For most people with cold winters this is an ideal
time to start herbs for the windowsill. When spring
comes they can move to the garden or continue to be
a window garden.
Easy to grow indoor herbs:
Basil (small types)
Chives
Chervil
Coriander
Garden Cress
Oregano
Parsley
Summer Savory
Culture Change (magazine review) part 2
More comments about articles in Culture Change
www.culturechange.org
Page 20 has a summary of how oil impacts our life.
It makes the obvious conclusion that oil scarcity is
getting near and the world needs to deal with it.
What i found interesting is
Edible Canna
For the last few years i've read the Oregon Exotics
catalog and been captivated by the Canna descriptions.
They describe a cool hardy plant that is fast growing,
reliable, producing flowers and a huge edible root.
Sound too good to be true.
Looking deeper i found the plant goes by
On Wednesday 19 December 2001 15:03, Sharon Gordon wrote:
The flax can be retted standing up or in a stream. Apparently
if done in a stream it damages the water quality and the stench
is right up there with sewer or paper plants.
A related quote:
After tying the stalks into bundles, we
Flax Facts
For the last few years i've been growing various
grains to see how they fit. Currently flax is
scheduled for next year. Here are some notes from
my research:
main use: * seeds used as food
* stems used for linen
Flax is considered easy to grow and has few pests
Herbs: The Dec. 8th issue of Science News has a page on
Biomedicine. It adds to the proof that
herbs are important to good health. One article
reports a strong link between stopping Alzheimers
disease and curcumin. This translates into turmeric
and yellow
Book review for:
Serious Straw Bale
by: Lacinski and Bergeron
pub: 2000
This book provides a good analysis of various
building techniques associated with straw
bale construction. The data suggests straw
bale can be used in a variety of climates including
wet areas. This is mostly a
The following URL points at a solar cook book. It was posted to
the solar cooking list yesterday.
http://www.geocities.com/mariellen99/
ECOLIVING AND WELLBEING NEWSLETTER 10
Please send this newsletter on to friends who may be interested.
This month
Ecoliving * Environmental Purchasing Policy
Wellbeing * Less Stress the Christmas
ECOLIVING
Environmental Purchasing Policy
We spend a lot of time talking about what is
kathryn wrote:
But law evolves like the rest of life so maybe we'll find
a way to improve it if we ever find a way to improve
ourselves
Yes, we are part of the problem. What bothers me today is an
inbox full of virus messages. This is becoming a big problem and
i wonder why people are not
Mother Earth News
Dec 2001
This months Mother Earth News reminded me of
the some of the original issues. Lots of articles
to empower individuals and identify areas of
cooperation. My favorite was by Eliot Coleman.
Eliot claims we (in the USA) have lost the
word organic and need a new word.
Review of the book:
The Lost Art of Drawing the Line
by Philip K. Howard
This is a book suggesting our laws have
become our jailers and often do not lead
to fairness. It presents numerous examples
where Judges following the law act in ways
that hurt the innocent.
In essence it is an attack
A quote from the December 2001 issue of SUN magazine.
If we as a society don't ask what do we really
want then we'll continue to be pushed around by
our impulses and ruled by our ability to work
our twisted will on the world with our crude
toxic technologies. -- George Draffan
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Kathryn wrote:
If you just mow occasionally the comfrey is a plant/animal feed
(that's surely the main reason for growing it.
Yes, the use of comfrey in compost or tea is probably the
biggest interest for most gardeners. But my main interest
is elsewhere (see below).
I'd worry about
On Monday 26 November 2001 02:58, kathryn marsh wrote:
If you go away for long and leave your garden the weeds
grow and you can't leave a heavily milking cow without someone to
milk it.
I wonder if the expression putting down roots is connected to
the ways we tie ourselves to a piece of land?
Solar Cooking
Looking for a winter project? Building or exploring the
world of solar cooking might be fun. Here are some places
to start:
Links for Solar cooking
http://solarcooking.org/links.htm
Discussion list (send blank email to following address)
Nine bare-breasted women halted logging in
California by producing a strip Tease for the
Trees.
The group calls itself nude Buddhist guerilla poetry
http://www.msnbc.com/news/655519.asp
http://www.gristmagazine.com
jeff
The energy picture is changing quickly and it is interesting
watching gap between public awareness and present reality. The
best source of information for most individuals is Home Power
magazine which (in my opinion) keeps getting better each issue.
The current issue has some ROI (return on
This is a book review of:
Nuts About Squirrels
Richard E. Mallery
pub 2000
The overall theme of this book seems to
be: You can't beat them so laugh and learn
to live with them. A fun read for anyone
who has both bird feeders and squirrels.
The book is filled with humor and facts.
It is
David W. Potter wrote:
Jeff: Without having the article in front of me I can't be sure, but I
think the article you refer to ignores two facts. First, there are
ecologists whose work in the field of biology goes much deeper into the
relationships between organisms and their environment than
The Autumn 2001 issue of Orion magazine has
a interesting article titled The Rise and Fall
of Natural History It traces the early popularity
of natural history up to the present. It then
explains why todays universities and schools
ignore natural science and focus on hard science.
Natural
Knowing energy trends will probably allow
us to make some predictions and help us cope
with future changes. That is my belief anyway.
Here is some data to think about:
nuclear - would wide energy generation has been
steady for the last 10 years. New plants have
been built in China, Japan,
Don Bowen wrote:
The Rachel weekly is another good one on environmental news
www.rachel.org
In depth research on different topics.
www.slashdot.org covers the open source community and anything anti
Microsoft.
I looked at a few articles and they looked somewhat
objective to me.
-- Forwarded Message --
Subject: Re: Re: Eco Living
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2001 12:59:42 +0800
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
...But it is *okay* to use modern technology when it is available.
Telephones, email/internet, computers, celular phones, cars, airplanes,
This URL appeared on a Permaculture discussion
list. Worth a look.
http://erika.ofek.com
jeff
On Monday 22 October 2001 20:27, Gerry wrote:
Yes, this is true. I live in Singapore where there is not even land to
farm and land prices are one of the highest in the world. How does one
live outside the system as advocated by Daniel Quinn in Ishmael?
I've forgotten what Quinn advocated
Confucius lived in a time of violence and
suffering. Elites and merchants ruled the world (seeking
wealth and power). He responded by looking back to ancient
writings and beliefs from peaceful societies. The rest of
his life was spent teaching the path to peace.
Here we are 2400 years later
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I believe hydroponics can be the answer to alot of food related
problems. I am working on a system called vertical aquaponics, which is a
form of hydroponics. It is a fishfarm covered with a greenhouse.
Hi Tom, Your view of hydroponics(actually aquaponics) looks more
Living Ecologically
There are many groups pushing for ecological causes
but few of them actually live a ecological lifestyle.
This is a strange paradox.
There are a few groups which do walk their talk and have
formed either small communities or networks. Here are a few:
Voluntary Simplicity: A
To subscribe email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
with the message: subscribe your-email-address-here
To posts messages send email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Ecopath is also echoed to a http://www.yahooegroups.com list
and can be accessed there.
jeff owens, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
You must
Now is a good time to create gifts for
future giving. One gift that is inexpensive
and popular is a seed collection. First collect
fall seeds from interesting flowers and other
plants. Then take pictures and write up descriptions
of each plant. Possible include recipes. Package
all this with
Is Hydroponics an ecological or natural tool?
The November 2001 issue of BackHome magazine has a feature
article on hydroponics. It talks about compost piles, worms,
and the evils of pesticides/herbicides. Then it presents
hydroponics as a natural alternative for the home grower.
Huh? What does
1. trade with a green bank
2. Buy fairly traded goods.
3. Invest in ethical/eco areas
4. Tailor investments to beliefs.
Some other options that appeal to me are:
1. Look at local needs and community needs.
Often these can be turned into win-win investments.
2. Make a
This year we tried a few new types of seed in
the garden. Those near zones 7-8 may find our
experiences useful.
Seeds from Pinetree www.superseeds.com
Lancelot corn, honey select corn - lodged
easily (fell over) and taste was like other
SE corns. Still looking for an open pollinated
Science and politics
The word science can be stretched to mean lots
things and the scientific process can be used in
non-sustainable and destructive ways. This has
led to lots of criticism recently. It comes at a
time when we desperately need good science.
Some magazines try to maintain
-- Forwarded Message --
Subject: Re: Organic Finance
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2001 14:55:48
From: richard norton [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Organic Finance
This is notes from the last section of Organic Living.
the phrase organic finance is defined as: investing in
Dog Friends
We share our world with a dog. She is now
4 years old but still acts like a puppy. In
her secure cocoon with regular meals, games, and
routines the serious and defensive side of canine
behavior never develops. The dog is also a
master at adapting and this has fooled many dog
Dogs
I've had several email discussions with people about dogs and
some interesting facts have come up. An ecologist pointed out
that dog packs are present in many countries and they kill a
number of people each year. Much more than other wild
animals. Here in the US we have had serious problems
Organic Finance
This is notes from the last section of Organic Living.
the phrase organic finance is defined as: investing in your
beliefs and helping the environment through investments. Here
are the strategies recommended:
1. trade with a green bank
2. Buy fairly traded goods.
3. Invest
Country Living
What is it like moving to the country?
If you see an idyllic picture of the easy life then don't
read this. What happens most often is the city comes with us.
It begins somewhat like this:
The first few years are a rush getting settled and
comfortable. We rush into a few country
More comments taken from the book Organic Living.
The chapter on wood suggests buying from FSC certified
sources and then goes into how wood is a precious resource.
The idea that someone could grow their own wood is almost
never mentioned. Why not? Are we so disconnected from trees
or urbanized
On Thursday 04 October 2001 09:08, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Now I see a recent report of a child mauling by a Coyote. I wonder if that
is a trend? We have a den in the creek behind the house and about all they
do is howl at night.
We have a large population of coyotes and they have
been
UK and USA versions of Permaculture
The Autumn issue of Permaculture Magazine contained some
interesting cultural insights. I've always felt something
was different between the British view of Pc and that
found here in America. This though has apparently occurred
to others also. In the
On Thursday 27 September 2001 10:11, Gene GeRue wrote:
I consider organic gardening to be the finest personal protest against
local and global corporatization. In the long haul, it just might also be
the most effective.
Hi Gene, i've really enjoyed your latest posts to the homestead list.
Why Garden?
According to the book Organic Living gardening
provides these benefits:
1. Respects the environment
2. Produces healthy food
3. Encourages wildlife
4. Recycles waste
5. Reduces pollution
6. Builds on traditional gardening
practices
7. Embraces new technology where
Meal planning recommendations from the
book Organic Living
1. Buy at least one organic item every
time you shop.
2. Start with everyday staples such as
bread, milk, potatoes, and pasta.
3. Try something new every week.
4. Look for promotions and support their
marketing effort.
Book review for:
Organic Living
(simple solutions for a better life)
by: Lynda Brown
pub: 2000
This is a DK (www.dk.com) book which is known for quality. The photos
and layout are definitely well done. As for the contents.. well it is
difficult to find fault with any book that is
-- Forwarded Message --
Subject: compost tea faq updates soil ecology info
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2001 16:26:44 -0700
From: Walter Epp [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: jeff owens [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Soil Foodweb Inc (www.soilfoodweb.com), run by Elaine Ingham of Oregon
State University, has
Review of Gaia's Garden
A guide to Home-Scale Permaculture
by: Toby Hemingway
pub: 2001
The author of Gaia's Garden has been posting on
Permaculture discussion lists for a few years and
writes for the magazine Permaculture Activist.
I believe this is the first book
be accessed there.
Enjoy this moment.
jeff owens, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Anyone serious about home energy systems will
want to check this URL out. I wasn't interested
in the hydrogen stuff but they have permanent magnet
alternators and that is exciting.
www.hydrogenappliances.com
jeff
Some quotes from the book Love, Sex, and Tractors I
wonder if the author of
New Study on Longevity and Good Health
The September 2001 issue of Wellness from the University
of California features a new study on longevity. This one
studies the Okinawans who are believed to have the longest
disability-free life expectancy in the world. Both cancer
and heart attack rates
Every once in awhile i convince myself i know something about
edible plants. Our gardens with hundreds of different types
of edible seem to test the limits of what we can grow. Then
along comes a book that opens up another world.. and here it
is:
100 Vegetables and Where They Came From
Nancy wrote:
Jeff, I've been meaning to ask you how to join this
Positive Futures discussion group - I love the magazine.
Sure, here is the subscription info. I should warn you
this is an active list. Expect up to 20 messages a day
at times.
email a blank message to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Forwarded message
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 05:35:18 -0700
From: Peter Bryant [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: On-line course in Biodiversity and Conservation
Dear colleagues:
If there is any way your organization or newsletter could help me to promote
this
I've never heard of orach, but arugula is very savory.
Orach has been called South American spinach and some people
compare it to arugula. I'll compare them in a few days when
the arugula gets bigger. Orach is interesting because it grows
about 4 feet tall and looks like a small shrub.
The
Happiness is when... what you think,
what you say,
what you do
are in harmony. --M. Gandhi
The only lasting peace is a just peace,
based on respect for human rights.
--Sebastian de Assis
I am convinced
Where do you fit?
jeff owens, 4-15-2001
Today the world appears to be going through several
struggles. At a personal level i find myself deciding the
same issues and trying to sort out the long term impacts of
my actions. In thinking about this struggle i developed some
questions
DESIGNING THE GREEN ECONOMY:
The Postindustrial Alternative
to Corporate Globalization
by Brian Milani
with a Foreword by Thomas Berry
Current trends toward corporate globalization and Casino Economics
have been endowed with the mantle of inevitability and economic
progress. The
Simplify Your Work Life
by: Elaine St. James
published: 2001
This is part of a series on Voluntary Simplicity.
It's goal is to help us take charge of "work" and
give ourselves more time to live.
The book has a bias towards those working for someone else
(as does our culture, schools,
is connected. All large events are
made up of many small events. Our every act has
an impact.
Attitude check:
*The Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth
jeff owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
homepage - www.bctonline.com/users/jko
archives - [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
Question: How many activist and lobbyist groups would exist if
we eliminated the size and political activities
of corporations?
How many unions, consumer rights groups, pollution fighters,
naturalists, lobbyists, etc. spend most of their time
fighting corporate agendas
March 19, 2001 -- The New York Times
In Suburbs, They're Cracking Down on the Joneses
By LISA W. FODERARO
EASTCHESTER, N.Y., March 16 - Suburban communities are grappling with a
new quandary as houses continue to mutate into ever-larger forms: how big is
too big, and what can suburban
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Trumpeter, Volume 16, Number 1 (2000)
Bruce Morito, Editor
Articles
Annie Booth - Ways of Knowing: Acceptable Understandings Within
Bioregionalism, Deep Ecology, Ecofeminism, and Native American Cultures
Tim Rogers - In Search of a
TAP INTO WATER CONSERVATION
Ahhh, spring! It's time to think about gardening and spring cleaning
and maybe even filling the pool, if you use one.
It's also time to think about water. Water is one of our most
precious resources, yet it is easy to waste. By conserving water we
can keep plenty
Any day now our maples will start to bud then sprout green
flowers before the first leaves appear. Native maples are
very common in most areas and the smaller types are popular
as a landscape plant. The distinctive leaves are a good way
to identify them unless a sweet gum tree is nearby. the
I've now got a few months of temperature measurements
from two greenhouses. One is full of water barrels
and the other has double plastic.
It is too early for definite conclusion but here is
what appears to be happening:
1. The center of both greenhouses stays warm. Plants
near the edges
I'm on a very active discussion list called "Positive
Futures". It is associated with "YES" magazine and
talks about Simple Living and ecological lifestyles.
Anyway, someone posted a list of what they thought were
the minimum essentials around the house. The list
included many items such as
Coercion
by: Douglas Rushkoff
pub: 1999
This is yet another book pointing out how the media is
manipulating people. From an ecology standpoint it is mostly
advertising and consumption that are of interest, but this
book also goes into other areas. Some ideas found in the
book:
Advertising
Nancy wrote:
I wonder what the invariable objections are to these
programs? I know some groups do critize them, but I
can't remember their rationale.
I have heard many objections, here are a few:
1. Community interaction is difficult to administer and could
cause convicts that the
This is the second year of growing tea to see
how well it does here (zone 7). So far it
looks like some tea plants do well and other
do not. There must be a lot of diversity
within "camellia sinensis" because some have trouble
with frosts and leaf sizes are different. The
best performer has
John wrote:
I guess we are about 2 months behind you, Jeff, here in southern NH for
stone fruits usually start bloom the first week of May.
Hi John, I always anticipate spring and start planting long
before it arrives. It is some form of addiction or madness.
All my sprouts are now freezing
It appears that many of the modern techniques for
feeding the world are bad ideas. Here is a news snippet
about aquaculture:
FISH-FARMS CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD FISHERIES COLLAPSE: A report by the
University of British Columbia Fisheries Center has found that the non-
Asian global
kathryn
Do not, repeat NOT, plant into the top of a hot bed unless you are
sure that it isn't going to get too hot.
Yes, i suspect the design of Steve's beds solved this problem
and allowed him to plant directly. He did discuss temperatures
and said there is an initial rise to about 100F
temperately not subscribed to any gardening
lists so would appreciate forwarding responses back here
(ecopath).
Thanks, jeff
jeff owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
homepage - www.bctonline.com/users/jko
archives - [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
My favorite writer of biology books is Sue Hubbell. Her
books mix factual information with entertaining stories and
manage to win numerous awards at the same time. Anyone who
has read her "Broadsides from another Order" will remember
the descriptions of bees.
She now has a new book out called
Carole wrote:
I'm trying to get off this downward spiral by building a small passive
solar straw bale house with PV integrated into the south side's roofing
material and by raising much of our food and some of our backup fuel in a
permaculture type garden which I will maintain with
I just finished reading several articles on oil. If the
article took a short term view of history they were usually
for development of more oil. Those with a long term
view were talking crisis. If the article looked at oil from
one countries economics it took a competitive position and
was
The March issue of "Mother Earth News" had
some articles worth commenting on. As usual
they give a very positive and simplified
view of our world.
Staff of Life, the simple art of baking bread.
This is an article about baking yeast
breads. The article made bread
baking sound like fun
In the 1970s, people were fascinated by the thought that talking to
houseplants could increase their growth. Now, a team of ecologists has
discovered that touching plants in the field may alter the chance that
insects will feed upon the plants' leaves. Their discoveries appear in a
study
Here are three quotes that say the same
thing:
What you do to the earth, you do
to yourself. -- Julia Butterfly Hill
Everything is connected.
Only by viewing people as special or
godlike can we separate from the earth.
This is how most cultures view the world
and few people recognize it
Our survival depends on a immune system that is seldom
discussed in any depth. I don't think we knew much about it
until recently. My early impressions were of a complicated
and boring system that no one understood. Well..., things
have changed. Immune system knowledge is increasing and
could
reality in substance, the Chinese philosophy
tended to find it in relation. -- J. Needham
jeff owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
homepage - www.bctonline.com/users/jko
archives - [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
This is a collection of comments taken
from the last few issues of Scientific
American magazine.
How does culture change?
According to an article in the Oct. 2000 issue
we are influenced by genes and memes. A meme
is an idea that can be expressed in a word
and is repeated throughout
Forwarded message
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 15:29:15 EST
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Energy News
This energy emergency in California seems to be well choreographed. Has
anyone been counting before the plans for new power plants has surfaced (not
Don wrote:
The thief in the Whitehouse said in regards to the CA debacle that "We
cannot conserve our way to independence". Maybe we should work from the
attitude of use it all up now powering our 10 MPG vehicles two blocks to
the school.
Yes, the finite resources (gas, oil, coal, nuclear)
The following newsletter has been edited to
remove most of the political content that
was unique to the USA... jeff
WELCOME TO e-FFICIENCY NEWS
The bimonthly newsletter from the
Alliance to Save Energy
January 2001Vol. 7 No. 1
Rolling Blackouts Hit
For more about worms, check out http://www.nrri.umn.edu/worms/
Thanks Harvey, I knew our local earthworms were imported
from Europe but the following facts caught be by surprise:
1. Hardwood forests generally do not benefit from
earthworms.
2. Earthworms do not spread significantly on
Don wrote:
I am researching solar DHW and am looking for resources. Anyone out there
have any experience with it?
Don, here is a lot of stuff on solar water heating.
Hopefully, some of it is useful.
I would have liked to list several kits or easy ways to begin
but at present custom
Frank wrote:
Check out David Suzuki's site and see his video, Turning Down the Heat
www.davidsuzuki.org
Thanks, this was an interesting site. I wish the forums were
available by email though.
See also the Rocky Mountain Institute, www.rmi.org
Found a great quote here:
"protecting the
I just watched a new video on climate change (NOVA) and was
impressed by how much has been discovered in the last few
years. Most of the questions posed by critics have been
answered and we are now almost certain the changes are caused
by people. In the video i detected a shift by the corporate
This may be of interest to Oregon residents.
A source of open pollinated seeds located
near Portland: http://www.victoryseeds.com
Clackamas Community College is hosting a gardening
symposium with John Jeavons, Mike Ableman, and
the Mortons. call Lori at (503) 657-6958 ext. 2246
A program on
Ideas and debates related to science continue
to appear in magazines. Here are some comments
triggered by the latest issue of SUN magazine.
Which of these statements are true:
1. Science is about understanding how the universe
works. Or more simply it is about satisfying
curiosity.
Greg wrote:
Im curious, what material are these drums made of. I acquired four large
white poly-ethylene (sp?) drums several years ago, which sounds like
what you are talking about. I think there were originally used to ship
soft drink syrup...
Hi Greg, This solar project has been fun so i was
I received a humorous response to the essay
on winter. It is worth sharing as a reminder
that half the world in now enjoying summer and
they see things a little differently grin.
Fwd
. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
. Subject: Re: Winter
. Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 19:36:14 GMT
But Jeff!
Thanks to Kerry Miller for this 2 page essay on winter.
Mother Nature Tantalizes
Donna Weissenbrunner
Autumn has arrived. I hate to admit it, but I must. This morning I found
a thin coating of ice on the dogs' bowl of water. Really,, though, I
should have sensed it sooner.
It had
found "Brave New World" to be closest
to what has happened in the world. It has been economics
that dominate our choices rather than nations.
jeff owens ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
homepage - www.bctonline.com/users/jko
archives - [EMAIL PROTECTED]/
_
Timon wrote:
"Why should you want? Behold, the earth has roots;
Within this mile break forth a hundred springs;
The oaks bear mast. the briars scarlet hips;
the bounteous housewife Nature on each bush
Lays her full mess before you. Want? Why want?"
I tend to use the ZEN interpretation of this
Parched corn
Our local health food stores have started
carrying two types of parched corn. One is
a small corn and the other is a large starchy
corn which is partially popped. I find these
foods much better than corn chips or popcorn.
Some advantages are:
1. Soft hulled corn is
1 - 100 of 370 matches
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