Sustainable SW Blogs

Just over a month and the tomato plants are growing like weeds...79,90,50,0,W

Interesting fact about some birds including doves: The parent flew away from the nest and did the "broken wing dance" feigning injury to try to lure away what was thought to be a predator near the nest. It was a photographer...not a predator.81,91,58,0,B

From Aaron's sister:  During they day in the hospital room in the cardiac ward where Aaron is staying. My mom sent me these pictures and it’s CRAZY seeing how many people are cramped into one space. Luckily, these are some of the sweetest humans you’ll ever meet (my dad purchased 40 apple pies from McDonald’s to give to them and my mom has made cookies to share with them all).
The bottom picture is the same room, but the view at night from underneath Aaron’s hospital bed, where my mom is sleeping on a mat. You can see how family members of all of the other patients also sleep under the beds, as to be beside their loved ones who have fallen ill.
Keep in mind, there is no air conditioning.
Strength and love to ALL of these patients and their families. ❤️
I hope one day, I can help others the way others have opened their hearts to my family.From Arron's father, Steven Lawrence - a long time follower of The Field Lab:  This is the difference between $35,000 in Vietnam and between $400,00-$500,000 in the US. Both have top notch surgical staff and state-of-the-art surgical equipment and facilities, but the facilities and customs for care while patients await surgery (and post-op non-intensive care once stabilized) are very, very different. Families, not nurses, care for the patients' non-medical needs. The nursing staff only supplies the medical procedures (IVs, bandages, dispensing medication, etc.,). Family members take care of everything else and are with the patients 24/7.  Please pray for him with me and contribute what you can...GoFundMe
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

In the old battery house for my defunct wind turbines...71,75,59,0,B

For those of you signed up to attend the Hoop House class this Sunday, here is a map of where they are located on the SFCC campus.

I start cutting lumber tomorrow.68,77,53,0,W

Video Friday88,99,62,0,W

Ben and I both approve of the new delivery driver for McCoys.89,99,52,0,B

In other news...my friend Steven Lawrence who has been following the blog for a number of years is in desperate need of funds to help his son Aaron who is in a hospital in Vietnam.  They both teach English there.  Here is a link to the gofundme campaign. 

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Big push today to get all the plywood down.  Taking a couple of days off - all the framing lumber and sheathing for the walls and roof arrives Tuesday.  80,89,60,0,B

A couple of days ago I was picking up a few things at The Little Burro store and my friend Carole was working the counter.  She was thumbing through a hard bound book of photos and I asked her about it.  It was filled with very nice quality printed photos from her Facebook page - from a company called PastBook.  I was so impressed with the quality that I ordered one that contains 580 randomly picked photos (including captions) from my Facebook timeline since I have been a member.  With the 40% discount, my cost was $63.39.  You can order books using photos from just about any source.  Hopefully it will look as good as Carole's did.  It is supposed to arrive in 7 - 10 days.  Might end up being a giveaway for a Field Lab trivia contest someday.  84,92,49,0,B

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April is a great time to plant greens like spinach, lettuce, cabbage and mustard greens. Plant now so you will get some greens to eat before it gets too hot. When it is hot they will bolt and become bitter. They can be grown in part shade to last longer when the heat comes. The spinach was actually started last spring and made it through the winter and the chartreuse and purple bok choi were put out 3 weeks ago. All are covered at night with row cover.

Other good crops to plant in April are bok choi and chard. They are real workhorses in the garden being able to withstand our cold and hot seasons. They can be grown in part shade to full sun.

Also good crops to plant in April are beets and carrots. Be sure to plant these in areas of your garden that are getting full sun and water 2 times a day until they are up.

Of course all this is dependent on your soil being warm enough now. How warm should your soil be? Between 40-60 degrees. How do you know how to tell? Get a soil thermometer and stick it in your soil about 2 inches deep. Here is a soil temperature chart to help you know when to plant veggies.

And these plants should still be covered with row cover at night because of our cold temperatures.

Got sidetracked on the way to the job site today. Finally got fed up enough about the passenger side exterior door handle not working on my truck (it hasn't worked for 5 years) and decided to do something about it. Watched a YouTube video on how to do the repair and fixed it. The trickiest part is removing the interior door panel. Found a bolt that had come loose and fallen down into the bottom of the door panel and put it back where it belonged.  One long overdue repair job done.  79,90,42,0,B

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.