Listening for the Sounds of Summer article this week discusses Bee-lawn maintenance. Here is the link for the latest article.
Bee-Lawn Maintenance.
This week’s article will focus on the Bee-lawn. As mentioned in Give Dandelions their Day in the Sun our early emerging pollinators struggle to find sources of nectar. Therefore, it is critical we allow the dandelions and other early emerging nectar producers to grow unmolested in at least portions of our lawns. Most importantly do … Continue reading Bee-Lawn Maintenance.
June
Dream Pirates just got back from my editor, so I have been busy with the rewrite of my middle-grade fantasy series. I will keep you all posted on my progress. The Latest article for Listening for the Sounds of Summer is now available. Lawns are Stupid. If this is your first visit to my author … Continue reading June
Lawn’s are Stupid.
For those of you who have been reading the weekly articles, it will come as no surprise that I am not a fan of turf grass lawns. Frankly, I think lawns are, at best, a waste of time, money, and resources and, at worst, an environmental hazard and ethically indefensible. I have talked some about … Continue reading Lawn’s are Stupid.
I Used to Be the Guy Next Door.
John’s my neighbor, - the guy next door. Remember his front yard. Well, his neighbors and his neighbors, neighbors yards all look similar, just less perfect. Still, all green, and not a weed in sight. There’s green grass as far as the eye can see. The turf grass stands alone. And this is not by … Continue reading I Used to Be the Guy Next Door.
Last Week of May – 23
The white clover is in bloom! The dandelions have had their day. You can read about my thoughts on how dandelions should be used to bridge the gap between early spring, when pickings are slim for early arriving pollinators, and later in summer, when a multitude of other blooms and food sources are available for … Continue reading Last Week of May – 23
Repost from Listening for the Sounds of Summer.
Listening for the Sounds of Summer Blog. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, … Continue reading Repost from Listening for the Sounds of Summer.
A Tale of Two Yards
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it … Continue reading A Tale of Two Yards
From Sunshine to Wine
The rays of sunshine travel 93 million miles in eight minutes and twenty seconds and land upon your lawn. These rays of sunlight are not the sun’s heat or thermal energy but a form of energy called electromagnetic radiation - a kind of radiation including visible light, radio waves, gamma rays, and X-rays, in which electric … Continue reading From Sunshine to Wine
Sunshine Wine.
Last week, in Listening for the Sounds of Summer, I wrote an article about Giving the Dandelion their Day in the Sun. In Lansing, Michigan, they wrote over 1400 citations for unruly grass, as reported by the Lansing State Journal. Photo by Daniel Absi on Pexels.com While in East Lansing, the city just on the … Continue reading Sunshine Wine.
Giving Dandelions their Day in the Sun.
Originally I meant to include this article later in the series, but I realized this week as I took pictures of my yard and compared them to the Guy next door that the dandelions were doing their job and needed this article now. I know the spring has been in full bloom in the southern … Continue reading Giving Dandelions their Day in the Sun.
From Wheat to White Bread
Okay, full disclosure. I eat wheat bread 90% of the time. I like white bread. I now love wheat bread, but it took a while. The science of acquiring a taste for foods through repetition and exposure is established. In a future article, I will tell how I acquired a taste for bourbon. True Story. … Continue reading From Wheat to White Bread
Do as I Say, not as I do.
Kill your lawn. Yes, you read that correctly. Before you start your native plant perennial garden, make sure to kill the grass! No matter the size you are planning to install. Kill the grass first. I am not a gardener. Wait, I looked it up. Definition Gardener - a person who tends and cultivates a garden as … Continue reading Do as I Say, not as I do.
Listening for the Sounds of Summer
New articles for Start to Finish will post soon. Today May 1st, I launched Listening for the Sounds of Summer blog/book project. Please check it out using the link provided.
Introduction to Listening for the Sounds of Summer.
IntroductionI wanted a nice green lawn. Most people do. A yard a lot like this! I am such an idiot! While I have the advantage of knowing, or perhaps, realizing or at least being aware, that I am an idiot. I now realize the incredible idiocracy of a lawn. I realized I was an idiot … Continue reading Introduction to Listening for the Sounds of Summer.
From ? To Hot Dogs
It’s the start of grilling season with a smattering of summer-like weather in the north and warm temperatures already settling in in the south. We have all seen the headlines. And you’re probably wondering just what goes into making your favorite hotdog. Huffington Post “How Bad Are Hot Dogs For You, And How Many Are … Continue reading From ? To Hot Dogs
From The Grocery Store to Home – The most sustainable Option for Carrying My Groceries.
Look, I know it’s not their fault, and maybe I am reading more into their body language than what is really there but… Still, it is hard to totally dismiss the deep sighs, the rolling of the eyes, the wide-eyed looks, and the downright ignoring of my request. The cashiers at the grocery store seemingly … Continue reading From The Grocery Store to Home – The most sustainable Option for Carrying My Groceries.
From Linear to Circular – Exploring the Concept of Circular Economy.
This week’s article will again focus on potential solutions to our waste management problems in the US. We will explore the idea of a Circular Economy and compare it to what we currently have. I will also provide a few links to organizations dedicated to bringing about this sustainable idea. What is a Circular Economy? … Continue reading From Linear to Circular – Exploring the Concept of Circular Economy.
From Despair to Hope. Recycling Schemes That Work.
This week’s article is about examples of successful recycling programs. Corporations have created unimaginable piles of garbage. We have gleefully participated as consumers. This story will help illustrate that there are pathways out of this mess. Photo by Tom Fisk on Pexels.com We’ve spent a few weeks exploring the dangers of packaging, plastics, synthetic fibers, … Continue reading From Despair to Hope. Recycling Schemes That Work.
From Solar Panels to Silica, Silver, Aluminum, and Most Likely More Trash.
Another reader request. Can we recycle solar panels? This is a rather interesting and timely question. We have been exploring plastic production’s impact on the environment, our health, and society. The lesson learned was one of basic common sense. An Environmental first principal. You know like “There is No Away.” Photo by Yogendra Singh on … Continue reading From Solar Panels to Silica, Silver, Aluminum, and Most Likely More Trash.
From Plastic to Less Plastic
My daughter uses reusable plastic containers for her shampoo, conditioner, and body soap. They come in medium-sized baggies of moderate thickness. Each is full of products and capped with a twist top. They come with a return addressed envelope. When you have exhausted the contents, you simply place them in the brown envelope and return … Continue reading From Plastic to Less Plastic
From Sand to Glass
There is more to this week’s article than the title might imply. Yes, we will discuss how glass is made. That, after all, was a reader suggestion. I decided to explore this topic at this time as a follow-up to the article about recycling. It makes sense that we consider glass as an alternative to … Continue reading From Sand to Glass
T.L. Johnson 