When it’s time to remove a tree

...the time comes to make changes in your garden. There’s nothing wrong with making changes–the trick is in how they’re made, and why. When you remove a plant and it’s the right thing to do, and it’s done properly, it feels good. Really good. Not just on an aesthetic or practical level, but on a gut level. You don’t miss the plant once its gone. The empty space is hardly noticeable. The garden feels more lively or, conversely, more peaceful. It’s as...

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060 Eric of Garden Fork Returns

...we’ve had Eric on and in this episode he discusses tapping maple trees and making syrup, grilling steaks on coals, crowd funding, pie crusts and meditation apps. Here’s the rundown: Planting crops in a cold climate in the late summer Tapping sugar maples Building an evaporator for making maple syrup Earth Eats Podcast Cooking “Eisenhower” steaks on coals Crowd funding Amanda Palmer Ted Talk Pie crusts Meditation with the Headspace app New anchor D...

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The Institute of the Present

...de a bad bet back in the early 20th century on the automobile. Sadly, it’s making another bad bet now on a hoped for future of self driving cars which Lyft and Uber’s business models depend on. I had thought, ten years ago, that Los Angeles’ elected officials were beginning to imagine a future not dependent on cars but that doesn’t seem to be the case. I’m going to stick my neck out and make a few predictions. Self driving cars won’t work unless t...

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2022 in Review: Cats, Mushrooms and Politics

...he blurry photo here, but our street, with its majestic, 100 year old palm trees has that iconic LA look and has become a destination for Instagrammers. Behold the most liminal space in Los Angeles, a corridor in the mall that also houses the plastic simulated corn dogs. I correctly predicted the meltdown of crypto, an utterly worthless trend. These things are sprouting up in the neighborhood. I call this one the Death Star. I got lazy and did not...

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Los Angeles: A New Beginning

....” “Maybe that’s why we need ttttttt . . . trrrrrrr . . . trrreeeees . . . trees,” replied the mayor. “What’s a tree?” asked Lauren. “I think it’s some kind of self growing thing that makes oxygen and shade,” replied the mayor. “Won’t they block the solar panels?” asked Lauren. “Ba, ba, bu, buuuuuu . . . bus,” said the mayor. “Huh? Mr. Mayor are you okay?” said Lauren. “It’s . . . it’s like a car but carries over 100 people,” said the mayor. “We’l...

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