Author: Richard

neem oil – a remedy for chickens

I have been intrigued with neem oil for some time. Something exotic about it. When I first planted tomatoes in north Georgia four years ago, and they were overwhelmed by aphids, neem came to my rescue. Aphids were never a problem again, not because of the neem but my voracious ladybug population. (This week I have been collecting my overwintering ladybug guests and ushering them out to their workplace in my vegetable garden). My second recourse to neem was a couple years ago when the stinkbugs arrived. Read more [...]

permaculture trending – comfrey

I like the pragmatic and intellectual underpinnings of permaculture. On the intellectual side, I am reading and enjoying Holmgren's "Principles and Pathways beyond Sustainability", at the quasi pragmatic/theoretical level I enjoyed Hemenway's and Whitecraft's books on permaculture in the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, and for a hands on approach, of course the two books by Holzer. And some of the suggestions have rubbed off. Polyculture and biodiversity are not new to organic Read more [...]

horse manure control test

My two main nutrition inputs are leaf bags from my neighbors, which I pick up in the fall, and horse manure (well rotted/decomposed) from the stables.  I have read articles about manure loaded with chemicals which wreaked havoc in growers' plots.  I have not experienced this problem but, to put this concern behind me, I ran a simple test. I took two empty 32oz yogurt containers, drilled holes in the bottoms for drainage, and filled one 50% with recently collected manure and the other with compost.  Read more [...]

egg production

I have mentioned my travails with the Speckled Sussex - one was ill and died and the other went into a serious slump and, despite my efforts also died.  So from 13 hens and 1 rooster I am down to 11 hens and a rooster.  Two of the hens had problems of sorts. Gimpy, one of the hybrids inherited from my neighbor, developed a bad leg or hip.  Don't know why - could this has been from the rough attentions of the rooster?  She hobbles with difficulty and I recently noticed she was now losing feathers Read more [...]

home beer brew

When I lived in London in the late 70's through the mid 80's it was common to make your own beer.  Boots, the large pharmacy retailer, sold a beer brewing kit for less than 10 pounds  ($16 at today's rates) which contained all you needed to make your own beer.  Drinking beer at the pubs was popular and even when you visited friends for a meal, you would before or after the meal, head to the local pub.  However, and I began to dread the moment, your friend would occasionally insist you drink his Read more [...]

wood and veneers

When I buy furniture, and right now I am accumulating desks in the basement for work stations, I only buy real wood.  Most furniture is particle board (or chipboard) covered with a wood veneer or melamine based overlays.  Veneer furniture is  cheaper to make than real wood furniture and the veneer looks more impressive (at least to the untutored eye).  But it is not as resilient - it appears sturdy but when relocated it is prone to chipping and, once the veneer is chipped, you see the particles Read more [...]

responsibility to animals

I had a good time at the Georgia Organics annual conference - its 15th and my 7th.  The Friday workshops and farm visit and the Saturday educational sessions were excellent and the two keynote speakers have national repute and lived up to expectations.  At my breakfast table on Friday morning was an organic livestock farmer.  I asked him a question which was triggered by the assistance I am providing to two ailing chickens:  "What do you do when one of your animals get sick?"  His answer was Read more [...]

the beginnings of spring

The next couple of days I shall be at the Georgia Organics annual conference held this year in Columbus GA, south of Atlanta. This shall be my 5th year of attendance - my first few years I learned a lot and with each year there is less new information but I enjoy meeting other growers and learning from them. I was torn between doing a permaculture design course or the conference and have not ruled out a PDC for the future. Shiitake mushrooms I picked about 15 mushrooms today.  Just as well Read more [...]

water

I think we take water for granted but should not. Friday's Financial Times (Feb 17, 2012) reports that "Chinese officials have issued a stark warning over growing water shortages saying the situation is worsening every day and that more than two-thirds of cities are affected". Texas last year had the driest year on record, but the good news is that the drought may be receding and only 14% of the state is now in "exceptional drought" compared with 41% 3 months ago. In Georgia we continue with intrastate Read more [...]

the Bees seem ok

The past few days have been warm - at 4pm today (Friday) the temperature is 68 deg F with a slight wind. I have noticed the bees busy at the entrance to the hive and a number of bees helicoptering in front of the hive (i.e going up and down in front of the hive). They do this to memorize the hive so they know where to return. This is good news for me since it means these are new field workers and therefore there is a functioning queen. I am assuming the older bees who overwintered do not need Read more [...]