June 2010 Blog Posts (11)

So I have moved into my new little house in Central Austin, TX and the yard is very interesting. There isn't really a backyard; more of a front and side yard, but still plenty of space to garden, especially by the detached garage where there is a CRAZY amount of wildflower and heavily flowering plant selection.



This weekend I will start 'deconstructing' the yard and as I do, I will post video and pictures to show what I go through to create a wonderful garden and outdoor living space… Continue

When I first heard the words "fruit forest" it made me think of some fairy-filled magical land with the branches of the trees bowing, heavy with fruit. Magical and wonderful. Kind of how I remember my grandpa Butler's garden. It was filled with orange, grapefruit, loquat, kumquat, banana, papaya and mulberry trees. I'm sure I've missed a tree or two in there somewhere...oh yeah, peach.



Now, as an adult, I sometimes get strange looks when I stop by a mulberry tree on Ladybird Lake (Town… Continue

I realized it’s time for another blog on Green and Sustainable Design. I thought for this part I go over some basics on “Passive Solar Design.

Passive Solar Design refers to design and…

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The following link is a video showing acts of cruelty in an egg farm, it will be disturbing, heartbreaking, maddening,..... I myself could not watch even a minute of it. Yes, we all know about this, but even if you can not watch the video, at least click on the "Take Action" tab and let's have a part in making a difference, let's have our opposition heard and…

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An interesting, unusual, unique opportunity for Gardeners, Sustainability Folks, the Green Team, the Environmentally-minded, and their children, grandchildren,.....parents, grand-parents and friends. Come and see for yourself - Saturday, June 19. See Nationally acclaimed photographer, Chris Jordan's Beautiful, Powerful, Moving, Alarming Photo Exhibit of the Waste Stream in America at the Austin Museum of Art - Downtown at…

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This past weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting Steven Hebbard and learning more about The Karpophoreō Project.





What I didn't know when I met Steven was that he is quite the ham on camera! I wanted to share his most recent video on the Tomato Worm!



Great stuff and please, please check out and support The Karpophoreō Project. Also take some… Continue

I can't say it better than Brad Stufflebeam from Home Sweet Farm:



Our hearts go out to the McAfee family at Barr Manision who had a fire yesterday at their organic ball room, destroying the unique timber frame building. True champions of local/organic food! Our community stands by them to help.…

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http://news8austin.com/content/top_stories/271545/go-green---start-a-compost-pile

According to the United States EPA, yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 26 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That's a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead! Sometimes it's hard to know how to get started! Here is a quick guide to getting started!… Continue

Be sure and check out Rachel Butler talking with News 8 Austin's Maureen McCann this Saturday starting at 6 a.m. once every hour. They'll discuss composting in the Go Green! segment.

(Rachel Butler of Foogs, Maureen McCann of News 8 Austin and Drew Moses, News 8 Austin photographer in the backyard garden of Foogs member Rachel…

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I had an amazing amount of plums this spring. We are picking them every day. I canned some yesterday and it was pretty simple. Using a boiling medium syrup cook plums for two minutes. I neither pitted nor peeled. Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Spoon plums into hot pint jars. Fill with boiling syrup to 1/4 inch from top. Run a knife around the inside to remove air pockets. Clean inside of jar lip with clean cloth. Twist on lids. Simmer in a hot water bath 2 inches… Continue