What To Do? Does It Matter? Just DO!
What should I do today? Do you ever ask yourself: Does it matter what I do? What should I do? When I made the decision to live a “Nature’s Guy” type of life, I don’t think I knew what I was getting myself into! There is SO MUCH to do! So much to experience! So […]
Barred Owl in Hickory Tree
Coming through the woods at about 8:15 a.m. today, I spotted what I think is a barred owl in a shagbark hickory tree. It was surveying the white crownbeard wildflower patch, before heading off to a higher viewpoint. Here’s the YouTube video. I also joined eBird, run by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology. Looks to […]
What Is Your Next Priority Project?
Gene Jr. had these thoughts, on “What is your next priority project?” We should always have a list of projects to be done. Following inspiration and that little voice inside, we can put these projects in priority order of when they need to be completed. Sometimes, the order gets rearranged, as we learn new things. […]
Using Carpet as Mulch and Weedkiller: Video How To
Rather than throwing old pink shag into the landfill, I decided to use carpet as a weedkiller and a mulch. As my dad said: Deprive weeds of light, and they will die. Four months ago, when I ripped out some old pink carpet from my house, I put it over a large rectangle of my […]
Finding And Completing A Cedar Circle
When my brother moved to Vashon Island, WA, he became friends with a couple who studied Native American traditions. One thing they did on their property was plant a group of cedars in a circle, creating a sacred space cedar circle. I’ve tried to respectfully learn more about this tradition, but haven’t found much. This […]
Fresh Seeds: What A Concept!
Being the frugal guy I am, if I don’t use seeds one year, I try them the next. Not that there is anything wrong with that, because seeds usually germinate for several years (although the germination rate goes down the longer you keep them in storage). My wife has A LOT of old seeds, so […]
Plant In The Ant Hill: Gardening Experiment
Northwest Georgia is notorious for several things, including large fire ant hills and thick, sticky red clay. The clay is so thick, it is hard to imagine any plant can grow in it without a lot of compost or some other organic material to break it up. However, the fire ants make their hills in […]
Stung By Nature’s Plants? The Cure Is Nearby
Stung by stinging nettle and need a cure? Native American lore says that if there is a plant that can hurt you (stinging nettle, thistles, poison ivy, poison oak, etc.), the cure is always nearby. Of course, the best part of the cure is to avoid “poison plants” (i.e., plants that sting) by wearing gloves […]
Stinging Nettle Soup (with potatoes) : Try it! (Includes recipe and how-to video)
Out on Vashon Island, WA, many people think stinging nettles are obnoxious weeds, but they are quite healthy to eat! Eating from the wild: Potato & Stinging Nettle Soup…so good. Try it, you’ll like it! (To see the videos that go along with this, visit Gene’s “Live Innovations Farm and Education Center” Facebook page, or […]
Trim Away Garbage To See Beauty
I recently trimmed away junk trees (privet trees) so I could see the Eastern Redbuds in my back yard more clearly. It taught me a valuable lesson: https://cyranowriter.wordpress.com/2018/03/19/trim-away-the-garbage-to-see-beauty-revolutionary-improverse-haiku/