Networking is for the birds…

Posted on by Jean Campbell

...and bees and bears and you and me. What on earth are you doing? You might ask this question, out loud or otherwise, if you walked into my backyard. And with good reason. Next to many of my neighborhood's manicured lawns of green grass, vibrant flower beds, and perfectly shaped well-pruned shrubs my little plot does appear to be a mess. But these grounds are thriving, not just what you can see, but what you can't. The Camden Longhouse gardens are a haven for birds, bees, worms, and wildlife.... Continue reading

An American Hero

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  When I hear of someone passing away in their 80's, my automatic response usually goes something like this, "Oh, so young." And then I remember, that's actually quite a bit older than the average age of death. My father, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Richard Campbell, died last Monday. He lived to 103. The survivor Dad thought of himself as a survivor, and you'd be hard-pressed to argue the point. On one occasion, as a pilot in the US Air Force, he navigated his Martin B-26 Marauder... Continue reading

Garden Bones and Chicken Broth

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  A soft footprint is not what I'm after. I don't want the planet to diminish because of me. My goal is to leave it better. I want nature to start singing the Hallelujah Chorus because I showed up. To that end, I am following the lead of the indigenous people of this continent, the original citizens of North America, in showing appreciation and using my resources without waste. It's not only good for me; it's good for the planet. Here's an idea, and it's pretty simple. Replace... Continue reading

Shrimp peel dust – gift from the sea

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  Folks pay good money for fish emulsion fertilizers. Myself included and for good reason. Plants thrive on it. Yet here I stand at the kitchen sink, preparing to throw my stinky shrimp boil garbage away, and then buy someone else’s. As I am cheap, this kinda makes me go hmmmmm. Shrimp peels and heads contain calcium, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus, all of which are a dream come true for your garden fare. I haven't tended to compost anything except what my mom used to call... Continue reading