Mulch, mulch, mulch!

...arranted to determine if we should be concerned about using mulch around houses. Also, research is needed on possible repellent mulches such as melaleuca which might serve as an additional barrier for household protection against termites. At this time the benefits of mulches such as water conservation, reduced used of herbicides, and reduced soil erosion are very apparent while the risks to termite infestations due to mulches are unknown. Homeown...

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Gardenfork’s DIY Rocket Stove

...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6dGHC_Sqok “East Coast Eric” over at Gardenfork did a variation on our five gallon bucket rocket stove. Eric’s version uses a much easier to find plastic bucket and it seems to work without melting. He’s also promising a sequel to this video featuring a unique egg-in-a-hole grilled cheese sandwich!...

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What’s the Best Solar Food Dryer?

...works great. You do need to remember to bring in the food at night to prevent rehydration and spoilage (for some reason I often flake out and forget to bring in the food). For awhile I had an electric Excalibur Dehydrator on loan and it’s a lot more convenient. But, of course, it uses electricity and makes a lot of noise. Since I built my Appalachian Dryer Scanlin has decided that it’s not necessary to use insulation. This makes the project even s...

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Saturday Linkages: Basil Downy Mildew, Bees and Grow Lights

...s.html … Old fencing blades as tomato stakes: http://www.fencing.net/14758/uses-old-fencing-blades-tomato-stakes/ … Interesting new wind turbine design–it’s shaped like a nautilus: http://www.treehugger.com/wind-technology/silent-wind-turbines-could-generate-half-household-energy.html … A bacteria that helps produce stay fresh AND saves the bats AND saves the bees??? http://magazine.gsu.edu/article/future-food/ … Fascinating food history–the histo...

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008 Grind Your Own Flour With Erin Alderson

...and blogs at naturallyella.com. In our conversation Erin mentions that she uses WonderMill Grain Mill . We also discussed where to get unique grains. Erin mentions a few sources in her book: Bob’s Red Mill Arrowhead Mills Nuts Online Jovial Foods (source for Einkorn) Lundberg Family Farms I’ll add that if you’re in the Los Angeles area you can buy flour and grain at Grist & Toll in Pasadena. After my conversation with Erin I briefly mention my pur...

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