The Biochar Solution

November 25, 2014

...robial life Bind heavy metals (this is a big selling point for me with our lead and zinc contaminated soil) U of W suggests purchasing biochar rather than trying to make it yourself. According to the authors its not easy to achieve proper pyrolysis at home. And they caution that biochar can cause problems for acid loving plants and worms. I’m interviewing a biochar expert for our podcast today. Look for that episode in two weeks. Have you used bio...

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On the 100th Birthday of Our House: The Past and Future of Housing in the U.S.

Mr. Homegrown

January 8, 2020

Design

10 Comments

...ncrease in square footage and more consumer electronics. These differences lead to a difficult discussion about what a more energy efficient future might look like. Our future might be less about energy efficient tiny houses and more about sharing an apartment with relatives. Or getting your not-in-my-backyard neighbors to agree to a bus-only lane on an already congested boulevard. Or democratizing the workplace to ask for fewer hours for more pay...

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Backyard in Progress

Mr. Homegrown

June 17, 2019

Garden Design, Gardening

3 Comments

...I made a bridge so that when it rains water will flow under the path that leads to our shed. This is why you hire an outsider expert: Kelly and I would never have thought of this rain garden or the idea of running the flow under the path. Yes, one of these days I’ll remove the bar code from that pipe! We plan on planting this area with native plants in the fall. Laramee and his crew also hauled up some rock to better define the paths in our yard...

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Rain Garden Update

Mr. Homegrown

March 17, 2021

Garden Design, Gardening, Native Plants

4 Comments

...out the ocean. And I like the little bridge I built over the pit. The path leads to Kelly’s shed and something about crossing the little bridge adds some interest to a stroll in the backyard. Here’s our original post on the rain garden. I haven’t mentioned this in awhile but it’s worth repeating. The reason I include the scientific names of plants is not to show off but because this blog has international readers and the common names for plants ca...

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Saturday Linkages: News From the Far West

Mr. Homegrown

April 3, 2021

Saturday Linkages

1 Comment

...bie) March 28, 2021 The Edwards Go Electric ‘I felt I killed my children’: lead poisons California community – and fills kids’ teeth Last Night in Echo Park More on Echo Park Cult classics: the faded glory of California’s fringe sects – in pictures The ultimate catio? The Retro Encabulator device uses six hydrocoptic marzel vanes and an ambifacient lunar wane shaft What I was like as a teen one of the worst small town planning schemes I’ve ever se...

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