Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
Page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 343, 344, 345 ... 423, 424, 425  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own
Author 
 Message
Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 18 8:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Eggshells do take ages to fully break down, but they get brittle fairly quickly, so when they come out you can just bash them to break them up into very small pieces. I put sticks into my compost bins and just keep transferring them to the next one until they break down. I found some growing in the last bin, and it took a while for me to realise they were grape vine. Just left them out for a bit to thoroughly dry out and they will go back in now. Always do the same for brambles, nettles and anything else that may decide to grow.

Gregotyn, getting a job done that you can't manage in bits can be a bit trying. I seem to have problems finding a long space to do the accounts without being interrupted in the middle.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Nov 17, 18 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I would crumple the egg shells to as fine as you can-rolling pin?, and scatter them on the ground in the autumn, as they are a good source of calcium, so useful for putting under lime loving high ph crops-brassicas for example, but not potatoes. Spuds are the opposite they are acid tolerant. It sticks in my mind that we were taught that the potato could grow a crop down to ph4! I have been told to put newspaper in the compost, but worried that the ink may be a contaminant. I don't put cardboard in compost as I think it has adhesives in to keep all its bits together and I don't know what nasty bits may be in that adhesive, on the other hand I don't mind granular fertilisers which many people avoid as being nasty! I have a good source of horse manure, I graze horses in the summer, as well as make hay. I will be going to see the friend today who makes the hay, so I want to keep in with him and he hasn't been too well lately. Then it is back to the firewood.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Nov 18, 18 8:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I put shredded paper in our compost heap. We shred any personal documents, do end up with shredded paper that we don't want to just put in the bin and can't go in recycling. I suppose there might be some nasties in the ink, but when you think what is in potatoes, it doesn't seem that important.

I didn't realise potatoes would grow in such acid soil Gregotyn. We have alkaline soil anyway, so better for brassicas, but apart from real acid lovers like azaleas, we can grow most things. I hope your friend is feeling better.

We started yesterday by going down to sort out the flush on MILs toilet. It had been causing problems, and seemed to have pretty well given up, so husband changed the mechanism and it seems all right now.

The yoghurt I made the previous day didn't thicken properly, so got some more yoghurt to use as a starter, and hope it works now. I also chopped and cooked the last of the quinces for jelly and have that dripping through a jelly bag, and made a cassoulet, cooking it part of the time over the fire. Ended up eating a bit late as it took longer than I anticipated, but tasted good anyway. I always make a lot, so there should be at least 2 more helpings to put in the freezer.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 18 3:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The friend is better, and is able to do things again on his holding, as you can imagine his wife was none too pleased that he has had to rest the leg, but strangely able to drive, got away with it as his car is an automatic! They have a son who is not too well, he has a few mental problems and is undergoing treatment. Such a shame as he always greets me as a long lost friend and gives no impression of having a problem. The docs. think he is on drugs other than those prescribed, which is unfortunately not true, if he was they could do something about it, but he isn't; it is a loose wire somewhere.

I am tired today. I got to work early to put the overnight deliveries away as usual for the mechanics to use. Then another small delivery arrived of 2 small boxes about 18 inches square and 6 inches deep, with just over 4000 nuts and bolts all in packs of 10 or 20. But of course mixed up in the boxes so I had to find each individual packet of each match them to their friends and tick them off and put them away I haven't got through one box yet! It appears we are trying to get as much stock in now at maximum discount and to have a bad year next year. The way the 'big brothers' work is to up the targets year on year and at some point it goes bang, we aim to have enough stock to see us through next year for our stock items and take the hit of not ordering too much, that way our targets will be reduced the following year. There will obviously be orders, but they will be reduced. Our aim is to reduce the spending all round, an interesting exercise, I just hope for our sake it works.

The firewood is going well, I tidied up in the saw shed yesterday and did a lot of de-nailing pallets as well as sorting the bigger cross section timbers to take to the friend with the kindling machine-saves hours, even if it is 4 miles away.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 18 8:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I am not surprised you are tired Gregotyn. Matching up nuts and bolts to the correct size is very tedious. Why on earth didn't they put a rubber band round packets of the same size ones. I can see the point in stocking up now. With the uncertainty of next year it makes a lot of sense to try to get in stock now, although the people making the things aren't likely to do too well next year.

It was wet and a bit breezy here yesterday, so as son had the day off, husband and I did the shopping. That means both of us are free to work today, and I have an appointment with some more log sacks. I have managed to build up a stock of 40 now, but am aiming for about 100 so we can respond quickly to orders. The outlet that used to order 60 a time has been ordering in more manageable number this year as they have kept them in stock all year, so with any luck I may manage it.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 18 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have finally finished the nuts and bolts today at 1.30! All that is needed is that the seller puts his stock number on the bag and the buyer-my immediate superior-debatable-puts the same number on the order; it appears that a Phd is needed in store sciences to be able to do this in the first place and the job would be done in a quarter of the time. However we buy things in sizes and they have stock numbers, so at least I justify my existence by being able to coordinate them, but it takes a lot longer; like whole a morning, on one job from 7 am to 1.30pm. On the other hand the two main boys sit and watch computers-not much change from the other one who left who also used to watch me on a camera and talk to me from the warmth of his office! I keep saying not much longer now, but the money is useful, and I've never quite got enough!

Our weather is now more wintery, cold and wet in the morning, dark early at night. Rain this morning, but has got better as the day has gone on, going darker now, but not warm by any stretch of imagination or hope! I have hit the doctors for the next lot of tablets. It is 20 years since the hospital put stents in my arteries-next month. But the medicines to keep me going are about the same number for that length of time, looks like the surgeon knew what he was doing.

You are lucky to be able to build up stock with the logs, MR. I have to have stock with the kindling as my limit is about 2 a day if I am lucky-light restrictions! I am able to keep to around 10 per week average due to the weekends! However 2 weeks of 40 nets each, have made a dent in the stock. I am, as usual, away at Christmas, so I have a few weekends to catch up a lot. My back stock is about 150 nets so some way to go before trouble, but at 40 a week that would be 4 weeks-panic!

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Nov 22, 18 11:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

we had 3000 cable clips of 3 sizes, loose in one box

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 18 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

It is so stupid when a little bit of organisation would save a lot of work. At least I only have a couple of dozen mystery braids to look at to find a long or short one to fit someone.

As for the log sacks, all I have to do is fill them, I don't have to hand split the contents. I have done some kindling sacks, but I am rather slow at splitting, never having done it growing up as it was one of 'Dad's jobs', not to be delegated to a child, so didn't even use an axe until I was an adult. On the whole we don't do kindling, although I do have a store of 'trailer chips' which can either be just bagged up or split a bit more for the odd one or two.

It is pretty cold here too now. I haven't been to the woods this week as I have run out of logs to bag at the moment, so have been working on odd things at home. We put the secondary double glazing in our bedroom again yesterday evening, so it is a bit warmer in there now too.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 18 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I had 26 lines on each order, all with a minimum quantity of 100, but up to 1000. I am expected to do random checking counts as well. I did, and had 100% success as you can imagine, ha-b-ha! When for speed all I really needed was 2 people in an office putting stock numbers on the order and a set of electronic scales, simple and fast-weigh 10 and then them all of each type and multiply by the appropriate number.

Another day when the sun is in and cold-well it was very cold at 5 am when I got to work, but less so now-there were moments of sunshine today, but now it is getting ready for dark to descend. I won't be on the wood till tomorrow afternoon, when I hope to cut several lots of blanks, then chop and net all day on Sunday. I will be making a delivery to the retailer tomorrow, unless he is out when I go past later, after being here. Fairly essential that I keep the shop topped up to catch the weekenders who come up on Friday nights.

I am starting to think seriously about retiring from work and letting a youngster have a go. The reason I have gone so long is that it is a reason to get out of bed, and a wonderful source of clean timber for the kindling enterprise. Being alone and with no serious outgoings, I don't need the money, but it keeps the mind moving positively and contributes to fitness-I have learned to stop halfway up the stairs at no. 10-a tip from the doctor.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 18 8:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Have you ever pointed this out to the lads in the office? It is quite possible that they have never thought of it, and would make them think you were a lot more intelligent than they may think you are. Sadly, the ones in offices often think us practical people are thick, whereas we can really run rings round them.

It was slightly warmer here yesterday, but not much. In the evening we went out to meet some people I was at school with. One had come down from Birmingham, own come from the next county and the other one from quite close by. We had a really good evening over dinner, and it was nice to see them again. Husband came too as we tend to go as a pair (or a set with son and DIL quite often too), and he knew a couple of them slightly as we were going out when I was at school.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 18 10:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yes well pointed out on several occasions, MR., "but that's how we always do it" is the reply from those who 'know', and I thought it was my prerogative to be anti-progress, being the aging part-timer.
What the problem for me is that the boys would rather be watching 'various' on their computers or telephones, than make my life easier for me or for the next man, than be applying themselves to more efficiency. For example, I do all the incoming things and most of the delivery men deliver to me directly, but in the cold they all want my door closed, I don't want it closed, 'cos' I can take it. So if the door is shut then the deliveries go to the shop where the office is, as opposed to me who is meant to unpack and distribute accordingly. So then the parcels are opened by the office sales men and I get the paperwork when they think about it, or on occasions if I am lucky. With the "Oh I did that last week", if I ask about something that appears outstanding on my order book-here's the papers. The money for me is very good, however, doubles the pension so who am I to moan. Well in a previous life I did a bit of a work study course, in an attempt to make my sawmill more efficient. Instead of picking wood up we started it off high, (forklift truck), and allowed gravity to do the rest, by starting the saw logs at a height to allow us to roll them down to the band-rack saw, saw them, then roll the cut timbers down to the crosscut, 'cut to length', saw and then down another set of rollers to the re-saw, cutting and packing finished timbers for shipment from there to customers. Gravity rules. My sole aim was to save people picking up off the floor. Bending down costs time, the lads backs and therefore money! I feel better now!! I really think the portable telephone has much to answer for, including a fair few road accidents.

How good to meet old friends, MR, it is why I like Christmas, when the whole of my friends' families arrive and I also get to play "Santa" or as I call Ho de B..y Ho. It is fun for the little ones at my friends home, but now the little boy is 6 and likely to 'twig' me, so I guess it won't last too much longer before he spills the beans.

Back to the wood now!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 18 8:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The trouble is I suppose if you pointed out to them how inefficient they are and that you could do your work far more efficiently for them, they wouldn't thank you for it and you might lose your job. I try to think of ways to be more efficient too, but in out setup that sometimes would involve far more expenditure than we can manage, and being in the woods, more construction than the site would take. We are currently working out the best way of siting the new charcoal kiln so that we can drop the charcoal over a filter and into the potato bagger for bagging. That is enough, without trying to find a way of sorting the logs into log baggable and other without bending down. It is good for my waistline anyway.

You may get one or two more years as Santa, and even after that the children may enjoy it, even if they know it is you.

We went to an APT meeting yesterday on making gate hurdles. I didn't do a great deal, but it wasn't bad. A gate hurdle was made although the timber wasn't the best, so not sure how it will work. It went together, but some of it was so twisted that the uprights might need binding to stop them splitting as it dries. On the other hand, being held firmly, the rails, which are rather twisted, may dry out straight.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 18 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I don't think I would lose my job MR., as they would have to replace me, as when one is off I can't do their work as a replacement, far too much computing for me to understand or even want to do. I am at about my limit on here, the librarians doing the officialdom that is needed for me, and me giving the information! Born 10 years later and I would have grasped it but then again that wouldn't have happened as my father died when I was eight!

On the efficiency in round timber production there is much that happens, and being outside, that simply cannot be altered. There are good things for production areas however. My neighbour leaves home in the morning at around 6am and returns home at 6pm, having spent the day on a timber harvester, cutting down, brashing out and cutting to length; but every tree is straight, so lends itself to machine harvesting. I can't imagine how it would fair felling a hundred or so year old oak tree where the word straight is not the norm! That is a job for experience. I have several trees that are huge and I would like some of their lower branches coming off to allow me to cut hay under them, but that is beyond my ability now. 30 years ago I would probably have dived in without the knowledge I have now-leave it to the professionals! 3 branches are about 2 feet in diameter and when loaded with leaves and sap they are impassible with the tractor. I guess somewhere in the region of a load of logs in each branch!. The diameter of the tree is around 8ft and about 12ft high to the point where the first of 3 offending branches come off. I have 3 other massive trees. but the horses enjoy the shade in the summer so they will be left.

I hope you have kept the hurdle you made MR, to check on its final resting shape.

This year I have a suitable beard for doing the Father Christmas thing, and it is good as I don't have the chapped lips I would normally have got by now. If left to their own devices my lips will crack and bleed in the really cold weather, which was why I grew the beard in the first place. It always got shaved off in the summer, but somehow it has remained this year untrimmed and looking very 'Santa' like.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 18 8:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I must say my computing skills are a bit limited, but my son is very helpful. I can do 'Word' reasonably well, and use 'Publisher' for newsletters, although I can't do all the clever bits. 'Excell' is a bit of a mystery, but I usually manage it when I have to. Husband has picked it up better than me, but he is more interested. My father first learnt when he retired from the civil service at 60; his writing was so appalling that nobody at his new place could understand it, so he had to learn to write his own reports on the computer.

We have a few conifers that are more or less straight, although even some of the Corsican pine bend like bananas. As you say, old oak trees are anything but straight, and although I think they do use harvesters on them, it can't be easy.

The hurdle will be kept, and I can get an update on it as it it goes into use.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Nov 29, 18 2:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have had Corsican pine through the saw mill a long time ago now about 35 years ago to be precise, we had difficulty selling it for its intended purpose-fence posts-as it cuts straight, but it doesn't stay straight for long, at least it didn't for us. After the first lot we cut and sold immediately in order that they could be erected and then the panels nailed into place, quickly. Larch was our timber of choice but not always available at the right money.

I had about 3 years of doing computing classes on varying topics. I was slower than most, and still am, so the tutor gave me double the weeks to get through the "course" and so I did get a certain amount of info staying in the brain, but not a lot. I can do things on here and have email, but I can't do the new generation of phones. I liked the old system with a directory to find the number. When my original phone mobile packed up I did manage a second one but the next one after I couldn't get the hang of so I am without, and I am surviving! Not too sure what will happen when I need the RAC or whoever.

The fire wood is disappearing a rapid rate faster than in previous years, so I will be going home to do a bit more tonight before dark. Think I will have to put permanent lights and power into the wood shed next summer so that I can be in there all hours cutting and chopping. At present I use a mobile cable from the house the saw shed. By the time I get home to night I will only have enough light to see to unload today's wood haul. So the weekend will be the time for sawing as much as possible into blanks. I have a friend with a chopping machine and when I can get round to it I will take another load to him. They don't come out of the machine very well, but I tidy the product up and no one has complained yet that I know of, "I'll be touching wood to make sure when I get home", ha-ha!

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Grow Your Own All times are GMT
Page Previous  1, 2, 3 ... 343, 344, 345 ... 423, 424, 425  Next
Page 344 of 425
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com