Claire Gardner

That is friggin' awesome! I have a hangnail I can't quite get, do you think that guy is available for a manicure? lol!

Judith Browning wrote:Masking tape is our best friend for ticks especially the stage called 'seed' ticks. Without it I am sure I might have left the ozarks every summer. We have been bit a lot and find one or two crawling on us daily starting now into October and I suppose I have had some mild form of Lymes...I know folks have had that from ticks here. That is one up side to the summer droughts we are having...no ticks...until the next rain.

Chiggers and ticks, so much less fun than tiggers and chicks. I loved Arkansas in many ways, but I do not miss the chiggers and ticks. Had a friend come in from hunting, must have had a couple hundred of those seed ticks - it was disgusting.

I know what I've observed in the wild: They only grow where the soil is acidic. I'd try checking your soil, and if it is alkaline, adjust it.

Been musing about this. We bought 17+ acres, already legally split. We've toyed with the idea of share-cropping, land leases, owner fiance - different ways to get a neighbor we want without getting our lives entwined. We also want to make sure our will is faithfully executed, we have one child very interested in permaculture, aquaponics, farming and self reliance. The other is an attorney who would sell it to a developer or fracking company or whoever waved cash... in the blink of an eye. People have told me I need to look into trusts, I have yet to do so but I thought maybe the concept could apply to a land share, too.

Tom Kozak wrote:thanks for the response guys!
I will be going north in a few days to a job where I will not have computer access for about 6 months
sorry, cant do anything now, but I will contact you in the fall!

ENJOY! I was without internet for 3 months last summer - it was blissful in so many ways!

Wildcrafting is worth looking into. It depends on what is growing there, but edible mushrooms command a premium price. If you have an local herbalist, ask them what herbs they buy and what they pay. It may not bring you a "jackpot" but if you really want to encourage sustainable living, that is a lifelong project. Dreams of "hitting the jackpot" are understandable, but what would you do with your "jackpot?" Start living the life of wanton consumerism again? Maybe you already hit the jackpot - you have a forest you may live harmoniously within.

I have a really lame website, I just post my videos there right now. I would love to jazz it up, but I know nothing about web design. I would very much appreciate any help you would be willing to offer. It is IdahoAquaponics.com - AP is our first major development project, but we will be doing a major permaculture makeover of the place within a couple of years.
Thank you for your offer!

I have a local supplier of non-GMO high protein mash that I feed until they feather up. Then I add sprouted grains. I keep mash in the feeder, but the Buckeyes don't eat very much of it once they are free ranging and getting sprouts. The Cornish cross get their food taken out at night or they will try to nest in it.
I also put a bit of apple cider vinegar in their water, and give them a good grit with a bit of minerals. Oh, and lots of garden scraps.

Wecome and thank you! I am trying to attract my first colony this year, I'm delighted to learn about your "beekeeping" site!

A friend built me a beautiful Warre' hive box last year, and I have it set up to attract bees now, at least I think I do. I am brand new to this. Last week a local nursery had little "Mason Beehives" for sale, about the size of a pop can, and they recommended hanging them near the garden to attract pollinators. If I were to get a couple of them for our farm, would it discourage honey bees from colonizing my hive box? Would the Mason bees take over my hive box?