007 RIP Handsome, 3 Power Tools You Should Own and Hipster Compost

July 9, 2014

...ecent comment on the blog we review an old post on three power tools every urban homesteader should own: drill, circular saw and jigsaw. Lastly, we expand on a recent post about composting brew waste, coffee grounds, juice pulp and coconut husks. In other words, “hipster compost.” During the discussion we answer a reader concern about black solider flies in compost. For more info on soldier flies (they are beneficial in compost but can be a proble...

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Keep Those Bikes Locked, Even in the Garage!

Mr. Homegrown

February 26, 2014

Bikes, Transportation

15 Comments

...ock your bike when out and about. Leave it unlocked for one second in most urban areas and you can bet it will be gone when you return. In San Fransisco, for instance, bike theft outstripped iPhone theft 3:1. But there’s another kind of bike theft that a lot of folks don’t think about–theft from your home or apartment. Yes, even at home base your bike needs to be locked up. Some thieves drive around in pickup trucks looking for open garages with u...

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017 Heirloom Expo Recap

Mr. Homegrown

September 17, 2014

Animals, Bees, Fruit Trees, Gardening, Podcasts, rainwater harvesting, Vegetable Gardening, Water and Power

4 Comments

...during the podcast: California Rare Fruit Growers Rachel Kaplan, author of Urban Homesteading Trathen Heckman of Daily Acts Apiculturalist Michael Thiele “Fruit Freak” John Valenzuela Franchi seed seller The Heirloom Seed Store Permaculturalist Toby Hemenway If you want to leave a question for the Root Simple Podcast please call (213) 537-2591 or send an email to rootsimple@gmail.com. You can subscribe to our podcast in the iTunes store and on Sti...

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Councilmen Want to Astroturf Los Angeles and Turn it Into a Big Minigolf Course

Mr. Homegrown

November 3, 2014

Gardening, Water and Power

7 Comments

...ptiles and human beings. And we need beauty. Gardens are both ecological and spiritual. If the author of the Times editorial needs a good example of what’s possible, I’d suggest visiting the new garden surrounding the Natural History Museum. Artificial turf has a place on athletic fields and put-put golf courses. It does not belong in residential landscapes, especially in the parkway. Thanks to Travis Longcore, science director for the Urban Wildl...

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Root Simple’s New CritterCam

Mr. Homegrown

August 18, 2014

Animals

8 Comments

...a for the application I intend. Thanks Max!] My plan is to use it for some urban, backyard citizen science. Specifically I want to figure out a few things: What mammals are visiting the backyard? What paths do they take through the yard? What kinds of birds are visiting the bird bath? Have my skunk proofing efforts worked? What’s the most active time in the night for mammalian activity? How many cats are visiting and what time do they come through...

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