Book Review: A Feast of Weeds by Luigi Ballerini

February 26, 2013

...o with them such as spaghetti with nettles and purslane frittata. The wild plants Ballerini writes about are found in Italy, but most (minus capers, sadly) can be found all over North America. This is not a guide book–it assumes you already know how to identify the plants Ballerini is discussing. I had one quibble with the chapter on prickly pear cactus–you do not need to peel the pads to eat them. This is an understandable mistake for an Italian...

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Water Conservation

Mr. Homegrown

December 30, 2006

Water Conservation

...oes this waste water, but it puts an additional burden on sewage treatment plants. Having visited a sewage plant in person, SurviveLA can personally attest to the depressing sight of witnessing hundreds of plastic tampon applicators afloat in a vast sea of poo. 8.7% Clothes Washer Wash only a full load. Run the waste water outside to irrigate your landscaping using either a surge tank, or directly. Adventurous homesteaders, willing to put in the e...

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Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land

Mrs. Homegrown

June 19, 2013

Miscellaneous

10 Comments

...runoff, using efficient water delivery systems, easing heat stress in both plants and animals, tips on orcharding in uncertain climates, choosing stress tolerant and/or quick maturing plant varieties, etc. All of this information is supported with helpful tables and plant lists. While some of his information is only going to be useful to people with large-ish parcels of land, I found plenty of inspiration in here for my tiny yard. Woven between th...

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A Prickly Situation

Mr. Homegrown

July 17, 2006

Food, Foraging

...thick gloves and scooping out the flesh with a spoon. This is one of those plants that should be everywhere here in Los Angeles. Propagate the plant by cutting off a leaf and sticking it in the ground – it’s simple – no fuss, no pesticides, no watering once established. And note that not all prickly pear varieties produce edible fruit so when you look for cuttings seek out plants that are productive and tasty. It’s the ideal plant for what we call...

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Vertical Micro-Farming

Homegrown Neighbor

June 18, 2009

Vertical Farming

14 Comments

...rds and now this strange setup. They sell the produce at the adjacent farm store. From looking at it I can tell that this setup is meant to utilize vertical space and grow vegetables in a small footprint. Water drips down from the top, irrigating multiple plants on its way down. The plants are not only stacked vertically, but radiate around the central axis, maximizing horizontal space as well. In this photo they are growing hot chili peppers. I a...

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