Weekly Recommendation, Week 18: Small Green Roofs

I have been interested in green roofs for quite some time. In fact, upon first learning about green roofs I became so obsessed that I decided to move halfway across the country to pursue a graduate degree that involved green roof research as my thesis project. And yet even after that ordeal, I remain quite interested in them. While I am not currently working in the green roof industry, I still enjoy reading/hearing about green roofs, as well as seeing them whenever I am lucky enough to have that chance.With that said, if you are at all interested in learning more about green roofs, or perhaps constructing a green roof of your own,  I would highly recommend checking out the book, Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living by Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, John Little, and Edmund C. Snodgrass. It's incredibly informative and very well-written and organized. The first part of the book offers a brief overview of green roofs, including the purposes for installing them and the myriad benefits they offer. Also included are green roof construction basics and a very informative planting primer which covers plant selection, planting methods, maintenance considerations, and designing for wildlife. The remaining part of the book is filled with the profiles of 42 small green roof projects broken up into 5 sections. Each profile includes information on the design and planning stage, the installation process, and the successes of the project, along with a personal note by one of the authors. Pictures of each of the projects are also included. These profiles are meant to inspire and encourage people to consider a green roof of their own and to offer ideas about how to go about it. Whether you are interested in putting a green roof on a rabbit hutch, a garden shed, or the roof of your house, this book is a great introduction to the fascinating world of green roof technology.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 17: Plantasia Cactus Gardens

I spent two days last week and will spend two days this week working at Plantasia Cactus Gardens in Twin Falls, Idaho. Plantasia is a privately owned garden that has been around for at least a couple of decades, but not too many people know about it. The owners became obsessed with cacti and other associated plants after taking a trip to the deserts of southwest USA, and so they decided to grow a few cacti in their backyard. Eventually, they were able to purchase 5 acres adjacent to their property, and so they expanded their cacti garden. Their current collection includes cacti and other desert plants from around the world. They also have a small nursery in which they propagate many of the plants in their collection and sell them to people locally and by mail order. They will be having an open house and plant sale the last two weekends in May, and they are open to visitors by appointment during any other time of the year. If you ever happen to be in the area, I would encourage you to stop by. Desert plants can be far more beautiful than you might think, and seeing a collection like this will definitely help you gain an appreciation for them.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 16: Eggshell Pots

If you're the kind of person who keeps a garden, then now is the time of year when you are probably thinking a lot about what you're going to grow and when and where you're going to grow it. If you're on top of things then you've probably already got a few things growing indoors - and possibly outdoors too, depending on where you live. Additionally, if you're like me and like to find re-uses for things, then eggshell pots can be a great way to combine both your gardening pursuits and your re-use interests. They are also a pretty great conversation starter and a fun idea for kids - mainly just a neat idea all around. If you're not an egg eater, perhaps you can get some eggshells from your egg eating friends. It's probably a good idea to poke a small drainage hole in the bottom of your eggshell pots. This is best done before cracking the egg. Use a hammer and a small nail to make the hole, then crack the egg carefully, leaving as large of an intact "pot" as possible. Fill the empty shells with potting soil and plant your seeds. Place the eggshell pots back in the egg carton for safe keeping. Easy as that.
   

Weekly Recommendations, Week 15: Monkey Squad One

Occasionally I write reviews for Syndicated Zine Reviews, but it has been forever since I have posted anything. This week I finally got around to posting a new review, and it just happened to be for one of my favorite independent comics, Monkey Squad One. Read the review for yourself and tell me it doesn't sound interesting, then get in touch with Doug (MSO creator) and get your mitts on a copy for yourself.

Monkey Squad One #8
digest, 24 pages, $2.50
The zombie apocalypse continues in the 8th issue of Monkey Squad One. The city of St. Louis has become overrun by zombies, and a team of three youngsters, known as Monkey Squad One, has been commissioned to take them out. A zombie killing spree ensues, and amid the carnage the sound of an acoustic guitar is heard. Enter washed-up, crybaby crooner, Cletus Whiteheart, hypnotizing zombies with his diminished chords. This is part two of the zombie apocalypse (check out MSO #7 to find out how it all started), and considering what happens in the last few pages of this issue, it’s clear that the affair is far from over. I have enjoyed reading several issues of this comic. It’s highly entertaining and very well done. It has a great mix of humor, adventure, action, and wit. Totally worth a look.
monkeysquadmailbox@gmail.com
www.monkeysquadone.blogspot.com
Etsy: Monkey Shop One
Twitter: MonkeySquadOne

Weekly Recommendations, Week 14: The Measure [sa]

As a big fan of punk rock and live music, the news that The Measure [sa] had disbanded followed by the realization that I had missed out on the opportunity to see such a standout band live was a profound letdown. I love The Measure [sa]! Why did their time on earth have to be so short?

It is difficult for me to articulate exactly what I love so much about The Measure [sa]. Their guitars were rhythmic but jangly. Their melodies were catchy but original. Their lyrics were memorable but unpredictable. They reminded me of a modern day Hüsker Dü fused with the energy and originality of bands like Crimpshine, Fifteen, American Steel, and Discount. Beyond that, there is really not much else to say except that they were incredible and fantastic. They were a New Jersey punk band that put out a handful of full-lengths and a bevy of 7-inches in their short career, touring all parts of countryside along the way. With their demise, they left behind a great legacy that punk bands of today and tomorrow will be challenged to live up to. Their existence helped renew my faith in punk rock and gave me the motivation to continue to seek out existing punk bands that are as relevant and moving as they were. While I sincerely wish that they were still around and that the possibility of someday seeing them live was still a reality, bands like The Measure [sa] keep me determined to stick with the punk rock genre for years to come. As long as bands of their ilk keep popping up from time to time, I’ll be hooked on punk for the foreseeable future.



...

Weekly Recommendations, Week 13: The Juniper #15

This week’s recommendation is blatant self-promotion, so consider yourself warned. However, this is my blog, so I can do whatever I want, right? Plus, everyone else is using their blogs, tweets, and wall postings to aggressively and excessively promote themselves, so what’s stopping me from doing the same? Hey, everybody! Look at me! Check out how cool I am and all the cool stuff I do! Please like me and be my friend! Post, post, post, tweet, blog, post, ad infinitum.
The Juniper is my 8 years running eco-zine. It's all about living the slow/simple/small life: bike riding, gardening, doing it yourself. In this issue I talk about finding sanity by being in nature, my obsession with my bicycle, how to set up a plant variety trial in your garden and why you should do it, and how lots of things in the world are actually getting better (despite what some folks might say or think) and as long as we make the effort to stay on this course, amazing things can happen. I also include a recipe specifically for springtime. If any of this sounds even remotely interesting to you, send me an email and I'll send you a copy. I usually ask for a stamp, 50¢, or a trade in return, but a nice note should also suffice. I'd give my address here, but I'm still in the middle of a transition and don't yet know what my permanent address will be. Either way, write to me here and we can figure something out: juniperjournal@hotmail.com

Weekly Recommendations, Week 12: Spring

It’s the first week of spring! Of course, spring-like weather has been with us for weeks now since winter really didn’t seem to be much of a force this year. Either way, spring has sprung, and in my opinion this is the best time of year. So, I highly recommend enjoying it. The days are getting longer. Temperatures are on the rise. Winter is transitioning into summer. As a plant nerd, spring is especially appealing, because this is the time when plants begin to come out of their winter dormancy and look alive again. It’s also the time when work really gets going in the garden. Now is your chance to get your hands dirty and your feet muddy. If you’re lucky enough to have your own garden plot, then you probably already have a plan and are itching to get going. If you’re like me and have no plot to call your own, then you’re probably in a desperate search for any kind of gardening experience you can weasel your way into. Lucky for me, I just landed a job at Idaho Botanical Garden, so I’ll be getting my gardening fix there on a regular basis. Still, I intend to find other gardening opportunities to go along with that because I’m insatiable…either that or I’m a lunatic. 

However, if you’re not a gardener, there are plenty of other great things about spring, including my other major passion: bike riding. Certainly you have your favorite spring activities, so enjoy them while you can. After all, spring comes but once a year, and as they say, you don’t know what you've got ‘til it’s gone.  

Weekly Recommendations, Week 11: Judge John Hodgman Podcast

I have recently become quite obsessed with podcasts. I spend dozens of hours a week listening to them, which is odd because I'm a huge fan of music as well, which means that my podcast listening has significantly reduced my music listening. In fact, I have very little music stored on my mp3 player these days. Instead, I have deleted most of the music in order to make room for the ever-expanding library of podcasts to which I have become a loyal listener. One such podcast is Judge John Hodgman, a podcast in a family of podcasts found at Maximum Fun. You may recognize John Hodgman from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, or perhaps you have read one of his books or seen him in one or more of his various television and film appearances. If you're at all familiar with Mr. Hodgman, then certainly you're aware that he's a pretty funny guy. But is he a real judge? Well, no. But that's partly what makes his podcast so great. Each episode consists of him acting as judge endeavoring to solve a dispute brought before him by listeners of the podcast. The disputes are real, and they are usually pretty trite and mundane, but the whole process is made quite humorous due to the witty and comical comments of Judge Hodgman and his bailiff, Jesse Thorn. After Judge Hodgman has listened to both sides of the case and delivered his verdict, the complainant and defendant are excused, and together with Bailiff Jesse, they "clear the docket." In other words, they read emails from listeners who would like the Judge to solve minor disputes and answer petty questions. This podcast is always a fun listen and gets me laughing out loud quite a bit, so whether or not you're a regular podcast listener, this is definitely one that I'd recommend to pretty much anyone.
 

relocation

Hello folks...
I am interrupting your regular programing to inform you that I have moved. I had been living in Illinois for the past 2 and a half years while I was working on a masters degree. Alas, I completed that endeavor and have returned to the state of Idaho. I don't have a permanent address at this point, so the best way to contact me is by email. Stay tuned for future updates as to my whereabouts...

messyelephant@hotmail.com

Weekly Recommendation, Week 10: Blind Pilot - Keep You Right

Sometimes a song is just too catchy and too appealing that I can’t just listen to it once and move on, instead I am compelled to hit replay repeatedly. “Keep You Right” by Blind Pilot is one of those songs for me. Blind Pilot is an indie folk/pop group from Portland, Oregon. They have been around since 2005 and have released two full-length albums, the most recent being, We Are the Tide. They are currently on tour, so catch them if you get a chance. I unfortunately had to miss their St. Louis show, but I hope to meet up with them eventually somewhere along the trail.

 

Weekly Recommendations, Week 9: Suicide Squad

Back in September 2011, DC Comics made a very bold and unprecedented (even risky) move by ceasing all on-going series, selecting 52 unique series, and starting each of those series anew with issue number one. Many of the series selected were already in existence or had previously been in existence; regardless, every series began at number one. It’s my understanding that one reason why DC did this was to increase their readership by attracting new readers – first issues sell significantly more copies then mid-series issues because, logically, people like to start reading stories at the beginning; so, release 52 issue number ones all at once and you'll get a ton of new readers, right? One big problem that I see with this approach is that most people don’t have the disposable income necessary to purchase 52 comics in a month at $2.99 per issue. At best, most folks might select 2 or 3 series to purchase per month, and if it turns out that after a few months they realize they don’t really like a series they initially selected and want to start reading something else, they must select from an offering of series that are now several issues into their stories. Thus, DC is back to their initial dilemma of people not wanting to start reading a story mid-series. But that’s just a minor impediment, I guess.
When the New 52 started up, I did what I assume the average person would do and I selected a few books to start reading from the beginning. Along the way, I dropped most of them and picked up a few others, but the one and only book that I have stuck with for 6 months now is Suicide Squad. This is one of the series that wasn’t in existence at the time that DC decided to cease all current series, but it had been in existence several years earlier, and its long-awaited return is a welcome one. The Suicide Squad is comprised of a group of supervillians selected by the federal government from the prisoners at Belle Reve Penitentiary. The Squad (also known as Task Force X) is a secret group of powerful villains sent out to take on other high profile villains, and in exchange for the successful completion of their missions, their prison sentences may be shortened. It’s bad guys fighting bad guys, with one group of bad guys disguised as the good guys. Intriguing, eh? The fact that the Squad is comprised of bad guys means that killing members off is a liberty a writer can take without much remorse, and so it happens fairly regularly in any given issue. The main members of this incarnation of the Suicide Squad include Deadshot, Savant, Diablo, King Shark, and the infamous, fascinating, and captivating Harley Quinn. This is a series that is packed with action, suspense, mystery, violence, drama, and twists, and while I can’t speak to all of the New 52 series (considering that I’ve read very few of them), Suicide Squad is definitely one that I would recommend and I’m certain would be enjoyable regardless of which issue you initially purchase.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 8: Back to the Roots Mushroom Garden

I had wanted to grow some mushrooms for a while, but for one reason or another I just didn’t get around to it…until now! There are several different mushroom kits to choose from out there, but the latest sensation is a pearl oyster mushroom kit developed by Back to the Roots, a recently formed company founded by a couple of college friends who were studying to be investment bankers. Once they discovered that mushrooms could be grown in used coffee grounds, they developed a vision for a new company; and hence, Back to the Roots appeared. I’m not a huge fan of the name considering that mushrooms don’t even have roots, but I guess I can see what they were going for. The oyster mushroom kit is meant to be a very simple set-up so that pretty much anyone can have success, a very do-it-yourself approach. Plus, the growing medium is used coffee grounds, and most of the kit is either recyclable or compostable, so it’s definitely an environmentally responsible product.
The question is does it perform? The instructions say that if all goes well, you’ll be harvesting mushrooms in as little as ten days; mine, however, took more than two weeks. My harvest was significantly smaller than the pictures on the website, which was a major disappointment; however, the mushrooms were still pretty tasty, which only made me wish I had more. The instructions also say that each kit can yield multiple harvests (as many as 4); I’m not holding out much hope for that, but I guess we’ll see. Either way, I highly doubt that I’ll be harvesting 1 ½ pounds of mushrooms like the website claims is possible. Despite my disappointing results, I still had fun with this kit, and I would recommend it to any mushroom fan – or really anybody who likes to watch things grow – and hopefully you’ll have better luck than I did.

Weekly Reccomendations, Week 7: The Calculus Diaries by Jennifer Ouellette

I’ve been math-phobic for as long as I can remember, but something about being a graduate student made me decide that I needed to get over it, so I picked up a copy of Jennifer Ouellette’s book, The Calculus Diaries, determined to teach myself a little calculus. It took me several months to read it, but that's definitely not because it was dry and challenging - in fact, it was just the opposite. Now that I have finally gotten through it, I've decided to make it this week’s Weekly Recommendation, because I’m certain that you will find this book as enjoyable as I did, if not more so. In her book, Jennifer takes readers on a journey through a period of time where she began to apply what she was learning about calculus to a variety of events in her daily life, including a trip to Vegas, the purchase of a new house, a Disneyland vacation, visiting the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and a surfing excursion in Hawaii. It was amazing to me to realize just how much calculus (and math in general) can be applied to everyday life, and while I really didn’t learn much about how to do calculus (which isn’t the point of the book, really) I was inspired to make a greater effort to understand it and its importance in the world. If nothing else, at least I got some great history lessons concerning the development of calculus since much of Jennifer’s book consists of profiles of famous mathematicians and anecdotes in their lives that led to the development of certain components of calculus. If none of what I have said so far has convinced you to pick up this book, then perhaps the fact that Jennifer spends a pretty good chunk of the book discussing the zombie apocalypse will at least pique your interest enough to consider it. The zombie discussion was my favorite part of the book and totally worth the read. Jennifer is a fellow (former?) math-phobe and an excellent writer, and regardless of how you feel about numbers, calculations, formulas, equations, and other such nonsense, she will definitely entertain you while simultaneously educating you. What more do you want?

For more Jennifer Ouellete, check out Cocktail Party Physics, a blog that she maintains for Scientific American.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 6: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Even though it is very possible that I won’t get to have a garden this year, I still placed a small seed order with one of my favorite seed companies, because I couldn’t look through their catalog without feeling the urge to at least order something. The seed company I am referring to is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, this week’s Weekly Recommendation. To start off, they have the most visually appealing seed catalog I have ever laid my eyes on. It’s full color and glossy with the kind of photography that you might expect from a magazine like Organic Gardening; instead, this incredible photography is found in the catalog of a modest, little seed company based in tiny Mansfield, MO. Several of the photographs take up entire pages, while some even include the smiling faces of the Gettle family, the owners of Baker Creek Seeds. If your sole purpose of getting your hands on a copy of this catalog were to entertain your eyes, that would be totally understandable; however, an eye for design is not the only thing that Baker Creek has to offer – their massive and distinctive seed inventory is really the main event. They are leaders in the heirloom seed movement – scouting the planet continually for obscure varieties and old school favorites – so many of the seed varieties they offer are not likely to be found in many other places. In fact, in their 190+ page catalog you’ll find 1300 varieties of seeds from 70 different countries. One prime example is their wide selection of hot peppers, which includes ‘Bhut Jolkia’ (also known as the Ghost Pepper), weighing in at more than one million Scoville units. Whether you’re going to have a garden or not this year, acquaint yourself with Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, a company that truly sets the bar for all other seed companies.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 5: Kepi Ghoulie - I Bleed Rock 'n Roll

This week’s recommendation is pure rock ’n roll. Kepi Ghoulie has done it again, rocking the brains out of the human population with his latest album, I Bleed Rock ‘n Roll. With a long history of crafting quintessential pop punk songs with Groovie Ghoulies, The Haints, Little Medusas, and as a solo artist, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Kepi’s new album would be packed with ridiculously catchy, incredibly dance-able, and lyrically impressive pop punk songs; however, on this album, Kepi has stepped outside the box with a sound that is more layered, more punchy, more experimental, more complex, and more rock ‘n roll. Change and experimentation doesn’t always work out well for all artists, but for Kepi it has definitely paid off and has resulted in some of his best work yet, and while I would have been perfectly happy if Kepi had continued on with his traditional, no frills sound without adding or changing a thing to it until the end of time, I am loving the fact that he had the courage and gusto to expand and that it totally worked out for him. Some standout tracks this time around include “Nikki Lee,” “The Fever,” and “Part Time Romeo.” A couple of the tracks on the album are re-workings of older songs – “When I’m Gone” and “Love to Give” – and both renditions are amazing, vast improvements, and highly recommended. On “Unfigureoutable,” Kepi channels Daniel Dale Johnston, which caught me off guard at first listen, but actually happens to be a nice, little break amidst non-stop rocking. Kepi also added a cover song to the mix – “Blame It on Mom” by Johnny Thunders – and totally nailed it, of course. Lyrically, this is a Kepi album through and through, and “Break My Heart” features lyrics that are trademark Kepi:

“I’ll just go down to the gutter
Ask it if it’s seen my heart
I’ll get directions to the shredder
And I’ll go and pick up all the parts
And then I’ll put ‘em in my pocket
And then I’ll go down to the tailor
And then I’ll say ‘Can you fix me up?’
And he’ll say ‘No way, man. There’s no way!’ ”

If there is one person on this planet that I would say actually bleeds rock ‘n roll, it would have to be Kepi without question; thus, his new album is aptly titled in more ways than one. If you want proof of Kepi’s rock ‘n roll prowess, just listen to “Nikki Lee” and try and convince me that he’s not a rock ‘n roll king. Even if this is Kepi’s magnum opus, which it very well could be, I sincerely hope that he keeps on rocking for a long, long time to come.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 4: Me Likes You Comics

This week, I highly recommend that you check out Me Likes You Comics by Lauren Barnett. They are some of the funnest and funniest comics around. They are often just a single panel, with minimal artwork, but despite their simplicity, they are loaded with humor and wit and sometimes even tenderness. Most of the comics feature either talking animals or talking food, which makes them especially endearing.  Lauren also has various books and things for sale, and apparently has a new book coming out soon. Seriously, if you haven't checked out this site, go there now.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 3: Greenwoman Magazine

Greenwoman Magazine is on a roll, and the second issue is this week’s recommendation. Sandra has high standards for the content in her magazine, and it continues to show. The thing I like most about Greenwoman is that, unlike most glossy, mainstream magazines, there is passionate, intriguing, and stimulating content filling its pages as opposed to countless pages filled with flashy graphics and advertisements accompanying a few throwaway sentences here and there. In that way, Greenwoman is a refreshing offering in a world of sound bites and background noise.

My two favorite articles in this issue were The Garden Club and Swarm Story. The Garden Club tells of a young girl who insisted on starting a gardening club with her reluctant but eventually relenting neighbor, who to his surprise ended up cherishing the experience. Swarm Story tells of a fascinating experience that Sandra had tagging along with a couple of beekeepers on a swarm capture. Also in this issue is an intriguing article about beetles, an interesting suggestion for an alternative use for honey, a charming story about a man who raises and breeds rare turkeys (and who is a “rare breed” himself), and a whole lot more. A stand out in this issue, of course, is an eleven page mini-biography of George Washington Carver, who, as it turns out, was so much more than just “The Peanut Guy.” I would highly suggest that you get your hands on a copy of this magazine, and while you’re at it, get yourself a subscription. With momentum like this, Greenwoman Magazine is bound to keep getting better and better.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 2: Oh No, Ross and Carrie! Podcast

This week's recommendation is a highly entertaining podcast called Oh No, Ross and Carrie! hosted by Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy. The purpose of this podcast is to investigate and report on different religions, alternative medicine treatments, and paranormal/fringe science claims. Apart from just doing the research, they actually participate in the ritual, treatment, etc. in order to get a first hand experience and, as their tagline proclaims, "show up so that you don't have to." The podcast is fairly new (not even a year old yet), so the list of investigations is small so far; however, that also means that it won't take you very long to get all caught up if you're a first time listener. Religions investigated so far include Kabbalah, the Sikhs, and Mormonism. They have also had tarot readings, received acupuncture, and been hypnotised. Some of the investigations (e.g. ear candling and homeopathy) have even taken place in the studio as they're recording. They have also done a couple of interesting interviews - Brian Dalton of Mr. Diety and Roger Nygard of The Nature of Existence - and likely have more interviews in the works. Each episode, aside from being interesting and compelling, is also filled with humor and wit, and it's very likely that you'll have a hard time making it through a single episode without laughing out loud as a result of the ensuing hilarity.

Weekly Recommendations, Week 1: Thee Headcoats

I'm not sure if this is really going to happen, but I'm going to give it my best shot (whatever that's worth?) and see if I can't post at least one recommendation each week for the next year. This being the first week of 2012, it seems like as good a place as any to start. My recommendations could be anything really - from music to books to food to people, places, or things - mostly they will just be something that I am finding enjoyable at that particular point in time. Perhaps you will also find them enjoyable, or perhaps you won't, that part doesn't really matter too much.

This week's recommendation is arguably one of the greatest garage bands of the 80's and 90's: Thee Headcoats. Hailing from Kent, England and fronted by prolific, multi-media artist and wild man, Billy Childish, Thee Headcoats put out a slew of albums in a relatively short period of time and also birthed a number of side projects, including their all-girl counterpart, Thee Headcoatees. If you're not familiar with Billy Childish and all of his numerous projects, musical and otherwise, I would encourage you to check him out. But for now, definitely give Thee Headcoats a listen - they will rock your brains out.

"the happy genius of my household"

Danse Russe
by William Carlos Williams

If when my wife is sleeping
and the baby and Kathleen
are sleeping
and the sun is a flame-white disc
in silken mists
above shining trees,--
if I in my north room
dance naked, grotesquely
before my mirror
waving my shirt round my head
and singing softly to myself:
"I am lonely, lonely.
I was born to be lonely,
I am best so!"
If I admire my arms, my face,
my shoulders, flanks, buttocks
against the yellow drawn shades,--

Who shall say I am not
the happy genius of my household?