Free Garden Porn: 2009 "Seeds of Change" catalog

Design / Organic Gardening

From This:
In my childhood, the arrival of The Big Sears catalog was a significant and holy day for me. As a young boy I can remember "scrutinizing" the women's underwear and bra photos in my dog-eared copy of the Sears catalog. "The Catalog" weighed in at roughly 3 pounds. You know the one, right guys? What an illicitic wealth of information/ inspiration those glossy pages held! I spent untold hours ogling those curvey beige and skin-toned images...




To This:
In the intervening 25 years, catalogs continued to play an important role in my life. As a designer and builder, The Catalog was supplanted by Interior Design, Garret Wade, Dwell and Fine Homebuilding. A few years ago I started The Urban Garden Project, "re-purposing" a barren industrial lot adjoining my woodworking studio into an organic garden. As a result of this project, "The Seeds Of Change" organic seed catalog has recently achieved prominence in my ever-growing stack of reference catalogs. Magazines such as Mother Earth News and Permaculture are continuosly "cropping up" around my home. I have posted margin links to similar webmags here on vergelimbo.com as well as from my technology-based webpage: greengearonline.com

Seeds Of Change 2009 Catalog

The 2009 catalog [pictured above] is available for free, either in a downloadable pdf format or home delivered in it's glossy 108 page glory. The catalog is filled with beautiful photographs of countless vegetables-many of which I guarantee you have never seen or heard of. It features a wide range of heirloom vegetable seeds and informative articles on organic gardening, tools and techniques. Buying seeds online is easy, safe and very affordable. Peruse the magazine and pick a vegetable you have never tasted and plant some this spring. Last year I planted Dragon Carrots, Hopi Squash, Dinosaur Kale and the Sputnik-like: Kohlrabi.

What is your favorite catalog or freaky vegetable?
Leave you comments or any suggestions below...

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"January-Joiners" Infest Gyms Nationwide!

Causality / Cycling / Design

I suspect that the most common New Year's resolution made is to "Join the local gym". My suspicion is borne out by the swelling number of unfamiliar and often confused faces I see meandering around my local Y trying to figure out how certain machines work. These "January-joiners" swell the membership numbers of gyms, and cause congestion for the first few weeks of the New Year. Experience has taught me that by mid-February, attrition will claim the majority of these well intentioned, and the congestion and waiting for an open elliptical machine with a TV Monitor will become a fading memory...












What is wrong with the picture above?

If you are like me, you can recall the Professor on Gilligan's Island pedalling his bamboo and coconut bicycle to generate the energy needed to operate his Rube Goldberg-esque laboratory. Perhaps inspired by the Professor's ingenuity, Windstream llc is currently marketing a Bicycle Generator Kit that can easily adapt to fit any standard bicycle and generate and store electricity.

How cool is this? When used with the portable power pack, a determined cyclist is able to generate sufficient energy to power a laptop or television. An entire bank of such bikes could reduce the energy costs of any gym. It has always seemed a "waste of energy" to me that the elliptical machines at my gym actually need to be plugged in in order to power the LED screen.
How it works:
The Bike Power Generator consists of a powder coated steel trainer frame holding a permanent magnet DC generator. Your bicycle (typical adult 27 inch wheel diameter) is mounted securely to this frame and the rear tire is positioned to turn the friction drum that has been custom fit over the generator shaft. The amount of electrical power that can be generated by the Bike Power Generator is determined by the energy available from pedaling the bicycle. (more info)

Leave me a comment by clicking on the link below!

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Finding your nearest Farmers Market is easy - Visit: www.localharvest.org

Organic Gardening / Sustainable Living

Recent food trends show that more and more people have taken an interest in eating healthy food, organic food and locally grown food. Your local Farmers' Market offers the best chance to find what you are looking for, and perhaps find or taste something new. Locating the Farmers' Market nearest to you is now only a few clicks away. Localharvest.org is a useful and straight-forward site designed to faciliate your quest. Simply enter your zip code, search "farmers market" and a map and list of your local markets will appear. Directions are just a click away.














Click the map above and see how easy it is

There are so many advantages to shopping at your local Farmers' Market- most important of which is being able to purchase a wide variety of farm fresh produce. The fruits, berries and vegetables sold at the market are locally grown and picked when perfectly ripened. This freshness enhances the flavor, texture, and aroma of the produce. Keep in mind that the fruits and vegetables at your chain grocery store are picked unripe, and on average travel over 1400 miles before appearing in your store. Farmers' Markets allow local farmers direct access to the buying public. Conversely, local consumers enjoy access to locally grown, farm-fresh produce as well as the personal interaction with the farmer who has actually grown the produce.















The Gurus Of Green, Tailgate Old School

Meeting local farmers such as Mike and Bob (seen above) can be a great and enriching experience. I met these Gurus of Green at the St. Petersburg Farmer's Market last year while I was on holiday. Because of my urban garden project and interest in good food, we compared growing tips, recipes, and they suggested places and things to see or do while I was in town. They also sold me some delicious spinach, picked earlier that morning.

Many people now consider values other than price, appearance, and accessibility while choosing what to eat. How something was grown- organic or not, pesticides or not, sustainably or not - as well as where something was grown are heavily weighted values for many. The popularity of such books as The Omnivores Dilemma and new food trends such as the locavore diet have helped to raise public consciousness about the morality and sustainabilty of current eating habits. A few years back I coined the term "ethicurean" to capture this emerging nuance:

This growing concern and thoughtful awareness has helped to restore and support smaller organic farms and popularize Farmer's Markets and community supported agriculture [CSA]

Most vendors at your local farmers' market come from small, family operated farms…as a result spending your money at such markets keeps your money within your community and supports the local economy. You can often find great bargains at a farmers' market - particularly at the end of the day, when farmers don't want to bring home boxes of unsold, ripe tomatoes or slightly limp spinach. Produce at a farmers' market is available according to the season. Adapting to eating seasonally can require a minor adjustment, but it is one which will put you in touch with the rhythms of your local seasons and with delicious fresh fruits and vegetables.

Share your local farmers market experience or comments below

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Green Lentil Curry Soup

Cooking

1 lb green lentils
2 large onions
1 full bulb garlic
2 thumbs fresh ginger
1 bag baby carrots
1/4 bunch cilantro chopped
1 cup vegetable broth
1 can coconut milk
1/2 tsp cumin
salt pepper to taste


When I make soup, I usually follow the "Go Big or Go Home" Maxim. As a result, I have an unusual 2-pot technique. I simmer the lentils in a large cauldron-usually with some vegetable or chicken stock-until it is done. Simultaneously in a large frypan, I sautee all the vegetables, then add the coconut milk, stock, curry paste etc. When they are well blended, I pour these ingredients back into the massive pot, and simmer until done.
My "upsizing" has led me to start an ad hoc soup network whereby I deliver fresh soups to my friends and they, in turn, reciprocate. Another perk of making large batches is the benefit of "Aromatherapy" ... soup slowly simmering smells like home.

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Cycling Away The Winter Blues

Causality / Cycling

In the past month the Dow Jones has fallen 3000 points, we have "lost" 45 minutes of afternoon daylight, the leaves have turned and are now falling in tandem with the temperature. October has been a bleak month no matter how you choose to measure it.
The Winter Blues will soon be upon us...

In fact, I have already been feeling the encroaching symptoms of what I personally refer to as "mung"...a variation of seasonal affective disorder [SAD] that creeps gradually into my life as the leaves change and we are robbed of precious life-sustaining sunlight. As I have been "suffering" from these Winter Blues for years, I have collected some techniques for mounting a defense.

The primary weapon for combatting The Winter Blues is Exercise ...which for me comes primarily from cycling. It is amazing how invigorating a 15-20 mile bike ride can be. To many it may seem counterintuitive that an intense cardio/physical workout can actually "give" you energy, but it is a well documented fact.

By using the technology of mapmyride.com, I have mapped a series of safe, comfortable and interesting rides (such as the one pictured below) that anyone may access by clicking here.














Andiamo 18: A low traffic, high speed scenic ride of 1 hr

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Hipster: The Dead End of Civilization

Do you recognize this person? He is a cultural amalgam of sorts, like the resulting face of an FBI identikit. Look again: You may recognize the vacuous expression in the eyes, the carefully cultivated non-chalance of his grooming, the neurotic obsession with vintage and appropriated working class clothing, the slacker posture, the tell-tale white lasso of an iPod...

This month's Adbusters exposes the habitat, mating rituals and stylistic trademarks of The Hipster with a jaundiced eye, and an appropriately scathing and equally depressing cultural critique:

We've reached a point in our civilization where counterculture has mutated into a self-obsessed aesthetic vacuum. So while hipsterdom is the end product of all our prior countercultures, it's been stripped of its subversion and originality , and is leaving a generation pointlessly obsessing over fashion, faux individuality, cultural capital and the commodities of style...(read more)

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Urban Garden Project: Composting in the City

Cooking / Urban Gardening

This year I had one tomato plant that yielded 52 baseball-sized tomatoes. That may sound unbelievable, but look. When I began the Urban Garden Project 3 years ago, my goal was simple: transform a patch of neglected and fallow urban land into a high-yielding garden. I chose to plant my favorite things, and also the most expensive vegetables: Organic Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Eggplant, Tomatillos, Arugula, Beets and Melons will all put a small dent in your wallet if you buy them from your local farmer's market. If you opt to buy these vegetables at "Whole Paycheck" , you may need to consider refinancing your home.

With the economics of urban gardening in mind, I have tried to maximize the square footage yield of my garden. The highest yields per square foot include Arugula, Basil, Red Peppers and Heirloom Tomatoes. From year to year I have been fine-tuning the balance of vegetables, berries and fruit, and ever improving the quality of the soil. It is an ongoing project that saves me thousands of dollars a year, consumes a minor amount of time, and has absorbed a major amount of compost.

Compost is any organic matter allowed to biodegrade and then later added to your garden to enhance the soil's nutrients, micro-organisms and texture. Neighbors and friends have steadily contributed organic kitchen scraps, cuttings, and rotting veggie produce. The results have literally born fruit - and lots of it.

Alex and Steve: Compost Contributers to The Urban Garden

For the collection of compostible materials from neighbors and friends, I use your standard 5 gallon bucket [above] You can simply keep this in the kitchen and "feed" it kitchen scraps, much like a waste bin- but rather than being added to the mountainous accumulation of garbage we generate, it can be aggregated in a large compost pile (as I do) and later added to garden beds.

"Give and ye shall receive" is my motto when it comes to the vegetables and berries that come from the garden. Roughly 1500 square feet divided into 8 raised beds and thoughtfully planted yields far more than I can eat, so I have been supplying my hungry green friends with free vegetables like this:

Urban Garden "Horn Of Plenty" July 27, 2008

I stumbled across the Giving Garden idea when I received a delicious marinara sauce from my neighbors Steve and Alex. A few weeks earlier I had let them pick a bucket full of fresh veggies [see above] and low and behold in return I received 5 pounds of sauce which upon tasting, in a Proustian manner, I now refer to as "the marinara of my childhood".

The Marinara Sauce of Childhood

Shortly thereafter, my friend Zeke told me that if I gave her enough Blackberries I could get a delicious cobbler in return. Sadly, this cobbler was so good that I ate it all before I could take any photos! Hearing of my garden's generous bounty, Cameron "borrowed" some Golden Girl yellow tomatoes, and returned a delicious smoky yellow tomato soup....and so on and so on...

Cameron's Roasted Chipotle Yellow Tomato Soup

Is there anything better than eating crisp vegetables, freshly made soups, sauces, gazpacho, pesto, chutneys, ratatouille, and berry cobblers? Perhaps, but only if you took the time and care to grow the ingredients yourself, and had the dishes prepared by talented friends. Thanks to everyone who helped promote and share in the idea of a Giving Garden.

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Organic Garden Project: Winston-Salem, NC

Guerilla Gardening / Urban Gardening

A slideshow update of The Urban Garden Project is overdue!

In May of 2006 I decided to transform a former urban industrial site into an organic garden. The idea to convert the 1500 square foot side lot of an industrial building into a viable organic garden came to me through my involvement in The Hut Collective. For the past 7 years, my design and woodworking shop has been located in a 1950's Quanset Hut occupied by a small group of artists and craftsmen. [photo] In June I decided to direct my greener ambitions towards recouping and transforming some of the unused lot into a productive organic garden. The owner of the property was very encouraging and offered not only to help me, but gave me the salvaged wood I used to build the fence.

Those curious about the gradual transformation of this formerly abandoned industrial sidelot into a high-yielding organic garden click here.

Upcoming projects include establishing a local network of Urban Gardeners and pooling our skills, experience and vegetables. If we can involve enough homestead gardeners it might become possible to start an micro-CSA, and offer an even wider variety of veggies to members of the community. To some degree this is already underway between my other gardener friends. I was recently given 3 Kiwi vines by my friend John who has been growing Isaac Kiwis her in NC for almost 20 years. We also swap surplus veggies and tastey soup. Next year I hope to make this into a more formal structure with new members.

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Greengearonline.com: A Resource For Green Products and Technology

Design / Sustainable Living

As a side project to vergelimbo.com, a few months back I started greengearonline.com. Some friends and I felt there was a need for a green technology site that offered practical information for the eco-conscious, without pushing the deluge of shoddy "pseudo-green" products flooding the market. Like many people I had grown tired of visiting supposed Green Blogs and webpages looking for real and effective products and useful information, and finding little of value. I found most of these alleged Green sites to be little more than advertising sites pushing soi-disant "green products" as absurd and pointless as "organic yogurt infused yoga mats" and poorly designed, over-priced, hipster hemp clothing. The scroll function became my new ally. I scrolled and filtered the pseudo from the real.

In fact, few of these "greenitized" sites had anything to do with effecting real change or fostering new attitudes towards consumer behavior [ie: buy less, buy smart] or adopting new renewable-energy technologies such as solar, wind, and mirco-hydro. Rather, such sites excel at "propagreenda" and strive to sell the consumer un-necessary or irrelevant products cunningly presented under a guise of "green". I began to scroll and filter with this in mind...these filtered search results are what I now post on greengearonline: Real Green, All The Time.

Greengearonline.com will act as a one-stop resource for Green Technology, Eco-Conscious living and Sustainable Practices. Similar in format to Utne Reader, greengearonline will post the most interesting green news articles and information from the web as well as the print media. Updates will occur frequently and the majority of the material posted will pertain to issues of renewable energy technology, sustainability, green design and eco-awareness.

Check out greengearonline.com and let me know what you think of this new Green Reader. Leave your comments or suggestions for articles below!

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Wheatgrass Addiction-The Shocking Truth

"Hello, my name is Verge and I am a Wheatgrass Junky...

I started "using" only a few short months ago, but I was hooked instantly. The green vibrant rush I felt upon imbibing the first ounce felt like a liquid dragon coursing through my toxin-ridden body. Within days, I began "growing my own", assuring myself of a quality supply. It was all downhill from there. I started with a wheatgrass growing kit, but soon outgrew that and began to "experiment" with different varieties of seeds, soil, lighting conditions, etc. Then came my quest for the ultimate Juicer to extract the vital essence and feed my ever-growing addiction. Along the way, I regret that I drew others into my dark green obsession...
Cameron S., my co-captain on The Pedalphiles Cycling Team was first to fall. Then, my friend John P. agreed to "lease" me his German-made, manual juice extractor (cerca 1977) on the proviso that he could call upon me anytime to satisfy his rekindled lust for the silky, potent elixir. Word got out...soon, Robert J. offered me his 30 year-old Champion Juicer in a similar quid pro quo arrangement. What had I unleashed!?

I found my "on-the-road" Fix at Jamba Juice

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Urban Garden Update: Winter...what to do?

Winter is a time of great suffering- for gardens and gardeners alike. That said, this winter has been one of the most mild on record, and so I have taken advantage of the warm days to effect some needed upkeep and changes to my Urban Garden Project. Amazingly, many of my veggies kept producing til mid November [tomatoes, carrots, onions, Arugula] but a sudden cold blast and icy rain mid December devastated the late season greenery-or so I thought. December 20th there was not a speck of green anywhere other than the Rosemary and onions.

By mid-January, the Carrots, Kale, Arugula, Broccoli, Chard, Leeks, Garlic, Parsley and Mustard Greens had staged a miraculous comeback- this despite the fact that they were all withered, brown and decomposing a month earlier.

COMPOSTING: I continually add organic matter to my compost pile through the winter. By spring the pile will be a steaming mound of organic goodness. Almost everything of organic value from my kitchen makes its way to this pile: Coffee grounds, eggshells, cucumber skins, carrot tops, and my spent wheatgrass trays all migrate from my home to my garden. A few friends also contribute their kitchen waste to my garden.

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Terrachoice explains "Greenwashing"

This CTV interview clearly defines the concept and intention of "greenwashing" and alerts the consumer to the deceptive tactics marketers employ to misinform the public regarding the "green" claims of various products. The Six Sins of Greenwashing, as defined by Terrachoice, are explored and examples of each type of deception are given. [More related videos follow this clip]

What are some of the more spurious or misleading claims you have seen in recent advertising or packaging? Leave me a comment and include an example of greenwashing if possible...

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Green Idea Of The Week: Propagreenda (defined)

I used to think that everyone made up new words. When I was a kid my friend Giles and I were very competitive about it. But as I grew older, I realized that very few people feel the need to accurately define the many "nameless" phenomena or artifacts in their surroundings. Most people seem content with vague "you know that thing..." or defining things by similarity "it's sort of like that thing" etc. I am not one of those people.

When I stumbled upon the online "Urban Dictionary" I felt vindicated. Apparently Giles and I were not alone. Other people felt a need to coin new words, to define the world around them.

Another word I felt was needed:

Anyone can submit their new word and definition to The Urban Dictionary, and if it passes muster with the editors, your word will be included. The definition is subject to further evaluation by the public using a thumbs up/down rating.

I also added these words to our contemporary lexicon

Have you ever felt the need to invent a new word, or to coin a phrase? If so, what was it? Leave any comments or new words below by clicking on the "comments" link.

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Yellow Curry Daal Recipe: A Scrumptious Sludge

2 lbs split chick peas [soaked]
2 large onions
8 cloves garlic
1 cup sliced baby carrots
2 red peppers
1 can coconut milk
1 cup vegetable stock
1 Tbsp Yellow Curry Powder
3 Tbsps Yellow Curry Paste
1/2 cup dried cranberries

When I make soup, I usually follow the "Go Big or Go Home" Maxim. As a result, I have an unusual 2-pot technique. I simmer the chick peas in a large cauldron-usually with some vegetable or chicken stock-until it is done. Simultaneously in a large frypan, I sautee all the vegetables, then add the coconut milk, stock, curry paste etc. When they are well blended, I pour these ingredients back into the massive pot, and simmer until done.
My "upsizing" has led me to start an ad hoc soup network whereby I deliver fresh soups to my friends and they, in turn, reciprocate. Another perk of making large batches is the benefit of "Aromatherapy" ... soup slowly simmering smells like home.

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Polar Bear Metric Century Map

Cycling

January 1, 2008 will mark the fourth annual "Ride For Courage". For further information on the ride itself and the charity Cancer Services, visit gopolar.org. There will be three different distance categories: The Polar Bear Metric Century [100km/ 62 miles], pictured below, as well as a 25-mile and a 13-mile course.


To view a more detailed and larger map click here. The Metric Century is largely pastoral/rural and offers beautiful scenic vistas of rural North Carolina. The ride is quite hilly, but in a forgiving and rolling way, the roads are in good condition and most of the course could be considered very low traffic. The elevation chart below will give you a clear idea of the hills.

Click Elevation Chart to Enlarge

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Green Idea Of The Week: Plant Something!

Rather than go out and buy the latest greenitized* product you really don't need, plant that pesky lemon, apple or grapefruit seed that is caught in your sink's strainer. No need to go out and buy a fancy new [made in China] pot - just look under your sink and find some yogurt container or similar and fill it with a handful of organic potting soil and give it a soak. Already have a plant potted somewhere? Even easier: poke your finger in the soil and drop in the seed and a splash of water. Citrus plants usually take about 3 weeks just to poke their leafy head up, and grow rather slowly. Apple trees grow significantly faster.
This is a photo of a Honey Crisp Apple at 3 weeks. [note pot]
Here is a Grapefruit at 2 years

If you are suffering from ADD and need to see some immediate growth and greenery, plant some wheatgrass. You can literally "watch the grass grow". From seed to sprout takes 2 days, and thereafter it grows roughly 1 inch per day. The photo upper left is of my wheatgrass at day 6. I'll be juicing this batch Sunday.
The lush brilliant green is quite amazing. When my friend Cameron saw this verdant lushness, he could not resist petting it like some diabolical Bond villain. "I want to sleep on a bed of this" was all he could say. Over the next few weeks I will be experimenting with different types of soil, lighting conditions and also the specialized wheatgrass juicers that I will be borrowing from some friends in exchange for a few wheatgrass "shots" like this.

Let me know what you have planted lately and how it is growing...

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Celebrate "Buy Nothing Day" November 23rd

November 23rd is the anti-consumerism celebration known the world over as "Buy Nothing Day".

The impetus behind "Buy Nothing Day" is to raise awareness of the consumerist culture in which we live, and the degree to which our behavior revolves around our activity as consumers. Mounting environmental evidence suggests that our current consumption rates are unsustainable and that our choices as consumers have a direct impact on the health of the planet. Buy Nothing Day seeks to expose the environmental costs and ethical consequences that result from overconsumption.

A Very Modest Proposal:
One day a year. (November 23)
1 divided by 365=o.oo273 or roughly o.3%
--------------------------------------------------
Abstain from consumerism for 0.3% of the year.
This November 23rd don't be a consumer, just be.

Kalle Lasn, co-founder of the Adbusters Media Foundation, explains BUY NOTHING DAY as a necessary perceptual shift. “Our headlong plunge into ecological collapse requires a profound shift in the way we see things. Driving hybrid cars and limiting industrial emissions is great, but they are band-aid solutions if we don’t address the core problem: we must consume less. This is the message of Buy Nothing Day.”

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Duct Tape Uses: Bandage or Bondage?

Since it's invention in 1942 people the world over have used Duct Tape creatively for various unintended uses. I would wager that less than 10% of it comes anywhere near any actual duct work - for which it was first conceived. Instead, it has been used to make handbags, belts, wallets, clothing, furniture etc. Apparently it is also effective in treating some type of warts.

I am informed by my madskills friend alphabitch, that any willing masochist can effectively "shave" their legs with the stuff. [more] Personally, I tend more towards bookbinding, waterproofing, furniture repair and emergency bandages with my roll. After all: What real man keeps bandaids in the house? Well, apparently some cunning marketers glommed onto this macho paradigm and came up with this loophole product for ninnies.
So, if only a fraction of duct tape sees any ductwork, a similarly tiny fraction is correctly referred to as Duct Tape. The majority of people mispronounce this adhesive marvel as: Duck Tape. In fact, a company called Duck Tape markets their adhesive tape as just that, capitalizing on the widespread mispronunciation!

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, reports on the versatility and virtues of the sticky silver tape reached a crescendo. The newly formed Department of Homeland Security [itself, rumored to be held together by Duct tape] recommended that every household have on hand a quantity of duct tape sufficient to seal all the windows against an Anthrax attack. Duct tape was considered by the top military brass to be a formidable weapon in The War On Terror. When I heard that I felt very "securitizified" with my stash of rolls... How about you?

What do you think duct tape is best used for? Leave a comment

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Dynamic Zinger Recipe: The Ultimate Green Elixir

Dynamic Zinger Recipe:
1 Large Bunch Parsley [2 cups]
1 Bag Baby Carrots
1 Medium Yellow Onion
6 Cloves of Garlic
1/4 cup Basil Leaves
1/4 cup Olive Oil
Juice of 1 Lemon
4 Tbsps Balsamic Vinegar
Optional: Add 1/4 cup Pistachios

Add to Cuisinart in the above order and pulse/blend to texture.
Within minutes of finishing a cup of Dynamic Zinger I felt I had the strength to move boulders. Parsley is exceptionally high in vitamins C, A and K. It is a powerful anti-oxidant and detoxifier.

What's your Ultimate Elixir? Leave comments or recipes below

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Mapmyride.com: Going The Distance for Cyclists

Mapmyride.com will map any route, calculate distance and elevation changes, and provide you a printable map for safer cycling, running or "artful walking".

Ever wondered if there was a faster way from A to B?
A safer way? Or wondered how far A actually was from B? Cyclists, runners or the "wandering aimless" need not wonder anymore. MapMyRide.com is a FREE Google Maps mash-up that can determine all the above and much more.

A few months back I decided to get back into cycling. My friend Cameron and I formed an ad hoc bike gang, "The pedalphiles", and took to the roads. But where would we go? We started off exploring and searching for the best roads for biking - where best was a balance of safest, smoothest, and most interesting terrain. Hanging out at bike shops, we ogled the coolest gear and talked to the staff for tips on routes. Mock Orange is a top-notch bike shop a stones throw from my house, and I bought my safety gear there. "Is there any type of online map software that can plot out our bike routes?" I asked. Jamie, who works there, told us about Mapmyride.

HOW IT WORKS:
Mapmyride works better than I had expected. The sign-up is fast and free, and the software works smoothly and easily. Once you have signed up, start by clicking "Map New Ride", enter your start address, and click "Follow Roads" in order to trace your route along the roads. Then it is just a matter of plotting your route by clicking your cursor on the roads you wish to follow. Different views are available such as Satellite, Hybrid, Topographical:

Example of Satellite View

The function "Show Elevation" is located at the bottom border of the map and will graph your changing elevation along the trip:

Elevation

FIND A RIDE:
After you have plotted a route, you can create a profile and make your maps public, so that anyone searching for a local route can see the recorded rides for that area. Details of the ride can be added such as "hilly, low traffic, smooth road surfaces", the maps are also rated using a star-ranking system.

Try Mapmyride.com and leave me your comments below

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Urban Garden Project: Fall Veggies Slideshow

The Urban Garden Project is undergoing the metamorphosis for Fall. While the Tomatoes, Peppers, Basil, Onions, Tomatillos, Eggplant and Zucchini still thrive, room has been made for the Fall/Winter crop.

This year I ordered some very unusual seeds from the venerable Seeds of Change Catalog. Seeds of Change specializes in organic, heirloom and rare/interesting seeds from around the world. Their catalog can be had for free via their web page, and qualifies as pornography for the Green-thumbed among us. Several varieties of Fall/Winter vegetables caught my eye: [click them to see why]

Dinosaur Kale Hopi Squash Dragon Carrots Red Russian Kale

I had some help digging up the teetering sunflower, cucumber, canteloupe, and beans to make room for the new stuff. Rarely does anyone offer to help dig in the dirt with you, but someone I had just met thought it would be a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, and I am thankful to her for the help and the lively conversation that sparked from planting Dragon Carrots and Beets with her.

For Further Information: To Learn the Who, How, Why and Where about The Urban Garden Project check out these articles:

Locavores, Patio Gardens and Urban Gardening
Urban Gardening and the Habits of Locavores

Recently my garden was assaulted by "bastardly bunnies" who have devoured Cauliflower, Broccoli and Collards leaving only a weeping stub behind. A line has been drawn: The fences are up!

Leave any comments, suggestions or queries below:

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Take the Eco-Footprint Quiz

Measure your current consumption habits and their demand on the environment.

The Eco-Footprint Quiz is a quick, private online test that will yield provocative and insightful results based on your responses to 15 questions. Your environmental impact [or eco-footprint] is calculated and expressed in terms of the number of acres that are required to sustain your current level of consumption.

The results will appear in a graphic table [my results below]

So, while my "Total Footprint" [17 acres] is below the US average of 24, neither score is anywhere near sustainable as worldwide there are only 4.5 biologically productive acres per person.

Take The ECO-FOOTPRINT QUIZ

Please leave me a comment below with your results

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Green Ideas: Whole House-Off Switch

Design / Sustainable Living

Green Idea of the Week will spotlight new innovative green technologies, practices and products from around the world

Green Idea Of The Week:

The Whole House-Off Switch

[via Inhabitat]
Ever leave the house wondering if you left something on that should’ve been turned off? Wouldn’t you love to be able to power down your house with the touch of one button?
That’s the simple notion behind the Whole House-Off Switch by designer Jack Godfrey Wood, a single button that can turn off of the unnecessary power in the house, so as you walk out the door, you can be sure all the TVs, lights, and other appliances you may have left on are safely off and not consuming any electricity.

I know what you're thinking...What about my fridge, digital alarm clock, hot waterheater, house alarm, TiVo etc. There are many appliances one wouldn't want shut down upon leaving the house. A more expensive version "has a central switch that also allows the inhabitant to leave some items plugged into safe sockets around the house which can be left on for security or peace of mind when everything else has been turned off at the central switch". [Yanko Design]

What do you think about the Whole House-Off Switch?
Leave me a comment below and read what others have said

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Stepping Out: The Walkscore and Your Neighborhood

Take the Walkscore Test for Yourself

While I was biking around DC last week, Treehugger posted an article on a new Google Maps Mash-up that can calculate the "walking friendly" score of your neighborhood. It is really very simple to use: Simply input your address and zip code and push "go". The results appear within seconds. Depending on the proximity of various amenities [such as shops, schools, parks, libraries] to your home, you will receive a score between 0 and 100. Pictured above are the results for my neighborhood.

Follow this link to rate your neighborhood, and leave me a comment about the results below

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Urban Gardening Project: Winston-Salem, NC.

Guerilla Gardening / Organic Gardening / Urban Gardening

I took these photos on July 10th. Recently we have been having a ridiculous amount of rain here in Winston-Salem, NC. Combined with temps in the 80's and 90's my Urban Garden Project has really taken off. I suspect that shortly I will be living exclusively on a diet of Gazpacho - fortunately I happen love the stuff.

Click Here for History of The Urban Garden Project

Leave a comment or Gazpacho recipe below!

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Supercilious Cyclists Caught On Camera

I lifted this hilarious clip on the haughty attitudes of some urban cyclists from Treehugger.com. [You know who you are...]

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Urban Gardening and the Habits of Locavores

Urban Gardening / Winston-Salem

U.S.U.R.P. Garden: Winston-Salem, NC

Click Here To Read about The Origin of the USURP Garden

Usurp \U*surp"\, v.i.

[1] To commit forcible seizure of place, power, or function.

[2] Acronym: Urban Space Utility Repurposing Project.
_______________________________________________________

OK... So I made up the second definition to suit my purpose, and give my garden a cool sounding name. Also, the owner of the property, which is home to The Hut Collective, not only encouraged me to develop the space, he helped with the digging!

Last July I blogged about my Urban Garden in an article called "Locavores, Patio Gardens and Recapturing Urban Garden Space" It seems I am not the only one who thinks paying 4$ per red pepper, or 8$/lb for decent tomatoes is outrageous. Plus, nothing tastes better than a freshly picked tomato, a still-muddy crisp carrot or a fresh-picked salad.
Although for years I have been an avid fire-escape gardener, I decided to establish a more substantial garden in the triangular lot adjacent to the building where my woodworking shop is located. [aerial photo] The area I had chosen for "re-purposing" had previously been a gravel driveway, so the ground was hard-compacted and covered in gravel. A friend with a tractor skimmed the surface roughly to level and used the gravelly earth he removed to re-enforce the banks of the nearby creek.

In the first stages of re-purposing, it looked like this:

After dozens of yards of dark topsoil, mulch, compost and sweat, it was transformed into this:

Raised beds are the key...spare bricks border the herb bed

The USURP Garden now consists of 8 raised beds in an area of roughly 1500 square feet. The raised beds have proven to be very helpful in avoiding the deluge of rain run-off from the roof of the quonset hut. Last summer I built a 70-foot fence out of reclaimed shipping crates with the help of a few friends. The fence now encloses the garden and creek area from curious and peckish bipedal marauders. Currently I am seeding a small "green space" for a barbecue/picnic area for small gatherings of friends.

Carrots----------Spinach--------Radish--------Mesclun Mix

On Preparing New Beds:

I really like Zucchini grilled on the Barbecue, so today I decided that I needed to find space for my seedling Zucchinis to be planted and also somewhere to transplant some sweet corn. That required digging a new bed. No small feat when clay and rock are your natural soil conditions. Fortunately over the past year I had maintained a topsoil/compost pile for this very reason. Kitchen scraps from my house, and friends houses were added throughout the winter and it had reached that impressive dark rich soil texture in which the Zukes will thrive. But first I had to dig out the hardpacked clay and rock. It looked like this:

Carolina Red Clay and Rock... A#!@$^ing nightmare

I dug down about 10 inches then added a wheelbarrow of Red Cedar shavings that my shopmate Jacob had donated. The new bed measures about 5'x8'. Then I added about 12-14 inches of the rich compost/soil I had on hand and "Voila!"

Sweet Corn and Zucchini Growing Together

Currently Growing:

Herb/Medicinal Bed: Mint, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Tarragon, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Lavender/Echinichea, Lemon Balm, St. John's Wort, Sunflowers, Raspberries and Blackberries.
Bed 1: Celery, Red Peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Orange Peppers, Carrots, Spinach, Radishes, Mesclun Salad Mix
Bed 2: Bush Cherry Tomatoes, Poblano Peppers, Roma, Brandywine, and Yellow Tomatoes, Tamatillos, Okra
Bed 3: Beets, Romaine Lettuce, Spring Onions, Cowhorn Peppers, Leeks, Eggplant
Bed 4: [Trellised] 4 String Bean varieties, Sugar Snap Peas, Snow Peas
Bed 5: Sweet Corn, Pole beans
Bed 6: Cucumbers and Cantaloupe
Bed 7: Zucchini, Sweet Corn

I get a "little" help from some of my friends...

Grow Off Photos:

Growing Raspberries
Growing Basil
Cucumber Explosion
Bush Cherry Tomatoes
Mesclun Salad Mix
Growing Dill
World Record Peppers?

To View A Slideshow of Growth Click Here

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