Category: From the Beginning

  • 047 The trash mountains are changing

    047 The trash mountains are changing

    Seeing the trash mountains can be overwhelming. It feels like there is always more trash. But load by load, they shrink and change. After a few days of chipping away at them, I missed Thanksgiving in the US, and made a special dinner: stuffing. After driving off two of the piles, I spent an afternoon…

  • 046 The trash needs to go

    046 The trash needs to go

    The trash needs to go. I can’t see it anymore. I don’t care that, technically, someone promised to deal with the trash. It doesn’t seem to be happening on any kind of timeline I can work with, so, I’ve filled the car with the first load of trash, and I’m now going to drive it…

  • 045 Never-ending catch-up days

    045 Never-ending catch-up days

    Catch-up days often turn into catch-up weekends. My car broke down three weeks ago. School took up a lot of time. Things didn’t get done. So, I set out to finally make some progress. A million thing at a time, of course. Today is one of those catch-up/prep days. I’m going to do some ingredient…

  • On living barefoot

    On living barefoot

    I started walking barefoot almost three years ago, and have only put on shoes when forced or when the situation benefited from them since. That means, I am barefoot almost all of the time. Over the years, my calluses have grown, and my feet can withstand a lot. That means, the threshold to put on…

  • 044 A tour of the two gardens

    044 A tour of the two gardens

    Earlier this year, I started a balcony garden. That spiraled into two plots of land to restore and grow on. It’s high time I give you a tour of the land I am restoring, both the growing garden and the overgrown neglected land. I think it’s high time that I show you what this land…

  • 043 I finally planted something!

    043 I finally planted something!

    When I adopted the garden, I dreamed of growing food. I had little illusion, I’d get anything done this year. But I did! I prepared the first bed, and got to planting. For now, I’ve planted some garlic, some onions, and a whole lot of alfalfa. I left the house way too early in the…

  • 042 Is kombucha a lot of work?

    042 Is kombucha a lot of work?

    I set out to make kombucha. And then I got distracted. A few people have wondered just how much work kombucha brewing actually is. So, this time, I show the entire process with you–well, and a lot of the distractions. Recipe Good morning! It is Saturday, bright and early, and I’m about to make a…

  • 041 I have a compost problem

    041 I have a compost problem

    I have a compost problem. Or rather, I have a lack of compost problem. A pile has been growing in a corner but it doesn’t even keep my dog out, so it’s time to come up with a better solution. Or, at the very least, a temporarily better one. “Pepper, no! Come here!”“Come here.”“Yeah, I…

  • 040 The first three months

    040 The first three months

    Three months ago, when I adopted this neglected piece of land, I had no idea what I was in for. It was covered in brambles and trash, but all I could see was the potential. In July, I adopted a neglected piece of land filled with trash, brambles, and a lot of potential. Three months…