Our new front yard, part 5: Constructing a meadow community

December 2, 2015

Back to the Garden, front yard series, Garden Design, Gardening

...in’t a structural plant. Probably. The third is Festuca idahoensis ‘Warren Peak’ Idaho fescue. This is a small fescue which is drought tolerant, which I am using in the groundcover role. It’s okay in that role, but I need more groundcover which spreads on its own. This fescue sits in polite clumps, waiting to be divided. But you know, they had lots of it at the nursery, and it will fill up some space with short grassy goodness. Good enough! In gen...

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How to Roast Coffee in a Whirley Pop Popcorn Maker

Mr. Homegrown

July 8, 2016

Food

5 Comments

...ll be dark brown. For a French roast: pull as the second crack reaches its peak. Beans will be very dark and shiny. Cooling the beans and removing chaff As soon as you finish roasting you need to cool the beans down as quickly as possible. Pour them into a metal colander or bowl. I take them outside at this point and pour them repeatedly between a colander and a metal bowl. The chafe will drift away in the process You don’t have to remove all of t...

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Stellarium: A Handy Desktop Planetarium

Mr. Homegrown

August 15, 2016

Thoughtstylings

2 Comments

...ous time to view a meteor shower (like the Persead shower that reached its peak last week). You’ll want to pick a time when the moon is not up. Or let’s say you want to have some friends over for some planetary viewing and a glass of bourbon (as happened last night at the Root Simple compound). In that case you might want to pick a time when you can also take a look at the moon. In the pre-personal computer era I used to use a planisphere. I still...

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How to Avoid “Avocado Hand”

Mr. Homegrown

December 18, 2017

Food

6 Comments

..., I’m in the waiting room On a dirty hospital couch My hand is wrapped in toilet paper And my body’s wrapped in debris You’re sitting next to me reading a paper I put your arm around me For the record, though taste arbiters have long since proclaimed “peak avocado toast,” I’m still a fan. But I suggest keeping your hand out of the path of the blade when rolling your own avocado toast. Note the annoying animated gif at the top of this post for the...

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Welcome to the Summer Fruit Season

Homegrown Neighbor

May 26, 2009

Gardening

...ill continue to gorge myself on these sweet treats while they are at their peak over the next few months. And now for the shameless plugs- I’ll be at the Old L.A. Farmer’s Market in Highland Park this afternoon selling veggie seedlings and fruit trees. So come and visit and pick up your very own peach tree and some growing tips. And did you know fruit trees are excellent for irrigating with greywater? Learn how you can irrigate your home orchard w...

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