Bubbs Chapel Conversion Thread...

[Bubbs]

[stinkwheel]

It's saystemic weedkiller. It kills growing plants if it comes in contact with their leaves. As son as it hits the ground, it is inactivated.

It's not the fastest acting, it actually makes stuff grow too fast and burn itself out.

An interesting thing I have seen done using glyphosate is to prep and sow an area of grass then wait. The weeds invariably start coming back up before the grass but you can safely re-apply the glyphosate as long as the grass still isn't showing through. This kills the weeds and the grass gets a good start. Well established grass will then prevent the weeds coming through, especially once you start cutting it.

My Grandad (who was a professional gardener, he used to head up the behind the scenes team at the BBC Beechgrove) did this to recover the walled garden at our old house which was in a similar state to yours. He cut it back, rotovated, hit it twice with glyphosate then planted the whole lot in grass as I just described.

Once it had the grass established for a couple of years, he then took the turf off to use elsewhere in the garden and re-made the vegetable beds with plenty of farmyard manure. I remember him saying it was the grass that got rid of the weeds, the weedkiller just put him in a position to plant the grass.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[BTTD]

A couple of things I would consider if I was building another house.
1. Solar heating for hot water, diy panels can be done relatively cheaply and can be very effective.
2. Rainwater collection for grey water use. It's not something I've really looked into so it might not be worthwhile economically where you are, but it might be worth a look.

[Bubbs]

Ah right that's interesting. Will keep that advice for when I sort out the garden properly. Thanks.

My brother in law is a professional gardner so I'm hoping to get him down and working on the garden.

Be nice to have a good covering of grass.
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[clancy]

Not sure if it's been considered but With the amount of land you have in need of attention, I'd defo be thinking about a ground heat pump, if your doing the labour on the ground anyway you only have to buy the equipment

On a good size scale they are extremely effective, have a look on here, I'd of thought you can get it a lot cheaper than they say though, especially if you've done most of the labour and will be replacing the grass yourself etc

https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Ground-source-heat-pumps
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KLX 300r

[stinkwheel]

Yes. If I was building a new house, I'd make sure a got a large and intelligently designed heat store in there thatcan be fed into by various heatsources such as a heat pump, solar and other future developments (waste water heat exchangers?).

I would also run ethernet cable all over the place and back to a patch panel so everywhere can be connected to everywhere else. IP cameras, HDMI etc.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bubbs]

[BTTD]

And exterior lights - definitely put in the wiring for exterior lights.

I've put a few of these on a front of property wall facing back to the house triggered by a PIR. If someone comes through the front gate it lights up the front of the house without turning it into a stalag. It also makes finding your keys and opening the front door easier when you get home.
Similarly I've a few on the walls in the back garden.
I went for those as they are cheap and simple. When I bought them they were nearer £3 each and they've been up around 6 years with no problems.

EDIT: Link to the lights
https://www.screwfix.com/p/napoli-oval-60w-matt-white-bulkhead/33673

[clancy]

Sounds good man
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KLX 300r

[Irn-Bru]

Looks good
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KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[Dalemac]

Feels good
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YBR125 -> GPZ500S -> SL1000

[Bubbs]

[Bubbs]

Inside now cleaned out. You can see the stream to the left:

https://i.imgur.com/O7X7RFN.jpg

Opposite view
https://i.imgur.com/Wf0tZA1.jpg
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Clanger]

Rather than having an expanse of grass, why not have an unkempt area of meadow flowers and long grasses, it will attract bees and butterflies and be an interesting part of the garden to see from the windows.

I'd also have a few raised beds to grow food. Oh and the obligatory fig tree.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Bubbs]

[Matt B]

[Clanger]

Oh and another thing...on your plans your large larder is in the lounge rather than the kitchen? We used to have a larder store when I was a kid, it mean that kitchen cupboard space was for crockery / pans etc. no unsightly fridge/freezer (country kitchen with Aga). Make sure you think this one through. It's only a minor thing, but every time you want something from the larder you have to physically leave the kitchen to get to it.

I currently live in lodgings where my landlady has suddenly omitted the kitchen door, to make the downstairs open plan. Its awful when she cooks, because the smells drift upstairs into my room. Unfortunately she cooks and eats sometimes as late as 10.30pm (and yes she's a large lady).

So for me, being able to shut off the kitchen is important. Or at least having a door to stop downstairs smells going upstairs in the first place.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[slowlydoesit]

[Bubbs]

[Visitor Q]

[Bubbs]

Thanks bonny. Come to the bcf BBQ when we can finally host it. Do you come back from travels much?
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[Visitor Q]

[Bubbs]

Well it's likely to be next year so be good to meet you. Do you have access to a bike in the uk?
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Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

[mentalboy]

[Bubbs]