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livingontheland - Re: [Livingontheland] Looking for advice on a few topics

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Subject: Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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  • From: Nancy Babbitt <nbabbitt2003@adelphia.net>
  • To: mtncats@planetcomm.net, Healthy soil and sustainable growing <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Looking for advice on a few topics
  • Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2006 08:32:41 -0400

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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