gardeningLeave a comment

How to Identify and Treat Herbicide Contamination of Commercial Soil, Compost and Manure — Deep Green Permaculture

Author

Over the last decade, there have been increasing reports from gardeners that their vegetables and flowers have been damaged or killed after adding manure or compost to their gardens, or when they’ve planted into new soil they had delivered. In fact, the problems of contaminated composts adversely affecting horticultural crops first surfaced in 1999. […] How to Identify and Treat Herbicide Contamination of Commercial Soil, Compost and Manure — Deep Green Permaculture Continue reading How to Identify and Treat Herbicide Contamination of Commercial Soil, Compost and Manure — Deep Green Permaculture

frugal green, green householdLeave a comment

10 Tips For A Zero-Waste Life — existential ergonomics

Author

My zero-waste journey began as a broke college kids with an allergy to the one-time-use plastic in grocery store bags and very few possessions, over a decade before the idea of sustainability even became popular. The developed world is filled with stuff, often more stuff than we really need. In my mind, zero-waste comes down […] 10 Tips For A Zero-Waste Life — existential ergonomics Continue reading 10 Tips For A Zero-Waste Life — existential ergonomics

emergency preparedness, frugal green, gardening, green householdLeave a comment

Case Study: Oregon Permaculture Garden — EWSP Consultancy

Author

The primary goals for this permaculture design were to create a plan that would allow the residents of this historic property in coastal Oregon to grow food and other resources for themselves and guests that they will welcome onto the site in a sustainable way. The goal was also to create a garden that could […] Case Study: Oregon Permaculture Garden — EWSP Consultancy Continue reading Case Study: Oregon Permaculture Garden — EWSP Consultancy

frugal green, gardening, seasonalLeave a comment

Winter Forest

Author

There is no bad weather, just bad clothes. Traditional saying There are three main ways I like to enjoy the winter forest. The first is taking a walk or run. If I run, I use winter gear including trail shoes that are just shy of being cleats; which is still no particular insurance against ice. If I walk, I may take the dog with me, and I put her jacket on her as well as protective gel on her paws before we go out. The second way is taking photos. My favorite thing is hoar frost which does not happen … Continue reading Winter Forest

diy, frugal green, seasonal2 Comments

Holiday Hot Cocoa

Author

First the quick way, then the “real” way. Basic but nice: Hot chocolate mix and hot water Tea spoon of decaf instant coffee Cream or half n half or almond milk to bring it down to drinking temperature 2 drops peppermint extract OR two shakes ground nutmeg Stir gently and thoroughly Whipped cream topping and sprinkles Fancy way: 2 spoons baking cocoa with just enough boiling water to dissolve it Confectioners sugar to taste, gently stirred in 2-3 spoons brewed decaf coffee Cool milk or cream added to desired drinking temp (Optional: Stir in using a milk frother for more … Continue reading Holiday Hot Cocoa

gratitude, seasonalLeave a comment

Reflecting on 2020

Author

What a memorable blur of a year. Some days and weeks slid by without events to mark them. Other days, especially holidays, birthdays, milestones, and anniversaries, stand out for their stark contrast to past celebrations. Now the weather is getting colder, it takes a little more effort to get out the door for a therapeutic dose of nature. It is worth it! Beauty is everywhere ephemeral. This year nature put on especially good displays in the garden, in the forest, and on the lake. Probably, we were just more aware of the show, being on lockdown. The whitetail deer fawns … Continue reading Reflecting on 2020

frugal green, gardeningLeave a comment

Sources for Free Dead Trees

Author

Untreated wood chips layered in abundance make plants happy. Mara Grey in The Lazy Gardener (a particularly nice and guilt-free gardening book) recommends, among other things, an abundance of mulch. Mulch, mulch, mulch. It keeps down weeds, helps balance out moisture, and provides more of a natural compost-in-place of wood chips. Especially for perennial shrubs, this mimics nature. In my neck of the woods, we have identified the 3 easiest sources of free mulch. The list is ongoing… Local power company. I did not expect this one, but in a region with plentiful trees, the power company is responsible to … Continue reading Sources for Free Dead Trees