Saturday Linkages: Hiding Spots, Bedbugs and Rodents of Unusual Size

April 13, 2013

...a Leafy Folk Remedy Stopped Bedbugs in Their Tracks http://nyti.ms/12H9HDI Gardening All About Gabions : Cheap Retaining and Other Garden Features http://shar.es/JHCQS New killer compost problem–Imprelis: http://ow.ly/1UWcBj How to protect plants from frost: http://ow.ly/1UMWLG Farmers tackle pests with colas: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3977351.stm … Rodents of Unusual Size – a documentary about 20-lb rats in Louisiana – Boing Boing htt...

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Our New Straw Bale Garden–Part I

Mr. Homegrown

April 23, 2013

26 Comments

...and zinc contamination and a backyard that is up 30 steps–make straw bale gardening a promising solution. Bales and fertilizer are easier to carry up the stairs than bulk soil. It will be cheaper than buying soil. No lead and zinc. I was also inspired by this attractive straw bale garden in Arizona. It will be a garden that changes over time. I like the idea of watching the bales turn into compost and their gradual replacement with more permanent...

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Lady Urine, Water Conservation and Halfway Humanure

Mrs. Homegrown

April 26, 2013

Gardening, Straw Bale Gardening

45 Comments

...ly has so much pee. My contributions would be useful. Plus, this method of gardening is undeniably water hungry. I feel like we should partially offset this expenditure by conserving water as much as we can. One simple way to save water is to stop flushing the toilet so much. And if all our pee went outside, it would not only save water, but it also would add water and nitrogen to the soil. Win-win. Now, I imagine our more feisty readers will ask,...

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Saturday Linkages: Tall Bikes, Za’atar and So Much More

Mr. Homegrown

April 27, 2013

Saturday Linkages

3 Comments

.../04/21/new-farmers-almanac-for-2013.html … Plants as Education: Kit Brings Gardening Back to the Masses http://dornob.com/37885/ Fortrait #4 “Subterranean Breakfast Nook” http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/2013/04/fortrait-4-subterranean-breakfast-nook.html#.UXnyUt75KCs.twitter … Buildin‘ Temporary Housing for Displaced Fukushima Residents http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.com/2013/04/temporary-housing-for-displaced.html#.UXnyPtA6AAs.twitter …...

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Straw Bale Garden Part III: Adding Fertilizer

Mr. Homegrown

April 30, 2013

Gardening, Straw Bale Gardening, Vegetable Gardening

31 Comments

...r. We’re following West Virginia University Extension Service’s Straw Bale Gardening advice. They suggest a 1/2 cup of urea per bale or “bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach.” (I think they mean blood meal as bone meal does not have much nitrogen in it.) Choosing the organic approach, we’re watering in two cups of blood meal a day to each bale for days four to six. Days seven through nine, we’ll cut back to one cup of blood...

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