Water 
NEW PROJECT(Comments Off)
Before Compost toilet update: we have pretty much settled on a model/brand. But, first, before we can order anything, the cellar will have to be blown up (just kidding). Seriously, we need to clean out all the stuff that’s stored there. Basically, everything that was in the garage (now clean) is hidden away in the [...]
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UNPLUGGED
Line drying We received our James Hand Washer with Wringer today! Even though we have a low water and Energy Saving washing machine, collect the wash water to water certain plants and have no dryer, we feel less wasteful with this non electric appliance. One thing less to plug into the little sockets in the [...]
(3) SPRING EXPLOSION
Backyard garden The garden has certainly grown in leaps and bounds over these past couple of warm days. The trees are all experiencing a growth spurt and some of the tender salad crops are going to seed. We went from winter to summer in a matter of days and spring was passed over. A few [...]
(Comments Off) CHANGES
Buffalo grass The other day we receivedBuffalo Grass plugs that we ordered, which will finally finish off the pathway in the front yard. This grass is great for our dry climate, needing 2″ of water per month. Even though we saved the previous grass pathway from a dumpster — it was still a water [...]
(0) VEGGIE FUELED
Photos courtesy of Julia Perkins, freelance photographer: Image © Julia C. Perkins “HI, MY NAME IS JULES, AND I WAS A GASAHOLIC” And I’ve haven’t touched a drop in two months. Last night PTF hosted its ever popular Biodiesel Mixer. We had a great turn out (about 40 attendees) with some coming as far away [...]
(0) HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS
BACK ONLINE You can tell from the lack of postings here on the diary, that things weren’t normal. Our computer crashed on Tuesday (June 1st) or was Wednesday — whatever!???? Anyhow, the urban diary posts were silent for awhile but things around the homestead are just the opposite (as you will soon tell from this [...]
(0) REWIND
Biodiesel Mixin’ Mixer Backing up just a bit: Sunday, May 16, The Biodiesel Mixin’ Mixer was another success with many attendees from across the Southland. Thanks to all those who brought contributions for the potluck (it was quite a spread!) and toKPFK for spreading the word. This past Sunday, we hosted PTF’s first Homebrew Biodiesel [...]
(0) GREENS & THINGS
Giant leeks ANOTHER HOT ONE The heat is on again today! Thankfully, being in a semi-desert environment we are able to enjoy crisp cool mornings before the heat of the day. DOOR TO DOOR Off again today to drum up more business — giving out a sample of edible flowers, herbs and so forth to [...]
(0) ECO MAYA FESTIVAL
LA Eco-May Festival The EE Solar Crew PTF’s Booth On Saturday and Sunday, some of the PTF crew were out in the community exhibiting at LA’s two-day Eco Maya festival and they met some really wonderful people. As a result, PTF was offered to bea part of many exciting propositions (co-ops, charter schools, [...]
(0) SPRING IS IN THE AIR
Everywhere I look around…. It’s a lovely day today. The sun’s out, skies are blue, air’s fresh and clean. The rain seems to have hastened the decomposition of the wood chips in the driveway and garden pathways. So we’ve been calling local tree trimmers to see if they have a load of oak or conifer [...]
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