Mulch, mulch, mulch!

...on lawns. As far as kids go, a yard full of trees to climb, secret forts, chickens, flowers, vegetable patches and interesting critters and bugs might better lure them outside than a perfect lawn. I know many happy kids who live in such yards. And as a kid myself, I preferred such spaces. I have no fond memories of grass. I do have strong memories of playing in wilder spaces–under trees, among boulders, in a rainy gutter, in the snow, at the beac...

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Saturday Tweets: Solar USB Charger and Hillbilly Sangria

...ttp://t.co/PtyAxZ20dP — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June 3, 2015 Why to Feed Chickens Pellets | HenCam http://t.co/ACChKVXp06 via @terrygolson — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June 5, 2015 Hillbilly Sangria http://t.co/dMSZgqycZ5 via @wordpressdotcom — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June 5, 2015 Awesome interview today with Erik Knutzen today on our website and podcast…check it out!!! http://t.co/7gA9KyiOGi pic.twitter.com/TWMJoj2IsL — Emily (@GardenDineLove...

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Saturday Tweets: Bats, Modern Coops and Drunk Raccoons

...@rootsimple) June 18, 2015 Modern Prefab Coops for the World's Hippest Chickens http://t.co/pgK0J5JIdo via @CurbedLA — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June 19, 2015 Pope Francis Champions Climate Change With Poetry. If Only We Could Do the Same. http://t.co/ull6nsxFXC via @theworldpost — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June 19, 2015 Los Angeles Residents Just Keep Driving Less and Less http://t.co/buelQ6U8GN via @CurbedLA — Root Simple (@rootsimple) June...

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How to Remove Bees from a Wall

...door are inside in case the hive gets really cranky. This includes putting chickens in their coop if there’s a flock nearby. I bring along an extra bee suit if the homeowner wants to watch. Always start with smoke Never skip this step–it’s easy to do when you’re excited and ready to go. Take a moment to smoke the hive and wait a minute before beginning work to give the bees time to calm down. I use burlap in my smoker because it smolders for a lon...

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I picked a peck of pickled peaches

...ou don’t it will collapse of its own weight, like those industrial broiler chickens that can’t stand up if you let them live past the eating stage. But what to do with all those immature peaches? Yes, you can pickle them. This I learned from Kevin West’s bible of food preservation, Saving the Season. In the introduction to his pickled green almond recipe (p. 103) West notes that immature stone fruit such as peaches and nectarines can be pickled in...

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