PermaDesign

Solstice Foods

In addition to the loads of greens and herbs, here are some of the other fruits popping up in our high-altitude, arid-land garden.

07/08/2014 | (0) Comments

Stormwater Gets a Big Nod

by Nate Downey

Stormwater harvesting is finally getting noticed as a big part of the solution for the water problems facing California and beyond, while desalination get a thumbs down in this study sponsored by the NRDC and Peter Gleik's Pacific Institute.

http://www.nrdc.org/media/2014/140610.asp

07/06/2014 | (0) Comments

Happy Fourth of July!

by Nate Downey

With fire season in full swing, maybe we could redefine fireworks to include explosions of carrots and other delicious essentials from our backyard, side-yard, and front-yard gardens!

07/04/2014 | (0) Comments

Water-Stressed Cities Could Use Water

by Nate Downey

This is an interesting article in Natural News about the growing stress cities are facing in the Western U.S. regarding a dwindling water supply.

http://www.naturalnews.com/045790_Las_Vegas_water_supply_imminent_collapse.html

07/03/2014 | (0) Comments

Finding Water in California

by Melissa McDonald

It's good to see California considering different ways to conserve and find untapped sources of water. These are things most states could be doing to save this precious resource.

http://www.nrdc.org/water/ca-water-supply-solutions.asp

http://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2014/06/ca-water-stormwater.pdf

http://www.erosioncontrol.com/EC/articles/25991.aspx

07/02/2014 | (0) Comments

Lettuce Prey (But to Whom?)

by Nate Downey

Sometimes we kneel. Other times we bend over for these suckers. Even after we've picked 'em, we wouldn't always bet we know their names--for certain--especially since all of these backyard 'lactuca sativa' plants came back from last year's crops.

06/30/2014 | (0) Comments

A Letter from Senator Tom Udall

by Nate Downey

Nice handwritten letter from US Senator Tom Udall thanking me for my book, Harvest the Rain. Please give (time or money) to his campaign if you can. We need him in DC.

06/27/2014 | (0) Comments

Planting the Right Trees for an Urban Environment

by Melissa McDonald

I came across this interesting article talking about how not all trees react the same way to pollution in our cities. It turns out some can contribute more than others when it comes to ozone.

http://www.citylab.com/weather/2014/06/not-all-tree-planting-programs-are-great-for-the-environment/372849/

06/25/2014 | (0) Comments

Work Is Pollution

by Nate Downey

Everybody's favorite permaculture principle is "Work is pollution." This 32 sq. ft. bed provides lots of healthy yumminess, but 90% of what you see required no sowing or planting this year!

06/23/2014 | (0) Comments

Infinity in a Flower

by Nate Downey

Yesterday was a rather big Bloomsday, so in honor of the 100th anniversary of the events that take place in James Joyce's "Ulysses," I thought I'd share a bloom or two from our garden. These blossoms are not traditionally "beautiful" flowers, but they point to the endless cycle of life and stretch the concept of what it means to be pretty and what it means to be alive. In the coming days, I'll post many more "attractive" flower photos all taken on the same day (last Friday after a lovely rain) in our garden. The images in this album are less about eye candy and more about mind candy. Enjoy.