September, 2014

the worth of a civilization

I just received the Audubon special issue: "Birds & Climate Change". I was forewarned of its depressing contents by news articles and recent podcasts. Paging through it steered my mind to a discussion last weekend with one of my running buddies. He said it was surprising how long the Sunni-Shiite divide had persisted especially considering the advances and scientific knowledge of the Islamic Golden Age. I replied this brought to mind my history studies of the tribal warfare which Read more [...]

helping a buddy – push mower repair

I have spent time with 3 organic growers in the area and hope to expand my circle when I am able to participate in the local Saturday morning markets. I visit often with one grower who, tho good at growing, is less interested in repairing equipment. His riding mower and his push mower are both out of action. Though I use a scythe in the hilly and restricted areas, I also make frequent use of a riding mower (see my posts on various repairs) so I sympathized with him. I tried starting his push Read more [...]

jujube, 3 Canadian aids, a feral bee colony

With unexpectedly cooler weather here in N Georgia in September, I am spending more time in the vegetable garden and orchards. I had planted jujube saplings a few years ago in the terraced orchard and neither irrigated nor tended them until recently I noticed small round fruit. At the time they were green and tasteless. Now they are brown or red with wrinkled skins and a delicate flavor, a bit like an apple. There are two small jujube trees - the Li Jujube provided just one fruit, the Lang Read more [...]

chaos, determinism and health

I am harvesting carrots, okra, muscadine, carrots, peppers and the occasional non insect damaged kale, collard and chard. I am hoping for a decent crop of sweet potatoes - here is my first unearthed specimen: I am also clearing the beds of tomato plants and weeds and layering on compost, and seeding for fall. Gives me time to mull on past conversations. We just returned from a West coast visit where I met an old acquaintance and we began discussing climate change. He said no one can Read more [...]

a 2nd use for old beer

In the past week I noticed my chard and toscano kale were being ravaged by slugs/snails or caterpillars, and I discovered in a cupboard, packs of beer with a January 2011 expiration date. Adopting the permaculture mantra, the problem is the solution, last evening I buried an old cup at rim level in between the victimized chard and filled it with beer. And this morning I was pleased to find a large slug: I scooped out the slug and small wasp and will visit the site again tomorrow. And Read more [...]