While my son napped I went out and got to work.  Carefully removing the last ripe and nearly ripe fruit from the tomatoes, squash, pepper and egg plant plants.  Then when done I removed the plants and chopped them up to add to that compost salad at the back of the garden.  I know, it will be warm again next week, but some plants aren’t worth messing with after the first frost.  Those that are, I left behind. 

It was a bittersweet parting of ways this year as the garden had not produced as well as it had in past years.  It wasn’t the worst year ever and it certainly was not the best.  It was, however, still a good year.  It was  a year of firsts and that makes it better than any year.  It also makes it hard to say goodbye.

It was the first year I used raised beds and it was the first real summer in the garden for Baby G.  This was where he had his first birthday.   It was where he learned that a Praying Mantis can be ferocious and pill bugs can roll up.  He learned that basil, dill and sage taste good and nasturtiums were spicy.  He found out that grasshoppers were bad and often saw the bottom of Papa’s shoe and he learned earwigs are the bane of the garden and snails are fun to throw.   Best of all he learned  that there is more to this world than Nickelodeon and Noggin.  Dirt can be fun. <Photo 5>  I will never forget the day when after watching me pick tomatoes for about 5 minutes my son started pointing out the rest of the ripe ones.  He knew the green tomatoes had to wait a little longer.  Not bad for 15 months old!

In the coming weeks the little guy and I will spend more time in the garden as we get the beds ready for next year.  We’ll spread the fall leaves on the beds and cover them under blankets of composted mulch.  Letting the plants of years past feed us in the future.  The lifecycle of the garden is wonderful and I love sharing it with him. Just as my father and mother had with me and as their father’s an mother’s had with them. 

In the end I just want my son to learn where food comes from and not just where you buy it. That is more important to me than anything else and something I learned very early on as a child.  By the time I was five I had grown gardens, caught fish, watched my favorite goat go to slaughter and watched our ducks go from the pond to the dinner table.  Heck, I even knew how to castrate a goat. 

So off we go.  Planning next year.  Garden 2010, the year when the chicken coop goes in and my boy finds out where eggs, thighs, wings, breasts and legs come from.  This should be good.

In the New York Time they reveal that Some Buildings Not Living Up to Green Label they can’t even get Energy Star ratings.

Covered by Earth911 and pretty much everyone else, we find out that SIGG Announces Its Older Bottles Contain BPA, but a lot of people are defending them because, well, they were low doses.  Are these the same people that freak out when the FDA says there are safe levels of melamine in formula?

There is more debate on wind farms at MSNBC as the Wind farm debate splits property owners.

At ENN we learn that Renewable Energy Needs Land, Lots Of Land and it has opened up a big debate.

Over at MSNBC we find that  Growth of ocean ‘garbage patch’ alarms experts .

“If you watch your plants and listen to them, they will tell you what they need and where they should go.” He said.  “Look at that sagebrush over there.”  As we loomed over the sagebrush he pointed to the ground around it’s base and said, “see, it makes it’s own mulch, the leaves fall to the ground and branches grow in such a way to trap them around it.  It doesn’t need a lot of water and you don’t need to give it a lot of water because it traps the water it needs under that mulch.”  “just like a cactus expands to hold the water it needs and if you over water it, it will pop and die.”

While I love my plants I never really payed such attention to them.  I placed them where I wanted them, watered and fertalized (organically) them and would get frustated when they would die anyway.  Wondering always if it was because I was working organically and not doing it right.  What was really happening was that I was not “listening to my garden.”  Those plants that would self sow and come up five feet from where I really wanted them to be were only moving to a better place in the garden.  Maybe not better for my “plan”, but better for their survival. 

So, rather than go on and on here (which I could easily do), I want to leave you with this.  If you “listen” to your garden and do what it asks you, you will see huge success, beautiful flowers and more produce.  Your plants produce EVERYTHING they need and will create the environments they need to survive (if you are growing natives, non natives have a hard time adapting to new climates).  You will do less work and you will have happier plants. If they want to pick up and move, let them.  Relax and enjoy nature.

Photo Source:  by khenigar via Flickr Creative Commons

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NJEouqefis

In the Southwest corner of Salt Lake County a not so little community called Daybreak has sprung up in the area where the old Kennecott Copper evaporation ponds used to be located and were subsequently cleaned up several years ago.  (Click HERE for a PDF document from the EPA on this remediation) Daybreak is a community built around green living, close neighborhoods and Energy Star Certified homes, it takes an area where pollution was a problem and makes it a testament to the change that can happen.  A light rail line is even being built to the community (someday…) so that residents can move easily to the heart of Salt Lake City and give those who work there an affordable opportunity for green living outside of the locales they would typically consider closer in.  The concept is wonderful! However, until that light rail line is built it is a long way from being green when it comes to proximity to services and the current traffic situation. 

In it’s short history the Daybreak style of home has leaned toward late 1800’s and early 1900’s styling where craftsman and Victorian homes were the norm.  Something new has now come online from Garbett Homes and it is called the Solaris Collection.  

What sets these homes apart is that they are in a modern design and a wide and welcome contrast to the the typical Daybreak craftsman redux.  Actually, it is exciting! Very Exciting!  Now if they could intersperse them amongst the other styles a little more, so it doesn’t just end up as another overabundance of homes that all look the same. 

Some other noteable information on these homes is the materials that they are using here as well.  From Hardi Board on the exterior, solar included in the price and r38 insulation in the ceilings, they are also making good strides in green building and energy efficiency with these homes.  That and the base price is $206,000!  Please note that I did not say GREAT green strides.  These homes are Energy Star rated so please take that for what it is worth.  It is a start and not the top. 

Photos of the homes can be seen on the Garbett Website and through posts over at Grassroots Modern and Jetson Green.  Once I have a chance to head out that way I will share some of my own photos and tell you more about the homes and my impressions.   

Controversial Missouri Bridge May Be Recycled - Earth 911

World’s ocean temps warmest recorded - MSNBC

Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass - NYTimes

Plastics in Ocean Rapidly Leach Toxins, Study Says - Yale Environment

Is Gmail the World’s Greenest Email? - Greener Buildings

Anyway, today I got some very exciting news.  EcoZebra has been officially listed in Alltop under the Green Category.  To me, being listed in Alltop means that I have gotten somewhere.  The EcoZebra is being noticed and perhaps even read!  So a big thanks to all the folks at Alltop for the recognition and the listing!

What I have to send to the winner are two 1oz tubes of sunscreen which is valued at $17.98.  You will get a tube of tinted spf 22 sunscreen and a tube of spf 20 sunscreen.  To win all you need to do check out the Elemental Herbs Website and then leave a comment here and tell me what product you would be most interested in.  I will be taking any comments submitted from now until Friday August 21, 2009  at midnight.  On Saturday August 22, 2009, I will pick a winner as outlined in the Giveaway Terms and Conditions.  Good Luck!

Climate bill opponent sent forged letters - MSNBC

River Basin Fight Pits Atlanta Against Neighbors - NYTimes

Acid In The Oceans: A Growing Threat To Sea Life - ENN

New England Frito-Lay Plant Goes ‘Off the Grid’ - GreenBiz.com

Antarctic Glacier Thinning At Alarming Rate - Science Daily

Now I have no problem with urban farms, I don’t care if my neighbors want a cow, a couple of goats and 6 chickens.  I think it is a wonderful thing and I welcome another gardener to share my bounty with in trade for a couple of eggs. I have been gardening my enitre life and while I raised farm animals as a child I will stay away from them all (with the exception of chickens) on my little .15 acre plot in the heart of the city.   What bothers me is the thought that this isn’t all for real.  I can’t believe that these overnight farmers are going to stay farmers and that their converted lawns will still be gardens in 5 years.  I think the days of watering grass will be returning as soon as it looks like you can move up to a bigger home and make a profit.  Buyers certainly won’t want to step on cow pies when they are examining your curb appeal. 

So, what do you think?  I want to know.  Do you think this current trend to urban farms is going to outlast the recession?  Are all these newfound gardeners, farmers and new urbanists going to last.? Will farmers markets continue to boom and will you still be able to find heirloom tomatoes in your local Albertson’s?  Or do you think that as soon as it is over we will be back to Hummers, Lawns and Friday night pizza?  I hope the answer is that it will last this time.  That, unlike the Freedom Gardens of yesterday, we will continue this new (old) trend and see it through the rest of time.