Our new front yard, part 2: theory

...ch makes working on it real fun.) That might be one reason why the idea of making it into an orchard had so much appeal. When garden design books bother to address hillside gardens, they always feature much bigger hills than ours, and these hills feature expensive hardscaping, like artfully arranged imported boulders, fancy staircases which sweep along the contour of the hill, or dazzling water features. Nobody designs in 15 foot wide spaces stuff...

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Cat Scratch Fever: How to Make Your Own Cat Scratching Posts

...make nice things scratch-able? With these two notions in mind I set about making a scratching post that I could attach to the side of our Ikea couch. Here’s what you’ll need: 3/8 inch sisal rope scrap wood (I used a 4×4) [I have revised this post: nails work better than staples!] #17 x 1 inch wire nails hot glue (optional, but a few dabs will keep the sisal on the post longer) Wrapping the wood is straightforwards, if tedious. I used some clamps...

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Best veggies to cook in a solar oven

...d spud with any variety of unhealthy things piled on top of it. We’ve been making southwest style potatoes piled with black beans, salsa, cheese and sour cream. Corn on the Cob You don’t need to shuck the corn. You don’t need to soak the husks. You don’t even need a covered pan. You can just put some ears on the floor of your oven (or on a tray). You can tuck them around pans cooking other things. I’ve even heard you can also pile them up, fill th...

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Branch Weaving & Climbing Structure Workshop

...ving & Branch Play Structure Workshop taught by Jeeyun Ha. Come join us in building a natural climbing structure out of branches and making beautiful branch weavings(to take home). “At the very moment that the bond is breaking between the young and the natural world, a growing body of research links our mental, physical and spiritual health directly to our association with nature.” –Richard Louv: Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from N...

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Saturday Tweets: Ginger Bug, Vegetable Soup Base and a Zero Cost House

...MQobBIF — Emily Han (@misschiffonade) January 30, 2016 Next in Garden Flag-Making: Rit Dyes and Stencils | Garden Rant https://t.co/HeYi0LpkyQ — Root Simple (@rootsimple) January 30, 2016 Homemade Vegetable Soup Base https://t.co/rNFjnGp4kp — Root Simple (@rootsimple) January 30, 2016 DIY Chimney Sweeping https://t.co/LcF3J3PJk6 via @wordpressdotcom — Root Simple (@rootsimple) January 30, 2016 DIY termite treatment-anyone know if this works? https...

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