{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Gardening on jabel", "icon": "https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2021/97100.jpg", "home_page_url": "https://jabel.blog/", "feed_url": "https://jabel.blog/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/05/15/trickster-squirrel.html", "title": "Trickster Squirrel", "content_html": "

George Hansen, The Trickster and the Paranormal:

\n
\n

the trickster is a character type found in mythology, folklore, and literature the world over; tricksters appear as animals, humans, and gods. They have a number of common characteristics, and some of their most salient qualities are disruption, unrestrained sexuality, disorder, and nonconformity to the establishment. They are typically male. Tricksters often deceive larger and more powerful beings who would thwart them; they may be endearingly clever or disgustingly stupid—both cultural heroes and selfish buffoons.

\n
\n

Some other words Hansen uses to describe the trickster:

\n\n

The fox squirrels of Green Man’s Patch are consummate tricksters.

\n

On one hand, they are a joy to watch: their intelligent paws, nimble speed, and graceful leaps from fence to roof. We love to see Farmer Squirrel at work in the fall, burying his forage in every garden bed.

\n

On the other hand, they are destructive. No device yet invented by humankind can keep them out of bird seed. Their graceful leaping is less pleasing when they are landing on your sunflowers, bringing down every last one of them, as they did to us last year. Worse yet, they might leap onto your bald head, as they did to my dad one Sunday morning in the eighties.

\n

Yet Trickster Squirrel is not evil; he is merely unconcerned with human rules. He does not recognize property lines or human intentions around bird seed. He laughs at our attempts to contain him.

\n

He occupies a liminal zone, being a wild animal in an city garden. He is equally at home in his nest high in the tree, dancing down the fence line, or blazing across the ground when he spots the cat. He crosses between the heavens and earth; as much air as flesh.

\n

Trickster Squirrel reminds us town-dwellers that only humans pay attention to the planning commission. In his petty thievery and raucous merry-making, he shows himself to be a realist of a larger reality.

\n", "date_published": "2026-05-15T14:46:39-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/05/15/trickster-squirrel.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/05/11/appalachian-beans.html", "title": "Appalachian beans", "content_html": "

Having read the beans section of The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Cookery, I went in search of heirloom seeds. Behold, the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center. After a bit of poking around, I settled on Doyce Chambers Greasy Cut-Short and some Pine Mountain Greasy. The former because they have a solid reputation and the latter because Pine Mountain is not all that far from my ancestral Kentucky counties. They both should be good for either cooking in the pod or drying as soup beans.

\n", "date_published": "2026-05-11T16:54:07-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/05/11/appalachian-beans.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/28/a-quick-search-of-my.html", "content_html": "

A quick search of my posts reveals that I am excited at this time every year when the tree frogs start their ruckus. Dear reader, it has begun.

\n", "date_published": "2026-04-28T20:19:37-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/28/a-quick-search-of-my.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/19/projects-update-the-green-mans.html", "title": "Projects update: The Green Man’s Patch; Firewood", "content_html": "

The Green Man’s Patch

\n

That, by the way, is the name Rachel and I have settled on for our yard/garden/micro-homestead/thing. Thanks to John for the “patch” inspiration.

\n

All the serviceberry trees are now planted. The one to the right is in the former location of an ornamental sand cherry tree we planted several years ago in our normie yard period. I kept a chunk of the sand cherry trunk to see if I can carve something from it.

\n\"\"\n

Firewood

\n

I’ve mentioned before that we’ll be getting a woodstove in the next few weeks—so we need a better way to store firewood than our current method of stacking it on the ground. I initially planned on a lean-to shed but Rachel and I started looking a bit more closely today and realized the location wouldn’t work well. So we decided on two smaller platforms, which will actually give us more cubic feet of space with a more manageable stack height. You have to get creative sometimes when you’re working with 0.14 acres.

\n

Today I got the platform built for driveway stack. Tomorrow evening I’ll add some deck boards gapped about an inch apart to encourage airflow. Next weekend I’ll build the platform in the side yard. Ralph decided she wanted to be in the platform photo.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-04-19T19:21:59-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/19/projects-update-the-green-mans.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/16/rachel-got-a-nice-picture.html", "content_html": "

Rachel got a nice picture of our chives in bloom. Edible and pretty!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-04-16T17:14:10-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/16/rachel-got-a-nice-picture.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/15/a-survey-of-the-fruit.html", "content_html": "

A survey of the fruit on the Green Man Micro Homestead (just made that up! maybe a bit overstated?):

\n\n", "date_published": "2026-04-15T12:59:42-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/15/a-survey-of-the-fruit.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/12/projects-update-f-and-gardening.html", "title": "Projects update: F150 and gardening", "content_html": "\"\"\n

A few small tasks completed on the F150 this week:

\n\n

I had hoped that replacing the door striker on the driver side would fix the not-fully-shutting problem. It didn’t. Looks like it may be that the door hinge pin and bushing are worn out, making the door sag. Thankfully the replacement pins and bushings are inexpensive—though taking the door off looks like a job.

\n

Garden

\n

I mentioned earlier this week that Rachel has bought some new trees for the yard. We planted the juniper that day. On Saturday, we planted the first of the three serviceberry trees. The call-before-you-dig folks still need to mark our tree plat before we can plant the other two serviceberries.

\n

By the way, what do you call that strip of ground between the sidewalk and the road? We call it the tree plat but the internet tells me that’s very much a minority position. Apparently some people call it a “nature strip” (ugh, so many problems with that term) or a “tree strip.” As I was sitting on the front porch contemplating this question, the word “verge” bubbled up into my memory. I actually like that one.

\n

Anyway, so trees will be planted soon. We also built a string trellis system for Rachel’s heirloom tomatoes. Those things have broken every system we’ve tried to order their vigorous growth. We’ll see how this one does.

\n

The lilacs have been perfuming our house all weekend. Glorious.

\n", "date_published": "2026-04-12T20:12:06-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/12/projects-update-f-and-gardening.html", "tags": ["Workshop","Gardening","F150"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/11/today-in-the-garden.html", "title": "Today in the garden", "content_html": "

Garden phlox is always one of the first things to bloom:

\n\"\"\n

Bleeding Hearts. This is a plant passed down through three generations of women in my wife’s family:

\n\"\"\n

Lilacs are just starting to bloom. In the next day or so there will be enough for me to harvest for syrup.

\n\"\"\n

Honeysuckle. This was one of my requests for the garden because I associate it with summer in my childhood.

\n\"\"\n

We got this gooseberry three years ago but it never seemed to take off for its first two years in our front yard. Last fall, Rachel moved it to the back and its already grown more this year than it did in the first two years.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2026-04-11T13:35:58-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/11/today-in-the-garden.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/04/08/a-neighbor-cut-down-what.html", "content_html": "

A neighbor cut down what appeared to be a perfectly healthy, mature maple on Tuesday. In response, Rachel is planting three serviceberries and one juniper. Answer foolish destruction with a quadruple investment in future life.

\n", "date_published": "2026-04-08T17:17:05-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/04/08/a-neighbor-cut-down-what.html", "tags": ["Memories","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/03/08/signs-of-life-all-over.html", "content_html": "

Signs of life all over the yard!

\n

Blooms on the lilac bush:\n\"\"

\n

Native honeysuckle\n\"\"

\n

Rachel transplanted the gooseberry bush last year because it seemed to be struggling. Looks like it survived the move.\n\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-08T11:12:36-04:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/03/08/signs-of-life-all-over.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/02/28/doing-some-work-in-the.html", "content_html": "

Doing some work in the garden today, topping up raised beds with fresh soil. We pulled the last of the overwintered carrots, plus a close-up of those beautiful early crocuses.

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2026-02-28T14:38:05-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/02/28/doing-some-work-in-the.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2026/02/04/we-just-had-a-northern.html", "content_html": "

We just had a northern flicker at our suet feeder! First time we’ve seen one of those around here. Didn’t get a good picture, unfortunately. I was surprised how big it was. It was standing its ground with the starlings.

\n", "date_published": "2026-02-04T12:19:09-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2026/02/04/we-just-had-a-northern.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/11/01/biggest-carrot-weve-ever-grown.html", "content_html": "

Biggest carrot we’ve ever grown!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-11-01T10:57:15-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/11/01/biggest-carrot-weve-ever-grown.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/09/28/one-of-the-highlights-of.html", "content_html": "

One of the highlights of the late season here in the garden is the woods purple. It’s also one of the originals from when we first started in 2020. It almost glows in the sunshine.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-09-28T13:23:31-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/09/28/one-of-the-highlights-of.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/09/01/one-of-the-best-things.html", "content_html": "

One of the best things about our garden this summer has been these galia melons. They’re apparently a cross between honeydew and cantaloupe; they’re straightforwardly sweet, eliminating that slightly off taste of cantaloupe. And they’re so pretty!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-09-01T05:50:08-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/09/01/one-of-the-best-things.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/08/31/rachel-and-i-have-spent.html", "content_html": "

Rachel and I have spent much of the day cleaning up around the juniper trees at the back of the garage. Looks much better now. Also, I harvested a lot of berries from the trimmed limbs and I’m currently dehydrating them for incense. Smells so good in here!

\n", "date_published": "2025-08-31T14:27:26-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/08/31/rachel-and-i-have-spent.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/08/31/a-pox-upon-all-lava.html", "content_html": "

A pox upon all lava rock, plastic landscape edging, and all the works and ways of Orthanc Landscaping Services, LLC

\n", "date_published": "2025-08-31T11:23:32-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/08/31/a-pox-upon-all-lava.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/07/27/reminder-to-myself-in-the.html", "content_html": "

Reminder to myself in the low light of winter: strong sun on a patch of brown eyed Susans. Also: remember that it’s been hot as hell for weeks now and maybe winter would be a welcome break.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-07-27T11:39:33-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/07/27/reminder-to-myself-in-the.html", "tags": ["Memories","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/07/13/a-bumblebee-sleeping-in-last.html", "content_html": "

A bumblebee sleeping in last Friday.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-07-13T19:10:13-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/07/13/a-bumblebee-sleeping-in-last.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/06/28/some-garden-photos-from-this.html", "content_html": "

Some garden photos from this morning. It’s Limestone Heritage Festival weekend here in town and the heat advisory has ended just in time. The parade always lines up in front of our house. Who doesn’t love a small town parade?

\n

\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2025-06-28T07:30:18-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/06/28/some-garden-photos-from-this.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/06/22/rachel-found-a-little-friend.html", "content_html": "

Rachel found a little friend in the collard greens today.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-06-22T09:36:49-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/06/22/rachel-found-a-little-friend.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/06/12/grapes.html", "content_html": "

Grapes!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-06-12T06:52:56-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/06/12/grapes.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/06/09/monarch-butterfly-in-the-garden.html", "content_html": "

Monarch butterfly in the garden this evening. Also, I was able to get relatively close to a red shouldered hawk during my walk in the cemetery—but not close enough for good pictures.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-06-09T17:54:37-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/06/09/monarch-butterfly-in-the-garden.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/05/27/some-big-collard-greens-going.html", "content_html": "

Some big collard greens going into the smoothie this morning.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-05-27T07:15:01-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/05/27/some-big-collard-greens-going.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/05/23/the-two-original-raised-beds.html", "content_html": "

The two original raised beds are flourishing!

\n\"Auto-generated\n", "date_published": "2025-05-23T12:51:15-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/05/23/the-two-original-raised-beds.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/05/21/couple-of-pictures-from-the.html", "content_html": "

Couple of pictures from the garden this evening.

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2025-05-21T17:44:25-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/05/21/couple-of-pictures-from-the.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/05/10/dog-vomit-slime-mold-has.html", "content_html": "

Dog vomit slime mold has appeared in our garden and, let me tell you, it is aptly named. I’ll spare you the picture.

\n", "date_published": "2025-05-10T10:40:21-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/05/10/dog-vomit-slime-mold-has.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/05/05/thank-you-lilacs-for-a.html", "content_html": "

Thank you, lilacs, for a beautiful few weeks. See you next year.

\n\"Auto-generated\n", "date_published": "2025-05-05T07:25:26-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/05/05/thank-you-lilacs-for-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/04/20/strawberries-are-blooming.html", "content_html": "

Strawberries are blooming!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-04-20T16:00:43-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/04/20/strawberries-are-blooming.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/04/18/concord-grape-leaves-opening-up.html", "content_html": "

Concord grape leaves opening up

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-04-18T09:32:40-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/04/18/concord-grape-leaves-opening-up.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/04/02/its-very-windy-here-at.html", "content_html": "

It’s very windy here at Green Man’s Grotto. Our resident pond frog is taking in the air before the storms rush in tonight.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-04-02T11:50:32-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/04/02/its-very-windy-here-at.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/03/29/sand-cherry-and-jane-magnolia.html", "content_html": "

Sand cherry and jane magnolia blooms

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2025-03-29T10:05:16-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/03/29/sand-cherry-and-jane-magnolia.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/03/11/its-a-beautiful-spring-day.html", "content_html": "

It’s a beautiful spring day here. Rachel is outside giving our pond its spring cleaning. I’m inside preparing a budget presentation. One of these things is more fun than the other.

\n", "date_published": "2025-03-11T09:42:26-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/03/11/its-a-beautiful-spring-day.html", "tags": ["Memories","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/03/09/first-sighting-of-the-frog.html", "content_html": "

First sighting of the frog in our pond this year! Looks like he survived the winter. Can you see his head poking above the water near the edge?

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-03-09T12:43:42-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/03/09/first-sighting-of-the-frog.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/03/02/we-live-on-a-acre.html", "content_html": "

We live on a 1/10 acre city lot, mostly covered in a house, detached garage and driveway. Rachel told me today that she has now sown 65 varieties of plants—perennials and annuals, flowers and vegetables. We have a wildlife pond, a grape arbor, and more room to expand. That’s a lot in a small space.

\n", "date_published": "2025-03-02T14:39:54-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/03/02/we-live-on-a-acre.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/02/28/spring-is-coming-and-im.html", "title": "Spring is coming and I'm making lists", "content_html": "

Also, I’m putting off reviewing financial reporting this morning.

\n

Projects to complete in the next couple of weeks:

\n\n

Projects to complete over the course of the summer:

\n\n

Warm weather explorations:

\n\n

Skills to build:

\n\n

Oh, I could go on but I really need to start reviewing those reports…

\n", "date_published": "2025-02-28T10:29:04-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/02/28/spring-is-coming-and-im.html", "tags": ["Workshop","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/02/26/ah-spring-really-is-on.html", "content_html": "

Ah, spring really is on the way. Woodland crocus is the first flower we see in our yard every year. I need to get out to the woods soon to see if any of the ephemerals are up.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-02-26T13:54:56-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/02/26/ah-spring-really-is-on.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/02/12/crow-visitors.html", "title": "Crow visitors!", "content_html": "

We’ve been hoping to attract some crow visitors for a while now by putting out bread and popcorn in addition to the seed and suet we already put out. Three of them finally found us yesterday! One of our new crow friends picked up a stale piece of bread and pecked at it a few times. Apparently unsatisfied, he/she carried it to the garage gutter and dropped it in some water, presumably softening it up. I’m going to take this as yet another sign of the intelligence of crows.

\n

Two more showed up this morning! It’s all very exciting. No pictures, since Rachel would kill me if I went outside to take a picture and scared them off.

\n", "date_published": "2025-02-12T09:35:04-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/02/12/crow-visitors.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2025/01/25/we-pruned-out-concord-grape.html", "content_html": "

We pruned out Concord grape vines today. It’s more complicated than I would have thought! Hopefully we did okay.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-01-25T14:54:43-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2025/01/25/we-pruned-out-concord-grape.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/10/07/this-is-a.html", "content_html": "

This is a good list of ideas for cleaning up your garden at the end of the growing season while also keeping the well-being of your local critters in mind.

\n", "date_published": "2024-10-07T07:46:39-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/10/07/this-is-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/10/02/when-we-first.html", "content_html": "

When we first began our garden in 2020, we intended it not only as a collection of pretty flowers and vegetables but as a flourishing habitat. One of the keystones of that habitat is our tiny wildlife pond. We were amazed at how quickly life starting showing up in it; even larger critters started drinking from it regularly.

\n\"\"\n

This is Morty. He’s a raggedy neighborhood cat who first showed up last winter to drink from our pond. He disappeared by the spring and then returned a few weeks ago, again to drink from the pond during the late summer drought. This time, though, he seems to have decided to stay.  

\n

Rachel was the first to notice that he is blind in one eye and hard of hearing. That combined with his shagginess makes us think he’s pretty old. After he started showing up every day and laying by the pond, Rachel named him Morty and started feeding him. While he never lets us get near him, he has stopped running every time we go outside.

\n

He’s almost always by the pond, either napping or watching whatever is going on in it. At first we were concerned he would kill a bird, but he doesn’t seem to have enough energy for that.

\n

Our garden is only peaceful if you’re an apex predator—but that cycle of life and death is part of the deal when you’re trying to build a flourishing habitat. I’m glad Morty is spending some part of that cycle in our backyard.

\n", "date_published": "2024-10-02T16:04:40-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/10/02/when-we-first.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/09/10/i-saw-a.html", "content_html": "

I saw a hawk pin down then carry off a pigeon in the garden today. A few days ago I saw a hawk (probably the same one?) on a power line overlooking our yard but all the birds were wisely hidden or gone. Today he must have gotten the drop on them.

\n", "date_published": "2024-09-10T18:56:11-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/09/10/i-saw-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/09/07/dahlia-with-bees.html", "content_html": "

Dahlia with bees plus Pete, one of the neighborhood cats who sometimes stops by to look over our doings.

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2024-09-07T10:39:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/09/07/dahlia-with-bees.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/09/07/showy-sunflowers.html", "content_html": "

Showy sunflowers

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2024-09-07T07:04:03-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/09/07/showy-sunflowers.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/08/24/hanging-cayennes-are.html", "content_html": "

Hanging cayennes are so pretty. And that’s red switchgrass to the left.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-08-24T12:36:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/08/24/hanging-cayennes-are.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/08/23/thats-some-big.html", "content_html": "

That’s some big tomatoes! They’re an heirloom variety; unfortunately the person we got them from couldn’t remember the name. My tomato-loving wife likes them, though, so that’s all that matters.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-08-23T07:48:46-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/08/23/thats-some-big.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/08/18/entrance-to-the.html", "content_html": "

Entrance to the back yard. Watch out for hanging cucumbers!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-08-18T15:27:52-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/08/18/entrance-to-the.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/08/12/over-the-weekend.html", "content_html": "

Over the weekend, Rachel harvested 3.5 pounds of Concord grapes and made jelly! I’m having some on biscuits now. So cool!

\n", "date_published": "2024-08-12T06:29:03-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/08/12/over-the-weekend.html", "tags": ["Workshop","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/08/10/sometimes-i-go.html", "content_html": "

Sometimes I go looking for Rachel in the backyard and can’t find her because of the density of the vegetation.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-08-10T08:12:38-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/08/10/sometimes-i-go.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/07/29/in-other-gardening.html", "content_html": "

In other gardening news–to balance things out–the squirrels have absolutely demolished our sunflowers. They haul their fat asses up the stalks (bless ‘em), bite the heads off and bring the whole thing down. Or they reach out from the privacy fence and eat like they’re in a Golden Corral. Ah, well.

\n", "date_published": "2024-07-29T09:28:04-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/07/29/in-other-gardening.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/07/29/check-out-these.html", "content_html": "

Check out these Concord grapes! They’re still a touch sour but they’re almost ready.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-07-29T09:09:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/07/29/check-out-these.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/07/04/first-tadpoles-weve.html", "content_html": "

First tadpoles we’ve seen in the pond this year!

\n

\n", "date_published": "2024-07-04T14:11:03-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/07/04/first-tadpoles-weve.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/07/03/rhyd-wildermuth-a.html", "content_html": "

Rhyd Wildermuth:

\n
\n

A garden is a gathering of spirits, of old friends and new, of allies and companions. They are great, thronging crowds of voices whispering, cajoling, and summoning you to the life you summon for them. And when you leave a garden, they come with you, long trains of spirits singing and laughing as you lead them across the earth to their new home.

\n
\n", "date_published": "2024-07-03T09:21:03-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/07/03/rhyd-wildermuth-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening","Quote posts"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/06/27/good-morning.html", "content_html": "

Good morning.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-06-27T06:54:56-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/06/27/good-morning.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/06/13/how-about-some.html", "content_html": "

How about some garden pictures?

\n

Kitchen garden (other vegetables and herbs are spread throughout our backyard):

\n\"Auto-generated\r\n

Mountain mint about to bloom:

\n\"Auto-generated\r\n

Concord grapes:

\n\"Auto-generated\r\n

Broccoli:

\n\"Auto-generated\r\n

Sunflower:

\n\"Auto-generated\n", "date_published": "2024-06-13T09:25:13-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/06/13/how-about-some.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/06/07/there-are-several.html", "content_html": "

There are several sparrows dustbathing among the flowers and sitting in the shade of the grape arbor right now. This’ll do.

\n", "date_published": "2024-06-07T16:19:28-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/06/07/there-are-several.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/06/06/i-updated-my.html", "content_html": "

I updated my Sanity Project page. This page is the story of our garden, from 2020 onward. Today I updated the page from Fall 2022 to the end of this past winter. Also updated the “future plans” section.

\n", "date_published": "2024-06-06T12:54:30-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/06/06/i-updated-my.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/06/05/isnt-this-some.html", "content_html": "

Isn’t this some beautiful kale and chard?

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-06-05T11:22:59-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/06/05/isnt-this-some.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/31/my-lovely-wife.html", "content_html": "

My lovely wife Rachel made a video of our garden this morning. (Yours truly is the cameraman.) I hope she continues doing these. She knows more about what’s happening than I do and—let’s be honest—who wouldn’t rather listen to her talk instead of me?

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-31T10:03:13-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/31/my-lovely-wife.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/28/the-pileated-woodpecker.html", "content_html": "

The pileated woodpecker seems to be a regular at our feeders now. She has a distinctive, sharp call as she flies into the yard. Also, we do believe she is a “she”, because she does not appear to have the red cheek stripe that males have.

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-28T09:13:51-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/28/the-pileated-woodpecker.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/25/the-honeybees-are.html", "content_html": "

The honeybees are loving the lavender right now.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-05-25T15:51:21-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/25/the-honeybees-are.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/24/we-have-a.html", "content_html": "

We have a gooseberry!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-05-24T08:29:02-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/24/we-have-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/21/rachel-just-harvested.html", "content_html": "

Rachel just harvested this huge pile of lettuce from one end of our raised beds and it didn’t even make a dent. It’s salad season!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-05-21T09:44:52-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/21/rachel-just-harvested.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/19/starlingssheesh-not-only.html", "content_html": "

Starlings…sheesh. Not only are they:

\n
    \n
  1. An invasive species whose introduction can be blamed on Shakespeare fanatics,
    2. \n
  2. Bullies, and
    3. \n
  3. Absolute devourers of seed,
    4. \n
\n

their chicks are noisy and needy, despite being as big as the adults. We don’t harm them, but we don’t love them either.

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-19T09:29:19-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/19/starlingssheesh-not-only.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/14/a-crow-has.html", "content_html": "

A crow has showed up in our backyard a few times now to eat seed. We’re that much closer to our goal of making friends with a corvid…

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-14T09:54:33-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/14/a-crow-has.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/10/beautiful-lavender-also.html", "content_html": "

Beautiful lavender. Also, the grapes are doing something new! Turns out they’re flowering. What I noticed before were not actually grapes but flower blooms. (Which I would have know had I thought about it a bit more carefully. What can I say? I was excited.)

\n\"\"\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-05-10T07:42:45-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/10/beautiful-lavender-also.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/09/ofa-on-how.html", "content_html": "

OFA on how to garden vertically. Because of our limited space, we’re trying to do more of this. For example, this year we put up a PVC arch on which we’ll grow some cucumbers and melons. We already have a pergola for the grapes and honeysuckle. The malabar spinach will be growing up a fan shaped trellis. And we’re going to try a three sisters planting again this year, where pole beans climb corn stalks. (It didn’t do well last year, we theorize, because 1. we planted it too late and 2. corn doesn’t like raised beds.) As Adam Savage says, “there’s always room on the z-axis.”

\n", "date_published": "2024-05-09T07:44:23-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/09/ofa-on-how.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/05/a-good-weekend.html", "content_html": "

A good weekend for cheap, reused stuff:

\n
    \n
  1. I came across a thrift/junk store (location: secret) with a large selection of old tools. I didn’t have time to look around much but I will go back next weekend.
    2. \n
  2. My in-laws gave me a couple of old garage cabinets. Ain’t nothing fancy—but it freed up a lot of room.
    3. \n
  3. An acquaintance gave us one of those roller composters. We’ve struggled with that kind of composting in the past but we’ll definitely try it again for free.
    4. \n
  4. We found a bathroom cabinet for $10 in good condition. Rachel has had an eye out for one for a long time. Minor repairs, replaced a bit of hardware, painted it black.
    5. \n
\n", "date_published": "2024-05-05T16:33:07-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/05/a-good-weekend.html", "tags": ["Workshop","Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/05/05/sugar-snap-peas.html", "content_html": "

Sugar snap peas, sweet alyssum, lettuces. We started planting sweet alyssum because it is a good companion plant for vegetables. We keep growing it because it’s such a lovely little thing.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-05-05T12:51:17-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/05/05/sugar-snap-peas.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/29/i-mentioned-over.html", "content_html": "

I mentioned over the weekend that a tree frog has been hanging out at our pond, calling late into the night. (Click that link for audio.) He’s at it again this morning. It’s a wonderful sound, one of those I would describe as homey. Other examples: chicken chatter, the chorus of crickets and katydids on summer nights.

\n

I suspect our frog is a Cope’s Gray tree frog, both because of the sound of its call and because our DNR says it’s more likely here in southern Indiana.

\n

I don’t recall hearing tree frogs here in our neighborhood until we put in our wildlife pond two years ago. I may be misremembering. Maybe it’s that I’m paying more attention, now that we’re more engaged with trans-species collaboration and increasing relatedness on this small, city lot. I hope that we are creating an increasingly diverse and thriving niche. Even if we’re not changing the world, or even our city block, we’re (to link to myself one last time) changing the world inside our heads–and that’s not nothing.

\n", "date_published": "2024-04-29T08:52:43-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/29/i-mentioned-over.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/25/could-these-actually.html", "content_html": "

Could these actually be tiny, tiny grapes? This is very exciting.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-04-25T17:16:47-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/25/could-these-actually.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/19/there-are-far.html", "content_html": "

There are far worse ways to spend an hour of your day than picking four cups worth of lilac flowers. I’ll be using them to make lilac simple syrup.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-04-19T19:34:22-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/19/there-are-far.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/16/our-lilac-bush.html", "content_html": "

Our lilac bush is blooming and the scent makes me so happy. You can smell it all around the house. It’s always one of the highlights of spring. And then I walked up to my favorite coffee shop this morning and caught the scent again. They have a bush there also. Wonderful, wonderful.

\n", "date_published": "2024-04-16T07:21:16-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/16/our-lilac-bush.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/11/i-knowits-a.html", "content_html": "

I know…it’s a TED talk. But trust me, this one is good: “Let your garden grow wild.” Relatedly, this presentation by Doug Tallamy is the very thing that got Rachel involved in my fledgling garden project two years ago—and it has improved immensely since she got involved.

\n", "date_published": "2024-04-11T20:00:16-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/11/i-knowits-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/04/06/were-regularly-getting.html", "content_html": "

We’re regularly getting woodpeckers at our feeders now. And a few days ago I saw an eastern bluebird. Not bad for a place about ten blocks from the nearest large patch of woods. Word may be spreading among the bird community about our place.

\n", "date_published": "2024-04-06T10:30:18-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/04/06/were-regularly-getting.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/03/29/in-episode-of.html", "content_html": "

In episode 103 of the Weird Studies podcast, J.F. and Phil consider the Tower card of the Tarot. As they have throughout the series, they especially refer to the anonymously written Meditations on the Tarot.

\n

As with virtually every other episode, the whole thing is worth your time. But here I just want to note their discussion of gardening as an act of co-creation. Organic gardening, that is. As they note, modern chemical gardening and farming is, in fact, a stubborn imposition of human will on the natural world. But organic methods are a cooperation between human intention and nature’s ability.

\n

Gardening in such a way is an act of trust, or faith. The human sows a seed according to their intention, but the fruition is a matter of hope based in the prior demonstrated vitality of the soil. The fruition may not come—but that is often because the human has made some error in judgment. The co-creative relationship may need to be adjusted on the human side, but faith in the living Earth is never misplaced.

\n", "date_published": "2024-03-29T11:35:12-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/03/29/in-episode-of.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/03/29/can-you-believe.html", "content_html": "

Can you believe that Rachel used to say she had a black thumb?

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-03-29T05:49:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/03/29/can-you-believe.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/03/14/ofa-has-an.html", "content_html": "

OFA has an article on what to add to your soil in the spring. Here’s what we do. Three of our five raised beds have no contact with the soil so they need a bit more help. For those, we:

\n\n

For the areas where we plant directly in the ground, we first:

\n\n

Once those areas are established, we simply add a fresh layer of compost every year. It seems to be working–there are worms active all over those areas, just beneath the surface.

\n", "date_published": "2024-03-14T09:23:43-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/03/14/ofa-has-an.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/03/13/i-seem-to.html", "content_html": "

I seem to have found myself in a terminological drift. Green Man’s Grotto originally referred to the notch behind the garage, bounded by the fence. This was the first area we planted outside the two original raised beds. While it’s not literally cave-like, the name made a certain sense. But now I find myself referring to the whole backyard as Green Man’s Grotto, which is nothing at all like a cave. This will have to be corrected.

\n", "date_published": "2024-03-13T17:07:20-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/03/13/i-seem-to.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/02/14/new-video-green.html", "content_html": "

New video: Green Man’s Grotto, February 2024. A tour of our backyard garden at its worst, with a few ideas for the upcoming growing season.

\n", "date_published": "2024-02-14T10:31:48-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/02/14/new-video-green.html", "tags": ["Gardening","Videos"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/02/09/woodland-crocus-is.html", "content_html": "

Woodland crocus is always the first flower in our yard—and this year it’s even earlier. According to Seek, I first recorded it on Feb 22 last year. They’re just gorgeous little things.

\n\"Small\n", "date_published": "2024-02-09T13:23:24-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/02/09/woodland-crocus-is.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/02/02/we-mostly-rachel.html", "content_html": "

We (mostly Rachel!) made a decent dent in this weekend’s project. It’ll take at least one more round to dig out the … oh I don’t know … ten remaining tons of rock and landscape fabric.

\n

How it looked last summer versus current state:

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2024-02-02T14:49:58-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/02/02/we-mostly-rachel.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/02/02/so-one-of.html", "content_html": "

So one of our projects is to rip out (almost) all of the landscaping on the south side of the house and replace it with flowers and food. I was planning to start helping Rachel this afternoon (I was job working this morning) but then came out and she already had a great deal of it done! She said “buy a girl a pair of coveralls and there’s no telling what she’ll do.” ❤️ But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of work left for me to share in. 😄

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-02-02T13:03:06-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/02/02/so-one-of.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/01/31/gardening-is-afoot.html", "content_html": "

Gardening is afoot! Rachel is planting sweet peas and prepping some other indoor containers for seed starting.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-01-31T10:52:22-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/01/31/gardening-is-afoot.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/01/19/snow-day-at.html", "content_html": "

Snow day at the Abel house! Green Man’s Grotto is chilly.

\n\"A\n", "date_published": "2024-01-19T08:22:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/01/19/snow-day-at.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2024/01/15/our-little-pond.html", "content_html": "

Our little pond is mostly frozen now, except where a little water flows. I wonder if Nessie is still there.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2024-01-15T11:09:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2024/01/15/our-little-pond.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/12/31/the-second-trimming.html", "content_html": "

The second trimming of the tree. For the next few days the tree will be another food source for the birds as the remaining needles drop as mulch for Green Man’s Grotto.

\n\"A\n", "date_published": "2023-12-31T11:35:09-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/12/31/the-second-trimming.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/10/01/153925.html", "content_html": "\"Monarch\n", "date_published": "2023-10-01T14:39:25-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/10/01/153925.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/09/12/folks-rachel-found.html", "content_html": "

Folks, Rachel found the bullfrog that lives in our pond eating a bird as big as the frog itself. I’ll spare you the picture. I had no idea they’d eat anything that big. We have now named her Nessie.

\n", "date_published": "2023-09-12T17:25:49-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/09/12/folks-rachel-found.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/20/about-to-do.html", "content_html": "

About to do some herbal tea taste testing. Anise hyssop, spearmint, chocolate mint, peppermint, lavender, chamomile, marigold, sacred basil, lemon verbena.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-08-20T13:17:54-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/20/about-to-do.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/15/another-way-to.html", "content_html": "

Another way to support the local bee population: plant enough basil that you can allow some to bloom and go to seed. The bees (around here anyway) go nuts for it.

\n", "date_published": "2023-08-15T17:25:55-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/15/another-way-to.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/11/weve-seen-a.html", "content_html": "

We’ve seen a monarch butterfly several days this week and yesterday spotted a yellow swallowtail butterfly. Rachel also found a swallowtail caterpillar this week in addition to the four monarch caterpillars.

\n", "date_published": "2023-08-11T06:49:02-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/11/weve-seen-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/09/check-out-all.html", "content_html": "

Check out all these tiny bees (not sure of species) with their full pollen sacs on this sunflower.

\n\"Sunflower\n", "date_published": "2023-08-09T09:45:46-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/09/check-out-all.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/08/if-youre-looking.html", "content_html": "

If you’re looking for a plant to attract bees, you might try Joe Pye Weed. It’s not spectacular; rather, it’s homely in the best sense. For the past few weeks, I’ve seen honeybees, bumblebees, and other bee species all over it.

\n\"Plant\n", "date_published": "2023-08-08T13:56:29-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/08/if-youre-looking.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/08/08/rachel-found-four.html", "content_html": "

Rachel found four monarch caterpillars on the swamp milkweed this morning–and there was much rejoicing.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-08-08T07:19:43-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/08/08/rachel-found-four.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/29/rachel-is-already.html", "content_html": "

Rachel is already planning for 2024. This will more than fill out the backyard, a.k.a., Green Man’s Grotto. Then we’ll start working on the little strips of yard on each side of the house. In a few years, we and the beings living here will have transformed this tiny city lot into an island of life.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-07-29T12:07:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/29/rachel-is-already.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/28/its-hot-today.html", "content_html": "

It’s hot today BUT we’ve seen a hummingbird and a monarch butterfly in the Grotto.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-07-28T12:03:06-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/28/its-hot-today.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/24/come-and-get.html", "content_html": "\"\"\n

Come and get it. Inspired by Rhyd Wildermuth:

\n
\n

Gardening is only a political act now because of all the political acts and regimes that have made it impossible for many. In fact, though, gardening is ultimately anti-political: being able to feed yourself, your friends, and your neighbors is exactly what the political order is hoping you won’t remember you can do.

\n
\n", "date_published": "2023-07-24T11:03:18-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/24/come-and-get.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/21/the-sunflower-fully.html", "content_html": "

The sunflower fully opened today

\n\"Sunflower\n", "date_published": "2023-07-21T12:21:56-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/21/the-sunflower-fully.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/12/im-more-proud.html", "content_html": "

I’m more proud of this carrot than I have any right to be

\n\"Carrot\n", "date_published": "2023-07-12T18:30:40-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/12/im-more-proud.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/07/04/taters-from-the.html", "content_html": "

Taters from the garden!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-07-04T20:44:54-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/07/04/taters-from-the.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/06/20/purple-coneflower-joe.html", "content_html": "

Purple coneflower. Joe Pye weed in the background.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-06-20T19:56:52-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/06/20/purple-coneflower-joe.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/06/02/entrance-to-green.html", "content_html": "

Entrance to Green Man’s Grotto is finally complete. We’ll see if the wood-burned sign weathers well. I covered it in a few coats of polyurethane.

\n\"entrance\n", "date_published": "2023-06-02T08:40:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/06/02/entrance-to-green.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/05/18/we-built-a.html", "content_html": "

We built a new raised bed this week. That’s not a trick of perspective: it actually is much narrower at the far end. On this end is a mound (hard to see) for a three sisters planting. Past that is amaranth, then two columbine plants at the far end.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2023-05-18T13:42:10-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/05/18/we-built-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/04/12/newly-built-window.html", "content_html": "

Newly built window box is up. Lean out the window and there’s a salad waiting for you.

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2023-04-12T13:36:10-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/04/12/newly-built-window.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/03/21/green-mans-grotto.html", "content_html": "

Green Man’s Grotto is showing signs of life! Phlox is blooming:

\n

\"\"

\n

Yarrow is back and is spreading around the pond:

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2023-03-21T07:36:47-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/03/21/green-mans-grotto.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/02/13/rachels-seedlings-are.html", "content_html": "

Rachel’s seedlings are doing great!

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2023-02-13T19:38:52-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/02/13/rachels-seedlings-are.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2023/01/31/two-paths-ahead.html", "title": "Two paths ahead of us with regard to climate change", "content_html": "

Early on in At Work in the Ruins, Dougald Hine discusses the overall response to climate change. He says we have entered a new phase of the process in which the dominant institutions have accepted the reality of climate change and are at least talking about acting accordingly. (I take him to mean that the era of climate change denialism is substantially over. I do not take him to mean that our institutions are acting in suitably radical ways.)

\n

Having reached this point, we will now begin to see the underlying division of responses to climate change.

\n
\n

Two paths lead from here: one big, one small. The big path is a brightly lit highway on which many lanes converge. It unites elements of left and right, from Silicon Valley visionaries and Wall Street investors, through a broad swathe of liberal opinion, to the wilder fringes of Fully Automated Luxury Communism, and in some form it will constitute the political orthodoxy of the 2020s. It sets out to limit the damage of climate change through large-scale efforts of management, control, surveillance and innovation, oriented to sustaining a version of existing trajectories of technological progress, economic growth and development. The small path is a trail that branches off into many paths. It is made by those who seek to build resilience closer to the ground, nurturing capacities and relationships, oriented to a future in which existing trajectories of technological progress, economic growth and developments will not be sustained, but where the possibility of a ‘world worth living for’ nonetheless remains. Humble as it looks, as your eyes adjust, you may recognize just how many feet have walked this way and how many continue to do so, even now.

\n
\n

You will find me in the group taking the small path.

\n", "date_published": "2023-01-31T12:49:40-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2023/01/31/two-paths-ahead.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/11/22/preparing-for-winter.html", "title": "Preparing for winter", "content_html": "

A few updates on Green Man’s Grotto:

\n\n

The bees. Wow, I’ve been a bad beekeeper. Earlier in the year, a friend asked me to help him with two hives on his property. Unfortunately, because they’re on his property several miles from me, they’ve suffered from “out of sight, out of mind.” I’m way behind on learning about beekeeping, but I plan to remedy that this winter. Honestly, it’s this lack of knowledge that bothers me the most because I don’t know if I’ve harmed their chances of making it through the winter.

\n

In any case, winterizing the hives has involved the following:

\n\n

If they make it through the winter, I will do better next year. Fingers crossed.

\n", "date_published": "2022-11-22T09:50:01-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/11/22/preparing-for-winter.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/11/22/vermicomposting-update.html", "title": "Vermicomposting update", "content_html": "

We started vermicomposting sometime in July 2022. We ordered our worms from Uncle Jim’s and set up a bin using a Rubbermaid container. I would definitely recommend that method as an entry point for people. It’s low cost—especially if you have spare Rubbermaid containers sitting around—and it’s a great way to recycle kitchen scraps and junk mail. There are plenty of YouTube videos for reference.

\n

Vermicomposting and regular composting use pretty much the same rules on what kitchen scraps can be used. And you’ll need lots of bedding, which are basically the “browns” you may be familiar with from composting. Much of our bedding now is shredded junk mail and other paper.

\n

Unfortunately we’ve had some trouble with the Rubbermaid bin method. Our worm friends seemed unhappy, trying to leave the bin whenever a light wasn’t on them. (The worms will burrow into the bedding to get away from light.) When we did turn a light on them to try to get them to stay in the bin, that dried out the bedding, which of course made them more unhappy. Vicious circle.

\n

Now, to be clear, I think was mostly caused by our own mistakes—and possibly some limitations of the container itself. The problem is that I don’t know enough to be able to separate cause and effect here. I don’t think we were using enough bedding. We have since learned that you need to add a 2:1 ratio of bedding to food every time you add food to the bin. Also, I think we were relying too much on coconut coir and hand-shredded cardboard for bedding. Not that those don’t work, but it seems that shredded paper is even better.

\n

So over the past several weeks we have moved from using a Rubbermaid bin to an Urban Worm Bag. The obvious downside to this change is that the Urban Worm Bag costs more money. I hate throwing money at problems because that feels like more of the usual American consumerism. On the other hand, we had committed to doing this and our worm friends did not seem happy.

\n

The good news is that the Urban Worm Bag is working splendidly. We have not actually harvested castings from it yet (probably in January) but the system for doing so makes more sense. The bedding has stayed moist with virtually no help from us. Most importantly, the worms seem happy. We have not seen a single one crawling up the side, trying to escape. They also seem more active.

\n

So how much of this wormly beatitude is due to our change in volume and type of bedding and how much to the Urban Worm Bag? Since we did not approach it scientifically, I can’t say. I suspect it is both. I do think the Urban Worm Bag will make it easier to harvest worm castings but that will have to wait for another update.

\n

\"\"

\n

\"\"

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-11-22T07:09:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/11/22/vermicomposting-update.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/10/25/eight-uses-for.html", "content_html": "

Eight uses for fall leaves from the Old Farmer’s Almanac. We’re raking ours up, mowing them to shred them, and placing them in areas where we plan to do new planting next spring, in order to both kill the grass in those areas and improve the soil.

\n", "date_published": "2022-10-25T09:31:58-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/10/25/eight-uses-for.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/10/22/we-finished-the.html", "content_html": "

\"\"

\n

We finished the grape arbor. Now it just needs some paint and we’ll be ready to plant grapes next spring. We’ve raked the leaves up there to kill the grass over the winter so we can do more planting in that area.

\n", "date_published": "2022-10-22T18:15:10-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/10/22/we-finished-the.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/10/22/its-going-to.html", "content_html": "

It’s going to be a beautiful weekend here so one more big push to finish a few projects: finish the grape arbor, fill the final raised bed, put out some Halloween decorations. But first, coffee and The Biggest Little Farm (thanks for the recommendation, Tim).

\n", "date_published": "2022-10-22T04:55:48-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/10/22/its-going-to.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/09/25/monarch-on-what.html", "content_html": "

Monarch on (what we believe to be) Jerusalem artichoke. \"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-09-25T13:25:15-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/09/25/monarch-on-what.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/09/25/expanding-green-mans.html", "title": "Expanding Green Man’s Grotto", "content_html": "

We’ve started expanding Green Man’s Grotto. We emptied one of the old raised beds by transplanting some orange butterfly weed, hairy woodmint, and swamp milkweed partly into the existing GMG and partly into a new section. Next we’ll double the depth of that old raised bed and use it for a kitchen garden next year. Then we’ll transplant what remains in the other old raised bed into that expanded section of GMG and then double the depth of that raised bed for the other half of the kitchen garden. Fun work on a beautiful day!

\n", "date_published": "2022-09-25T12:15:47-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/09/25/expanding-green-mans.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/09/19/weve-been-hoping.html", "content_html": "

We’ve been hoping for a dragonfly or two to find out little wildlife pond. Well, tonight we have a swarm. I assume they’re feeding on mosquitoes, which are plentiful on a humid evening like tonight. I have no idea if they’ll come back but watching dozens of them swooping and swerving is amazing.

\n", "date_published": "2022-09-19T18:16:41-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/09/19/weve-been-hoping.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/08/15/ridiculously-cute-frog.html", "content_html": "

Ridiculously cute frog actually sitting on a lily pad in Green Man’s Grotto. Maybe he’s admiring the hyacinthh bloom.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-08-15T11:57:11-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/08/15/ridiculously-cute-frog.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/08/15/principles-of-permaculture.html", "title": "Principles of Permaculture", "content_html": "

A reference post. From Toby Hemenway, Gaia’s Garden:

\n
\n

The aim of permaculture is to design ecologically sound, economically prosperous human communities. It is guided by a set of ethics: caring for Earth, caring for people, and reinvesting the surplus that this care will create. From these ethics stem a set of design guidelines or principles, described in many places and in slightly varying forms. The list below is the version I use, compiled with the aid of many permaculture teachers and flowing from the work of Mollison, Holmgren, and their coauthors.

\n

A. Core Principles for Ecological Design

\n
    \n
  1. Observe. Use protracted and thoughtful observation rather than prolonged and thoughtless action. Observe the site and its elements in all seasons. Design for specific sites, clients, and cultures.
    2. \n
  2. Connect. Use relative location, that is, place the elements of your design in ways that create useful relationships and time-saving connections among all parts. The number of connections among elements creates a healthy, diverse ecosystem, not the number of elements.
    3. \n
  3. Catch and store energy and materials. Identify, collect, and hold useful flows. Every cycle is an opportunity for yield, every gradient (in slope, charge, temperature, and the like) can produce energy. Reinvesting resources builds capacity to capture yet more resources.
    4. \n
  4. Each element performs multiple functions. Choose and place each element in a design to perform as many functions as possible. Beneficial connections between diverse components create a stable whole. Stack elements in both space and time.
    5. \n
  5. Each function is supported by multiple elements. Use multiple methods to achieve important functions and to create synergies. Redundancy protects when one or more elements fail.
    6. \n
  6. Make the least change for the greatest effect. Understand the system you are working with well enough to find its “leverage points” and intervene there, where the least work accomplishes the most change.
    7. \n
  7. Use small-scale, intensive systems. Start at your doorstep with the smallest systems that will do the job and build on your successes. Grow by “chunking” — that is, developing a small system or arrangement that works well — and repeat it, with variations.
    8. \n
  8. Optimize edge. The edge — the intersection of two environments — is the most diverse place in a system and is where energy and materials accumulate or are translated. Increase or decrease edge as appropriate.
    9. \n
  9. Collaborate with succession. Living systems usually advance from immaturity to maturity, and if we accept this trend and align our designs with it instead of fighting it, we save work and energy. Mature ecosystems are more diverse and productive than young ones.
    10. \n
  10. Use biological and renewable resources. Renewable resources (usually living beings and their products) reproduce and build up over time, store energy, assist yield, and interact with other elements. Favor these over nonrenewable resources.
    11. \n
\n

B. Principles Based on Attitudes

\n
    \n
  1. Turn problems into solutions. Constraints can inspire creative design, and most problems usually carry not just the seeds of their own solution within them but also the inspiration for simultaneously solving other problems. “We are confronted by insurmountable opportunities.” — Attributed to Pogo (Walt Kelly).
    2. \n
  2. Get a yield. Design for both immediate and long-term returns from your efforts: “You can’t work on an empty stomach.” Set up positive feedback loops to build the system and repay your investment.
    3. \n
  3. The biggest limit to abundance is creativity. The designer’s imagination and skill usually limit productivity and diversity before any physical limits are reached.
    4. \n
  4. Mistakes are tools for learning. Evaluate your trials. Making mistakes is a sign you’re trying to do things better. There is usually little penalty for mistakes if you learn from them.
    5. \n
\n
\n", "date_published": "2022-08-15T10:37:57-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/08/15/principles-of-permaculture.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/27/an-update-on.html", "content_html": "

An update on our worms. (Thanks for asking.) They’re doing well. We’re determining through trial and error what they enjoy eating. So far they like:

\n\n

They do not like:

\n\n

We’ll collect their castings for use on the garden this fall.

\n", "date_published": "2022-07-27T12:03:09-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/27/an-update-on.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/27/so-the-frogs.html", "content_html": "

So the frogs are clearly enjoying our pond. As I mentioned before, we found a generation of “wild” tadpoles in our pond after placing six bullfrog tadpoles in there ourselves. An additional generation has shown up in the time since then. And now this morning, Rachel found a new clutch of eggs, making a fourth generation. (In the picture, they’re the tiny white spots in the roots of the hyacinth.) We haven’t even had the pond a month. And they say rabbits are prolific….

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-07-27T10:01:46-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/27/so-the-frogs.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/19/a-few-more.html", "content_html": "

A few more plants have been added to the pond in Green Man’s Grotto. Tadpoles — both those we put in ourselves and the “wild” ones — seem to be doing well.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-07-19T12:06:45-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/19/a-few-more.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/12/if-you-build.html", "title": "If you build it, they will come.", "content_html": "

When we built our pond, we put in six bullfrog tadpoles and several aquatic plants from a pond supply store. Today, however, we have found at least a dozen much smaller – tiny, in fact – tadpoles in the pond. We know that a frog has been hanging out there but we don’t know if he has anything to do with this new development or if these hitched a ride on the plants from the store. In any case, we’re thrilled. Also spotted today: tiny aquatic snails.

\n

\n", "date_published": "2022-07-12T18:42:19-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/12/if-you-build.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/12/think-globally-act.html", "title": "Think globally, act hyperlocally", "content_html": "

The amount of land (more or less) under my control right now is 0.14 acres. This amounts to:

\n\n

So, not much. HOWEVER, this is an advantage when I attempt to think about the energy flows.

\n

For example, I was never very worried about food waste since it is biodegradable and would break down in the landfill fairly quickly. When I think about it as an energy source, however, I realize that throwing it “away” in a landfill is a dispersal of energy from my 0.14 acres. What if part of the food waste becomes food for worms in a bin in my basement and part of it goes into a compost bin? Now that food waste becomes nutrients I put back into my soil, which makes it more productive, which leads to more flowers for pollinators and more food for the humans.

\n

Does this solve any of our ongoing, worldwide ecological disasters? Certainly not. But awareness brought about by those disasters has improved this 3.82 x 10-12 of Earth. While that is damn near zero, it’s not zero. And it changes the world inside my head.

\n", "date_published": "2022-07-12T09:07:48-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/12/think-globally-act.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/09/we-built-a.html", "title": "We built a pond!", "content_html": "

\"\"

\n

Green Man’s Grotto has been extended and now includes a small pond (4’ diameter, 2’ deep with a shelf at 1’ deep). We’ve added water lillies, water lettuce, cattails, and blue flag iris within the pond. Around it we’ve planted creeping jenny, sneezeweed, and yarrow. The stone is limestone which we gathered from the area. (We live in the limestone capital of the world, you know.) The pebbles are landscaping rock taken from another part of our yard, which we have future plans for. The waterfall is an old butter churn that came with the house and has been sitting in front of a door for a couple of decades.

\n

We also brought home a few bullfrog tadpoles, who now reside in the pond. Last night we heard at least one frog. We were amazed that someone had found the pond already!

\n", "date_published": "2022-07-09T13:31:45-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/09/we-built-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/07/01/swamp-milkweed.html", "content_html": "

Swamp milkweed

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-07-01T20:11:35-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/07/01/swamp-milkweed.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/06/27/the-next-step.html", "content_html": "

The next step we’ll be taking to increase relatedness here at our house: vermicomposting. We have a thousand worms on the way. 😂

\n", "date_published": "2022-06-27T07:10:35-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/06/27/the-next-step.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/06/18/bumblebee-on-purple.html", "content_html": "

Bumblebee on purple coneflower 🌱

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-06-18T12:27:15-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/06/18/bumblebee-on-purple.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/06/01/butterfly-weed-in.html", "content_html": "

Butterfly weed in Green Man’s Grotto is starting to bloom. Come on, butterflies!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-06-01T10:24:23-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/06/01/butterfly-weed-in.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/05/20/im-a-beekeeper.html", "title": "I’m a beekeeper now", "content_html": "

About three weeks ago, a friend asked me if I wanted to help him keep bees–to which, of course, I said yes. The bees live on his property, which is much more spacious and near bee amenities like woods, water, crops and flowers. And so we set up our first hive.

\n

\"\"

\n

And then (a day after I posted about wanting expand the web of relations in my life), a wild swarm showed up at my friend’s house.

\n

\"\"

\n

So we called in a beekeeper with a lot of experience, who cut the branch off and dropped the bees into a new hive. So now, free of charge, we have two hives.

\n

\"\"

\n

I’m taking a beekeeping class online (read faster, Jeremy!) and gathering up the essentials for this new hive (which will sit on a pallet like the other one). So we’re scrambling a bit but it’s going to be fun. Better pictures of the bees themselves to come.

\n", "date_published": "2022-05-20T12:54:36-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/05/20/im-a-beekeeper.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/05/18/increasing-relatedness-on.html", "title": "Increasing relatedness on my city lot", "content_html": "

I’ve emphasized below an essential line from Gordon White’s interview with Tyson Yunkaporta:

\n
\n

Gordon White: “What are the hallmarks of indigenous thinking?”

\n

Tyson Yunkaporta: “It’s an externalized psycho-technology that exists in your unique web of relations. Your thinking and your knowledge sits in the relational space between you and others. Not just with humans but with non-humans, places, landforms, and all the people that you’re in relation to. You have this beautiful set of relations sitting there, waiting for you to engage with it. Your prime directive is to increase relatedness in that system that you’re the center of. To beautify the relational space with knowledge you’ve built together.”

\n
\n

That lies behind–especially this year–my attempts at native plant gardening and planting for pollinators. A large number of beings inhabit, frequent, or pass through our tiny city lot. Everything from microbes in the soil to earthworms to snails to mushrooms to strawberries to birds to cats. (Haven’t seen any rabbits this year though.) Our one-tenth of an acre consists of a whole network of relations.

\n

Planting for pollinators is an attempt to welcome into our yard some victims of capitalist, industrial agriculture. It is an attempt to increase biodiversity–but that’s too sterile a word, isn’t it? It is an attempt to enlarge the web of relations within our yard.

\n

Native planting is a way of planting for pollinators that attempts to work within an already-established web of relations, that of the species that evolved together within an ecosystem. This is, to be clear, not a moral judgment about plants such that “native” is good and “non-native” is bad. It is simply leveraging existing relationships. Also, “native” is a somewhat arbitrary category: how long should a species live within an ecosystem before it counts as native? In any case, native planting specifically strives to avoid invasive species, i.e., aggressive species that crowd out native species and decrease diversity.

\n

A few days ago I found pleated inkcap mushrooms in my raised beds. I took this as a good sign that the soil–which sits on brick, not the ground–is becoming more complex. More beings inhabiting our yard. An increase in relatedness.

\n

I want to encourage this, so I’m going to make another attempt at composting. Take the food left over from the humans, combine it with grass clippings (finally the lawn becomes useful!) and other bits of what would be considered trash, add in time and solar energy, and you have recaptured nutrients that otherwise would have been dispersed. You have built soil and relationality.

\n

Increase relatedness. Beautify the relational space.

\n", "date_published": "2022-05-18T15:59:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/05/18/increasing-relatedness-on.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/05/14/bee-friends-sweat.html", "content_html": "

Bee friends (sweat bees?) pollinating our strawberries.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-05-14T12:34:00-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/05/14/bee-friends-sweat.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/05/14/pleated-inkcap-mushroom.html", "content_html": "

Pleated inkcap mushroom popped up in the raised beds this morning. The raised beds sit on brick, not soil, so I take this as a good sign that the soil is complexifying, building mycelium. Bonus: cute green strawberries. Pictures taken by my daughter Darcy.

\n

\"\"\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-05-14T08:41:47-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/05/14/pleated-inkcap-mushroom.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/05/05/welcome-to-green.html", "content_html": "

Welcome to Green Man Grotto, a newly established native plant area in our backyard. The only thing not native is the naked lady lillies, which were already established there.

\n

\"\"

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-05-05T10:20:44-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/05/05/welcome-to-green.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/04/24/big-news-today.html", "content_html": "

Big news today: the butterfly milkweed is coming back up!

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-04-24T08:42:09-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/04/24/big-news-today.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/04/22/happy-earth-day.html", "content_html": "

Happy Earth Day. Later today, Rachel and I plan to mulch some open areas in our backyard for more native species plantings. I’m also learning how to identify garlic mustard (one, two) so I can pull it during my hikes this year. Call it guerrilla forestry.

\n

\"\"

\n", "date_published": "2022-04-22T08:25:19-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/04/22/happy-earth-day.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] }, { "id": "http://jabel.micro.blog/2022/01/30/this-is-a.html", "content_html": "

This is a great presentation by Doug Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope, on the way people can begin repairing ecosystems in our own yards. I often feel my powerlessness to do anything about our rolling ecological disasters, but this offers a way to do small-scale, realistic good. I’m excited to get started on expanding the native species plantings in my yard. The presentation, by the way, was hosted by Sycamore Land Trust, an awesome local nonprofit that is protecting land from development one plot at a time.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2022-01-30T10:29:47-05:00", "url": "https://jabel.blog/2022/01/30/this-is-a.html", "tags": ["Gardening"] } ] }