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This sounds like a fantastic adventure, Mountaingirl. I prefer the remote and isolated, too. One day I'll try and get back there.

Good luck with it all.

Hello Nev,

wombat wrote:we were designed to be omnivores!

I'd take issue with your use of the word 'designed', but not here.

We also have the ability to rationalise - assimilate information and make decisions. Just because we <i>can</i> do something doesn't mean we have to do it.

Hello Mountaingirl, pleased to meet you. I don't really believe that plants are capable of feeling pain - it was an empathetic joke where I believe no empathy can truly exist. My attempt at pathos and wit. It was a little bit of self deprecation as an offering to new friends, in the hope of having t...

That's interesting to hear a first hand account, Gug. Where do you get your supplies from? I imagine if you do a reasonable mileage, then you are going to need to buy it in fairly large quantities. With LPG, a lot of people ask about sneakily using bottled propane, or even tapping off stuff from the...

Since Malcolm raised the subject, I've been looking at bio-diesel links on the web, and have discovered some interesting stuff. Seems there are two ways of going down the 'chip shop oil' route - one requires you to modify the vegetable oil, but means that you can put it into an unmodified diesel car...

We need to be a little careful of terms, here. 'Biodiesel', the commercial product available at forecourt pumps, and used by fleet operators, is a mix of mineral diesel and organic diesel. The mix is, typically, 5% organic, 95% mineral. It is not vegetable diesel, and I wouldn't dream of commenting ...

PlayingWithFire wrote:I am now looking for experts on bio-diesel

http://tinyurl.com/ay7lp

http://tinyurl.com/8jqwb

Hello Malcolm, Now <i>that</i> sounds like a sensible occupation. I mean compared to working in an office, for example. I'm betting that lighting ancient fires in Orkney is a challenge at the best of times. Are there any trees there? What else could you use? BTW, www.allfivesenses.com just returns t...

I wonder what the acreage of wheat/loaf of bread ratio is? I've always fancied having a go at working a traditional scythe. http://www.fellpony.f9.co.uk/country/haytime/haytime2.htm Before the invention of mechanical mowers and harvesters, a field of corn would be cut by a line of men with scythes. ...

Hello Pam, I found this image of a cauli seedling for you http://tinyurl.com/beak9 It doesn't sound like what you see is a cauli. What did you use to plant the seeds in? If you used soil from the garden, it is very common for old seeds that were already in the soil to start growing when it gets dist...

No sure what the female version of 'splendid fellow' is, but I am sure there is one Oh dear, that's given me a heads-up. It's the sort of thing I'll never know unless you tell me. Profuse apologies. BTW, I'm a fella (in case there weren't enough clues in this thread). But I did indeed once meet a w...

Splendid fellow, Lee. Now that's what I call male grooming - none of this Mach III triple blade nonsense. Bit disappointed in the Handlebar Club though. "The qualification for membership is: A hirsute appendage of the upper lip, with graspable extremities and, in addition, we specify that beard...

In a similar vein, I can thoroughly recommend this: http://www.lowershawfarm.co.uk/october.html#fungus

It's years since I last went there; they run lots of other courses, too (eg Permaculture), and the people that run the place are deeply lovely.

The most famous one is Food For Free by Richard Maybey. It's not been out of print in over thrity years. Have a look at eco-logic books, who have a link on this site. The latest edition is a sumptuous version with lots of colour photos, as well as recipes and details about the plants. I wouldn't rec...

There was a site called Scary Sharp, IIRC, but I'm afraid I've long since lost the bookmark. All about putting fine edges on to blades. I remember, when I was about 6, going into an attic room in our rambling old house, and finding a trunk of old junk (or so I thought). In there I found a cutthroat ...