Tuesday - September 30,  2003                                               posted 10:48 AM PST  

Snapshots of the front yard in a wondrous display of glorious yellow

THIS ORGANIC LIFE

As our readers can see from my tardiness in posting these past couple days (er week), things have been quite busy lately.  The past few days are spent trying to keep up with plantings, projects and just the daily routine of chores and the roof
construction is making it all a bit difficult to get things back to normal...  

Nonetheless, I'll try and cover what's been happening, so the post will a
contemplation of a little bit of this and that.

The long wait is over!  (Nope not talking about the roof.... just yet!)  Four
shiny black Mexicola avocados were FINALLY ready to pick!  From the size of
the huge avocado tree we had expected more but only four blossoms took and
produced fruit.  We think the wind storm and drizzle we had back in early
Spring when it was blossoming contributed to the minuscule harvest as quite a
lot of blossoms fell to the ground.  Have to say though, those four little
avocados were really flavorful and nutty... Yes, we definitely could do with
a couple more!  Perhaps next year? We hope!

Red okra flower                       Devils claw                    Purple eggplant

WINDING DOWN

Remnants from the summer yard are being transitioned to fall.  All the sweet
smelling hay is being scraped up from the concrete patio to prepare for the
coming rains and the ground up dirt left underneath from constant foot-
traffic has been spread into the raised beds.

The scarlet runner beans and pole beans are producing again and it is an
unexpected blessing to have beans so late in the season.  The eggplants are
still going strong and besides the apple-green ones we are now harvesting beautiful purple ones.  Also, the okra continue to produce like crazy and we've been
making a cornmeal batter and frying them. Surprisingly delicious actually! 
Then again, anything fried is good tasting anyways. ;-)

An unusual addition to this year's garden and plant species is "devil's claw"
which are ready to be harvested.  I've read from Native Seeds/Search that they can be eaten like okra.

In several places of the yard the beautiful, large spiders that appear
towards the end of summer have finally showed up.  This year they seem to
have built their webs a bit later than usual.  Hmmm... I wonder if there's
any folk lore or tales that have to do with spiders spinning their webs late?  Will it be a cold and wet or dry winter.  

The birds are feasting on the ripe broom corn tassels and each morning we are
visited by a hummingbird that likes to eat its breakfast in the yard - every
morning at right on the clock. 

The Fall planting bug has bitten us... even though the temps continue to
fluctuate - from the 100's to the low 80's.  This drastic flux appears to be
causing the newly planted seeds such as lettuces and greens to grow a bit
sporadic.  And on the days the weather was hot some of the snow peas steamed in the ground.  So we'll have put some shade cloths up to protect them.

The guys are redoing the chicken coop area as I mentioned before because the
pvc pipe and plastic netting was getting a bit ratty.  When all is complete I
shall post pictures, promise. 

For the solar shower right now we are using coiled up black garden hoses and it sure heats the water just fine.... too fine, actually!  The water can get pretty darn hot and dangerous!  So the guys will have to find a way to somehow allow some cool water to be mixed it to regulate the water temp.

More later....

Weather Report: Foggy mornings, warm afternoons.

Tuesday - September 23,  2003                                               posted 7:36 AM PST  

Only when they are hungry, frightened, or hurt do they let out loud quacks.  The rest of the time its a deep but soft noise and isn't constant either -- except when they catch sight of you and start 'asking' for a treat!

Weather Report: Hot again today. Temps in the high 90's.

Monday - September 22,  2003                                               posted 10:56 AM PST  

There's quite a lot of projects and repairs that still need to be done. Even though we have over 300 plant species in the yard, the one that still eludes us is the money tree. I heard it's VERY rare. LOL

But everything is not all well as we've suffered casualties in the plant world. The two huge English lavenders we've had for over three years - just decided to shrivel up and die... they were my favorite! Peeved at their drastic demise, I took lots of cuttings from the dying plants (but if they all root, we'll have more lavender than we could ever need!). The southern highbush blueberries are pathetic looking so we dug them out and put them in pots. Now they can get some special TLC - they definitely need it, poor fellows.  The passion fruit we had growing against the garage suddenly died from too much water. Happy ducks contributed to its rotting. The area behind the garage used to be so dusty and dry, but with the addition of ducks and water the ground is now moist, but I guess it was too moist for the passion fruit.

Anyhow, on the bright side, the raspberries and passion fruits are ripening at a good pace. So last night we enjoyed a tropical fruit bowl topped with homemade granola! The smell and taste were delightful.  Seconds?

Weather Report: HOT. Temps in the high 90's.

Friday - September 19,  2003                                               posted 7:24 AM PST  

The peppers and eggplant are still growing strong (they're huge and healthy plants, must be the compost?), we are even harvesting a second flush of strawberries, beans and tomatoes.  The green and red okra are starting to produce like crazy (Gumbo anyone?) 

Finally the peaches are ready to pick!  Though the crop is a smaller than normal due to the wacky Spring we had, they are wonderfully sweet  The yellow strawberry guavas are starting to ripen and we picked a handful yesterday, which we divided equally among ourselves... they were delicious!

There was a bit of ruckus going on early this morning in the front yard with the high shrills of a female Cooper's Hawk and the cawing of crows producing a cacophony of noise... The poor hawk was being dive-bombed by a squadron of crows.  It appeared that the crows weren't too happy with its presence!  It's really amazing that in the middle of a city we are able to catch such glimpses of wildlife.  I'm pretty sure it's the same hawk that landed in our peach tree a few weeks back trying to catch the little sparrows that were eating from the feeder. 

Regarding the status of the monarch caterpillar I mentioned in a prior post:  We have been unable to find it since we last spotted it on Tuesday.... Darn! It would have been neat to watch it morph into a cocoon but we'll continue to keep a look out for it.

MORE = LESS?

Our closest and deepest relationships are being eroded by a rising tide of wider personal interaction, and by isolating involvement with individual technologies," Tanner says. "Our crowded lives are cluttered with contact but diminishing in connection.  More delivers us much less

THE SACRED BALANCE

A four part series on PBS hosted by David Suzuki, which explores our spiritual and physical connection with the Earth.  Unfortunately we missed the third episode, if anyone taped it let me know! THANKS!

There was a fascinating story that was part of the program: A heart researcher has found a way to turn heartbeats into music and then use this music as an aid for diagnosing a person's heart.  To hear the heart as music (Thanks Robert for emailing me the link)

THE OLD WAYS FIND NEW LIFE

The project has already multiplied maize yields, delivered fresh milk, seen off two major pests and brought cash to an economy on the edge of starvation. And it couldn't be more organic.  Perfect maize, in three simple steps

Weather Report: Warm.

Tuesday - September 16,  2003                                               posted 9:06 AM PST  

Weather Report: Pleasant.

Monday - September 15,  2003                                               posted 8:18 AM PST  

I stumbled onto this wonderful site from the Rodale Institute (NewFarm.org) and really enjoyed this article about a New York family on farm... puts things into perspective.

Weather Report: Cooler.

Friday - September 12,  2003                                               posted 6:55 AM PST  

KILL A WATT

A writer recently contacted us from the local community news zine. It seems that our participation in practically all the city's rebate programs has gotten someone's attention.  She wanted to know if we have noticed any benefits in the purchase of Energy Star products, so we pulled out all our electrical bills to see if there was any drop in KWH.  In 2000 we were using (daily/yearly average) 10.6 KWH per day and now we are down to 6.8 KWH (and we hope to kill even more!)  Boy, we are sure on a murderous rampage! Lawns, watts, what'll be next?

P.S. We have no dryer and AC.  Also it helps that we have a gas stove and water heater - so that reduces the use of electricity somewhat.

Crunching the numbers -- Daily/year average: 2000 10.6 KWH,  2001 8.7 KWH, 2002 7.7 KWH, 2003 6.8 KWH...

Weather Report: HOT... Fall hasn't arrived just yet....

 Thursday - September 11,  2003                                               posted 6:32 AM PST  

LIFE INTERRUPTED

When I think of the road we're traveling on I wonder what's gone wrong, I can't help it I wonder what's gone wrong... Simon & Garfunkle, American Tune

Sometimes Life interrupts our daily routine, the way year after year we are kept running on autopilot. Sometimes Life rattles us with shockwaves to force us into a different state of awareness. Sometimes Life introduces us to unspeakable death, challenging us to turn a marginalized existence into a meaningful one. Rarely does a defining time happen--maybe only once in a generation.

What now after the "world changing" events of 9/11? That day saw horrific tragedy. Yet, there could be a far, far worse tragedy to come, following on its heels. We should really be afraid of letting this awful loss come to naught. If nothing of any depth happens in the aftermath--beyond the songs and the flags, the tears and the prayers, and the slogans and the moments of silence-- then we, indeed, have much to fear.  

To rebuild the buildings of a city pales in scale compared to that of redirecting our lives in selfless dedication. There can be no greater memorial to those who lost their lives than for us to change ours. Charity can be an easy kind of love and get us off the track. In tracing the footsteps of all the firefighters, police, and other heroes, you come face to face with the hard love based on a commitment to place others' lives ahead of one's own.  

At this critical time it is imperative that we realize that any other way of life cruelly shortchanges us. Truly, life-giving love is the path--the only path--worth taking.

~ Written by Jules Dervaes , Oct 2001 ~

Weather Report: Warmer.

 Wednesday - September 10,  2003                                               posted 6:14 AM PST  

KNOW YOUR PORTIONS

How much is on your plate? What is a "standard serving size?"  Test your knowledge here: Portion Distortion

Weather Report: Cooler.

 Tuesday - September 09,  2003                                               posted 7:05 AM PST  

Q &A

I don't remember which pages, but somewhere it is mentioned that you do a "jungle garden" method and a "max out" method.

But it would be cool if you could do a page showing the two ways of doing things with plans and pictures, so the rest of us can get an understanding of them. ~ mairi ~

Thanks for the question Mairi, excellent suggestion!   You got it!  Here's a brief description of the growing methods we utilize along with photos.

We'd love to hear from our readers... So, share your gardening tips. methods or suggestions.

Weather Report: Finally cooler - is Fall finally here?

 Monday - September 08,  2003                                               posted 8:21 AM PST  

Weather Report: Still hot!

Sunday - September 07,  2003                                               posted 3:34 PM PST  

CA$H FOR GRA$$

Another reason to get rid of wasteful lawn...

WATER CONSERVATIONIST STEP ON THE GRASS

Pressed by drought, cities target a thirsty intruder  LA TIMES

The synchronized spray of lawn sprinklers and carpets of jewel green grass — they embody the California identity as much as sunshine and freeways.

They are also the new frontier of water conservation. After two decades of tinkering with toilets and showerheads, water managers are turning their attention to hallowed ground: the over-watered, unnaturally lush lawns of the suburban West. They are paying homeowners to tear out their grass, promoting "smart" sprinkler technology that decides for itself how much to water and jacking up rates to penalize extravagant outdoor watering habits.

Landscape watering and other outdoor use guzzles 50% to 70% of the water used by a typical Southern California household. In Las Vegas in the summer, the figure can hit 90%...

 "There's always been this tension. It's in each of us," observed Ward of the Colorado water institute. "We want to live in a pleasant surrounding and have something associated with our roots. I can imagine the settlers who came out here from the East were strongly attached to the landscapes they grew up with.

"We're just now coming to grips, in terms of public perception and public awareness, with the fact that we cannot continue" to replicate those landscapes."

Our lawn was killed back in the early 90's - smothering it under a layer of newspaper and mulch and we haven't looked back since. Now, when we have to water or fertilize, we at least are getting food or income from it - instead of wasting precious water and time.

Are there any serial lawn killers out there?  Let's hear your story/experience....

Weather Report: HOT!

Wednesday - September 03,  2003                                               posted 7:28 AM PST  

When visiting, people often comment on the sounds of all the birds in our yard... It's amazing how much wildlife one can attract in the middle of the city.   We try our best to incorporate natural, wildlife friendly plants into the edible landscape and so far we have seen a dramatic increase of insect and bird species.

It's a really wild feeling we get when we sit in the backyard amid the jungle of plants back there -- we feel as though we are out in the country by experiencing the the sights (greenery), smells (mulch, straw, flowers), sounds (birds, ducks and chickens) ... If we can't be in the country, we sure can bring it to our little lot here!  We are slowly creating our own little oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle.

TEACH THE CHILDREN WELL

Our friend who brought the Arcadia High School students over for a field trip, sometime back in April,  finally got around to giving us the students' extra credit essays on what they learned from their outing.  It was such a wonderful experience for us to share what we have with others and we hope that from what we have been blessed with, we can in turn share with others so they will leave with an broader understanding of the world around them and how they can make a difference.... one step at a time.

I wish I could type up and post all the essays here, but I'll pick out the best of the best!  (Note: some of these high school students are recent immigrants from China and their English is just developing.)

....This project effect me that I have learn many things and I could follow their step and make a better environment.  To my family that we could follow it and also grow plants and vegetables and flowers to decorate pretty for our house.  To community to give them a good looking and clean. 

**************

The place was pretty cool.  It had a lot of different kind of plants I had never seen before, and it was amazing that some of the flowers and leaves could actually be eaten.  I think the place is amazing.  It wasn't like a family's back yard.  It was like a farm where people grow a lot of things.  I think the project can help my mother to understand to take a good care of the backyard.  It can help the poor people in the city to have food to eat and the world. 

**************

I think this is really cool, very helpful and good for the earth.  I think that if more people did this with oven {solar oven} and planted greens the earth could be a better, happier place.  I thought it was cool how they said they never {not exactly!} had to got to the grocery store, that way they can save their money.  I think this project would be good for my family.... I also think it would do good for the community and churches and the world.  {Note: red my emphasis}

**************

This was an amazing garden.  I can't even explain how amazing it was to see what that family has done with their house.  I loved smelling all the different smells of all the different plants... I was so inspired by this garden it was so organized and really well planned out.  I love the fact that they grow most of their own food so they don't have to go to the store as often as most families...  I think that this trip was totally awesome trip and I think that it should be used for many of the next years to come.

**************

....I felt so happy and want to try everything.  If everyone plant a little in their yard, we can get clean air and not much pollution.  The world will be more nice and we can also get fun from planting.

**************

....I say if we all had that same understanding we as a world would focus on saving mother earth rather than destroying it for major corporations we can save so much money and then save so many lives at the same time so either way it's a win win situation.

**************

....This project affected me a lot because it gave me an really good idea by becoming a plant person.  I told my mom if we can make a garden in our back yard and she said yea and it is going to be really cool when I make my garden

We hope to continue to expand our outreach program and share our project with more children (and adults!) of all ages to show them how they can care for our planet.

Weather Report: Warm.

Tuesday - September 02,  2003                                                        posted 7:54 AM PST  

PERMACULTURE IN THE CITY

On Sunday, Jules Dervaes and the rest of us here, spent a wonderful afternoon giving a tour to the current class of the Permaculture Design Course of Los Angeles at the LA Eco Village.  It's a six week program but their teacher told us their visit to our place was a great finish to those many weeks of studying and discussion in the classrooms.  She went on to say that to see permaculture principles and concepts being practiced, especially in the city, put a lot of the ideas into perspective for the students of the class.

One visitor was even overheard in conversation with someone to have said (to the effect of) that this one visit had done more for him in answering all his questions than any other trips he had taken before.

The group was enthusiastic and the feelings were mutual on our part. And such was the excitement in the air! 

It was a long day for all of us and those in the tour, so to top it all off we finished the visit with a glass of cold refreshing herbal tea -- the leaves having been picked fresh from the garden and seeped just hours before. 

What makes it all the more special is that it didn't cost us any $$$$ -- only muscle power!  Beautiful hardscape and a workout -- what more can you ask for!

Weather Report: Warm, but pleasant