Hello!

ourmaninsomewhere · Post by **ourmaninsomewhere** » 11 Feb 2008, 18:06

Hello all,

I've lurked on the forum for a while but finally thought I should say hello...

I'm based in Somerset near Taunton and working on finishing my thesis for the CAT MSc... currently looking to buy a bit of land (ideally over 2 acres, ideally with some sort of agricultural structure or ruin on it, Somerset or Devon) can get about ?30k together so let me know if you know of anything!

Also looking to get involved with interesting stuff going on in the south west eg building, waste, energy, growing projects... again, let me know.

Tom

Mean Mr Mustard · Post by **Mean Mr Mustard** » 11 Feb 2008, 19:09

Welcome, Tom.

From a different neck of the woods, but we all seem to get along here, mixed bunch that we are.

Mr Mustard

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 12 Feb 2008, 21:49

Hehehe Bon Courage on your CAT-thesis-writing activities, I've just finished mine!

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 13 Feb 2008, 04:16

Er me now, Tom! Is dat you boy?

Or is it the other Tom?

ourmaninsomewhere · Post by **ourmaninsomewhere** » 15 Feb 2008, 22:47

MMM & RC - Thanks for the welcome!

Ken - Possibly not the Tom you're thinking of, but you sent me some charcoal/terra preta info on AEES recently... still working my way through it, but have tried an experimental patch in my veg garden this year - mix of compost (20%) and charcoal (10%) with 70% Soil in a raised bed... will be interesting to see how it does!

Post by **kenneal - lagger** » 16 Feb 2008, 01:19

Hi! Tom. You're obviously not the DJ from Bristol I was thinking of.

I'm glad you're using the Terra Preta info. The DODGY TAX AVOIDERS soils have up to 30% carbon in them and up to 2 metres deep, which is a hell of a lot of charcoal. Are you going to carry on using the soil with no additional fertilizer to see how long the fertility lasts? One researcher has used the same bit of soil with no additional fertilizer for 40 years with no apparent loss of fertility.

The next thing to try is Rockdust from the SEER Centre http://www.seercentre.org.uk/

jonny2mad · Post by **jonny2mad** » 16 Feb 2008, 08:39

just saying hi too Im in weston super mare , and the charcoal gardening looks very interesting

ourmaninsomewhere · Post by **ourmaninsomewhere** » 21 Feb 2008, 12:44

I might try some without additional fertiliser Ken... I just want to see first of all how much of a difference it makes compared to the rest of the beds which have just compost added... Also considering doing a 'rock bed' (raised bed with small rocks spaced out over the surface to soak up the sun) as an experiment inspired by some of Sepp Holzer's stuff in Austria.

Rock dust does sound interesting as well. What do you think of the significance of pottery shards found in amazonian TP?