DIY Outdoor Shower

...collector box containing a manifold of copper pipes that feed into a used water heater. Hot water contained in the copper pipes in the collector box rises up into the water heater that is kept above the level of the collector. Hot water rises just like hot air and the cold water from the tank sinks back into the collector thus forming a circulation loop–this phenomenon is known as thermosiphoning. Some plumbing skills, are necessary, but it’s rel...

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The Manzanita Miracle, or, why you should love native plants if you live in a dry climate

...reflection of our annual dry season in Southern California. And when that watering deadline rolls around, how much water does this particular manzanita need to recharge its water reserves? 4 inches. Even in our desperate drought, we’re getting that much rain annually. The moral here is that nature has provided us with everything we need. We have beautiful native plants which can thrive with no supplemental water whatsoever, even in drought, provi...

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What is green water?

...’m talking about here. Amongst sailors of the soil (i.e. gardeners), green water is the water supply held around the roots of the plants. Water from rain or irrigation which does not run off the surface of the soil, nor run down through the soil to ground water, but which stays with the plant for its use. Green water is a plant’s envelope of life. It’s also a space of water storage which we don’t often consider. We’ll invest in a rain barrel, but...

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Out of Water!

...of plastic tubs we have in the garage. We also don’t want to count on the water in the water heater and the back of the toilet. And when it takes three days to get service we can only imagine how long it would take in a large-scale disaster. The whole notion of depending on our dysfunctional local government for anything in an emergency is foolish. Our friends at IlluminateLA helped run the emergency shelter at a local high school after the Griff...

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How to Make Stock

...n cube than that stuff. It’s easy. How do you use it? Think of it as super water. Substitute stock for water whenever you can. Use it: As the basis of any soup or stew To make sauces and gravy To cook beans To cook rice To cook any whole grain To cook pasta and couscous To make risotto To make polenta For braising vegetables or meat For sauteing vegetables Straight, as a broth Preparing for stock: Stock is traditionally made with scraps. So you ma...

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