Fuel prices (petrol & diesel)

[Sparkle]

Just dropped into my email box - OH was going out later today to stock up he says he'll now be at the pumps at the crack of dawn on Monday!

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French- ... -358065585

[Bayleaf]

Anyone tempted with electric strimmers, mowers etc?

Some seem to be on a par with smaller petrol models for performance.

Do professional electric ride-on mowers exist? And meaty strimmers? Would love to, but it would take many years for the outlay to be recouped against increasing fuel costs?

[Bayleaf]

Just dropped into my email box - OH was going out later today to stock up he says he'll now be at the pumps at the crack of dawn on Monday!

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French- ... -358065585

Being the big cynic that I am, two things. The Connexion have a history of getting news wrong, and is mr lerclerc touting for queues at his stations before others?!

[DominicBest]

Anyone tempted with electric strimmers, mowers etc?

Some seem to be on a par with smaller petrol models for performance.

I use an electric strimmer which I find really useful but there are places where I still need the petrol one. My neighbour bought a bigger more powerful electric strimmer which looks like the way to go and the farm/stables on the other side have a professional Stihl system that uses batteries carried in a backpack. I really like the look of that. My neighbour’s son traded in his petrol lawnmower for a similar sized electric one. He has cut his mother’s lawn a few times, to prepare it for the robot and to mow the bits the robot misses, and that looks good too. He has two batteries and that gives enough power to complete her lawn.

[niemeyjt]

Do professional electric ride-on mowers exist? And meaty strimmers? Would love to, but it would take many years for the outlay to be recouped against increasing fuel costs?

Yes - they exist - Ryobi seem to be leading the way in these as well as battery rotovators.

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396035745

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396025395

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396025395

But as you say, time to recoup outlay may be long.

edit - for a wider cut and replaceable batteries - https://www.gravely.com/en-us/power-equ ... ro-turn-ev

[Polarengineer]

When I have to travel far, I try to use the train as much as possible, as DB says, it is much cheaper than using the car and is very comfortable and stress free.

[Quiksilver]

I'm gritting my teeth here Three of the great pleasures in life are fast becoming impossible...driving, mowing and rotovating. As said above, each to their own when it comes to outdoor space . Mine's a mix of veg plot, orchard and ornamental garden with everything left over being 'lawn'. That was the point of buying 2 acres in the first place Anybody know how you train sheep to nibble to within 2" of grass roots?

Not sure about sheep - but maybe go for the no-dig approach (my son gave me a book on this for last birthday) - look for Charles Dowding on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlesDowding1nodig

Then, with the petrol you don't use for rotovating you can instead use it instead in the mower and car.

I was wondering how long it would be before someone brought him up I'm sure the no-dig thing is wonderful if you've got unlimited sources of top-up materiel and the wherewithal and energy to cart it about, but it takes me all my time and resources to get the borders mulched! Are you a convert, J?
Ah well, at least there are still one or two pleasures in life that no-one has thought to tax or charge for. Yet

[niemeyjt]

Firmly converted - my window boxes are strictly no dig!

Seriously - I would be inclined to try to dig one spit depth at the outset - but not double dig - before adding the compost mulch. I would also like to "frame" the beds. Not sure also that cardboard disintegrates quickly enough for the roots to penetrate - so I might modify that as well.

But once I had the deep beds I would also probably look at green manure every few years - which needs digging in - so another deviation. He seems to use very close successional sowing - and I do wonder whether a compost mulch will replace all the depleted minerals.

[niemeyjt]

Back from my walk, past my usual filling station:

SP95 = 2.35, SP98 = 2.45 and Diesel+ = 2.49

CHF1 = €0.98 - so that is €2.30, €2.40 and €2.44

And I have to fill up next week.

Wow! Prices down tonight by 11 or 12 cents.

SP95 = 2.24, SP98 = 2.34 and Diesel+ = 2.37

[Quiksilver]

Firmly converted - my window boxes are strictly no dig!
Seriously - I would be inclined to try to dig one spit depth at the outset - but not double dig - before adding the compost mulch. I would also like to "frame" the beds. Not sure also that cardboard disintegrates quickly enough for the roots to penetrate - so I might modify that as well.
But once I had the deep beds I would also probably look at green manure every few years - which needs digging in - so another deviation. He seems to use very close successional sowing - and I do wonder whether a compost mulch will replace all the depleted minerals.

Ah yes, frames. I don't see that unframed beds would be practical. So first requirement is a willing handyman! Apparently the cardboard does work and at least there's a never-ending supply of that at the dechetterie.
There's a bit of a mania for this round here at the moment, but the pitfalls became apparent last spring when the local suppliers of compost, wood chippings, manure etc etc closed their doors as they'd completely run out. Which suggests that an awful lot of people find it works while they can buy in and have delivered the necessary materials. I suspect the deep root systems on the plants allow for very close planting.
Just a tip...don't ever grow Phacelia tanacetifolia! It's just so pretty and bee-friendly that you can't bring yourself to dig it in before flowering