The recent rains have me thinking about the permaculture water mantra, “slow it. Spread it. Sink it.” I’m in awe of the capacity of my gutters and our stormwater systems to whisk water away. Still, I fear we may be doing our community and environment a disservice with this approach. By concentrating all water from… Continue reading Slow it, spread it, sink it
Tag: portland
“The Soil Killer” Invasive Species Lesser Celandine.
My Portland, Oregon sidewalk median strip is full of invasive species Lesser Calendine. The species is so prolific it’s one of 7 plants not allowed in Portland City compost (we have a city wide compost pick up program). It’s destroyed entire ecosystems in the NE United States where it was first introduced from Europe. The… Continue reading “The Soil Killer” Invasive Species Lesser Celandine.
Ode to leaf day
I don’t move my car on leaf day. I move it the night before. Several neighbors slept in and moved their cars, but by 9 am most of the work is done and their spots won’t be cleaned. Several neighbors don’t move their cars at all. Several neighbors sleeping in their vans probably didn’t get the mailer about leaf… Continue reading Ode to leaf day
2019 Most Read
This article is a list of askoshbetter.com‘s most read articles of 2019 — it’s been fascinating to see what articles have drawn people in – and what articles Google has blessed in its search algorithm. I’m not here to chase the data. I’m here to share information I think will be helpful in some small… Continue reading 2019 Most Read
What is America Doing Right? (Op-Ed)
America is a wealthy country where 84% of the country is not impoverished. And poverty is the default state of the human condition so kudos to industrialization and technological innovation. America has Welfare (housing & financial), Medicaid, Foodstamps and charities available for impoverished citizens. Though imperfect these public and private social safety nets provide so… Continue reading What is America Doing Right? (Op-Ed)
Portland Snowstorm 2019: How to Have a Fabulous Time When in Snows
Covered in snow and ice, Portland, Oregon, can be a frozen hellscape, or a winter paradise. How it works for Portlanders comes down completing some essential snowy weather preparation or lack there of. Here are 6 things one can do to have a great time when it snows in Portland. Snow is coming… …what will… Continue reading Portland Snowstorm 2019: How to Have a Fabulous Time When in Snows
Oregon Crabbing Season is Here
Hey All – Oregon Crabbing season just opened! Dungeness Crab is being delivered fresh to local super markets. I saw it at Freddy’s the other day for only $5.97/pound. I bought two big crab for $16. In this instance, the crab is sold pre-cooked – so it’s ready to eat. The meat department will clean… Continue reading Oregon Crabbing Season is Here
A Skosh Better’s Most Read Articles of 2018
Hi All, if you’re reading this, thank you for visiting askoshbetter.com. 🤗 This article is a countdown of the most read articles of the last year according to Google Analytics*. In late 2017 I launched “oakfive” on blogspot (this website is now called a skosh better. In March 2018 I made the switch to WordPress.com… Continue reading A Skosh Better’s Most Read Articles of 2018
Three Reasons to Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree (in a National Forest) this Year
Cut
Wimahl (Columbia)
Midnight blue ribbon Slices the west Scars from tears linger as wrinkles and shadows Missoula floods Humans abide Controlling the uncontrollable Dams, houses, farms, Strychnine wolf plan However temporary Feed the cattle Revere the masses Oh. It’s messy Not maliciously so It is the way Like rivers, ways will change Water will flow