Author: Richard

welcome diversion and a bit of luck

My property is about 50 minutes (=50 miles) north of Atlanta.  Some 30 minutes into the trip I will often find a pretext to stop at the convenient Lowes DIY store for a "necessary " purchase as well as for the free coffee, friendly cashier and to ease springs.  The last reminds me of my army days when, after serious imbibing in the NCO mess, we would "request permission to ease springs" and then stumble over the tent guy ropes into the darkness of the night. So this morning was no different Read more [...]

loss of bearings and prop 37

A good friend had a Hatteras 58 ft  long range cruiser.  I loved the boat.  It had a big engine room and, as it had been outfitted over the years with new electronics and other necessities, it had different DC voltages for different circuits and a spaghetti of wires in all directions.  When components failed, and they often did, I would haul out the wiring diagrams and try trace the fault.  The diagrams enabled me to understand the function of the wires.  When we left harbor I found my bearings Read more [...]

earthworks – terraces, contour ditches and tree trunks

My permaculture readings have focused me on developing an edible forest garden and earthworks figure prominently in my designs.  Although I already have a number of different fruit trees in my orchard I decided to expand the selection and expect, by the end of November, to receive 2 goumi, 2 pawpaw, 3 kiwi (2 female, 1 male), and a medlar, aronia, sour cherry, and juneberry.  With these pending arrivals I have been at work preparing their planting sites on the side of the hill. The earthworks Read more [...]

brier vs. bramble

In my previous post I mentioned my battle with brambles and referred to brier in passing.  Coincidentally, that evening I happened to listen to the Ballad of Barbara Allen in which the suitor dies from unrequited love for Barbara Allen.  From his grave a rose grows and from hers a briar.  The brier I just dug out and photographed is from the genus Smilax and got its name from Greek mythology.  Krokus, a mortal man, tragically loved the woodland nymph Smilax and on his death he was turned into Read more [...]

lessons from the slope, including the war with brambles

The house I purchased a few years ago is on sloping ground and between the house and the tarmac road was a gully which the previous owner, a contractor, had filled with trash.  (Not as bad as contractors digging holes for landscaping dirt for a new house and then filling with tree trunks, which results in sinkholes, anguish and expense for home owners.)  I tried clearing the trash myself with trips in my pickup to the recycling center but made little progress.  I did not have my bobcat at the Read more [...]

benefits of organic milk – kefir

We have started making our own kefir fermented milk products.  Kefir originated when shepherds discovered that milk carried in leather pouches would ferment and produce a fermented beverage which has a pleasing taste, once your are accustomed to it. We were given a starter culture and the procedure is you add milk to the kefir grains and allow it to ferment for 24 hours at room temperature.  A tablespoon of the kefir grains is adequate for 8 ozs of milk.  After 24 hours the grains have converted Read more [...]

the precautionary principle and GMO’s

Two techniques used in this week's presidential debate resonated with my internet Sustainability study on this week's topic - GMO's. There seems to be three areas of concern on Genetically Modified Organisms ("GMO's).  Their effect on our health, on our environment and on our wallet.  I will not dwell on environmental issues (such as genetic drift or loss of diversity) or wallet issues (will the seeds which produce our food be owned by corporations?). But as for our health, there are studies Read more [...]

teaser-if world population increases 1% pa, why must food prod. increase 1.5%pa?

I am learning from and enjoying the Coursera course on Sustainability. The above question is interesting. Why should an increase in world population by x % require a much greater % increase in food production? The answer, I suppose, shows why being a vegetarian helps the world in dealing with sustainability issues. What "sustainability issues" you may ask. Well, water supply is becoming problematic - witness our recent drought in the mid-West and problems in India and other countries where they are Read more [...]

the largest yet least considered interaction

We interact with the world through our senses.  The five traditional senses are sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste.  We have other senses as well such as balance, perception of time, pain etc.  If our senses warn us that our environment is unfriendly we respond - too much sun we cover ourselves, use an umbrella or sun screen or withdraw to the shade.  To much glare we put on sunglasses, close our eyes or squint and look the other way.  Too bitter a taste then we stop eating.  Too loud a Read more [...]

unwelcome sight – upset bee hive

I inspected the bee hive last Sunday and on Tuesday I happened by and quickly glanced at the #1 hive.  I kept on walking and stopped as my mind deciphered the image - the hive had been attacked.  This is the first time it has happened.  The hive cover was on one side, the top super was on the ground, the second super half way off, a frame on the ground and the deep slightly askew on the bottom board. I studied the frames - no honey had been removed.  The bee hive boxes were undamaged and Read more [...]