plastic in the gardens?

Plastic, how can rain water get to plant? What I do know is no more weeding for me if possible. Been doing the plastic thing for many years, and never seem to kill anything? I think the ground naturally stays moist longer if it is unable to evaporate. As the picture shows, weigh down plastic from blowing away with anything. I cut 36 little holes for 36 little vegetable plants (17 bucks). Occasionally through the Summer, stick a wand of water atop the hole. Overall, just looks better. Now I do same thing in many flower gardens. Too many to weed of course. There, washed river rock blankets over the black plastic. Rock is expensive, so I fork out for the cheap stuff, pictured, by the tri-axle load. Normally it is used as fill, but I think it cleans up nice with some good colors. It comes in various sizes which may be appropriate for walk ways or decoration. There's pathways too lined with huge rocks retrieved from farmers fields. Don't forget to put black plastic under them too or you'll have weeds all about.

State of the Union

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSjzaSi4SJo You have to highlight this link to see update of property 2013 (It's 16 minutes long) As usual, changes happen around here all the time. It's been a couple years of not posting. Something had changed my mood for this, it would seem. The property has just become my ongoing work of art (using cheap materials when I can). I feel like its particulars say it better than I could describe a motif. Basically, I used to steal ideas. Now I see fewer and fewer to steal. Some crannie could always use another treatment of ornament, if its stared at long enough. Just very happy how things came together. Been working a lot with colored rocks and stone lately. The washed river rock on the walkways feel like walking in sand, like at a beach. All of this new rock got plastic under it. So time will tell if weeds stay away. I've lined and then removed so many surfaces over the years, thinking it would be the last time. 2014 almost and out of metal, out of wood mostly, out of sliding glass doors, and playing with my last one-half (tri-axle load of stone). Just in time for my partner to leave, leaving me just finish work. Thank you Audrey for all your help. It's pin-pricks to think of ya like this. As I write, its Winter, time to rest. Surely Spring will get things hopping again. Probably try to make more of center of circular driveway. Look for metal or thatch or something for roof of new circular building. Not much really, but to be grateful everything still stands and looks good.

Shearing Camelids

Shearing is an evening with wine and good conversation. Not sure how April feels for the animals afterwards, but it is such a load off our human backs. A new beginning to run around unencumbered; everybody grow some more hair freely; exposed to come-what-may.

Blanket Weaving

Where to begin, where to begin, there are so many steps? Having seen the video, one may have the idea for yourself. For us, let's say it is the fastest way to get something good, assuming one would rather make things themselves.

Depending on the particular animal, but generally speaking now, alpaca and llama are softer than sheep obviously. They are all easy to spin. When we are sheared, only the long, clean fiber is saved. We used to wash all the fiber in 50 gallon barrel, left to dry on screen outdoors. Now since the fiber is off cut off good animals, we don't bother with washing or carding, just straight to spinning the dusty stuff. It'll get washed later in the laundry.

Spinning thick yarn is softer and warmer than spinning thin yarn. Have not made a rug yet, for who would want to step on this stuff, but the thickness of the two-ply blanket shown in video renders it even heavy to carry, let alone to lay under. As a blanket, it is just great. Very soft, even silky, and keeps its shape despite fitfull slumbers.

Really so many steps, so many different looms; should make a video of shearing technique: just contact us to talk about anything. The video is for those timid and need a distant view at first about the process. Our favorite participation is spinning and living with the creatures.

Final Camelid

Always wanted to look at and work with the fiber of a Suri. The rose color is a big bonus. Fifteen months young this month, this fixed boy doesn't look like he will be tall.

In 2010 reused metal from a dilapidated barn to recover ours'. Same tar side up and re-coated the screws. Added cupola and constructed corn crib from inverted cattle panels.

Windmill

Here a few pics of a windmill.





Other than the obvious, the only thing good to come from the windmill is it's become silent, sturdy and it's never a concern. Through very horrible weather conditions, it's all good. $300