(YT)Edible Acres

Waterway refinements - Silt collecting and flow spreading (in-depth)

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:06:38 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
Adding more subtle layers of complexity to existing water ways in this video.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Edible Acres is a full service permaculture nursery located in the Finger Lakes area of NY state. We grow all layers of perennial food forest systems and provide super hardy, edible, useful, medicinal, easy to propagate, perennial plants for sale locally or for shipping around the country…
http://www.edibleacres.org/purchase - Your order supports the research and learning we share here on youtube.
We also offer consultation and support in our region or remotely. http://www.edibleacres.org/services
Happy growing!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - 0F and Heavy Snow

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:06:13 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - Solar Chimney Concept

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:05:56 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Winter Run - Part II - Basic installation done in time for real cold!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:05:41 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eBhVeICLew - Intro video to this topic.
We have a basic sketch complete that is a functional space to have our chickens have access to covered active compost for the whole winter. The 'commute' to this pile is now about 8' from their coop, and it has many stacked functions:

windbreak to help the coop be more comfortable in heavy winter winds...
easy dumping location for us bringing in compost
functional space to create hot compost through the winter for our gardens
trellis for summer crops AND shade for compost and coop area during heat

4 cattle panels (tractor supply sourced) - $88
18'x25' sheet of UV stabilized 6mil greenhouse poly - $40(ish) (I bought a much longer roll of 18'x100' so I could re-skin other tunnels in the future, so this is a 'slice' of that)
Screws - $10
Wood 'battons', stakes, and boards - All second hand locust roughly $10
$150 total cost. Perhaps too much for folks? But I feel we can reuse this quite a bit and we'll easily get $150 worth of compost from the system year one so the return should be sound...

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Electric Wheelbarrow - Build part 2 - Modifying charger and wiring

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:05:11 GMT

Read all this before starting, check out all links, watch all videos, and see if its a good fit as a project for you!
DISCLAIMER: We tried our best to document as thoroughly as possible. That said, expect gaps in detail, problem solving you'll need to do on your own, etc. Consider this a framework and inspiration. You'll need to do the hard work! Don't order parts or start the build until you read/watch/think it all through and feel confident about your abilities...
https://youtu.be/WTaffOXvkR8 - Overview Video
https://youtu.be/31uJq7u-fJM - Intro to build, parts, and work flow
https://youtu.be/r9zn-G5O0PM - Modifying charger and wiring
https://youtu.be/1s_4rx07nMg - Mounting chainring and motor

https://electricbike-blog.com/2018/09/17/because-the-wifey-demands-it-build-a-3000w-electric-wheelbarrow-out-of-a-cyclone-mid-drive-kit-for-450/

Article Karl put together that documents his whole build. Important to read all through this to understand the main points of building. Technical questions and discussions should be posted on this forum

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtG_I4Gmj-XPJCjceU9DIg - Electric Bike Blog youtube channel. Karl documents and shares his experiments on this youtube channel. Definitely worth subscribing!!!

Parts/resources used in the build (you will need additional bits here or there, like tap screws, wire ties, tapes, etc… Consider this list as some core/specific elements to be sure you have and expect to need to track down some other bits as you go):

Bolts/nuts for mounting chain ring onto wheel and mounting motor onto wheelbarrow frame:

Zinc 4" long 3/8" bolts qty 7 (get 10 to be on the safe side!)
These are to mount the chainring to wheel
Zinc 3.5” long 3/8” bolts qty 2 - These are to mount motor to wheelbarrow frame
- 3/8” Nylon locknut Zinc qty 10
- 3/8” Fender washer zinc qty 10-20
- You may need more as spacers here or there, but 10 is bare minimum
  Steel tube that can slide over the bolts with very little play (18” long or longer, it will be cut down later. Bring bolts to the tube and test fit for snug fit with a tiny bit of play)

Electric Bike Kit Motor we used:
https://lunacycle.com/cyclone-mid-drive-3000w-planetary-kit/

This is insanely powerful, you can quite possibly use smaller/used/alternative kits if you don’t plan on having incredible demands on the wheelbarrow
You can choose basic/default options, and Standard Square Tapered 100mm BB
We went with the ‘ORO right thumb throttle’ option for $20 for throttle, feels nicer…

Wheelbarrow used:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/True-Temper-6-cu-ft-Wheelbarrow-with-Steel-Handles-and-Flat-Free-Tire-C6ORUT14/202057391

Using a new wheelbarrow seems to make sense for this build, and a flat free tire and very sturdy frame is worth it! A single wheel design is the way to go.

Battery/Charger:
We used the Greenworks 80V 2AH battery and charger as our power source (because I had it already and an extra charger). Karl recommends using EGO 56V systems. You’ll want a working battery, one working charger, and another ‘sacrificial’ charger to take apart and mount on the wheelbarrow (can be a broken charger).

Additional resources:

Having multiple options of chainring can be helpful. We ended up using a 5 hole chainring that fit our situation well. Connecting with a bike shop or bike person to see what they have could be good.
Chain for bike and tools to modify chain
Torx security bits for charger modification
Electrical tools/multimeter/soldering iron/heat shrink tubing/etc…
Drill/bits/drivers, screwdrivers, pliers, vice grips… A nice assortment of all the basic shop tools…

NOTE:
Consider all these resources as a framework and place to start on your own build. We missed some parts of the filming, we made some mistakes we adjusted on our own, etc. We tried our best to share as much of the build as possible but you need to fill in your own blanks and do your own problem solving here or there.
If you don't feel 100% confident in how you may approach this project or if it feels safe, reasonable, within your scope... don't do it! OR, share all this with someone who has deeper experience and make it a team project, even better!
We cannot be held accountable for damaged materials, tools, bodies for those who attempt this. Don't try this at home!

Chickens - Breakfast Time! (chicken tv!)

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:04:47 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
A video for the folks who want some 'chicken TV' as requested... No explaining or pointing and blabbing away, just our chickens hanging out and doing what they do best, eating! Morning chores with minimal info. Enjoy!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

The Bitter Cold: a wonderful time to work!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:04:28 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - Cold Frame Sketch and Wool Packing

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:04:08 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
Chipping away at some minor concepts around creating small cold frames to focus warmth at the soil line, where delicate seedlings will be started in a month or so. Also going through and packing wool into gaps here or there to help minimize air moving through the space.
The next big step is to work out getting fans to push warm air down through the tubes to charge the soil when the sun is shining.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - IV - Climate Battery begins and Compost Heating

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:03:33 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIzWgBWF3SQ - Video to check out that helped inspire the design on including a compost heating element for greenhouses. Great concept!
The passive solar round pole greenhouse continues to evolve... What a project! Good thing it's happening in the winter when I've got the time! 😃
Now I'm focusing on the layout and design of permanent raised beds that are deep and as massive as the space will allow for maximum thermal mass, insulation and potential for absorbing warmth from the day into themselves to radiate and buffer cold nights.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Beautiful Biochar

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:03:12 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxBUqk2M3Y8 - Video showing in detail how we make biochar in our woodstove while heating our home. Should have all the info you need if you'd like to try... Please be careful!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Stump Grinding and Ripping Roots... Necessary?

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:02:58 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
After 15 years of planting this way, it feels important to make a strong case for the idea of completely avoiding the cost and hassle of ripping out old trees or stump grinding in order to have a space ready for the next succession of trees to be planted.
In 2009 when my folks purchased their retirement home, we had a handful of old and unhealthy trees right near the home removed for safety and to open up light. I planted 4-6x the number of trees in those places, leaving the whole stump and root system of all those trees intact. 9 years later and everyone planted into this scenario is absolutely thriving.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Bare Root - Planting Out a Package of Nettles

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:02:41 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
Basic information here on planting out a fresh package of herbaceous plants from our nursery. In this case we're demonstrating with Stinging Nettles, but the basic ideas apply to most bare root dormant plants...

Open package ASAP, check that plants are moist and in good shape. Contact us or other nursery ASAP if there are problems at this point.
Dip roots or whole plant in fresh water, to rehydrate and rinse of sawdust/packing material. This helps the plant recover from shipping and reveals what you actually have going on!
Decide if you want to plant out in it's permanent location, and if so, open the soil and plant it in, with a good generous mulch and a clear label.

If you aren't ready to plant out, you can always pot up plants in healthy potting mix and grow it on in a sheltered place like a greenhouse or house. These potted plants can be slowly eased outside after threat of frost and planted in later spring or even in the fall after a season in a container. Be generous with pot size!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Too Much Compost! - Winter Edition

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:02:18 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
Our chicken compost system was able to get through the intense cold snap of late January but now we're realizing we've got too much compost to be able to work in our winter run. I'm starting the process of clearing it all out to make room for fresh chip and food scraps.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Help Edible Acres GROW!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:01:44 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Chestnut Seeds Are Sprouting - Nursery work must begin!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:01:26 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
A fair bit of the tree seeds we've stored in our root cellar are starting to wake up after a nice long winter. It's great to see they are so incredibly viable and alive, but the timing is a little tough as the ground outside is still frozen and snow covered!
I'm scrambling to make 1'x2' movable, strong 'air prune' boxes that I can plant these seeds into so their roots can continue to develop in the right direction and get established and ready to grow, and then putting them back in the root cellar so they can remain cool and slow in the process. Hoping spring comes soon since these boxes are starting to pile up!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Electric Wheelbarrow - Amazing!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:01:03 GMT

https://electricbike-blog.com/2018/09/17/because-the-wifey-demands-it-build-a-3000w-electric-wheelbarrow-out-of-a-cyclone-mid-drive-kit-for-450/

Article Karl put together that documents his whole build. Important to read all through this to understand the main points of building. Technical questions and discussions should be posted on this forum

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjtG_I4Gmj-XPJCjceU9DIg - Electric Bike Blog youtube channel. Karl documents and shares his experiments on this youtube channel. Definitely worth subscribing!!!

Bolts/nuts for mounting chain ring onto wheel and mounting motor onto wheelbarrow frame:

Zinc 4" long 3/8" bolts qty 7 (get 10 to be on the safe side!)
These are to mount the chainring to wheel
Zinc 3.5” long 3/8” bolts qty 2 - These are to mount motor to wheelbarrow frame
- 3/8” Nylon locknut Zinc qty 10
- 3/8” Fender washer zinc qty 10-20
- You may need more as spacers here or there, but 10 is bare minimum
  Steel tube that can slide over the bolts with very little play (18” long or longer, it will be cut down later. Bring bolts to the tube and test fit for snug fit with a tiny bit of play)

Electric Bike Kit Motor we used:
https://lunacycle.com/cyclone-mid-drive-3000w-planetary-kit/

This is insanely powerful, you can quite possibly use smaller/used/alternative kits if you don’t plan on having incredible demands on the wheelbarrow
You can choose basic/default options, and Standard Square Tapered 100mm BB
We went with the ‘ORO right thumb throttle’ option for $20 for throttle, feels nicer…

Wheelbarrow used:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/True-Temper-6-cu-ft-Wheelbarrow-with-Steel-Handles-and-Flat-Free-Tire-C6ORUT14/202057391

Using a new wheelbarrow seems to make sense for this build, and a flat free tire and very sturdy frame is worth it! A single wheel design is the way to go.

Additional resources:

Having multiple options of chainring can be helpful. We ended up using a 5 hole chainring that fit our situation well. Connecting with a bike shop or bike person to see what they have could be good.
Chain for bike and tools to modify chain
Torx security bits for charger modification
Electrical tools/multimeter/soldering iron/heat shrink tubing/etc…
Drill/bits/drivers, screwdrivers, pliers, vice grips… A nice assortment of all the basic shop tools…

Pallet Shelving - Strong and nearly FREE!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:49 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
Less of a step by step, and more of a 'food for thought' video... If there is distinct interest in a how-to, I can provide it, but folks can do this level of carpentry with near 0 experience.
Worked out to be roughly 9 cents for each square foot of storage when all said and done. That, and no new chemicals, fuel, bad labor conditions or fresh consumption had to happen.
These shelves will make it much easier to store the food we grow, the resources we need to process it all, and more. Feels great!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - First Serious Winter Test

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:36 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

High Tunnel - Late Winter Renovation and getting ready for spring!

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:00:06 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
It is mid-February and it's time to go through the high tunnel and clean up from winter to start moving it towards spring. I'll transplant out any valuable little starts and get the soil opened and fluffed, and then get our winter/spring cold frames in position to really start warming the soil, get the first flush of weeds to germinate, and get things ready for early spring sowing of annuals and nursery stock.

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!

Passive Solar Greenhouse - II - Roofing on and ready for walls

(YT)Edible Acres — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:59:43 GMT

http://www.edibleacres.org
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNdwB9jrVlFp5dJ2H9PKTKA - Food Forest Farm youtube channel. Jonathan has a ton of great experience and ideas, check him out!
Part II of our passive solar greenhouse construction project.
Catch up with Part I here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWlyDsRMQc
The main structural elements are in place, now I'm focusing on reinforcements and details. The roofing is just about completely locked in and functional at this point.
Always a trade off working with incredibly strong, beautiful, FREE, round wood and being able to have that mate/pair with dimensional realities of manufactured goods. It's a skill I'd like to really hone as time allows.
Roughly $450 in, and very much over the cost hump since the roofing represents probably 90%+ of the total cost on this.
The next video will be focusing on how the glazing walls, access, ventilation and details come together, then we'll be developing the permanent raised garden beds with climate batteries... Details to come!

https://www.paypal.me/edibleacres - A simple and direct way to ‘tip’ to help support the time and energy we put into making our videos. Thanks so much!