Flag Making at Camp Ramshackle

At Camp Ramshackle we're all about letting your freak flag fly. Although this flag is not so freaky, if flies proudly at Camp Ramshackle.

Giant Wolf Spider

Hogna carolinensis found in Ramshackle latrine. Strictly amateur i.d. thanks to the NWF Field Guide to Insects and Spiders and National Audubon Society Pocket Guide Insects and Spiders.

The Urban Homestead Party

Erik Knutzen of Homegrown Evolution talks about the virtue of fun while pursuing a green lifestyle.

If you missed his talk, you can still buy the book. Signed copies are at www.homegrownevolution.com.

Also, LA Eco-Village offers an upcoming tour on July 5th. Learn more about the 15 year old sustainable community development in Koreatown. For more information and to make reservations, visit www.laecovillage.org.

Tinkertoys

Tinkertoys continue to enthrall after almost 100 years of fun. First introduced in 1914, the toy was meant to let children's imaginations run wild. Our set is a thoughtful Christmas gift from Mister Jalopy and family. My son has enjoyed it so much, we bought an expansion set to create even larger structures.

Two-for-one Lizard Catch

In the left corner:
In the right corner:

Eric caught these vicious lizards at the same time. A relatively easy catch as the lizard on the right was in the locked jaws of the one on the left. Ironically, the one on the left was missing a leg.

Mystery Grain

When this grass sprouted, I didn't pull it right away because I could tell it was a little different than what I usually see sprouting up each winter. I thought it might be a native "canyon prince" blue rye volunteer from one of our plants up the hill. When our neighbor mentioned that she was putting out seed for the birds, I realized that some of the bird seed must have set.


Now I am curious exactly what it is. I think I have convinced myself that it is common wheat (also known as bread wheat). If anyone has an idea about what it might be we'd love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to post a comment or email us at ramshakcle.solid@yahoo.com.

Raised Bed: Almost Done

Just a few finishing touches to go. I wish it had been done months ago but as my father-in-law says, wish in one hand and spit in the other and see which fills up faster.

Today was probably physically the hardest part - digging out the slight slope so that the box will sit level. Yesterday I put the sides on and stapled the hardware cloth to the bottom of the bed to keep the gophers out.


Hopefully we'll be planting next weekend.

Previously on Ramshackle Solid: Raised Planter Bed Progress

Saint Catherine's Lace

Erigogonum giganteum in bloom, proudly spectacular. A California coastal scrub indigenous to Santa Catalina Island but quite happy at Camp Ramshackle.

Another Organic Garden in the L.A. Times

Christy Hobart writes about a small kitchen garden in Pacific Palisades in the L.A. Times.

photo: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times

Artist at Work and Play

Homegrown Evolution Book Signing and Lecture

Thursday, June 26th, Homegrown Evolution will sign and read from their handy The Urban Homestead book at the Los Angeles Eco-Village.

where/when/what
Talk, Slide Show and Book-Signing with Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen
Thursday June 26th 2008 7:30pm at Los Angeles Eco-Village
117 Bimini Place, LA 90004
Directions at www.laecovillage.org
Suggested donation $5, no one turned away for lack of funds
Books sold separately for $15

Power Pole Replacement

The Water and Power guys have been outside our house off and on for about a week. They are replacing the existing power/telephone pole with a taller one. This morning they made my son's day by gifting him with a real hard hat and safety goggles.


A young boy's dream come true. He wore them all morning.

Kid Tipi

This tipi was built for a preschool auction fundraiser. I was happy to see it sold for a good price with a bidding war. I hope it is loved and used frequently. It's about time for Ramshackle to build one for our own outpost. The construction was surprisingly easy. I bought my pattern at www.nearseanaturals.com. They also sell organic wool for stuffing toys.

Media: duck cloth, harvested bamboo for polls.

Trash Can Repair

When we bought our stainless steel CanWorks trash can we did it because we felt that this would be the last trash can we would ever buy. It won't rust, won't crack, it's almost all metal so it is recyclable... almost all metal. The one part of the can that gets actual wear, however, turned out to be plastic. The hinge piece between the vertical rod and the rod that connects to the foot pedal broke after about 2 years. I refuse to either throw the can away or buy anything else from CanWorks as a result.

Instead I made the replacement hinge pictured above from some scrap galvanized sheet metal brackets and a bent finishing nail. I used tin snips to cut the pieces out and pliers and a hammer to bend the flaps around the rods. It didn't hold well so I used duct tape to try to keep it in place. The tape lost it's stick a couple of weeks ago. That's when I remembered the portable butane soldering iron my father-in-law gave me as a gift.

I heated up the rod and the bracket and fed as much solder in as I could.

Voila! Better than new. Sure, its ramshackle but it's solid. Until it needs another patch it's our small triumph over planned obsolescence.

Back in action.

No Dig Gardening in the L.A. Times

(Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times)

There was a great article in the L. A. Times this weekend about Pat Marfisi's Hollywood Hills garden planted in alfalfa hay, straw and compost.

"Since he began gardening in this fashion, he says, he has been 'inundated' with food. With the exception of some recent losses to raccoons drawn to the soil's abundant grubs and earthworms, Marfisi's garden is thriving with beets, collard greens, chard, celery, tomatoes, chives, peppers, basil, chives, lettuces and leeks. He estimates he grows enough food to feed three people daily."

Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Thanks to Mark Frauenfelder for bringing this to our attention.

Link

Raised Planter Bed Progress

job-site supervisor

We've been planning to build a raised planter bed for months. I wasn't able to finish it this weekend but we are very close.

The bed, when finished, will be 8 x 4 feet and about two and a half feet high. I used 2 x 10's for the sides and 4x4's for the posts. It is made of douglas fir so it will rot though in a few years, but that's how we like it here at Ramshackle Solid - kind of dilapidated, but in a nice way. Once it has completely fallen apart, we may decide we want to change the location or the materials.

I'm always happy when I get to use my Japanese hand saws. This time I used them to finish the cuts made with the skill saw.

The pieces of the box are cut, drilled and half assembled. Next I need to finish assembly, cover the bottom with hardware cloth to keep the gophers out and paint and prep the inside to slow the decay a bit. More to come.

Happy Fathers Day

Bee in Tree

Weekend worker at Camp Ramshackle.

Alabama Chanin Bandana Complete

Done! In a house with two young kids, projects such as these can stretch out for a l--o--n--g time. I have learned in my early parenthood that the journey is the destination. I find I enjoy the process much more when it's not focused on completion. I've also learned that projects do get finished, they just take a long time. What that bandana doesn't show, is all the pauses to play in the dirt, admire bees, study leaves and build houses out of cardboard boxes and tape. Lots of tape.

Homemade Granola

Today is the last day of the first year of preschool. A tender day, for sure. I hope the most important lesson my son has learned is that school can be incredibly fun.

As a thank you to the teachers, I made some homemade granola and included a recipe card.

Homemade Granola (from the now defunct Blueprint magazine)
4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried cherries
1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried cranberries
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together oats, almonds, pecans, cherries, cranberries, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan, combine oil, honey, and sugar. Bring to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Drizzle syrup over oat mixture; toss with a wooden spoon. Pour granola onto sheet pan and spread evenly. Bake, stirring occasionally, until golden (about 25 minutes). Let granola cool completely on a wire rack. Break it into chunks and store in an airtight container.