permaculture

["Scott Hitchins" <ScottH@wcig.org.au>]

I'm rather enjoying This discussion.  My two-cents worth:

1.I've had moderate success keeping slugs and snails out of garden beds by 
wrapping strands of bare copper wire around the bed.  This acts as an 
un-powered electric fence for the slimers: For them, its like licking a 
battery with their whole body.  I found the wire fairly easy to strip out of 
old power cables and extension cords. ( any thoughts regarding copper 
verdigris contaminating soil?[although, there's very little of it.]).
2. I've always found beer to be effective against slugs and snails. This 
works in one of two ways:
    A)Sink margarine/yogurt/etc. containers to soil level and half fill with 
beer; If you empty it daily, the ducks will love                  the meaty 
brew.
    B) Alternatively, you can drink the beer until you no-longer give a damn 
about the slugs !

3. You may need some movable 'paving' to get through the mud of each section: 
How about some duck-boards (pun intended) to spread the weight without 
compacting the soil i.e. sections of plank to lay across the mud.
4. If you house chickens and ducks together, you will have a near-impossible 
task, keeping floors dry and water drinkable; the ducks being the problem in 
both cases.
5. Ducks must have water deep enough, at least, to get their heads 
underwater.  Perhaps set up your small pond in an elevated spot to facilitate 
draining all that nutrient-rich water to a useful spot.


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark [mailto:mpludwig@facstaff.wisc.edu]
Sent: Friday, 16 August 2002 1:19 AM
To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [permaculture] Wanna toy with a chicken coop/duck run/ veg
gardendesign?


At 07:31 PM 8/14/02 +0100, you wrote:
>Apologies for cross-posting.
>
>Hi,
>Since some folks asked for a graphic depiction of the idea (credit for
>the idea goes to Doug Norval) I've put the whole thing, including your
>comments on-line at
>http://www.ibiblio.org/permaculture-online/ideas1.html
>Any further ideas and comments are most welcome.
>Don't just *stare* at that screen - Drop us a line and tell us something
>we should know.
>
>HTH
>Ute