Living the good life

Frightening and so appealing at the same time:



"We were planning a functioning homestead, not a business; nevertheless we tried to be systematic as though we were handling a large-scale economic project. Our card index of activities had a place for 'jobs to be done', divided into 'clear weather jobs' and 'rainy day jobs', for 'construction planned', and for 'finished projects.' Each project had its cost cards with records of materials used and money outlay for specific purposes. Separate loose-leaf books . . . contained the plans, current activity reports and records from previous years."



Nearing, H. & Nearing, S. (1954). Living the good life: How to live sanely and simply in a troubled world. New York, NY: Schoken Books.

Gaps in my Garden Knowledge

• Planting distance: How far apart do you really need to plant things? (I tend to ignore the directions on the packet and plant much closer together)
  
• Mulch: What is it really? What's the best kind?
• Seedling mix recipe (I've heard peat moss is bad for environment--draining bogs and wetlands--and also too acidic)
• What is pH really? (create a key /cheat sheet for identifying pH and adjusting soil pH)
• Worm compost vs. hot compost
• How to be more water-wise and ecologically conscientious in growing food (I think the Indians in SF at acorns. Would that be the real "macrobiotic" thing to eat --what's native to this area? What does it mean to have altered the landscape)
• Future gardens: Native plants, xeriscaping