Posted on

To Err is Human, To Redo is Annoying: How NOT to build a gravel pathway, and how to fix it afterwards.

You learn a lot as a first time home owner. About half of that learning comes from making costly mistakes. My pea gravel pathways are a prime example of that. I’ve spent countless hours leveling and sculpting pathways around my beds in order to create a nice harmonious flow throughout the yard. I’ve spent quite a bit of money on pea gravel as well in order to do this. Admittedly, I knowingly took a few shortcuts along the way. And…now I’m paying for it. Big time. Continue reading “To Err is Human, To Redo is Annoying: How NOT to build a gravel pathway, and how to fix it afterwards.”

Posted on

Designing and Building my own Chicken Coop

Why should you raise chickens?

Once upon a time, humans thought it a jolly good idea to chase all manners of herbivores all over the face of the earth as they migrated this way and that. They didn’t do it because they were bored or thought that gazelle had nice butts, although they did. They did this because of the reoccurring gurgling sound and all around hollow feeling you get when you’re hungry.

Then one day, someone got a bright idea. “What if we simply catch some of these animals and trap them in a largish boxish thing so they can’t run away. Let’s call it a… paddock, yes a paddock! Then, when our bellies make the awful gurgling hollow sound and our heads go all dizzy, we can milk or eat one of them!” Lets call our hero Ugh. When Ugh suggested this with his series of guttural grunts and clicks, all the others in his nomadic tribe were dumbfounded. They feared him a demon of some sorts and instantly beat him to death with a large rock. So it goes for Ugh.

Continue reading “Designing and Building my own Chicken Coop”

Posted on

DIY Greywater System: Save money, save the world!

Being a first time home owner puts one in a position to be bombarded from all directions from all sorts of brand spankin’ new challenges. Just finding a home that won’t be taken from you with hordes of cash offers in Southern California is maddening. I believe at last count, I put in about 60 offers on houses. You get to the point where you don’t even have time to see some houses in the flesh, it’s gone that fast. Continue reading “DIY Greywater System: Save money, save the world!”