the daydream fund challenge thread

Davesnave

rhiwfield wrote: »

That home is not for me Davesnave, too minimalist, too modern, too showy, too open plan. But others may love it

The programme showed the kind of problems people can have when using new or unfamiliar materials. The couple seemed to have been heavily influenced by their architect, who accepted little responsibilty for the hassles, both practical and financial, they had to endure. Half way through the build they stopped speaking...


Not a great advert for any of them IMO.

lostinrates

Lotus eater, thanks for that. we were thinking of one of the diddly kiwis for a south facing wall. Has anyone tasted ''Jenny''? I've seen them growing in milan, I'm thinking of putting them in one of our yards, where it gets really hot. I'm also thinking of buying half barrels for fig rather than putting them in the ground. Then they, too, can be in a yard...one with concrete and no chance for beds but lots and lots of heat. And drag them in for winter I guess. My Violette fig fruited this year and was SUBLIME. But I could eat figs ever single day, so the two on this baby were hopefully just a taste of things to come. I don't see why the yards shouldn't be pretty and fruitful too.

In the garden we hve a south wall I'm reserving for a peach....maybe two to grow in fans. I just can't decide which. I'm also planning to put a caci at the west end of the wall. only issue is it might grow up and put the peaches in shade...but the caci is a useful fruit at this time of year, we love it, .if I can get it to fruit here, of course. we had them in Milan, and DH had them in Tuscany with cold winters, I think the issue is not the cold of winter but enough hot days in summer. Other option would be not against a front wall but still south facing in the front garden. Its made two winters at the other place, though its VERY slow growing, just waiting for it to be ready to move.

Lotus-eater

I'm of the opinion that fig trees grow much better in the ground, in a big restricting pot or hole, of course.
I have one in a pot on the patio, but it's never done well. Yet ones I've seen in the ground have been much much better off.

I've never tasted a full size kiwi grown in the uk, I'd be very interested to hear from someone that has. A friend of mine is growing one, but it hasn't fruited yet.

lostinrates

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I'm of the opinion that fig trees grow much better in the ground, in a big restricting pot or hole, of course.
I have one in a pot on the patio, but it's never done well. Yet ones I've seen in the ground have been much much better off.

I've never tasted a full size kiwi grown in the uk, I'd be very interested to hear from someone that has. A friend of mine is growing one, but it hasn't fruited yet.

I think you are probably right...in fact Bob Flowerdew (I nearly types what we call him in this house which is Blob, affectionate rather than as it sounds...) suggests the roots don't even need restricting if you don't over feed, but you see, here we have these special circs of the yard, which increase normal temperature so significantly that I think its worth a try. It really did feel mediterreanean out there in summer, it will be interesting to take the temp next year) we can always plant them if it doesn't work out.

Ones in the ground I know of do really well too, whereas my parents have a brown turkey in the ground at the last place that never did anything, don't think its ever even put one fruit on!

Oh, for a grove of warm, sweet figs.

Davesnave

Coincidence or not, today was the day I stuck the crowbar under the fig in our conservatory. It came out with less of a fight than I expected, so now it's on the lawn and I'll have to decide what to do next. As a magnet for red spider, it couldn't stay where it was anyway.

I'm not too sure about figs themselves, but I enjoy the foliage, and we too have a hot wall in the yard.

I expect I'll pot and protect it a bit for this winter, then give it freedom in the spring....somewhere. That hot wall is kinda handy for toms and peppers.

lostinrates

tell u what you decide davesnave. Does it fruit?

alfie_1

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I'm of the opinion that fig trees grow much better in the ground, in a big restricting pot or hole, of course.
I have one in a pot on the patio, but it's never done well. Yet ones I've seen in the ground have been much much better off.

I've never tasted a full size kiwi grown in the uk, I'd be very interested to hear from someone that has. A friend of mine is growing one, but it hasn't fruited yet.

Anything semi tropic does well in a large half drum size pot put half again in the ground/half above. put large [egg size] holes in the bottom so tap roots can find thier way. put large flat pebbles on top [they heat up and keep soil warmer] of an almost "poor" soil [ stoney/mulch/sandy soil] so drainage is good but mulch retains moisture. then in the winter put some hay/straw around pot and wrap in a hessian sack tying around stem [not tight]. this will protect and let the soil breath. check for earwigs now and then but they dont do major harm. i do not prune in the autumn but early spring after frosts. do not prune until it establishes itself as the last years growth is the next years produce and then only prune to control. hope this helps!!

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

tell u what you decide davesnave. Does it fruit?

It did form fruit, but it also got a bad case of red spider, so I had to do a major cut back.

The problem with this place is that everything's in a state of flux, and it will be for a year or two yet. The barn needs work, so I can't plant too near there, and behind the old pole barns would also be warm, but they are favourite for demolition when we site the mobile home.....There's still loads to decide.

choille

RAS - I need an ABC book on genetics. I have had my Scot's Greys laying & sitting decent sized broods but they are really dependent on the weather - an amazing wonderful breed - one of our oldest traceable breeds. I have a new cockeral but all eggs are fertile just hens jumping off before hatch date this year. I even popped a clutch under Mrs Hopperty - she's geriatric & a cripple ( A car accident survivor) but she goes broody even though she is absolutely ancient & I rescued her about 7 years ago.

Some of the chicks I have had have a reccessive gene - yellow legs which is not wanted in the breed. I also have a larger hen (2) these are rarer & would love them to breed - but haven't had chicks from that strain as yet - may consider an incubator.

Heard about Shetland hens at SCF do I was at the other month - I would love some of them but they don't travel well 7 I have never heard of them on the main land.

I may get a silkie next year to do the brooding - although two of my Scot's Greys usually do successfully sit.

Had a shower & feel more human.

OH & I have really had a think & will try & rope in some favours. Going to track down some cheap windows I heard about as that'll be an expense.

Cheers for the support.

The shelter book sounds good - Alfie.

There is a good book called Low Impact Development by Simon Fairlie if you are into green design - proper green design - not let's throw money at expensive eco bling design. I did go down to Tinker's Bubble & stayed there over night - very interesting but a bit too South & community for us.

alfie_1

Davesnave wrote: »

That's an interesting-looking book, alfie. The US doesn't have our planning system, of course, and that might be contentious if we went too far into it.....!

People have different ideas about 'eco-homes.' For example, you my have seen this one on 'Grand Designs:'

http://www.profilehomes.com/documents/0cae52_6-8-bed-country-property-for-sale-nr-llandeilo-west-wales.pdf

It was to be the 'forever home' of a Welsh TV actor and family, but obviously something has gone awry. Anyway, they're not finding it easy to sell.

The longer we stay here, the more we want to make our re-build practical, simple and less ostentatious.

the book SHELTER is one of many that the publishers have . they are not just american but houses/huts from around the world. i am going to build a straw house. bales for walls, chicken wire covered [fixed with wire pin loops] then mix of soil, concrete powder,water and chopped straw as a plaster. old wooden windows and door. roof from rescued beams and corrogated sheets on a one pitch slant. big overhang all round. posts support so like a verandah all around. wooden pallets on floor [gaps filled from other pallet planks] just as a fun hut/house for chilling in !!