the daydream fund challenge thread

rhiwfield

Dowsing, atm no need for that with the ground squelching, thank goodness the hens no longer need moving daily!

E-mailed the met office to ask about sunshine levels over the summer, as the solar panels hadnt been performing fully to expectations. Haven't had a reply but found this handy link So the summer was wetter, warmer and gloomier than average.

Even so, just had the second FITS payment from Eon, very welcome too and a rare credit to the bank account.

Moved a lot of stuff into the greenhouse and have got it on frost protection to eke out the toms and cucumbers. Wont want to do that for too long but its nice to have a handful of fresh toms daily, I'll miss that. Soon be time to think about the first plantings for 2011, broad beans and garlic, (double last year's garlic planting as the hens have it as a supplement in their water)

Some gusty winds forecast for later so its about time I secured the hens duplex securely to the ground otherwise they might not be in Kansas anymore

lostinrates

Davesnave, you've got to get up here and dowse for me!

Choille, water company only liable if its on there side. The water is surfacing on our side, but right by the road, and the road is a little higher than us, so.. we don't know yet. Its farcical really, the puddles eventually drip into our surface water rain, which goes, eventually, into the pond we are trying to empty :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Ridiculous.

I still haven't looked at that metre....I MUST today.

I like the animals too much too, in the main. Brought up by the first generation and second generation that left the farm, its in my blood and going to agriculture college was wonderful: I used to be harder: never worried about ''dealing with'' a bird, for example, knowing I would do it compassionately myself. Now I seek to avoid it at all costs The two ''suppers'' I hatched in spring are still here ATM...and will be till they start causing problems.


I did however clip all this years girls wings this morning. what's the betting the fox turns up this weekend.

Lotus-eater

Davesnave wrote: »

Funny you should mention that! Today was the first time I tried dowsing, when a friend called and we began talking about water supplies and springs. Before I knew what was happening, I was wandering around the place like a zombie, with two pieces of bent wire, held out front!

It worked too, not only for water, but also below and above ground for electricity.

Really? I've often wondered if it actually worked.

LIR's, have you realised that the pond might be there for that very reason?

Rhiwfield, there definately was less sun during the summer than a "normal" year, although less and less years seem to be that normal tbh.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

Davesnave, you've got to get up here and dowse for me!

Lotus-eater wrote: »

Really? I've often wondered if it actually worked.

Rhiwfield, there definately was less sun during the summer than a "normal" year, although less and less years seem to be that normal tbh.

I'd be happy to lir, but I am no expert (yet!) and anyone can do it, though I think it may work better if you concentrate and have more idea of technique than I have, thus far.

It was a pretty good summer here from our (subjective) point of view. We escape the worst of what passes over Dartmoor and Exmoor. There was far too little rain though, and the rivers are still low for the time of year. Our stream still isn't running.

The last few days have been particularly quiet, with only gentle winds. If I have one complaint about this place, it would be the winds, but to be fair, we noticed an increase in unseasonable windiness long before we left our last home.

RAS

choille wrote: »

I think I know what you mean about the sniffy attitude t'wards white settlers - however I would say that in many places the indigenous population is in the minority & there are cliques of wealthy southerners that come for the summer months. It is difficult & there are similar things happen where ever you get pretty places.
Recently some of the local crofters have been questioning my preference for the indigenous breeds of sheep & trying to get me to see that I should be going for the Cheviots - that's what is ubiquitous here- hire a ram & put the lambs off to the mart each fall- would be financially more sensible - may even pay for their feed & other expenses. It is as if I have to conform.....difficult to explain.

Ah yes. The area where I was born attracts a huge number of retirees and second homers. Some of whom do snooty very well. The result? Almost impossible to buy a house, school under continual threat (it serves the whole upper dale) and very few other facilities or services. All the village barns have been converted but there is little employment except in catering and since it is in a national park no hope of running anything resembling industry (that includes things like a pottery). And of course there is no way the people who bought peace and a view are going to permit any development.

I have to say that some of the incomers are inventive in getting round the planning regulations but the place needs employment opportunities and reasonable priced housing.

With respect to your local crofters, one of the things I noticed travelling around is how different the attitudes are in the Northern Isles and in the Northwest and islands. One of my favourite comments from Shetland was "they keep going on about asylum seekers down there, like they do not want them. Well can we have some here, please".

I found people from both areas much travelled, particularly the men who had been in the merchant navy, but the Northern Islanders were incredibly open to newcomers, seeing themselves as part of a north atlantic international community. In Gaeldom, it was much more about how we have always done things and new things are unwelcome and challenging. Certainly we struggled to plant trees or enthuse people about alternative projects.

RAS

choille wrote: »

I have been toying with the idea of getting a loan to build, or do up a ruined byre into a small, basic letting unit - one with a wood burner & no mains electric yet comfortable. It would suit people who want quiet & would allow me to pay the loan back, quickish - hopefully.
Winter is for plotting..........

Well I went here http://www.bardsey.org/english/staying/week_breaks.htm and the houses have outside privies, emptied by the renters, huge water butts for cooking and cleaning, no bathroom, no electricity, and minimal spring water that needs filtering for drinking. One small wood burner, bottled gas cooker and fridge(not required personally) and one lamp, otherwise candles. People managed and enjoyed gettign away from it all. The place is pretty much full all summer.

Also look at the camping barns run by the YHA.

alfie_1

talking of planning "farces"... local to me WAS a lovely waterfront cottage. it was in many a turn of the century photo. alas not a listed property. sold in 2007 [ish] they changed the windows and put PATIO DOORS on front inplace of a 3x4 window. lovely plastic too ! NO PLANNING PERMISSION, 2 yrs later they put in to demolish and build a hideous timber fronted modern house. permission REFUSED. cottage got permission for rear extension with providoes of retaining exact frontage,roof shape and tiles and trees to remain[or be replaced like for like if damaged]
this summer COTTAGE DISSAPEARS !! all bar one corner. on enquiring [we are in the national park here?] i was told they had NOT demolished it as a part was left standing and in law there is no such thing as a PART demolition ???? so the owner gets to build his NEW house after all and NFNP refuse to FINE them ???? NO bat survey was undertaken either.
MORAL OF THIS STORY... if planning is refused, knock down your house ,all bar a corner and you will get permission to replace it.....[not suggesting you do this tho !!!]

alfie_1

choille wrote: »

Alfie - could you breed her & sell the piglets? Maybe even, dare I say - eat the piggies!. That way you get some money back on the outlay.

I do put some of my sheep in the freezer - I don't like puttig them off to the mart though - even though I did send off 6 of the old girls the other week.

oh dear Choille ! i wish i was tough enough.. im not a gambler and i wouldnt bet on me being able to part with little "piggies" !!
i am the "loopy lou" that spent £300 on vet for a sheep....and then it died ??
i thought i had posted this reply already but it got lost between my ability to press correct key and my kettle boiling!!

JayneC

alfie_1 wrote: »

i thought i had posted this reply already but it got lost between my ability to press correct key and my kettle boiling!!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That so sounds like me these days!!

Just popping on to say hi and bye. Still reading but not managing to post much. Good to hear how everyone getting on.

Poosmate

Morning all, haven't posted for a while and to be honest haven't checked in either but just finished reading the last 10 or so pages (however many since I last posted). It's taken forever as I've clicked every link and looked at all the photos/sites etc.

It's great reading everyones trials and tribulations, hope all are well now who haven't been. Loads of interesting conversations going on and many I'd love to have joined in with.

Choille, your place looks wonderful. I'm glad you got to get a nice hot shower and I don't envy you having to spend another winter in your caravan. I really hope you will be in your house by next winter.

Rhiw, glad the Mrs Rhiw got her new knee ok and managed to get to your sons graduation. Love the chicken coop.

Alfie, I'm glad I'm not the only one who dreams of building straw houses (although that's all mine will ever be - a dream). Good on you for saving the pig, shame about the sheep. I like your nick name for Mable. I like sheep and don't eat lamb, my mantra being, lambs are for bleating not for eating.

Davesnave, you're doing really well at your small holding, I love your posts (I guess I'm just nosey). You're photography is fab, I mean you can even make fencing look as good as a beautiful landscape! lol What struck me about your rocky/stoney areas was that maybe they are remnants of medieval or roman buildings? Maybe you should get the Time Team in! lol

LIR, another small holding "diary" that I enjoy reading. Regarding your water leak, I agree with (Ras?) or whoever it was suggested that maybe the pond is there to catch the water. Have the waterboard done tests on the water for flouride content? If it's flourinated then it's most certainly mains water. If it is a natural spring, YAY! Free water! YAY again! lol

Ras, thanks for the Bardsley link. I've saved it and will send it to my sister tomorrow. We have a run down cottage in Ireland which we've been trying to do up over the years (which is difficult as we all have our own homes to keep), I wouldn't mind letting it out but mom doesn't want other people in there. However, with the inception of the new council tax for holiday/second homes over there, each year just the running costs are getting more and more expensive never mind it's upkeep/mainenance! If I can get my sis on board we may be able to talk mom around. Lets see if I can do a link to it:

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/ab314/shellytoo44/S73F1999.jpg

If I was the sole owner of this place it's where I'd be. 2 bed semi in 1.5 acres. This would be my small holding. But I'm sure my mom, sis and bro would too if they owned it outright.

Oh well, best get off to bed now, it's very late, or is it very early?!

Oh I forgot to mention why I actually came on here! Der!

I found this on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV9CCxdkOng&NR=1

And low and behold, one of the conversations that was going on a few pages back was about acreage/production!

Now I'm off to bed.

Good night all.

Poo