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I have a hydro easement on my property and I was wondering if I can make bales with the plants that grow in it. There’s predominantly blackberry but also a lot of different pioneering species. I am also wondering if I can use the mix of plants for cob. Has anyone done anything like this and/or what are your thoughts on why it would or wouldn’t work.

Thanks!

I’ve seen a lot of discussion about natural building methods like cob, adobe, rammed earth, and straw bale along with their pros and cons but not much about light straw clay construction.

From what I’ve read, it can be faster to build with than cob or adobe, less prone to mold and pests than straw bale, and just as (or even more) energy efficient as those methods.

Do you have more information or experience with this method of construction? What are its downsides or limitations compared to other natural building techniques?

Please point me in the direction of previous posts if this info exists here already, but I couldn’t find it!

We recently purchased an existing small-scale blueberry “farm” (quotes because it’s only 1.5 acres). The blueberry bushes are 75+ years old and thriving, but we have another 2 acres I’m hoping to maximize for food production, both for our family and for small farm stand. We’re in zone 5b in Massachusetts.

We have some flat acreage, but most of that is already occupied by blueberries. The rest is between a 5-45 (most between 5-20) degree slope. I’m looking for ideas, experience, plans, or resources for food ideally suited to these slopes! Chickens and ducks are in the plan, but we have other less arable land I’m hoping to put them on. Bees, too.

Open to everything from Christmas trees to fruit trees to herbs to… whatever! Just has to be edible (exception Christmas trees and maybe lavender/other desirable ornamentals). Ideally we won’t need to terrace, but feel free to tell me I can’t get away without terracing.

I’ve read a lot of the classic permaculture books recently, but so far haven’t come across anything that specifically deals with slope.

Grateful for any and all suggestions!

Hi permies (and sorry veganic growers) I have these two massive highland cow hides that are raw and stretched, but I never had enough time to scrape and start the tanning process. My garden this year was overcome with my failed winter rye cover crop experiment. I simply couldn’t terminate it. I tried rolling and crimping, weed whacking, and a twelve week tarping in the hot summer. I lost an entire year to this cover crop. l’m currently putting down cardboard and composted wood chips to hopefully cover and kill off the rye. My question is, has anyone heard of putting a hide down in a garden bed and covering it with wood chips or compost? the goal would be for it to decompose. The hides are about a half inch thick and have long hair. I’m kind okay with the hair persisting in the soil for a while. How badly could this go, and would it be worth a little experiment for science? I’m expecting quite a bit of no’s in the comments here, but if anyone would be open to a method like this, it would be permaculturists. Thanks!

Hi permies (and sorry veganic growers) I have these two massive highland cow hides that are raw and stretched, but I never had enough time to scrape and start the tanning process. My garden this year was overcome with my failed winter rye cover crop experiment. I simply couldn’t terminate it. I tried rolling and crimping, weed whacking, and a twelve week tarping in the hot summer. I lost an entire year to this cover crop. l’m currently putting down cardboard and composted wood chips to hopefully cover and kill off the rye. My question is, has anyone heard of putting a hide down in a garden bed and covering it with wood chips or compost? the goal would be for it to decompose. The hides are about a half inch thick and have long hair. I’m kind okay with the hair persisting in the soil for a while. How badly could this go, and would it be worth a little experiment for science? I’m expecting quite a bit of no’s in the comments here, but if anyone would be open to a method like this, it would be permaculturists. Thanks!

Hi. So I am beyond a beginner of growing plants, I have always been really interested in plant life and the different conditions they need to thrive. What would be some of the best beginner food growing plants, trees, bushes, or root vegetables to grow? Also I really didn’t understand what the soil and water sample container thing was that other people posted on this subreddit, could someone explain that to me? Thank you.

Hi. So I am beyond a beginner of growing plants, I have always been really interested in plant life and the different conditions they need to thrive. What would be some of the best beginner food growing plants, trees, bushes, or root vegetables to grow? Also I really didn’t understand what the soil and water sample container thing was that other people posted on this subreddit, could someone explain that to me? Thank you.