investing in ground and nature.....

[stefk]

For me, the best investment you can do, is to buy a good ground, and begin to work with the nature. I always was interested by the nature and her observation. Twelve years ago, I bought a house with 10 ares garden. The garden, like all the gardens of my neighbours, was what I call a green desert, a big lawn, with some shrubs on the sides. Very poor garden for me. I wanted to create a food producing garden but without chemicals. I began to read a lot of books, in english and in french. I was first attracted by the method of John Jeavons and his biointensive method.

Sorry, I have to go, I come back later.

[stefk]

And the method of John Jeavons is based on raised beds, raised beds obtained with double digging. Its also based on big quantities of manure, made from the vegetables and kitchen wastes. Not far from my house, there are stables, and I made a good manure with horse shit.

To resume, I made four raised beds of 10mX1,20m, good work. And the first year was a total fiasco. I had an invasion of slugs. I said you that all my neighbours love the green deserts, and in this ecosystem the slugs dont have ennemies. But it was absolutely forbidden for me to use chemicals. With internet research I came on the permaculture. But there are different forms of permaculture, I bought the book of Sepp Holzer. And other books in french on the subject. And all insist on the importance of a pond in your garden to bring the natural predators of the insects and slugs. So, I digged with my hands and with a lot of sweat a pond of 4mx4m and 1,5m deep. And after a few months, the frogs and the salamanders were present in my garden, from where do they come, I dont know, I insist to say that I am surrounded by green deserts !!!!!!

First lesson, if you want create a natural or a permaculture garden, begin by digging a pond. I would say its the motor of the system.

Suite demain ou après demain

[stefk]

For Cinnamon,

The video you have shared is about square foot gardening, from Mel Bartholomew. I have bought his book, its a very cartersian method, they plant in wooden boxes, they use companion plantings, but in permaculture and biointensive, we also use companion crops. But there are very good ideas in this book, surely for little city gardens. Some years ago, I fell on a good promotion with steel square boxes, I bought the last four boxes. I would not plant my vegetables in treated plywood, But I dont have this apprehension with steel. And I use these boxes for the perennial vegetables. Asparagus is agood example of perennial. You plant it one time, and every year you a delicious asparagus, without any work, its cool.

This to say, you have a lot of methods to make a food producing garden. You can do like the mentor of Yodean: you take what you like from this one, you take another thing from another one, you reject what you dont like by another, and you work with your own method.

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MASANOBU FUKUOKA, another important man, a Japanese, he wrote in the seventies an important book, "the one straw revolution"

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9 ... bu_Fukuoka

With Fukuoka, we have a minimalist method, no digging, no manure, except a little bit from chickens, only a layer of straw. Its a philosophic method with roots in taoism, "the no action". But a "no action" can be very powerful. The nature is your guide, and you follow her.
In permaculture, we have picked his idea of the straw, we never let the soil of a raised bed naked, we always cover it with straw, it can be straw , or plant residues, by me its residues of the hedges.

[stefk]

Here are some pics of the pond, the motor of the system. I try to keep this place the most wild possible. In summer, its full of salamanders and frogs. On the backgrond, I have placed deadwood, it serves as a refuge or a safe haven for the winter for the frogs and also for my friends hedgehogs. They also eat a lot of snails and slugs.
To make this pond was a very good workout, but during ten years I have let the nature making what she wants, its in the line with the philosophy of Fukuoka, the "no action". But very powerful.

Now its autumn, but in summer, its full of colors with wild flowers, next year, in summer, I will show you a pic with the flowers.

[SOL]

I am practising a combo of Double digging or bio-intensive farming (small scale) and Fulvic acid which improves the plant's ability to absorb nutrients. I just got some seeds for a tomato plant that can produce tomatoes up to 1/2kg in weight and rainbow coloured carrot seeds plus a bunch of other interesting veggies.

There is a technique where you can use different plants to get rid of the insects by interplanting them close to each other. I am going to give this a shot. SO far it's a hobby. I just dug several 3 by 10-meter beds as space is limited. I went down up to 1 meter got rid of all that soil and replaced it with compost and brand new black top soil. Let's see what happens 1 month from now

[stefk]

Sol, are you in the south hemisphere ? Because now, in north hemisphere, for the tomatoes its dead. I know, they make a lot of noise about the global warming, but here in Europe there is no global warming, this summer was cold and rainy, and it already freezes here in the Ardennes.

[stefk]

And 1 meter deep, are you obliged to dig so deep ? what do you do with the soil ?

[SOL]

And 1 meter deep, are you obliged to dig so deep ? what do you do with the soil ?

I did it for the workout and to test the theory that if you replace all the old soil with new good organic compost-based topsoil, the results should be great. On the next bed, I will put old plant and biodegradable matter and on top of that put a nice layer of new soil. . I am now in Ukraine near Odesa so the temperature is still warm. Today it's 80 degrees. I will soon be heading towards South East Asia as the covid situation appears to be easing over there. Once I have identified several countries i can easily travel to without being vaccinated (which will be soon) I plan to spend less than one month in the US from next year.

[Yodean]

I am now in Ukraine near Odesa so the temperature is still warm. Today it's 80 degrees. I will soon be heading towards South East Asia as the covid situation appears to be easing over there. Once I have identified several countries i can easily travel to without being vaccinated (which will be soon) I plan to spend less than one month in the US from next year.

@DigitalNomadSol (DNS): it would be interesting, if you have the time and inclination, to provide short updates - with your insights about the various places you visit - of your travels;

[SOL]

I am now in Ukraine near Odesa so the temperature is still warm. Today it's 80 degrees. I will soon be heading towards South East Asia as the covid situation appears to be easing over there. Once I have identified several countries i can easily travel to without being vaccinated (which will be soon) I plan to spend less than one month in the US from next year.

@DigitalNomadSol (DNS): it would be interesting, if you have the time and inclination, to provide short updates - with your insights about the various places you visit - of your travels;

I will try to do so. But sadly, one thing is for sure, the trend is severely against North America and I don't intend to fight the trend. If one more level is hit, I might consider the unthinkable that being giving up my US citizenship, we are not there, but this trend of cancel culture, higher taxes and almost no freedom is in a super trend.

[Budge]

And 1 meter deep, are you obliged to dig so deep ? what do you do with the soil ?

My grandfather trained as a nurseryman (early 1900s) before he joined the navy and he talked of digging 2 shovel spits (2 shovel deep). The first row you dug out and moved to the back of the lot so it backfilled your very last row. You then you just turned the next row into the trench in front of you and moved on back.

Best time to do it. Autumn/fall. You never worked the soil, just turned it over and let the winter's frost break it down.

[Eric]

I will try to do so. But sadly, one thing is for sure, the trend is severely against North America and I don't intend to fight the trend. If one more level is hit, I might consider the unthinkable that being giving up my US citizenship, we are not there, but this trend of cancel culture, higher taxes and almost no freedom is in a super trend.

Where could a person go and either bring all their guns or replace them cheap enough? I'm what might be described as a "firearms enthusiast".

[SOL]

Here is a list of 10 countries where it is legal to own guns


Serbia is ranked second of any country when it comes to gun ownership per capita. Serbia is one of those old school countries where they don’t care about political correctness. Gun ownership is considered an important part of their national culture. Almost anyone can own a gun. If you’re not a criminal or an insane person, you’ll be given a licence. Police have the right to confiscate guns from anyone not using them safely. You can buy all kinds of guns, but there are limits on the amount of ammunition you can purchase. Unlike other countries, where people are campaigning for more restriction, there are big campaigns in Serbia for less restriction. They love their guns.

In the Czech Republic, gun licences are granted to literally anyone who isn’t considered a danger to themselves or others, just so long as they have a good reason. This can include self-defense though. You’ll need to be an innocent civilian and over the age of 18. Also, you’ll need to be reasonably healthy. Once achieving this, you’ll be able to own and shoot guns for the rest of your life. You’ll even be allowed to conceal carry as part of the same licence. The Czech Republic has become famous for it’s gun culture, with shooting standing as their third most popular sport

It’s fairly easy to obtain a gun in Russia. You basically just need to be a Russian citizen and not a criminal. You don’t really even need a reason to obtain your licence, but it is required that you attend a class on gun safety. It’s very rare that the authorities give our handgun licences, but it does happen with a good enough reason. There are also tight limits on gun capacity and weapons which shoot in 2 or more round bursts. Each citizen is limited to owning ten guns or less, which seems fair to me.

For the full list click on the link http://eskify.com/10-countries-where-guns-are-legal/

. Bosnia and Herzegovina
The weather might not be for everyone’s taste, and sure, there’s the strong language barrier, but the gun laws here are one of the most lax in all of Eastern Europe. 31% of the population owns guns and 34% of households in Bosnia are reported to have one or more guns. The issuance of permits is governed by the police, to whom you apply and can appeal if denied. When you get a permit, you are automatically granted concealed carry rights.

Argentina
Argentina is one of the most traveled-to hunting destinations in the Americas, with over 20,000 hunting tourists arriving each year. If you are planning on relocating here, you will need a legal temporary or permanent residency in order to get a gun license. You must have a legitimate reason for having a gun, like target shooting, hunting, or in real cases of danger. The cost of a license is 300 to 500 Argentine pesos and the permit is renewable every five years. There is no limitation to the number of guns one can license or the amount of ammo you can have for a licensed gun. Open carry is only allowed with a permit, but these aren’t commonly issued. Concealed-carry permits are very rarely issued, and only with evidence of clear and present danger to the applicant’s lif
https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/l ... aws-world/

[SOL]

Fulvic Acid:
Fulvic acid is a most valuable input in biological agriculture. It can provide a multitude of benefits for to both soil and plant. Advantages include:

It is non-toxic.
It is a powerful organic electrolyte.
It enhances cell division and elongation. Root growth is magnified with obvious benefits.
As a foliar spray, fulvic acid increases the plant’s oxygen uptake capacity with an associated increase in chlorophyl production and an increase in the permeability of plant membranes, improving the uptake of nutrients.
It has a unique capacity to dissolve minerals and trace elements. This feature has tremendous import for fast-tracking the plant availability of rock minerals, i.e., rock phosphate and lime.
Can interact with sunlight to enhance photosynthesis. This can be particularly valuable during prolonged cloudy periods.
Can absorb a part of the harmful UV radiation. This property is also used to delay the decomposition of UV unstable active substances such as Pyrethrum.
Fulvic acid is a potent, natural chelating agent, slowing oxidation and converting metallic elements into readily absorbable, bio-available nutrition with very small molecular size allowing fulvic-chelated minerals rapid entry through plant cells.
Fulvic acid offers drought protection, due to improved moisture storage
Fulvic acid can detoxify pollutants in the soil. They absorb toxins (reducing soil-life damage) and catalyze their rapid breakdown.
Fulvic acid dissolves silica and magnifies the many benefits of this element.
Fulvic acid is responsible for an increase in stomata opening and transpiration and assists plant respiration as well as improving the respiration of beneficial micro-organisms.
Fulvic acid directly influences numerous enzymatic processes and stimulates the plant’s immune system.

Excerpts from The Fulvic Phenomenon
Dr. William Jackson “Organic Soil Conditioning” pg. 250

“An impressive number of field observations and substantial experimental evidence indicate that the fulvic acid fraction directly and/or indirectly influence the chemistry, physics, and biology of plant life.”

“At the same time the scavenging of heavy metals and the detoxification of pollutants are related to the fulvic phenomenon.”

“The functional properties of fulvic acid are vitally important in the nutrition of all higher and lower plants.”

“Some benefits of fulvic acid:

enhanced seed germination & growth
improved development of roots and shoots
increased resistance to fungal attack
enhanced uptake of nutrients
increased plant metabolism of proteins
chelation effects plant growth cycle
increased activity of multiple enzymes
enhanced permeability of cell membranes
enhanced cell division and elongation
increases synthesis of new minerals
breaks down inorganic substances
aids in the creation of fertile new soils
pH buffering capacity-soluble in acid & alkaline soils
scavenges heavy metals
increases growth and yield of crops
aids chlorophyll synthesis
balances plant chemicals
improves plant respiration
detoxifies various pollutants”
https://plantessentials.biz/fulvicacid/

[Eric]

Here is a list of 10 countries where it is legal to own guns


It’s fairly easy to obtain a gun in Russia. You basically just need to be a Russian citizen and not a criminal....It’s very rare that the authorities give our handgun licences..... Each citizen is limited to owning ten guns or less, which seems fair to me.

Thanks for the extensive answer. I've never been outside of the lower 48 and never even contemplated traveling outside the USA until very recently.

Well I can scratch Russia of my list of relocation fantasies... Between my wife and I we have at least 10 handguns and 20+ guns in total with so many more on the shopping list... Telling a [s]gun nut[/s] "firearms enthusiast" they can only have 10 guns is like telling a professional golfer they can only have 3 clubs.