DIY

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Do It Yourself

Why I Garden #7

Freshly Harvested Bosque Early Garlic

Got Garlic?

Freshly harvested Allium sativum L. (i.e. Bosque Early Garlic). I dug these bulbs up yesterday evening and they are now hanging up to dry. The laundry room is quite aromatic at the moment. My wife informed me that we will be planting 'three times as many' after seeing the ten garlic plants I pulled up. I have no argument with that whatsoever. I may have to try a few different varieties like Spanish Roja or a hard-neck garlic.

More Info:
Wikipedia: Garlic

Why I Garden #6

Ladybug on a Chives Blossom

While I was watering the garden yesterday I saw something lurking in the leaves. It was a Coccinella septempunctata hunting for prey amongst the Allium Schoenoprasum. If your garden Latin isn't up to speed - I saw a Ladybug on a Chives bloom. It's nice to know that beneficial insects have found my garden and are chowing down on aphids and the like.

More Info:

Coccinella septempunctata - Ladybug

Allium Schoenoprasum - Chives

Rebel Without a Hose

Seed Bomb sprouting grass

Have you ever walked past an empty lot in your town and thought, 'What a waste.' You might just be a guerrilla gardener in the making. In every town and city I've ever known there are vacant lots and open patches of land that fill with weeds and trash due to neglect. What if you decided to 'adopt' an otherwise ignored patch of dirt, plant some seeds and let it grow?

Make One Change, Plant a Seed

Your Victory Garden Counts More Than Ever

In a New York Times Earth Day column, Michael Pollan asks
 "Why Bother? That really is the big question facing us as individuals hoping to do something about climate change, and it’s not an easy one to answer."

Why I Love Winter #3

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains after a Spring snow storm

'It ain't over until it's over.'

Spring in the Rocky Mountains doesn't begin precisely on the Spring Equinox. Winter can hang on for several weeks, especially among the mountain peaks. Snow storms in the spring are a common enough occurrence, yet they still manage to surprise visitors and locals. I love these spring snow storms for the water they bring, the bright white coat they give the mountains and skiing for those willing to hike for their turns.

SnowCode.org

Going Native in the Front Yard

Bringing Nature Home book cover

If you live in the suburbs, like I do, the yard around your home is the closest you come to the natural environment on a day to day basis. This begs the question - Is your yard a natural environment? Author Douglas Tallamy suggests that the average suburban yard is an artificial collection of exotic plants which creates an unnatural zone unsuitable to native wildlife. In his book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens Mr.

Why I Love Winter #2

Snowy Day in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Looking east towards the Sangre de Cristo mountains from just below Tesuque Peak on a snowy February 5, 2008.

SnowCode.org

Winter Heat from a Clothes Dryer

Clothes Dryer Heat Diverter

I'll admit it, I love my clothes line ... when it's warm out. But, in the middle of winter when the high temperature for the day stays below freezing heading outside to hang wet jeans on the line is a bit tough. Yes, I could set up an inside clothes line or rack. But I've found another option, I can use my clothes dryer to heat and humidify the house.

The Sexier Side of Weather Stripping

New Weatherstripping sealing an exterior door

Leading a more ecologically sustainable life isn't always chock full of new and exciting changes. Sometimes a simple, even mundane, tweak makes a real difference. Weather stripping and weather proofing your home and office is one of those meaningful changes that makes a difference, even if it doesn't seem very 'sexy'. Weather stripping is all about increasing home efficiency and energy conservation which is the easiest way to reduce your heating and cooling bills.

Why I Love Winter #1

Hugh telemarking untracked powder on Roadrunner

Skinning up and telemark skiing down with a good friend on a powder day.

Friday, Dec. 14th is Opening Day at Ski Santa Fe, Taos Ski Valley and Angel Fire Resort. Sipapu, Red River and Enchanted Forest Cross Country ski areas are already open!

Think Snow!

SnowCode.org

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