That is a very good article, Joanna, and an absorbing site. I just spent 20 minutes reading the article that compares vertical wind turbines with the more common windmill-style horizontal shaft turbines. The latter are simply better at generating electricity and the reasons are interesting to the vaguely Meccano-minded like me.

It is stunning how much we spend on bottled water and commercial compost. My dad would be laughing. He simply hauled several loads of rotting cow manure with the donkey and cart from the midden to the plots in late winter and dug it in in March/April. I like the idea of recycling mulch (tree bark, garden clippings and the like). That is what Fiona bought this year. 3,000 litres of the stuff! It is a mixture of manure and mulch. We will see how good it is come the harvesting season.

Re chicken poo: will check if it can be dehydrated and also the postal rates to Latvia!