Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land

...g to the problem, it will also not be able to deal with the changes in the making. It is ill-suited to chaotic weather. In sum, if we don’t start growing food in different ways, we’re not only looking at a dry future, we’re looking at a hungry future. To solve this puzzle, Nabhan takes a look at at existing desert agriculture, from the Sonoran desert to China to Oman. From the ancient past right up into the present, humans have been cleverly manag...

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Maintaining a Worm Bin

...bove you can see the left side of the bin, the new working side, full of fluffy, moist, leafy material. On the right is the new resting side. The worms are going to be much happier with all the breathing room in the new space. I’ll start adding food on left side–a bit more conservatively than usual, since there isn’t a big worm population over there yet. The worms living on the right side will start moving over pretty soon, leaving the pure castin...

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Dave Miller on Baking with 100% Whole Wheat

...les can alter the balance between the yeast and bacteria. The longer the starter goes between feedings, for instance, the more the bacteria will dominate. Too much bacteria in the levain and you’ll get a bread that is overly sour and over-fermented (a problem I’ve been having lately). Feed the starter more often or shorten the time between the feeding and using it in a loaf, and you’ll boost the yeast and decrease the bacteria. Some other concepts...

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How Much Can You Carry on a Bicycle?

.... Their long wheel base, in fact, makes them more stable. And I’m always surprised at how easy it is to climb hills even with heavy groceries. One need not be car-free to enjoy a cargo bike. For many years Kelly and I shared a car. The Xtracycle was a big part of making that car-light arrangement work. When people ask if urban homesteading saves money, the first thing I point to is the cargo bike, not the chicken coop. The problem? Cargo bikes are...

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