Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Nancy Babbitt <nbabbitt2003@adelphia.net>]

Tom,

do you live in an earthship?  It's our dream, to build an earthship,  
of a sort.

nancy
On Jul 21, 2006, at 6:53 PM, mtncats@planetcomm.net wrote:

> Hi Diane,
>
> The secret of controlling ground, or buried room, temperature is to  
> insulate from air temperature.  Rigid extruded polystyrene works  
> very well (pink or blue by manufacturer) with 6 mil sheet plastic  
> to control ground water movement.  Your well water temperature will  
> be a good estimate of ground temperature at depth.  Closer to the  
> surface, air temps will greatly change ground temps.  That's why  
> you want insulation.
>
> We live in an underground house, with insulation to keep the ground  
> temps isolated from air temps.  Works very well, but our design  
> hovers around 71º (± 6º), comfortable people temp.  If your well  
> temp is adequate, all you need is to isolate your cellar from air  
> temps.  If you want colder, you need to also cool down your dirt  
> with winter air.
>
> Using a scythe is mostly a matter of rhythm.  Takes some practice.   
> If you've got a European scythe, the blade is intended to be  
> hammered as part of the sharpening process.  American hardware  
> store scythes won't benefit much from hammering.  All you need is a  
> stone to carry.  Take a water break and use your stone.  Sharper is  
> better (duh).  There are different blades for different work, but  
> until you're proficient, it won't matter much.  If handle length is  
> a problem, you can order a new scythe for your physique.  Serious  
> uses generally migrate to a European model with a handle sized for  
> them.  I haven't yet.
>
> Tom (in central Va)
>
>
> On 7/21/06 at 2:04 PM Dianne Palmer-Quay wrote in part:
>
> > Finally, does anyone know anything about root cellar type storage  
> > in the
> > South?  My crawl space is about 74 degrees now (outside highs are  
> > the upper
> > 90's) which is where I am storing the surplus potatoes and winter  
> > squash
> > from this year's garden.  But that temperature is too warm  
> > (according to
> > the books).  Any ideas how I could create a cooler space without a
> > refrigeration device?
> >
> > I have been
> > gardening here in this sand over clay soil for 6 years and the  
> > soil is
> > looking good in much of the garden, but I want to get more  
> > efficient at
> > using cover crops and green manures (and how to use a scythe!).
> >
> > Dianne in SC
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