service/support team.

I would recommend to anyone who hates to swing a maul; but does not want to invest in a motorized hydraulic splitter.  

If you are going for manual operation, I would suggest considering a rotary design to take advantage of the fly wheel effect.  on woody material you may find a lot of brute force necessary to make each cut.  However if your blade/s are on a disk you can use the momentum of mass to help with each cut.

I have never used a fodder chopper, but have seen round wheels with blades cut in the faceplate, cheese grater style.  The mechanica advantage can be increase by the size of the belt pulleys on the drive and axial pulleys like a bike chain drive.  

Not a birder, but I am going to guess Cooper's Hawk.

When my dogs get picky, I make white rice or sweet potatoes.  I will put 3 to 5 pounds of potatoes in the instapot for 25 minutes.  Makes them nice and soft.  I leave them in the fridge and mass one up at dinner time.  Always gets well received; and not expensive.