Since we captured that feral freebee swarm back in April 2007, we’ve taken a pretty relaxed approach to urban beekeeping by letting the bees, well just “bee.” However, we are constantly checking the health of the bees and hives. Just recently, we noticed that one of the hives was different.
Everything seemingly is spinning out of control
Midwestern levees are bursting. Polar bears are adrift. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Home values are abysmal. Air fares, college tuition and health care border on unaffordable. Wars without end rage in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terrorism.
Horatio Alger, twist in your grave.
The can-do, bootstrap approach embedded in the American psyche [...]
U.S. Farmers Turning To Mule Power To Fight Rising Oil Prices
…. with gas approaching $4 a gallon, T.R. and Danny Raymond, two farmers on a 40-acre farm in McMinnville, Tennessee, have now switched over by modifying their equipment to shift the weight equally between two mules. Though training the animals to pull the equipment is [...]
Schwarzenegger proclaims that California is in a drought
Administration officials call the governor’s move a first step, intended to put Californians on notice that rationing could be coming if the situation does not improve.
By Evan Halper
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 5 2008
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought Wednesday, warning that California’s water supply [...]
Figuring Out What’s In Your Food
Consumers Are Left To Wonder Which Genetically-Modified Foods They Might Be Eating
(CBS) According to a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, 53 percent of Americans say they won’t buy food that has been genetically modified. But CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports that it’s not that easy to [...]
A reader asks:
I must admit to being a bit confused about your use of the term “NPK fertilizer” – I presume by that you are referring to artificially manufactured fertilizers? All fertilizers, including those we consider “natural” such as animal manure and compost, contain varying concentrations of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) (amongst [...]
Justin measuring out the plywood to install a new (sustainable metal) roof (2007) with foregoat Lady Fairlight looking on
QUESTION
Love the new blog! I am curious about tools for the various building projects around the urban homestead. Do you use mostly hand tools, or a combination of hand and power tools, and — [...]






























































