Hi, Anna!

I've enjoyed your blog for a long time now! Today, while searching google for a mennonite bulk store in SC, up popped the Walden Effect. I've read around for a while and can't remember where, but you shared about visiting relatives in SC and going to the mennonite bulk store. Can you tell me where it's located?

I'm willing to drive.

; )

Thanks, dawn

Love the site; I found a link here while looking up external wood heating options. I've had an enjoyable time browsing through the site, but I have couple of questions. I preface this by admitting I haven't read allthe blog posts, nor have I tried any of the suggestions, although i am interested in one day homesteading and testing them out: 1. Have you considered using rammed earth or a varient to build a new dwelling? It would (theoretically) be more energy efficient, generally speaking, and fairly inexpensive, depending on your soil than the trailer. 2. For your heating, are you using dry wood, homemade charcoal or home made bio mass pellets? Have you considered the charcoal or bio mass pellets and found them to be insufficient? 3. Are the chickens your primary source of meat/protein, or your only source? I plan on thouroughly devouring everything I can find on your site and add it to my future (hopefully not a pipe-) dream to go offgrid. Thanks and keep up the great work.

Glad you've been enjoying reading! To answer your questions:

1. We're pretty happy in our trailer (plus addition.) To be honest, building bores me and I'd rather spend my time, money, and energy on outdoor projects that literally bear fruit. But we might consider adding strawbale walls at some point and Mark would like to try an underground structure in the side of a hill. Rammed earth has always sounded like a lot of work to me, and tough to do in our wet climate where we'd be dealing with mud during most of the building period.

2. We heat with firewood because it's so easy to find (or cut ourselves). We use charcoal on a small scale as biochar in our garden, and bio mass pellets aren't really available in our area (probably because wood is so plentiful.)

3. We've been slowly ramping up our chicken production, and for the last year or so, they've provided all of our white meat. However, we do buy pastured lamb and beef from a friend of ours and we hunt venison.

Hello My name is Kaden Coleman and I am in 8th grade. This year the advanced science class is required to do the science fair. My project is based on using urine as a fertilizer and I found a lot about that on your page. Part of the requirements for sources is to get a interview from an expert so I was wondering if you could email me so I can have a discussion with you. Thank you so much in advance. Kaden Coleman.

P.S. my email address is monkeyinside@ymail.com

I have been a follower of your blog for many years, and I am finally living on my farm. I was wondering if it is too late in the year to do a kill mulch for my spring garden.

Thanks