Today I made / bought / learnt .... (for a post oil world)

RedStateGreen

LOL they've fixed the page now. Laughing

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Conservation is conservative

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. -- Charles Darwin

FoolYap

PeakOiler

FoolYap

Shannymara · Master Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5438 Location: Oklahoma

Bought a Burdizzo for castrating my goats. Helped my mom build some square foot garden beds. That method is especially good for her since she's got limited mobility. I like how the book is exceptionally well organized, too.
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"Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young

patience · Expert Joined: Jan 04, 2008 Posts: 1523

We stayed home to avoid the ice coated roads today, so I spent the afternoon putting bubble-wrap foil insulation on heat ducts in the new sunporch. Next is wiring, then a ceiling, and then starting plants out there, when it warms up a little. I don't intend to use any artificial heat at all for the plants, so I'll start late with that, and hope to avoid "leggy" plants, too.

edit: The ductwork is for solar heat gain, to be piped to the basement with a 12v. fan.

SpringCreekFarm · Intermediate Crude Joined: Mar 03, 2006 Posts: 891

It's been a fairly productive weekend for me. Saturday I attended an event put on by the draft horse club I belong to. Sleigh rides utilizing both sleighs and cutters were the main event of the day along with a brief meeting and a wonderful pot luck lunch. The sun was blazing all day long and it was the best. Like most things in life, in order to get ahead, one has to have the connections and network within the group. I'm meeting some very interesting horse enthusiasts ranging from those like myself on a modest income to some others that like to brag about all their stuff. Laughing

I thought alot about how the upcoming energy crunch might cramp their style.

Sunday I spent out in the barns sorting through old junk and getting my tools rounded up for some serious renovation work this summer. I don't know when I'm going to find the time to do everything but for certain I'll have to find the time...and the energy.

I may actually lose some weight this summer!!

Anyway, I finished up my tool rack over the bench in the barn workshop and went through my fastener and hardware mess and got that sorted out as well.

As if that weren't enough today, I decided to can up a batch of beef soup after supper..well it's on the stove right now and in a few minutes I'll go upstairs and load the canner. I should have things wrapped up by midnight tonight.

I've been thinking lately that I'll likely have to get used to doing so many different things on any given day. The time is passing us by for our preparations and it is starting to seem like there isn't a second to spare...

WisJim

I attended the Organic Farming conference in LaCrosse, WI, last weekend, and had a good time and re-filled my brain with lots of good information. Also met quite a few interesting people (out of the over 2000 who attended, and there were many many that I didn't get a chance to talk to of course). I attended a couple of sessions on soils and soil testing, also some on a few different crops of interest to me, and talked to many vendors of tools, supplies and info of value to organic farmers and gardeners. Bought a bunch of good books at the book sales tables, too, and took home a diamond hoe and some compost and soil supplememt samples to try. Ate more great organic food than I really needed to, had a few organic beers and tried some great (hard) cider, too.

All in all it was a great time and an educational one, too. Well worth the time and money. http://mosesorganic.org/umofc/intro.html

spear

I finally got the motor running in the Suzuki.Electronic ignition and and all.Some 4wheel forums helped out with that.(It was only two wires,I just didnt know where the hell they went).
Its running good.Did a compression test.It passes.
The 1300cc motor is a big difference over the 1000cc original.Plus now its got a five speed trannsmition.
Now I need to replace the front differential which is gone.The bodywork is done,needs primer.I will prime it in the yard,sand it down and then send it off to a spray booth,so I save a little on the costs of the paint job.
Heres a list of what went into the truck.
1300 motor and 5speed trannsmition.
2 driveshafts
1 drivers fender
1 gas tank
1 radiator
2 headlights
front exhaust pipe
front and rear bumpers
front differential (pick up this week)
all sorts of little odds and ends

Im getting everything I need for the restoration project from a Suzuki salvage yard in Thessaloniki for 600Euros,the old 1000cc motor and transmition,and a really nice German shephard puppy.Was that good deal?
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ΜΟΛΩΝ-ΛΑΒΕ

Shannymara · Master Joined: Oct 04, 2004 Posts: 5438 Location: Oklahoma

Today I built three 4 x 4 ft raised beds, square foot garden style. I planted two pear trees. I started a new exercise routine. I was in good shape last year, then I let things go for about 4 months; time to get moving again. My seed potatoes arrived today from Ronniger's, so I'll be planting those over the next couple of days.
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"Every junkie's like a setting sun..." - Neil Young

joeltrout · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 1317

Today I bought 2 New Mexico Jim chile pepper plants, put them in 2 small pots, and placed them in my office window. I am trying to see how well I can grow a variety of vegetables in containers.

I also will be working in my vegetable garden at home this afternoon. I already have planted 3 tomato plants and will be planting green beans, peppers, swiss chard, and squash.

Today was 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

joeltrout

RedStateGreen

Been slowly moving all the shredded wood my neighbors and I made over near the compost bins. This will come in handy if needed for composting toilets, or for many other uses.

Also started a variety of seeds over the past week or so, but yesterday started some hullless oats and set up another plot to transplant them into. The weather here is so wacky, all week in the 70's but it's supposed to snow in a few days. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Conservation is conservative

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. -- Charles Darwin

RedStateGreen

Today I went to part 1 of a two part sock knitting class. I can now knit with four needles in the round. Very Happy

Also, I brought my spinning wheel for my knitting teacher's wife to take a look at, as I was having trouble with it. She was so sweet; she oiled it and helped me fix the bobbin tension, and even gave me a short lesson. I now know how to spin, too! Laughing

_________________
Conservation is conservative

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change. -- Charles Darwin

Revi · Fusion Joined: Apr 25, 2005 Posts: 3259 Location: Maine

We got 300 jugs for our maple syrup operation. We spent the day digging the lines out of 3 foot deep snow. It sure seems like winter is hanging on around here. We must be right on the snow line. This has been the snowiest winter in years.

It is almost time for the sap to start flowing. Maybe next week. Temps are supposed to be in the 40's on Wednesday.

We are going to have a heck of a mud season this year.
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Deep in the mud and slime of things, even there, something sings.

smileyhouston · Tar Sands Joined: Feb 26, 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Houston

I tended my garden to grow my own veggies, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers and potatoes....

also bought the new lights bulbs to trade out....

turned my A/C off and opened my windows..

Thats just today.