The Perfect Crisis Vegetable: Prickly Pear Cactus

May 8, 2020

...e past twenty years. I’ve never once killed a prickly pear cactus. Luther Burbank’s allegedly spineless prickly pear. We have one specimen that came with the house and another that I picked up a few years ago: Luther Burbank’s spineless variety that, well, isn’t actually spineless. My favorite method for preparing and eating the pads is to scrape them with a knife to remove the spines (you don’t need to peel the skin off). I then chop and boil the...

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The Obligate Resprouter

Mr. Homegrown

November 12, 2020

Animals, Goats

...ssure on the very resources that climate change makes scarce—water and top soil. Now, at least temporarily, we find ourselves having to feed the goats hay grown by pumping water in the nearby desert, the very thing we have tried to avoid. Developing a new understanding of this agriculture’s relationship to climate change, drought and wildfire is necessarily the new project, and we are pleased to have you along for the exploration. You can subscrib...

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Bread and Roses

Mr. Homegrown

February 16, 2021

Gardening

6 Comments

...opinion, is that at some times of the year the leaves are just frankly, uninteresting. As I noted I’m no rose expert, so I’d appreciate your opinions about ways to make our roses more healthy and vigorous. The soil they are planted in leaves a lot to be desired and I’m very confused about watering needs. I’m also open to suggestions from readers about interesting rose varieties either climbing or bush....

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A Painful Beekeeping Lesson

Mr. Homegrown

July 20, 2015

Animals, Bees

20 Comments

...and lit palm trees on fire. Unfortunately for me, the deluge softened the soil underneath one of the legs of one of my beehives causing it to fall over and knock over another hive. I didn’t discover this situation until 7 p.m. as it was getting dark. Kelly was out of town and I was alone in the backyard staring at a jumble of bee boxes. Here’s what I should have done: Take a deep breath. Pause, and assess the situation. Come up with a plan. Gathe...

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Surface Walk with Nance Klehm Saturday February 11th

Mr. Homegrown

February 9, 2017

Events

1 Comment

...investigate how the vegetation relates to the ecology and vitality of the soil that supports it. Surface Walk is part of Nance Klehm’s Bowtie residency titled Double Pairing. Nance Klehm has been an ecological systems designer, landscaper, horticultural consultant, and permacultural grower for more than two decades. Her approach is centered on instigating change by activating extant communities. Her work demonstrates her lifelong commitment to re...

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