26.07-2012

I’m still new to my place, this is my first July there, and it’s taking me by surprise even though I grew up only 20 kilometers away. I'm used to black flies (Simuliidae), but I don't think I've ever encountered them by the numbers I experienced them today. It was impossible to be outside, and it has been for days and even weeks; today there were thousands of them. There is plenty of water in my area, both still and running and I was glad to read today that black flies have a low tolerance for pollution. Toads and frogs are other indicators of a healthy environment, and earthworms too - probably snails too - I have plenty of all of the above so I'm very happy about that.

But, I can't be outside and work on my hugelbed, and that's frustrating since there is no place I'd rather be, and nothing I'd rather be doing --- By the way, today the dragonflies finally arrived, they were there already when I moved in last year, 1 anniversary coming up. I spent 3 months in Morocco and 3 months in the Gambia this winter, but I feel more "homeward bound" this year than ever, if I manage to make a rocket mass heater and fix my ceiling, maybe three months in Morocco is enougg, as I really want to learn Tadelakt.

I’ll attach a picture of my unfinished hugelbed for now, and update on the liquid seaweed and horsetail fertilizer will come in a few weeks.

In solidarity