SteveA

What cloches do you use? Our DIY attempt at cloches failed at the first strong winds. Luckily we don't have any rabbits on our farm. We're looking to erect a shade tunnel next to the polytunnel some time in the future to help harden plants a bit more before planting out. cheers, steve

Coronation chicken with mixed salad in a fresh granary baguette. *slurp*

I understand your points. Initially we're looking at extending our flowering seasons more than growing things during cold weather and the trouble with not using mesh sides means that when we transplant outdoors the plants won't be hardened enough to cope with our Pembrokeshire weather elements.... However, if we do want to raise the temperature in the tunnel we could fleece where the mesh is.... or fleece individual beds. So far we've been using a half hoop lean to polytunnel - that has a mesh side up to about 3ft height. Overall, that's been working great. Pests shouldn't be too much of a concern where predators are allowed. Diseases can be less predictable... but seasons change, one year is different to the next. cheers, steve

Our tunnel will be 16m maximum length so pretty easy to ventilate and most days we get a good breeze. Yep, got the bracing bars sussed. Will also be fitting some crop bars. I'm spacing the hoops at 5ft so that will also help keep it polytunnel shapes during strong winds. I'm cementing the foundation tubes as well. cheers, Steve

Any extra water in a polytunnel will raise humidity, even with mesh sides.... although it won't raise it as much as misting. The main purpose of the pond is to introduce slugs and toads to chomp slugs. We don't use slug pellets so it'll help towards controlling numbers. I'm not the first to have a polytunnel pond, honest guv! cheers, steve

It works and will help us out in slug patrol. However I wouldn't advise it if you're using slug pellets. A down side is that baby frogs will sometimes stick and fry on brick paths. cheers, Steve

It'll have green vented mesh on both sides and big doors at both ends of the tunnel. I do like the roll up systems but it's a bit of a faff to fit and more expense. cheers, steve

No, frogs and toads love the warmth and humidity of polytunnels. We'll also be popping some plants with big leaves around the pond and creating a cave for toads. Its a great way of dealing with slugs in tunnels. cheers, steve

Haha! Nice one. I have thought about doing a cordwood path, if that counts? cheers, steve

Wow, what a great and unusual tree. Be a shame to cut that oddity down. cheers, steve

Good call. Although we don't have any mains water so would need to be gravity fed. cheers, steve

We've just started doing the ground works for our polytunnel and I'm fine tuning the internal design layout for raised beds and paths. Here's where we're at: The tunnel is 5.8m width (about 19ft) and 55ft length. - central path to run the entire length of the tunnel. This will be made from bricks. The centre path is 80cm width - all other paths between raised beds to be 60cm width - the narrow raised beds to be 60cm width x 240cm length x 30cm height - the wider raised beds to be 120cm width x 240cm length x 30cm height (these beds will be accessible from all sides). - small wildlife pond for frogs and toads, somewhere central in the tunnel. This should also help to raise humidity slightly. That's where we're at for now.... If anyone has any interior design top tips, or photos to share I'm all eyes and ears. cheers, steve

Looks like the Renault Kangoo has superb off road abilities...

Does it run on a chainsaw head?

Or could wack four offset pegs down through it. cheers, steve

is a great shame they aren't available here in the UK. Maybe we should all petition RobD to sort that out! Got that Rob?!! cheers, steve

Great video of a scarf joint.... I like how the square peg pulls it together. [ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6j-U1P49r8U[/ame]

That's great cheers. Just been watching YouTube vids on charcoal making.... this stool made me larf:

I have vaguely considered it and like the though of doing that..... but my knowledge on making charcoal is vague, to say the least! I made a tiny amount of charcoal in the summer using a Lidl garden incinerator... it glowed very bright orange, and, um... melted! Are there any kilns you would recommend? I've also thought of trying to make some charcoal by burying the burning wood in earth (using the mini digger) but it's probably a stupid idea. cheers, steve

Great!.... a few chocolate croissants?....

If it's plated to tow 2000kg gross then that is what the car can legally tow.... that is, providing the person driving has the license and insurance to do so. cheers, Steve

We use an Ansemms PSX1300 for everything you describe and more. Its single axle and braked. Cost £900 used. The aluminium sides can be completely removed. I used it like that for moving hundreds of our hay bales this year.... fitted about 40 bales on it. Just need a 50mm towball fitted to your compact tractor and bobs your uncle.... Very highly recommended. cheers, steve

Cheers, wasn't thinking of dragging you personally to West Wales. I was chatting recently to someone with a mobile charcoal unit not too far away.... although unfortunately I think the Wildlife Trust have hogged his services! Maybe I can talk him into a weeks work?? The coppice has: - quite a bit of willow, from small diameter up to about 30cm diameter. - some ash, from small up to about 30 cm diameter (although I'm inclined to leave the big ash as overstood for the coppice stools). - a fair bit of unmanaged hazel stools with chunky and wobbly hazel stems - small oak trees dotted in between hunting for pockets of light! (will be leaving these). It's quite hard to work out exact amounts because there is plenty of bramble & dog rose to navigate. Glastir are paying us a bit towards getting it back into a managed coppice. Not a huge amount but it does help cover some fuel. It's a shame Glastir didn't actually offer some management advice, they've been crap like that. cheers, Steve

I have a Q: Do you hire yourself and your kiln out to process other people's wood? Reason I ask is because we have a couple acres of unmanaged coppice to cut and get back into some kind of rotation. Trying to work out how to make it work financially, or at least to try and break even. cheers, steve

oh, Husky 550 isn't listed either. double Doh!