Myron Platte

Nicole Alderman wrote:I've noticed that running ducks in an area where they poop out--and spill--a lot of their eggshells/oyster shells, there's no more buttercup. It did take a few years. Hopefully the calcium from the chickens will do the same in their yard (where the bindweed is). They haven't been interested in eating the bindweed, and so there hasn't been any change in their yard after a year of having them there. Maybe next year, though!

A calcium miner like mulberry is important, IMO. Those fungi exchanges...

Bindweed is a low calcium indicator. I would prescribe a mulberry pollard chop n' drop regime for bindweed. Dandelions, burdock and buckwheat would be nice additions. Then run chickens under, return the eggshells... you'll get the calcium cycle going pretty fast.

Valerie  Dawnstar wrote:Dave Jacke & Mark Krawczyk are currently writing a book on that very topic.  Please see http://www.coppiceagroforestry.com/

I just 'spoke' with an arborist friend of mine who said coppicing won't work to keep the EAB away as it is very small itself and attacks small branches.  So forget it for that reason.  But maybe it would make it easier to spot... ?

But you cut off and burn those smaller branches... sounds a lot like host denial cycles like Salatin talks about...

This is similar to how Russian serfdom operated, and it worked pretty well. The only freedom the serf didn't have was travel without permission. He had to give a fraction of his produce to the lord, who had to give a fraction to the Tsar. What's really interesting is that we seem to be seeing the organic development of a similar (though freer) arrangement.

In this short video, Mr. Bean mows the lawn with a rabbit pen.

Pfaf says that alder trees are amazing. They’re nitrogen fixers, they coppice/pollard well, they attract wildlife, their wood is valuable and very resistant to water damage, there are at least five different dyes you can extract from them, they are medicinal in several different ways, they are dead easy to start from seed, they’re great firewood and charcoal, they can grow four meters in the first five years, and the list goes on. Please share your experiences with alder here.

https://www.asklepios-seeds.de/gb/fagopyrum-cymosum-samen-baumspinat-wilder-buchweizen.html
seeds here, apparently.

Perennial buckwheat!
https://www.asklepios-seeds.de/gb/fagopyrum-cymosum-samen-baumspinat-wilder-buchweizen.html
(not a paid promotion)
FYI, I have not ordered this plant (yet?) or even from this company, but buckwheat is awesome, and perenial is basically always better, so...

Eric Hanson wrote:Myron,

Sterling engines can be quite effective but at higher temperatures and pressures.  There was a Sterling engine built in the US in the 60s? That was designed for undeveloped countries lacking infrastructure.  Essentially, the idea was that they could be plopped on a fire and generate electricity.  The idea was sound but failed due to a number of technical difficulties.  

It is an interesting idea though.

I suggest the TEGs because of their lack of moving parts and ease of installation and operation.  Your overall concept can be achieved using TEGs.  You can buy TEGs for reasonable prices at a website I found called Tegmart.com (I am sure there are other sources as well).

TEGs do not have the same inherent efficacy of a Sterling engine, but their ease of setup can sometimes make up the difference.  Also, TEGs are presently commercially available as opposed to Sterling engines.  However, if you the ability to make a Sterling engine, you might be able to do some interesting stuff.

This is an interesting thread and I would love to hear how your plans develop.  Please keep us informed.

Eric  

Eric, TEGs have something like a 5-8% efficiency. They are also less versitle than Stirling engines, although the lack of moving parts is super attractive. I will look into this. BTW, I just remembered a system that uses infrared light and water to generate electricity, using a phenomenon unique to water called an "EZ" or "Exclusion Zone". Radiant heat is infrared light, and RMH's generate heaps of it, so...