Paul Hurt's linkage site: home page

      The Website has well over a million words. Below, some of the site's
       many images, showing some of its range and variety, quickly and
       easily seen by scrolling down the page. Clicking on an image takes

Many pages, including this, use 'Large Page Design.' They are wide as
well as long and can't be viewed adequately on very small screens.

Note: PHD (Paul Hurt Design-construction) has never been a business. It's financed entirely from my own very restricted resources. None of the products, including ones on this page,

have ever been for sale. When an innovation is described below as 'cheap' or 'very cheap,' this relates to the cost to myself, for the materials and equipment used to construct the

product, in prototype or finished form, not the cost to any buyer. I've an interest in all the things I design and construct but some aren't central interests at all, e.g. camper vans
and pizza ovens. None of the fruit and vegetables and other produce from the land I rent has ever been sold to the public, but I'm happy to give away surplus.

Below, images (some with text) concerned with design, construction, growing. Some of these are very new. After those images are many, many general

but smaller images, 'exceptionally varied, comprehensive, wide-ranging,' with far less text. After that, there are much larger images, with passages of text.

Photograph 2, row above: Not long after this photograph was taken, intruders, or a single intruder, scattered apples taken from this store on the ground and threw apples into the wildlife
pond at the bottom of the plot. I've lost count of the number of cases of vandalism and theft of tools and equipment which have taken place here - but only one case of threatening behaviour.
This plot is very hard to secure, for reasons to do with the extensive boundaries, but I've worked to improve security. There can be no guarantees of complete success, but I think, or I'd like

tto think, that the problem is under control. A worrying development has been visits by thieves obviously equipped with some quite sophisticated tools, used to break into the smaller upper
plot, which is much easier to secure than the larger plot shown here. There's an Anderson Shelter in this plot, a reminder of the Sheffield Blitz. The Anderson Shelter in the neighbouring plot,

a very heavy structure made with thick corrugated metal, was stolen by thieves. There was a murder in an allotment not far away, many years ago. A garden fork was the murder weapon.

Row above, photograph 4: the large versatile structure I constructed using lightweight galvanized steel beams, used here as supports for netting. This netting cage has been
used to protect quite a wide range of crops over the years from bird damage, including white and purple sprouting broccoli and Oriental vegetables, Mizuna, Pak Choi and Komatsuma.

Click on official U.S. patent document to view the pdf document on this site. Zooming in will be advisable in most cases to obtain a text size suitable for reading, to a magnification of 150% or more.

To view the patent document on the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website:

https://ppubs.uspto.gov/api/pdf/downloadPdf/12144291?requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiJiZjMzY2UzYy1mOTZlLTQyNTQtYTkzMS0zOTE3MjY3M2EwMWUiLCJ2ZXIiOiIxNmFjZGFjNS1lMzk5LTRkOWItYWM5My03NjMxYWI4YTkxMzUiLCJleHAiOjB9

Above, 1st photograph shows New Greenhouse Design. The core structure takes the form of a triangular prism (a shape with great structural strength.) Around the core structure are
extensions, here with curved panels. Three straight panels of the core structure are visible on this North-facing side. There are 3 panels on the South-facing side. The system has great

versatility. With all the panels in place, gutters and pipes at the base can divert water collected from the roof to water storage containers and ponds (dual-function, for water storage and to
benefit wildlife). Panels can be removed and put back very easily. When most or all of the panels are removed, crops inside the greenhouse can be watered with natural rainfall. The system
has many advantages for water conservation. It reduces reliance on mains water. It has many other benefits, e.g. for temperature control. Ventilation is very important, to reduce or
eliminate overheating when external temperatures are high and for other reasons. One or more panels can be removed and all the panels can be removed, to give maximum
ventilation. Plastic coverings don't enhance the appearance of a site, for most people. When polycarbonate sheets aren't needed, none need be visible. One of the panels on the South-
facing side has been removed permanently. A grape vine in the greenhouse grows inside the greenhouse, at roof level, and outside, higher up, above the roof. The extensions shown
below, on the West side, include a 'solar composter,' which speeds up the production of compost by the greenhouse effect, a wildlife / water storage pond and other growing areas.
There's a much larger wildlife / water storage pond outside the greenhouse and other water-collecting surfaces and water storage facilities. An extension on the East side includes a
storage area for e.g. tools and supplies and a working area for e.g. propagation. A straw bale wall has been a feature of this extension (shown above, also with a straw bale storage area.)
The greenhouse has been featured in an article I wrote for the magazine of the National Allotment Society.

My New Growing System for farms has the advantages of the New Greenhouse Design as well as many other features. From the official U.S patent document: ' ... the present invention

is a trellising system with modifiable components and configurations for growing, protected cropping, protected working, materials handling, water collecting and water conservation for

use in vineyards and orchards and as a polytunnel substitute.' The New System has aesthetic advantages. The plastic sheeting which forms part of the system is needed to secure
environmental advantages but is unnecessary when external temperatures are high and no water can be collected. Unlike the plastic of polytunnels, the plastic used in this system can
be retracted. The plastic need not be visible when not needed. The plant growth on the unobtrusive supports will be seen all the more clearly.

Above, construction of a new raised water storage pond, following the very, very flexible design above. The pond is very different from any of the variants described above,

but not in every way. This pond is intended to be used for one purpose only, storing water. A structure constructed according to the same design but in a different location could be

used as a solar composter or a protected growing system, provided that one of the long sides faced south, necessary to take maximum advantage of 'the greenhouse effect.' This
structure does have one side which follows the pattern above, or one of the patterns: the long wall to the south, obscured in the photograph by the nearer north facing side here,

is strengthened by a straw bale wall, one of the strengthening structures - in this case pre-existing - which can be very valuable.

The third photograph shows the new water storage pond, still under construction but largely complete. The ideas for this design came, I gave a great deal of thought to the details,
revising and choosing components and spatial relationships which were practicable, all as design thought processes. I' d already been to the land and decided that one of the
two possible sites for the pond was out of the question. Constructing the structure shown in the photograph in a work period later was achieved quickly. I already had most of

the components needed.

The site chosen is next to the platform, of various levels, shown in the first photograph above. I built it a long time ago. Later, I added more platforms, smaller. I built an extension
to the platform for storage, of produce and materials. The pond has been installed in front of the extension. Years after the extension had been built, I placed a straw bale wall in

front of the extension and in contact with it. There are strong straps to prevent the bales from falling forwards. Before I put the wall in place, I planted a yew tree in front of the wall

with a distance of 90cm between the two. I constructed the pond so that it would be 'site-specific.' The width of the pond would be 90cm. By placing the pond between the straw

bale wall and the yew tree, the yew tree would help to withstand the outward forces exerted by the stored water. The columnar yew tree, one of eight, and the smallest, is Taxus
baccata Fastigiata robusta. Together, these trees occupy a very small area of land, not in the least significant, but the trees themselves have great significance for me. At the

time of writing, the pond liner and underlay haven't arrived, so the structure is unfinished, but most of the work has been done. Two panels have been added to the structure at the
east end, forming a roof and a wall, which extends the polycarbonate wall not visible in the photograph but to the left of the central curved polycarbonate arch. The extension is

a smaller version of rectangular container B in the diagram above. It can be used for various purposes, including storage.

The photograph shows the view looking North, so the straw bale wall is to the south and the two curved sides, formed from polycarbonate sheets, are to the east and west . The

polycarbonate sheets have been used 'additively.' The number of sheets needed to withstand water forces can be found when the pond fills with water. Here, three sheets have been

used. Sheet polycarbonate has great structural strength. The long side to the north can be seen clearly. It incorporates polycarbonate sheets, of course, and more than one
galvanized wire mesh panel. Another wire mesh panel and another long polycarbonate sheet has been installed on the south side, next to the straw bale wall. This side is already
very secure. The precautions necessary for the north side to avoid breaking of a wall and loss of water, aren't needed to anything like the same extent. An apparent problem, the

difficulty of inserting the liner and underlay into the structure, has been solved by a simple technique. Another apparent problem, that of extracting water (obviously, it's not

possible to remove polycarbonate sheets and wire mesh panels to use a watering can) also has a ready solution.

The fourth photograph in the row above shows a wire mesh cage containing rocks, a 'gabion.' I'm able to construct gabions of various sizes, using the wire mesh panels available to

me. but the gabion shown in the fourth photograph in the row above wasn't constructed by me. The Wikipedia article on gabions can be recommended. Gabions have a very wide range
of uses, in civil engineering and many other fields, including some unexpected, unusual uses. (The article includes an image of gabions used as X-ray protection during customs
inspections.) The materials which can be used to fill the wire mesh boxes include not only rocks but used tyres and other recycled objects. If the boxes are lined, for example with
nonwoven geotextile, they can contain soil, sand, grit and other granular materials. In general, wire mesh panels can withstand water forces only if faced with polycarbonate sheets

or other continuous or almost continuous surfaces. Strong components which can prevent movement of the panels are obviously a necessity.

The fifth photograph above shows an 'Intermediate Bulk Container.' (IBC). I have an IBC but the photograph doesn't show the one I have. With suitable additions - one or more

continuous surface materials. an IBC forms a strong structure for placing a water storage pond of a design similar to this - or very different. In a design sphere which is very different,

design of shelving, including design of bookcases, I've used the same principle: an existing structure, such as a conventional bookcase, if it's sufficiently robust, can be used to

construct a second structure for the same purpose (or a completely different purpose). The bookcase I constructed is held together by means other than woodworking joints or screws

or nails. It's radically different from existing bookcases. Although constructed using solid oak boards, it's very cheap, simple to construct and requires very little time to construct.

The platform in the first photograph has been modified radically, since it was constructed. The large galvanized container on the highest level is still there. It was used for

water storage but now forms part of the apple / grape press shown on this page in various images. There are now two large water storage barrels on the lowest of the three levels. In
the photograph, another galvanized container can be seen on the lowest level. This is still there and has its original purpose, water storage. There are now water collecting containers

on the large horizontal area which makes up most of the platform, the middle level. These containers cover most of the area and by collecting rainwater, protect the wooden

boards of the platform from rain water, extending the useful life of the boards. Wherever possible, whatever the function of the structure, I include protection from rain in structures,

protection for people and protection for stored materials, including construction materials, such as wood.

Simple Science (1) has some background information on hydrostatic forces, forces acting on these structures, but obviously not the only forces. Simple science (2) has more information.

Below, images of flowers of native British plants in the land I rent, most of them growing there due to my active encouragement.
There are just two exceptions. Solanum crispum isn't a British native. Pilosella aurantiaca isn't a British native but s widely naturalized in this country.
I'm never in the least danger of neglecting food production in the land I rent but without neglecting other plants, the 'ornamental plants' - but I'd rather think of them as the 'sensuous' plants or the
'beautiful' plants, although many of the edible plants are sensuous, beautiful as well. And there are so many plain, unobtrusive, even drab plants which interest me so much, plants which I view

with a degree of affection.

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Row of Images above: Image on left, some Geranium (Pelargonium) flowers in a container on the wall platform high above the large growing area, some of it shown in the Image. The
crop being grown: variety Kestrel. The same variety is shown in two images above, with much more of this growing area to be seen.

Image in centre and Image on right: red flowers of climbing rose, variety 'Olympic flame.' This was planted next to a privet hedge on the lower boundary of the upper growing area,

Plot 112, which is growing in a very awkward sloping area, difficult to reach and keep in check by pruning. The rose plant is very vigorous, competing very well against the privet and
now suppressing its growth. I planted a climbing perennial sweet pea, which has been able to suppress growth of a much smaller privet hedge at the upper end of the lower allotment,
Plot 111. I also planted hawthorn hedging in front of the privet hedge. This has grown well, allowing the privet hedge be removed completely. I planted blackthorn hedging on part of the
boundary with the neighbouring allotment. When I began to cultivate this land, there was no hedging at all, and nothing to prevent intruders from walking into the land I rent. I planted

gorse hedging which has grown very well. Its spines effectively deter intruders. These hedging plants only cover a fraction of the long boundary between this plot and the neighbouring
plot. I planted five hazel trees along the boundary. These leave no gaps. The hazel trees have many advantages, not least for wildlife. They produce hazel nuts in abundance, support over
250 insect species - the male catkins provide an early source of pollen for bees and other pollinators in late winter and early spring - and very good nesting sites and shelter.

The multi-stemmed growth habit offers the advantages of a hedge, forming an effective barrier to intruders, with some additions, which are very easy to provide. I don't coppice the

trees but coppicing provides wood which has many uses in the garden and for traditional crafts. A short section of privet hedge by the allotment path leading to the entrance to Plot 112 will
be left for the time being. I encouraged two beech saplings in front of the hedge to grow, and they've grown well. I intend to convert these trees into beech hedging. I like native hedging
plants and have taken a strong dislike to privet. A long length of privet hedge forms the boundary between Plot 112 and neighbouring allotments. My very small vineyard is next to
this privet hedge. I've devised a method to partially suppress growth of the privet without compromising the boundary. Without supplying any detail, I intend to to construct a long solar
composter with one long, sloping wall, made using some of the used polycarbonate sheets I have. These are easily removable, for appearances' sake. Compost materials will be placed
in the composter. Conditions in the composter willbe favourable for the formation of compost but not favourable for the growth of the privet plants. Increase in the width of the hedge,
on this side, will be checked. It's likely that the privethedge has been having an unfavourable effect on the grape vines. This method is intended to reduce its competitive advantage.
The polycarbonate sheets are easily removable.

.Images in the row above: Images 1 and 2: the wreckage left after very strong winds destroyed the very old greenhouse which occupied this area for many decades before I took on this land.

Image 3, the debris to be found in one corner of the same allotment when I took on the land. Image 4, a Floribunda rose, 'Abraham Darby' which I planted in the upper allotment.

Image 4, the area occupied by Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus, on a North-facing slope, shown in flower in some other images. The slope was steeper before planting, corrected with earthworks.[]]]]]

I cleared the site where the greenhouse had stood, precariously, before it fell, and had all the debris removed in a skip. I designed and constructed a greenhouse of radically new design.
I ensured that the new greenhouse would withstand winds of any force, except for exceptionally violent winds, the kind that would cause damage to buildings of brick, stone or concrete.
The main growing area makes use of straight polycarbonate sheets, similarly one of the two large extensions, but the extension at the other end makes use of curved polycarbonate
sheets. I've long experience of using curved (and straight) polycarbonate. Proper use of curved polycarbonate sheets allows the construction of surfaces with great structural strength
and remarkable resistance to wind damage. I've provided quite detailed information on the site about these features, the flexibility of the system. It allows the removal of one one or

more of the straight (as well as the curved) panels. All of them can be removed if necessary - when the external temperature is higher than 30 Celsius, then no heating by the greenhouse
effect is needed. Removal of panels allows natural rainfall to water the crops inside the greenhouse, avoiding a great deal of unnecessary work. The panels can be replaced as easily as

they are removed.

I cleared and removed a great deal of the debris shown in Image 3 but I found that the debris went down to quite a depth and that there was a great amount of asbestos sheet. Fragments
of asbestos sheet can be seen in the photograph. I planted a vigorous grape vine, Vitis vinifera Brandt near to the area shown, which produced grapes - small grapes in large quantities,

well worth having. The vine has grown as far as the composter nearby and covers the roof of the composter, which was the first structure I built after taking on these
plots. I now use the composter for storage.

Below, some images taken in the summer and autumn of 2025: projects undertaken, land use, miscellaneous images, accompanied in some cases by more than minimal text

The extensive material on flooding and the use of these (modified) boats to mitigate the effects of flooding has now been moved to a separate page,

Boats for flooding relief: a new, practical, very flexible system, with background information on flooding.

Below, some of the images on the page on flooding:

Below, punting at Cambridge and some of the views of the Backs at Cambridge. The boats which can do a great deal to mitigate some of the effects of flooding can also be

used in very different ways - including punting.

The separate images can't convey the sense of kinetic rather than static experience, the ever-changing vista, the flow and flux which reveal new sights, sights of great

distinction and distinctiveness. There is no such thing as a 'Venice of the North,' Venice is incomparable, but so is Cambridge. Its relationship with water is far less extensive

but the sights are not all to the advantage of Venice. The Cambridge 'Bridge of Sighs' is, to me, more impressive than the Venice 'Bridge of Sighs,' but there are many reasons
for the differences, including differences in their uses. The significant aesthetic and other differences between the Cambridge Bridge of Sighs and the Venetian Rialto Bridge

are instructive.

For more on Cambridge University, see my page Cambridge University: excellence and stupidity which now includes comment on other universities.

Below, images showing a 'sack-truck-system:' a set of applications with similarities ('linkages') and contrasts. The system which includes boats, growing and water conservation

units is another example. The boats form a sub-system - they vary in size and are very varied in their possible applications. In the sack-truck-system, the possible
applications are very varied too. They include carrying loads, as a shopping trolley and a trolley for transporting tools. These applications are common enough but the system has a
higher degree of versatility. It includes display and presentation facilities which can be used for portable advertizing and for use in protests. I've taken part in many protests myself but
I think that many public protests have become over-used and misused, heavily dependent upon slogan shouting and practically never providing argument and evidence sufficient to
defend the cause against reasoned objections. I find it essential to distinguish argument against and action against opponents with few or no redeeming features and action against
people and organizations which have great strengths, in some cases massive strengths. In the first category I include Christian belief, but there are many other examples. In the
second category, I include police forces such as South Yorkshire Police, whose strengths are accompanied by some bizarre, disastrously misguided shortcomings. There are other
examples of this second category described on this page and other pages. I refer to action in these cases as 'appreciation-protest.' Another use for the sack-truck-system is as a

replacement for a tripod. The system incorporates a monopod which has the stability of a tripod and which has various advantages.

Above, images from left to right. The lightweight sack-truck in folded position, easily carried. There are three small wheels on each side, which facilitate moving the trolley up steps and stairs.
Despite the small size of the wheels (which enable the truck to be readily moved up stairs) it can be moved over quite rough ground.

The sack-truck used as a shopping trolley, an adaptation which followed the loss of my van, which had suffered catastrophic engine damage and can't realistically be replaced.

The sack-truck used to support two white boards. The boards can be used for information hand-written with a pen and for displaying paper documents. Larger white boards can be used.

Image showing possible use for a (non-appreciative) protest. People making use of the system for protest, appreciative or non-appreciative, or using the system for other purposes,
may well bring the trolley and associated equipment in a car or van. This system is a convenient way of transporting these things from a vehicle to the place where the system will be used.

Image showing the reverse side of the trolley system. White boards, of this size or larger, can be installed on this side, to make a double-sided system.

Image showing folded chair supported on the reverse side of the sack-truck.

Image showing chair erected after removal from storage position on reverse side. If the system is used for long periods of time, then a chair is very useful.
Image showing use of sack-truck to transport a tool-box. Tool boxes and other storage containers can be piled high on the trolley, secured by straps. Once the various containers have

been removed, the white boards are visible again and can be used to advertise the business carrying out the work, if the trolley is being used by a business.
Image showing monopod fixed in position and supporting a video camera, with image visible on the screen of the camera. The system can obviously be used for still photography also, and for
transporting photographic equipment in containers, and many other pieces of non-photographic equipment / food / drink etc. The monopod is as stable as a tripod and has the advantage,

when used in this way, that any objections (generally invalid) raised against use of a tripod in crowded places - as causing obstruction - aren't applicable to this system. It can be
moved much more readily than a tripod and photographic activities can be resumed. Tripods are much more unwieldy than the complete system here. Not all photographers favour
lightweight cameras. This system can accommodate heavy cameras, including heavy film cameras.

Image showing the camera and the head of the monopod in more detail, larger. The head is flexible and allows the camera to be fixed in many different positions, or rotated to follow movement.
Two monopods, supporting two cameras, can be installed on the system-trolley. Sound equipment can also be readily carried.
Not shown in any of these images: the provision which the design makes for security, including the use of heavy duty chain to prevent theft of a camera attached to the system, to
prevent theft of containers stored on the trolley and provision to prevent the trolley from being taken away.

Above, some uses for two of the foldable sack-trucks.

Image 1, two trucks form a horizontal surface which can be covered with rigid boards. Image 2, another view of the linked trucks. The two truck system in this configuration can be used
to transport quite heavy loads. Plastic containers placed on the horizontal support can contain a wide range of goods - manure, compost, straw bales, bricks, building stone, timber and, of
course, many other things. Some of the paths I've constructed have smooth strips which make movement of single containers much easier, pulled up the slopes by straps, but the system

here is preferable, since there are wheels at the ends of the linked trolleys and less frictional force to overcome. It's essential when using this wheeled system to have safety measures in
place which would make impossible downwards, possibly out-of-control movement. This could be ensured by straps fastened securely to a person, with checks to ensure that the person
could not be thrown off balance.

Image 3, the two trucks in a vertical position. The distance between the two trolleys is obviously adjustable, to fit various lengths and heights for polycarbonate sheet, when used.

Two uses for the two truck system: a lightweight container growing system, in which the trucks act as horizontal supports for the containers, as a lightweight water collecting / conservation
system and as a lightweight shelter. The shelter can protect the trucks from the effects of rain, protect users from the rain - as when the system is used for displays / presentations - and protect
the displays / presentations from the rain, for example the magnetic white boards shown in Image 4, and the colour-printed sheets attached to the boards with clamps or magnets shown in Image 5.

Here, the displays are unsympathetic to Christian belief but there is obviously nothing to stop an end-user of this system using it to promote Christian belief, evangelism.

Above, image on the left, the new water storage pond, but not the newest pond. This shows an early post-construction phase. The two large water barrels are shown on two trolleys. The
original intention was for the water barrels to remain here as part of a larger water storage area. The barrels on their trolleys have now been moved to the large multi-stage-platform
(with extension). The area occupied by the trolleys and barrels is now available for cultivation again. The straw bale wall of the extension provides structural support for the newest water

pond on one side. The walls of the newest pond are polycarbonate sheets, straight and curved. The straight sides are reinforced by wire mesh panels. The outside of the pond is 'softened'

and partly concealed by hazel panels, visible in the photograph above to the right. A wide range of other surfaces can be installed for the same purpose.

The white expanse is one side of a plastic cover which conceals the two barrels on their trolleys. They were moved to a level surface of the platform, the lowest one, for storage. The barrels
can, of course, store water in their new position. The plastic cover (which is designed to protect an Intermediate Bulk Container and which was originally bought for this purpose) now
protects the trolleys from weather damage. Wherever possible, I provide protection for structures and equipment. The cover can be quickly installed, to protect the contents from rain, and

quickly removed when this protection is unnecessary. A water-collecting surface can be installed on the roof of the cover, directing water to a galvanized water container on the same level
and behind the cover and contents. On a higher level of the same platform is the new fruit press described above, with images. Some of its high-visibility 'mechanism-strap' can be seen.

The barrel-trolley units can now be used for transporting and dispensing water. In previous years, during drought conditions, which have sometimes lasted a long time, I've used a watering
can to water crops but I've come to the conclusion that this is an inefficient way of working when extensive watering is necessary. There are repeated walks to and from the water source, to
and from the area to be watered. The weight of water has to be taken into account - 5 litres of water weighs 5 kg and greater volumes are correspondingly heavy. For large volumes of water,
using a trolley-water-container is easier than repeated use of a watering can. The trolleys shown here are heavy-duty and the barrels are large. For many purposes, lighter trolleys and

water containers can be used. In the previous section, lighter trolleys, referred to as 'sack trucks,' are shown. They are very versatile. This is a further use, as mobile water containers.

The pond shown above is partly hidden by the boundary rocks and not clearly seen in this photo. Visible on the right

of the photograph, the lower part of the gutter system at or near ground level, taking water from the water collecting surfaces on the upper slopes to the storage pond.

The polycarbonate sheet conceals pond liner at this end of the pond. Some of the liner here is unused but it can easily be put to use, to make the pond longer. This side of the pond has

the polycarbonate sheet as a boundary. The longer side nearer the wall has a lightweight galvanized steel bar as boundary. These two sides are straight edges, then. The other two sides,

one short, one longer (only the longer side visible here) are bounded by quite large rocks - gritstone, slate and 'Cotswold stone.' (The larger wildlife pond at the lower boundary of this

plot has two straight edges and too irregular edges, formed by vegetation and the natural boundary between land and water. The metal components give support to the polycarbonate

sheets. These metal components, of the same size or a different size, have played an important part in construction projects here, to build trellis systems for plant support (runner beans,

grape vines and others). A long table in the upper plot, used for growing watercress in containers, usable for propagation outdoors and for general purposes, was strengthened with

these metal components. The watercress has since moved on, to ground level. For many years, there was a large structure, quite high, on the largest growing area, used for various

purposes. For example, it supported netting for plant protection. This was constructed with these lightweight galvanized bars.

In water conservation systems which rely on gravity (although two water pumps are available to supplement movement of water by gravity, to move water uphill) then a lower pond is
obviously a suitable storage container for water transferred from a higher level and a higher pond or water container is obviously needed to supply a lower storage pond without the

need for pumping. As well as the ponds, there are a number of galvanised steel water storage containers. Watering cans are the obvious choice for transfer of water from these containers.

The photograph above to the right shows the fig tree growing against the wall which can be seen in the first photograph. This photograph shows the fig tree in summer, the first photo
shows some of the fig tree in later October. The fig tree has by now lost most of its leaves. I don't share the view that gardens can look good in every season, for most of the year. I regard
late autumn and winter as low points in garden aesthetics (except in snowy periods). These periods are still very good for outdoors working, unless there's heavy rain and strong winds.

After the magnificence of the autumn foliage has finished, there's still the appeal of planes, surfaces and other architectural features, and many other sources of fulfilment - and lack of
fulfilment. The inner world can be as changeable as British weather. The rhythm of the seasons involves many changes, adjustments, in choices and preferences, in feeling and in

practical matters. The fig tree shown in the first photograph above has far less interest for me than the fig tree in the second one, in full leaf.

This is a water storage pond, not a wildlife or wildflower pond but I did plant a water lily, not the native water lily, Nymphaea alba, the water lily I planted in the large wildlife / wildflower pond lower

down. Instead, I planted a water lily with a similar appearance but more suited to this smaller pond, Marliacea albida. It will be quite a long time before this pond and the other components lose
their rawness and begin to harmonize with their surroundings. Nature should ensure that smoothing and blending and harmonizing take place, together with active management to ensure that
nature doesn't take over completely. Left to its own devices, this pond, like all ponds, would eventually be filled in, with land rather than water. The immediate environment includes a great deal

of bare soil. Constructive work will be needed to encourage some plants and discourage others, often by drastic action.

A pizza oven of novel design. I constructed a wood-fired pizza oven and a garden incinerator many, many years ago. The results didn't please me, but I gained experience in the use of fire bricks -
the garden incinerator used these in complex ways. I still have the fire bricks I used then, now available for constructing a prototype of a pizza oven which is radically different from all existing
designs known to me. The overall shape is familiar enough, a curved wall over a flat base. For this design, the curve belongs to a (short) tunnel design rather than a dome.

The smaller, lightweight pizza ovens are incapable of making an 'authentic' pizza. Use of pizza stones and the more efficient pizza steels will give an approximation to an 'authentic' pizza in many
domestic ovens. The large, expensive pizza ovens which can achieve 'authentic' results have many disadvantages, though. For very many people, the expense can't be justified. I don't have the

money to buy one of these ovens and even if I did have the money, I would never buy one.

I can't share the passionate belief of the pizza perfectionists and pizza purists in the importance of the perfect pizza, or the importance of devoting very substantial resources to achieving it, if it
can be achieved at all. I don't count this design as one of the more important ones, but I've found the problems to be overcome very interesting.

This pizza oven is part of a system, like a number of other design systems I've thought up and developed. This system, like the other systems, is very flexible, easy to extend, easily modifiable,
and portable. Like the other designs, it can be easily assembled from the components and easily disassembled to release the components, which can be used for completely different purposes,

to make very different structures. Small pizza ovens can be made following this design, as well as large ovens. The small ovens can be converted into large ovens. Constructing a domed
or tunnel pizza oven using firebricks is a difficult skill, as is constructing a pizza oven using clay. This design makes the construction of curved shapes using firebricks easy. Unlike the case with

existing designs, the firebricks aren't held in position using mortar or another substance. The practical information here is restricted, necessarily so, but I intend to add further information.

Various fuels can be used for the pizza oven. I don't intend to use pelleted or other bought fuels. I have ample supplies of hardwood obtained by necessary pruning and felling work on
apple and other trees. I also have available large amounts of gorse from pruning a large gorse hedge. In past centuries, as well as more recently, gorse has often been used as a fuel in
bread ovens. It burns with a hot flame, although not a flame which lasts for long. The fuel has to be replenished often. Storage of the fuels and drying of the fuels are provided for in this pizza
system, which is also a bread-making system - but the oven can be used for purposes other than these. Far more often than not, the hot air leaving the oven, through a chimney or by some

other means, goes to waste. In this system, the warm air is directed to some of the stored wood or gorse, drying it and speeding up the process of converting green wood to wood with a
lower water content, suitable for burning.

Above, some diagrams and photographs showing the uses of boards supported by stakes. The stakes are easily attached to the boards at both ends by using screws located

in the holes of the stakes. A primary advantage is that the boards last for much, much longer than boards resting on the soil, the usual method, as the boards are far less
exposed to water in the soil and water on the soil. Enclosed beds can be made without the need to join the boards with any woodworking joints. Even the use of screws is

unnecessary in many cases. Boards can be used as 'dividers,'' one or more boards placed end to end, standing with simply the stakes for support. (In some of the photographs

below, there are boards placed flat on the soil as well - these were placed temporarily or were placed on water-draining surfaces. In the case of the path shown below, the boards
are placed on a ladder laid on the ground, to give a 'raised path,' with advantages in very muddy conditions. ) Boards forming 'closed systems' can become cloches, if solar

plastic tops are put in place to give warming by the greenhouse effect. They can become beds for protected cropping, if netting tops are put in place. Landscape fabric for weed
control is easily moved (or can be blown away) by wind. This system gives a neat way to keep it in place. Landscape-fabric-beds can become growing beds when the weeds have
been eliminated. Closed and open units incorporating stakes can be moved very easily. The boards can be removed very easily and relocated simply by removing the stakes

from the soil and pushing them into the soil in the new location. The stakes can also be easily removed from the boards and the boards can then be used for different purposes,

for different projects. A system of narrow beds can be replaced by a different system, of larger beds or much larger beds. It allows land use to become much more free,

allowing for much more experimentation, with far more possibilities.

Below, general images. In the case of some images below, clicking on the image takes you not to a listed page but to Home Page Images. This provides description / explanation and usually

a larger version of the image.

The 'teaching' of Jesus and 'St' Paul made no mention of the evils of slavery. During most of the history of Christianity, almost all Christians ignored the evils of slavery. During the Roman
Empire, Christians failed to oppose the separation of babies and children from their mothers and fathers, the selling of babies and children in the slave markets, to become the property of
new owners - who had the legal power to torture slaves, to use slaves for sexual gratification, to abuse them emotionally and physically. In recent times, Christian clergy and other Christians
have carried out gross acts of abuse, including rape. Only a small proportion of these cases have come to general public attention. If this can happen in societies with strong legal safeguards,
the abuse in slave societies must have been far, far worse.

I have strong criticisms to make of actions of some organizations in Sheffield but in terms of 'Appreciation-criticism.' South Yorkshire Police is criticized particularly severely, but this is

'Appreciation-criticism.' I respect and admire South Yorkshire Police, but not in every respect. I fully recognize that the force's strengths very much outweigh the weaknesses. In every case,
whatever the person or organization, the criticisms are intended to be fair-minded and supported by evidence. I oppose lazy-minded, generalized criticism, but recognize that there are people

and organizations with no redeeming features at all, to be opposed unreservedly, as in the case of Nazism and the Nazis. I oppose mindless slogan-shouting and I oppose grossly unrealistic

calls to take grossly unrealistic action, as in calls to carry out radical and extensive action IMMEDIATELY.

My approach to growing is broadly based. Aesthetic values are very important to me and these values underlie my use of the land rented from Sheffield City Council. From the introduction

to Jane Grigson's 'Vegetable Book,' 'In my most optimistic moments, I see every town ringed again with small gardens, nurseries, allotments, greenhouses, orchards, as it was in the past,

an assertion of delight and human scale.' The claim that I've had 'a detrimental effect, of a persistent or continuing nature on the quality of life of those in the locality' (the land I rent happens
to be in 'the locality') is not just false but vile. I made determined efforts to have cleared a large heap of fly tipped rubbish near to the land I rent but no action was taken by the Allotment
Office, or by the so-called 'Lower Walkley Community Garden' who were using the area when the heap appeared or the Garden Church which assumed control of the land later on. As I see
it, the Allotment Office, a branch of Sheffield City Council, which owns the land, has favoured these groups far too much, acting in a biased way.

Throughout the country, councils stress the fact that fly-tipping is very damaging and the sanctions available. This is from the Website of North East Derbyshire District Council:

'Fly tipping waste is a serious criminal offence ... North East Derbyshire District Council will seek to prosecute anyone responsible for fly tipping.'

Above, some images of the mess, which includes discarded Council wheelie bins and discarded plastic containers of organic fertilizer and other gardening materials. In the first row

are photographs taken on 27 September 2021. The rubbish had already been there for a very long time. On the second row are photographs I took on 28 April, 2025. There had been
changes in the composition of the rubbish, but the pile was still there and remained there for months afterwards. It was finally cleared in the autumn of 2025.

.The extracts from emails below are included on this page temporarily. This will be amongst the material due to move to my page 'Shambolic Sheffield, ' a page which, for the time being,
won't be extended significantly.

I think that the Allotment Officer has some explaining to do - reasons for her inaction. I emailed Jane Bullimore with information and evidence about other matters, including my concerns about

allowing a garden church to be set up on council land.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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;

Below, a miscellaneous section. Before that, sections concerned with music, science, mathematics and poetry

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Simple Science (1): Some considerations relating to the pond constructed with wire mesh panels, amongst other components, with information above.

Simple Science (2): Some considerations relating to the boat (alternative use of the system: water conservation unit) shown above.
A great deal of additional material will be needed to explain the construction and uses of the system. For the time being, these

are the only aspects I discuss, background information concerned with (1) flotation and forces (2) background information,

very restricted in scope, concerning aspects of polymer chemistry.

in s
In static equilibrium, the boat will displace a volume of water. The weight of this will equal the total weight of the boat,
together with any loads added to the boat. The buoyant force F, acting upwards, will equal the total weight of the boat
acting downwards: these vector forces are equal and opposite. The state is one of static equilibrium. The boat will
float because the average density of the boat is less than the density of the water in which it floats. The density of the
larch wood which makes up the bulk of the boat is approximately 550 kg/m³ and the density of water at 4°C is
approximately 1000 kg/m³ The mass of the boat (with any additional loads) is equal to the mass of water displaced.
The boat has a mass of approximately 200 kg. The boat can support and move large loads. The greater their mass and

density, the greater will be the buoyant force needed to counteract the downward force. This is achieved by adding
more larch layers and / or the use of other flotation materials.

Calculations making use of hydrostatic equations can supply useful information, eg, the submerged depth of the larch
beams and the depth above the waterline. If it's found that all the beams are below the waterline when the boat is
carrying very heavy loads, more buoyancy material will need to be added, eg in the form of buoyancy bags, PIR
polyisocyanurate material, closed cell polyurethane foam, air-filled plastic barrels, layers of wooden material,

but not very dense woods. (Below, complex science: structure of polyisocyanurate and polyurethane.) Strengthening

by use of steel bars or other means will often be required but the high density of these will not increase significantly

the overall density of the added material. Steel will obviously require protection from corrosion but for many uses, eg

flood mitigation, steel components are not needed.

Calculations in connection with boat buoyancy require use of equations in hydrostatics, including some of those listed here.

The associated discussion and explanations are very concise.

(1) m = ρ V where m is the mass, water, ρ is the density in kg/m³ and V is the volume in /m³ These quantities, m, ρ and V can

refer to the boat or the water. Subscripts make clear that the reference is specifically to the body, in this case the boat (_B) or

the fluid, in this case the water, (_f)

(2) F_B = m_fg = ρ_f V_fg where g is the acceleration due to gravity, 9.81 m/s² (alternative units, newton N per kg.) This gives
the magnitude of the buoyant force. In this equation, the term m can be replaced with the expression ρ V, using equation (1)

ρ_fV_fg = m_B g (3) since the buoyant force, acting upwards, is equal in magnitude to the weight of the boat, acting downwards.

The boat is not fully submerged, due to the buoyant force acting on it. .

Furthermore,

ρ_fV_f g = ρ_B V_B g (4) It will be obvious that the left hand side of the equation refers to the fluid, water and the right hand side

refers to the body floating in the water, the boat. The gravitational constant g which appears on both sides of this equation

can be cancelled. Solving for V_f gives this equation:

Vf = ρ_B / ρ_f x V_B (6) where V_f is the volume of the fluid displaced. V_B is the volume of the body itself, the boat. ρ_B / ρ_f is the

ratio of the densities of the body and the fluid.

IEquations in this section can be used to calculate how much of the semi-submerged boat will be above the water line - the height h

above the water line in m or cm - and how much will be below the water line, with and without added loads.

Calculations involving hypothetical loads, including very heavy loads, are of course crucial in establishing the possibilities and uses

of this boat, including uses in disaster situations. There are many other possible uses, which will require extended comment and explanation.

Notes on some polymers which have potential uses, important uses, in the construction of the system.

Below, left: structure of the isocyanurate group (polyols shown as R-group) in the polymer polyisocyanurate, a valuable polymer for buoyancy uses.

Below, right: a synthesis reaction in the manufacture of polyurethane, another valuable polymer for buoyancy uses. Unlike polyethene

and polystyrene, polyurethane is a group of polymers. This polymer is an alternating chain of two monomers. The starting materials for the manufacture of

polyisocyanurate are similar to those used in the manufacture of polyurethane.

The macromolecular and polymolecular level determines and explains the very wide range of properties and applications of polyurethanes,

rigid and flexible, with different degrees of water absorption, their value as insulation materials and buoyancy materials: the polymers

very useful in providing buoyancy for the boat are also very useful insulators, and can readily be used for insulation in applications
where the components can readily be removed, and replaced as needed. The versatility of polymers contributes very significantly to

the versatility of this particular practical application.

Compare the complex structure diagrams for an organic polymer, lignin. Lignin makes up 30% of terrestrial carbon (non-fossil)

and up to 35% of the dry mass of wood. This is a group of heterogeneous polymers synthesized from a few precursor molecules,

lignols, all derived from phenylpropane. Varied and extensive crosslinking between the lignols accounts for the heterogeneity of lignin.