Let’s Talk About the Holidays

December 23, 2014

...s season in the US presents challenges to folks who are on the radical homemaking path. One action that’s helped around our household was to cut off commercial television, something we did many years ago. A number of people mentioned that they really enjoyed hearing Shannon Hayes on our podcast talking about how her family celebrates the holidays. She has also written a blog post on the subject, “Murdering Santa and Other Tips for Enjoying the Hol...

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How to Remove Bees From a Tree

Mr. Homegrown

February 17, 2017

Animals, Bees

...per sets up a bee box next to the exit and places a frame of comb that has eggs and brood (bee larvae) in it, taken from another hive. The bees in the tree will exit, not be able to get back into their old home and then, over the course of several weeks, move into the new box with the brood comb in it. If all goes as planned they will make a new queen in the box. The beekeeper will come back in six weeks, take the box away and then seal up the cav...

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An Open Letter to Our Mammalian Friends

Mr. Homegrown

August 10, 2015

Animals, Gardening, Pests

13 Comments

...ountant will have to devise an elaborate amortization strategy to keep our eggs affordable. I’m also not cool with the daytime raids on the fig tree even if it entertains our indoor cats. To the rats of Los Angeles: avocados do not mature on the tree. This is probably why you take a single bite and allow them to fall to the ground. You’ll never get guacamole this way. And can you please not drop half-eaten grapes all over our patio furniture. Not...

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Olive Harvest 2021

Mr. Homegrown

September 9, 2021

Fermentation, Food, Fruit Trees, Gardening

17 Comments

...a late season application of kaolin clay when the fruit flies begin to lay eggs in the fruit. They also recommend replacing the bait every two weeks from April to November. This all takes careful observation–I only see the flies in the trap and the damage to the fruit is a bunch of very tiny holes that are hard to see at first. As the larvae develop the damage becomes obvious. Harvesting and processing olives is one of the more labor intensive gar...

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Browned Butter Peanut Butter Cookies

Mr. Homegrown

November 9, 2020

Food, Recipes

9 Comments

...butter is browned and not burnt. 3. Mix the sugars, salt, vanilla extract, eggs and peanut butter in a bowl. Allow the browned butter to cool for a few minutes and add to the mix. 4. Mix in the flour. Do not over mix or you’ll develop the gluten and end up with a disagreeably chewy cookie. 5. Form the dough into balls, spread them out on a baking sheet and compress with a fork. Sprinkle some sugar and sea salt on top of the cookies. 6. Here’s the...

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