Cedar Tree, Storm Shutters, and Seed Library
Christina's Sustainable Skills Blog
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We had a cedar tree that was blocking the light for my new passive solar greenhouse heater for my studio and we needed cedar wood for finishing making working storm shutters for our old farm house. Frank grew up on the New England coast and has seen first hand the damage hurricaines can do, so he is always thinking of storm-proofing our house for the overdue mid-Atlantic hurricaines. These will all be working shutters.
We know of two separate portable saw mill owners, locally. Dan came to our house, cut the tree, and milled it on site into lumber exactly the size we needed. The wood couldn't be much more locally harvested! We gave him any extra firewood logs, we hired a local chipper to give us a huge pile of wood chips for mulching our gardens (already spread now), and the lumber is drying in the loft of our barn to made into our five board shutters in about 6 months, like the ones I already installed in the back upper level.

Secondly, we're getting our seed orders for year sent in. Does anyone know for certain which small, formerly independent, seed companies have been bought out by Monsanto and the other food and agribusiness giants? I want to make sure I don't give them any more of our money. I know it's safe (and wonderful) to buy from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Barbara Kingsolver, in her book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" notes that Johnny's, Territorial, Nichols, Stokes, and dozens of other regional seed companies are now owned by Monsanto.
The only seeds that I saved this year (I have to get better at it myself) that I can share with others are: Yel. perrenial sunflower, gallardias, single hollyhocks, an orange butterfly weed, mangel beets, dill, and a few 4 o'clocks. Remember last year I mentioned that we could start a seed "library" for loaning out to others who will plant them and return, with interest (i.e. more seeds) next year. This is my meager contribution this year. A number of people said they were interested. I can make up a master list if you send me the varieties you have available. I plan to really work on seed saving this year.
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