Tomato Review #2 Banana Legs – it don’t look like a banana and it don’t got legs

August 4, 2008

Gardening, Tomatoes, Vegetable Gardening

It’s raining tomatoes here at the Homegrown Evolution compound and time for the second in our series of tomato reviews. Today, Banana Legs, a determinate variety with yellow flesh and light green streaks. It has a mild, low acid flavor and a meaty texture. Not bad, not thrilling, not nearly is as good as a similar looking tomato we grew last year, Power’s Heirloom. We grew our Banana Legs in a self watering container (SWC) and it produced a respe...

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Helping the Bees with Science in your Backyard

Mr. Homegrown

September 7, 2008

Animals, Bees

1 Comment

...sunflowers and count the number of bees that visit them in a set period of time. We participated this summer, planting the sunflower seeds provided by the project. It’s too late to start this year, but you can sign up for next year’s project here. When we last did an observation, we counted five bees within ten minutes visiting the flower we chose to watch. See the video above for an instant replay. This project is very important, and participatio...

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Vegetable Gardening With Dogs

Mr. Homegrown

August 23, 2008

Gardening, Tomatoes, Vegetable Gardening

9 Comments

...On the right, the aftermath of one of our dog’s nightly tomato raids, this time targeting our healthiest and most productive vine, a variety called Giant Syrian. The dog has managed to claim all but a few of the tomatoes off this vine, knocking off many unripe ones in the process. FYI, the Giant Syrian tomato is our favorite variety this year, producing large, flavorful and meaty fruit. Hopefully the Doberman will leave a few for us. [Update: an a...

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The Poultry Review June 1908

Mr. Homegrown

October 28, 2008

Animals, Chickens

8 Comments

...he three best answers, a testimony to how many people kept chickens at the time. For those tired of poultry, an ad in the back of the Poultry Review asks, “Are you Discouraged with Chickens? If so, try the Ginseng Business. It will pay you LARGER, SURER, PROFITS, requires very little land and the least amount of work of any crop grown. Sells for $6.50 to $9.00 a pound.” Sounds like the $20 a pound Goji berries I saw at Whole Foods last week. Like...

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A Transportation Cocktail: Bikes, Trains and Buses

Mr. Homegrown

January 18, 2009

Bikes

5 Comments

...hen you bring up bikes with a customer service person it will be the first time they’ve ever heard the question. Now back to the slow, but entertaining San Joaquin train. While it takes longer than driving or flying, the views of the Central Valley can’t be beat. You’re well off the highway for most of the trip, and get a god’s eye view from the upper deck. Glimpses of farms, backyards and small towns flash by as if in a series of dream-like snaps...

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