tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post1398193634089303479..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: SnippetsKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-17270632673964621412009-11-24T15:56:10.679-05:002009-11-24T15:56:10.679-05:00I am an engineer.
I would like to say I'm sur...I am an engineer.<br /><br />I would like to say I'm surprised it's so obvious...but really, I'm not. :)Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755460714090772432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-70167747489251915092009-11-24T06:57:46.980-05:002009-11-24T06:57:46.980-05:00Teresa, thank you. It's a hard, hard thing to...Teresa, thank you. It's a hard, hard thing to put down a pet. Especially those you've had since they were tiny kittens or pups. Knowing they've had good lives is the only consolation.<br /><br />Ilex, we're certainly hoping for support from our local master beekeepers. It's rather alarming to contemplate all the diseases that honeybees now have to contend with. But we definitely want to try.<br /><br />Joel, are you an engineer? I don't know that we can manage that arrangement of reflective roof in relation to the shed, but it's a lovely idea. I've heard of the moats though and that's something we'll probably include in our design. We plan to situate the hive where it gets morning sun and shade by mid-day. That should help keep it cool enough through the hot days. Thanks for the suggestions.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-5501726599054479892009-11-23T17:57:29.363-05:002009-11-23T17:57:29.363-05:00It may be worthwhile to design your new beehive wi...It may be worthwhile to design your new beehive with an aluminum (or similar) roof, angled to reflect morning sun onto the chickens' doors during the winter.<br /><br />The bright, shiny roof will also help keep the comb cool in the summer.<br /><br />Oh, and don't forget to put moats around the hive's feet, to keep ants out!Joelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16755460714090772432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-35888704354589127122009-11-23T15:30:46.792-05:002009-11-23T15:30:46.792-05:00The beekeepers are desperate all over- every time ...The beekeepers are desperate all over- every time I buy honey and ask about the honey guy's bees I get the inquiry, too. Go for it. You'll certainly have no shortage of input and assistance.ilexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06772649648781578752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-40632529529824622872009-11-23T12:41:55.315-05:002009-11-23T12:41:55.315-05:00Very sorry to hear about your cat. I understand th...Very sorry to hear about your cat. I understand that tough decision way too well. I know you'll love her lots while she's still here and do right by her in the end.Teresanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-85017068735972089532009-11-23T06:00:05.033-05:002009-11-23T06:00:05.033-05:00Hi, Amy! I'm definitely going into this class...Hi, Amy! I'm definitely going into this class with an I-don't-know-it-all attitude. It seems to me that homesteading is a subject that no one can ever really master, since everyone does it a little differently. But yes, my hope is to encourage some people and provide a little proof of concept that someone in their area is at least making a go of homesteading in on a very small piece of land.<br /><br />And yes, I am feeding acorns to our hens. Not a silly question at all. It's some work to collect them and then crush them. If you decide to do this don't bother keeping any acorns that have a telltale hole in them - that means a weevil has been in there, and there's a good chance the meat is eaten and the weevil has moved on. Hens will eat the weevils if you get them fresh, but most such nuts are just hollowed out.<br /><br />Rick, thanks for the vote of confidence on deep bedding. The permaculture guild is something I'm excited about for next spring. I'll definitely post about it when the time comes. I don't know if I can claim it's properly an "orchard" guild though since we have only a singe mature fruit tree at this point. We added two cherries and two pears last year. My goal is to build a guild that encompasses our venerable apple tree and the nearest young pear tree. Ideas for it came from Gaia's Garden and from Rob over at One Straw.Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-2650504459581363662009-11-22T11:23:00.898-05:002009-11-22T11:23:00.898-05:00We deep bed our chickens in the winter and love th...We deep bed our chickens in the winter and love the resulting compost we get in the spring. It really brings a lot of organic material to our clay soil and helps with drainage. I am really looking forward to your post on the orchard permaculture guild. I just this year over seeded our orchard with alfalfa and clover. I am just starting to learn about permaculture and would love an example to modify and use.<br />Also best of luck on the solar system and the root cellar.Frustrated Farmer Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08367331507586316368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-35034968936748896792009-11-22T10:49:11.206-05:002009-11-22T10:49:11.206-05:00First, let me say how exciting that you are going ...First, let me say how exciting that you are going to teach a class on homesteading! Truly we are kindred spirits in that I believe strongly in passing on knowledge to a younger generation or even those who are new to something. I totally agree that you do not need to be the expert. A humble spirit that YOU are still learning serves to motivate the intimidated soul or the perfectionist that thinks they can't do it themselves. <br /><br />Second, are you feeding acorns to your chickens? I'm only wondering because my husband suggested this (we have a TON). I know you won't laugh if this is a silly question, right?<br /><br />Finally, sorry to hear about your kitty. So hard to part with a good animal who has been part of the family so to speak.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564840073358020600noreply@blogger.com