Networking is for the birds…

...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

Garden Bones and Chicken Broth

  Inspiration 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.... Continue reading

Attack of the Aphids

  Last week, I discovered that one of my hibiscus plants, a small and struggling little thing, was covered with aphids. Well, no wonder it looked so unhealthy, I thought, with its puny buds and shriveled leaves, offering little promise of a lush display. What next? My options Idea #1. I could try a natural repellent-type remedy. Con: This could adversely affect the beneficial flora as well, and there are good reasons not to do this, but that is another story. Idea #2. I could pop... Continue reading

Polyculture 7-11 Garden

My girlfriend Leanna sent me a link to a YouTube video about a gardening technique called Polyculture. It's a broad term, but this particular rendition of the theory never occurred to me, and it's brilliant. In a small area, thickly sow seeds that leverage different soil depths and come into fruit at a different speed. After just a few weeks, you begin to harvest. And you continue to do so. I took the idea and compacted it into what I call the 7-11, a nod to the old convenience stores... Continue reading