Paula Broadfoot

James Landreth wrote:I think the biggest thing that people don't think about is water. Many people don't think about the fact that their water source is dependent on electricity. I see a lot of really wonderful farms that are sustainable in many ways but don't have a secure water source. Water isn't just about hydration and hygiene. Growing food requires it in many, many circumstances. I don't know of anyone whose diet is significantly made up of food that wasn't irrigated. Many people are trialing growing orchards from seed with no water, which is cool, but no one currently eats a big proportion if their diet from it, that I know of.

Even irrigating from a pond requires electricity. And if the grid is down, it's likely that maintaining or buying new solar panels will not be feasible

For those with a well, you might consider a Brumby pump that works on Venturi principle to move water, and is driven by an air compressor, which could be hooked to a solar panel.  They use these in third world countries, and
have also been used in remote areas to water livestock.  There's no moving parts, nothing to wear out, and it is easy to install.
https://www.brumbypumps.com/products

On the advice of someone on one of these forums, I bought a "corn knife" from Tractor Supply.  It makes short work of chopping comfrey, and is reasonably priced.  Actually, very inexpensive, at less than $13.
We'll see how it holds up!
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/groundwork-corn-knife

Dana Martin wrote:

Paula Broadfoot wrote:I love creeping jenny as a ground cover.  Supposed to be good for wounds, but it can also be invasive.  Not a problem where I am letting it run.

Is that the same plant as bind weed "Convolvulus arvensis"? I have this morning glory ALL OVER! It is the bane of my existence! I have been struggling with that plant from hell for 12 years now. I would recommend anyone not to let that devil weed get out of control. I swear if you sit long enough at my place you will have one if not 2 of those devil plants trying to climb you. My poor clover is gets choked out by that stuff. I spend at least 2 hours a night pulling that shit. I will compost them until they get the seeds on them. Then into the fire they go. I bet i pick probably 3 or 4 5 gallon buckets worth every night. I do have poor soil so i know its trying to be a ground cover but uggghhhhhh!

No.  not the same plant.  This one doesn't flower, as far as I know.  Here's a bit more info:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/flowers-plants/color-plants-for-shade/creeping-jenny

It overwintered in Arkansas and has behaved itself, thus far.

Yikes!  I have had this happen at my property, which is one of the reasons I got chickens and Guineas.  I will note that the swarms of grasshoppers we have had in the past few years, are greatly diminished.   I did use grasshopper bait, which has to be applied early, to help control the population explosion, did work well a few years ago.  They come under the trade name of Nolo Bait, Semaspore, et.al.,   and are based on a microbe that kills the early stages.  That also seemed to reduce the destruction in the following years.
https://www.arbico-organics.com/product/nolo-bait-grasshopper-control-nosema-locustae/organic-insecticides

Obviously too late for this year, much like my initial situation with the swarms destroying my garden.  Row covers helped with the destruction, in the years that the adults got ahead of me.

I love creeping jenny as a ground cover.  Supposed to be good for wounds, but it can also be invasive.  Not a problem where I am letting it run.

This is an inexpensive tracker for temp/ humidity.  Has worked quite well, and is inexpensive enough, that you could mount several in the structure and track conditions.  Made by Govee.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DWMJKP5/ref=sspa_dk_hqp_detail_aax_0?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzSTFQUUY2MURXMlJYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzg0MTg2MjJRNzFWUTM2SzY5SyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzIwMjAxMk9DRUlOMzlDWlU4TiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2hxcF9zaGFyZWQmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

One of my very favorite tools, is the CobraHead.  I have the short and the long versions, and they make easy work of many tasks in the garden!

Looks like a very useful garden tool!

Well.  I have several of the mentioned carts.  A 4 wheeled garden cart, the cart with a dump bed, and others....
They all have some advantages, but one of my biggest problems is picking up heavy stuff to get them into the cart!
So, for Mothers' Day, I gifted myself with this:   https://www.worx.com/lawn-garden/yard-carts-wheelbarrows/aerocart-wheelbarrow-yard-cart-wg050.html

It looks like it uses leverage points well, and comes with several accessories to assist with picking up and moving heavy awkward items.  
They are having sales right now!  
I can't give an opinion, since I haven't used it.

BTW, this is a handy/dandy little disc:  https://www.amleo.com/leonard-gardenglide-transporter/p/AG1/

I got it to drag behind the golf cart, but I transport a lot of stuff by hand, and it seems to be well made.  AM Leonard also makes some handles to convert wagons to tow behinds.

I purchased old, solid wood cabinets from a house renovation, for my kitchen, and they are an odd mishmash of sizes and heights.  It was a challenge to Rubik's cube them into the kitchen!  The new stuff is junk, for the most part.  I turned two cabinets into mobile units, so they can be moved elsewhere in the kitchen for portable work stations.  My silverware and dishes are directly across from my dishwasher, but I installed doors on either side, and the drawers slide both ways, so anyone setting the table is not in the way of the cook.  Lucky for me, I sourced an old Okeefe and Merritt stove, and then a friend located an old double drainboard cast iron sink, so my kitchen is a study in antiques.  LOL  I have stainless steel pullout shelves in all of my cabinets, as I am "vertically challenged", and yes, I have a step stool/chair that lives in my kitchen.