Nina Surya

Hmmm, all right, now I get it.
Don't want anyone to get in trouble with Agent Smith & his clones coming to collect VAT so... I'll give it up (hangs head, arms and rolling spine in an questionmark shape).
Thanks for clarifying!

Rachel Lindsay wrote:
I totally agree that building good new things is what we need to do. I harp on this topic to my husband all the time, poor dear fellow! I wish to build everything somehow, but there is only one small introverted me here that sees these great big problems and has very limited ability to build anything. I have started in my own backyard, and am expanding to my parents' backyard (parents and in-laws also are more and more embracing organic and chemical free foods because of the things I tell them! Hurrah!) but this doesn't make me feel as happy as I wish it would.

I want to build more, and I want to learn how to prioritize what I build and maximize who I am and what I can do to make the most of my little life, and I want to learn how to be content with the little that I am able to do, compared to all the problems that I see. Paul seems to be able to dive in so deeply with his projects that he doesn't get distracted by the machinations of the Bad Guys anymore. I want to be in that place too!

I'd like to join in the conversation by sharing a bit of personal life experience concerning ... community, how big or small it might be.

(and I believe that community is the ultimate currency!)

Like Rachel, I was living my permaculture life as well as I could within the restraints of my own abilities.
I can do a lot, but not everything.
I was grateful for the good things in my life, but felt frustrated about the things that could have been better.

Then a volunteer came to help with the renovation of our house.
This volunteer had a dog, as do I, so we went for morning walks with the doggies.
I was astonished about how easy it was to talk with him - the conversations were long and insightful, and I noticed we had the same kind of vision and values.
Fast forward +- 18 months... I'm now divorced from my ex husband and living together with Mr. Volunteer.
Life is so much easier, the envisioned projects flow into existence almost effortlessly, the frustration is gone and enthousiasm and creativity are here.
It's a harmonious partnership. Some edges and burrs of course, but we talk, with keen interest, to smooth them out.

So. Sometimes it's not that you're not doing enough. Sometimes it's the people around you that just aren't a match.
These things can't be forced, but being realistic and aware of what is wonky helps in moving forward. Observe. Make small changes.

I don't want to create chaos, but just... don't stay small. Your life is worth all the growth, blossoming and fruit.

The Ugly Duckling, realizing she's a Swan.

Hi there,

I have a diferent kind of access problem to the private forum; I'd like to join, but I can't get past the paywall since it's set for US only (I'm in the EU).
Is there a way around - no, rather -> through this?

Thanks in advance.

Nina

Hi everyone, I'm still wondering how to get past de paywall to join in the discussion, since the paywall gatekeeper dislikes peoples outside the US.
Would love to find a good way to join in!

Perma-greetings,
Nina

Thank you Paul for sharing. Wishing you a steady healing journey with stronger health by the day.

I'd like to join the conversation in the private blog, but can't get past the pay wall because it's set on US only (I'm in Europe).
Is there a way around this?

All the best,
Nina

Hello Permies,

While waiting for our bathroom/toilet room to get to the top of our priorities list in the renovation, we're using a pee bucket and a camper toilet.

The portable wc is for camping cars, with associated (very) chemical blue liquid.
We did the blue liquid thing for one month last summer, and despite the promises on the flacon, it did get smelly as the contents of the potty sat for longer than fivr-six days.

Since I'm a critters&growies girl I came up with an eco friendly liquid.
I'd like to share our 'porta potty tea'-recipe with you, it's quite simple.
You can play with the proportions of ingredients; more nettles=greener liquid, more ivy=more brown liquid.

1 part nettles  (accelerates composting), stems and leaves
1 part English ivy (soapy, cleaner), stems and leaves
optional; some fragrant stuff from your garden - I use mint.

Put the ingredients in a big pot, cover with water and bring to boil.
Simmer for at least 1/2 an hour.
Let cool in the pot, the point is to extract as much of the composting & soapy stuff from the plants as possible.

The next step is quite important; filter the liquid in order to avoid the pump of the porta potty clogging from the tiny seeds of nettles or other particles.
I use a sieve for filtering out the plant material, and a very fine sieve when pouring the liquid thorugh a funnel and into the porta potty.

Then I dilute the 'tea' with water, about 1:1, it's all very "-ish".

We use the liquid for flushing after every poop session. No smell - except mint! - in the potty.

When it's time to empty the porta potty, it goes into a deep hole in the ground (covered with an old sheet of metal roofing). The contents composts very fast thanks to the nettles component, so it's not even necessary to cover the contents with a layer of soil, just the sheet of roofing.

I've now been using the ivy detergent for a month and am very happy with it!
A little addition to the ivy-cooking adventures; add a twig of lavendel into the ivy soup for lovely lavendel frangrance - a little goes a long way, and no, you don't need the flowers per se, a twig with leaves will do as well.
Or try rosemary, mint or rose petals or... have fun!

Hello Samantha,

Thank you for your message, and sorry to be a bit late with my reply, Life got in the way a bit.

I'm getting to the conclusion that sheep would be the way to go here. This thread has been very helpful for forming my future plans further.

The sheep project is something I'm projecting into the future, since at the moment the renovation of an ancient French farmhouse to a Nest/Home is taking a lot of time and energy, next to the spring things in and around the garden.
Thank you for your helpful tips, I'll carry them on into the future!

All the best,
Nina

I rinse, then cook my cheese cloth with some bicarb soda - a saucepan will do for just one cheesecloth.

Hello Kate,

Thank you for your thoughtful reply!

I'm looking for a dual purpose goat or sheep that would give milk and fleece "as long as possible".
Availability of some breeds (here in France) is a limiting issue as well.

My land is an old orchard, with living hedges all around. The ground is covered in a mixture of grasses, flowers and herbs.
We currently have chicken and two kunekune pigs. The pigs are fenced in with an electric fence. They do all the digging for the veggie garden spot, diminishing English ivy and such, next to being just adorable, asking for belly rubs.

The goat/sheep is for the future, at the moment we're still renovating and establishing garden(s), planting new trees to invigorate the orchard.
But making cheese and spinning and knitting wool is something I've envisioned for a decade already, gathering information (slowly) as I go.

Thanks again for chiming in!