The Jerusalem Cookbook

...enty of salad, vegetable, bean and grain recipes, so it’s friendly to both vegetarians and meat eaters. We’re mostly vegetarian, and we feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of the meatless offerings so far. Though there are a lot of veg recipes which use eggs, yogurt and cheese, there are also good vegan-friendly offerings. To give you a feel for the book, these are the recipes we’ve enjoyed so far. All are excellent: Swiss chard fritters (w...

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Saturday Tweets: Sheds, Roots and Odd Pie Shapes

...8, 2015 The real story behind the demise of America’s once-mighty streetcars http://t.co/lTZWUjdk3g via @voxdotcom — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 8, 2015 Odd pie shapes of the 17th century: http://t.co/4Zhy9HZOaO — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 7, 2015 An indoor garden built of veg scraps–looks like a fun thing for kids (and maybe some adults): http://t.co/n3h6pZqgwU — Root Simple (@rootsimple) May 6, 2015 A better way to live with bees: http://t...

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The Organic Minefield: How organic are your organic eggs, soy and dairy?

I wish the label “organic” meant all that I mean when I use the term, but unfortunately organic is not a a guarantee of sustainable agricultural practice, much less humane treatment of livestock. The Cornucopia Institute promotes sustainable organic agriculture and family farms, and helps consumers parse the difference between greenwashed and genuine organic farms and suppliers. They release quick reference charts on various subjects, as well as...

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Pasture Standards for Laying Hens

...laying hens on pasture: R 1: Pasture area a. Must consist mainly of living vegetation. Coarse grit must be available to aid digestion of vegetation. b. The pasture must be designed and actively managed to: 1. Encourage birds outside, away from the popholes, and to use the area fully; 2. Prevent and/or minimize heavily degraded, muddy/sodden, or worn areas; 3. Minimize any build-up of agents (e.g., parasites, bacteria, viruses) that may cause disea...

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Incandescent, Compact Fluorescent or LED?

...sealed, enclosed or recessed lighting fixtures. You also have to check the label and perhaps even call the manufacturer to figure out if a CFL will work in a horizontal, base-up or base-down fixture. CFLs perform poorly if turned on and off without at least 15 to 30 minutes to warm up. CFLs contain mercury and other toxins and must be disposed of responsibly. Stick to major brands. Avoid non-UL-listed cheap import bulbs. A trip to the light bulb a...

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