Photos: Garden Shed

I took these photos later in the day to show off the posts I found in the Free Wood area at Rural King. :D

See all of today's photography posts:
Photos: House Yard and South Lot
Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden
Photos: Back Toward the House
Photos: Garden Shed

( Walk with me ... )

Solar Power

China confirms that installing solar panels in deserts irreversibly transforms the ecosystem

A team of researchers from Xi’an University of Technology studied the Gonghe Photovoltaic Park in China’s Qinghai Province, a one-gigawatt solar farm covering vast stretches of desert. Their goal? To determine how the installation affected its surroundings.

Using the DPSIR model—a framework used by environmental scientists to analyze ecological changes—the team examined 57 environmental indicators, including soil composition, temperature, humidity, and biodiversity. What they found defies expectations: instead of harming the fragile desert ecosystem, the solar panels were actually revitalizing it.
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* The immediate area under the panels was rated as having “general” ecological health with a score of 0.4393.
* Transitional zones (areas between the panels and the open desert) scored lower at 0.2858.
* The surrounding desert, untouched by solar infrastructure, had the poorest rating at 0.2802.

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Birdfeeding

Today is sunny and warm, a beautiful spring day. :D It was 71°F outside last I checked.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, as well as cardinals flying around the yard.

I put out water for the birds.

I also set out the crosne knotroots to get some sun.

I walked around the yard a bit.  More miniature irises are blooming now, including a couple of the almost-black ones.  :D  Bees, flies, and other tiny insects are swarming the flowers.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I made the measurements of the new posts, along with size comparisons of fixtures and supplies I already have, as part of working on plans for the potting bench.

I've seen a flock of blackbirds.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I put the two translucent tubs over the pot trays on the new picnic table.

I took a few pictures of miniature irises that are now blooming in more colors, plus a bumblebee.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

Squirrels have heavily excavated the ground in the forest garden.  It looks like the face of the moon.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I raked leaves from the front of the log garden and hauled them to the savanna for mulch.

I've seen several mourning doves, assorted blackbirds, and a male cardinal.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I started raking leaves from the tulip bed and hauled them to the savanna for mulch.

I saw a squirrel jump from the house to the forest garden and then groom itself.  :D

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I raked more leaves from the tulip bed.

EDIT 3/13/25 -- I finished raking leaves from the tulip bed. \o/

*goflopnow* I am done for the night.

Review: Cocojune Passionfruit Organic Cultured Coconut (nondairy yogurt)

Recently I found a nondairy yogurt that I hadn't tried before, so I picked up one to sample.   This is Cocojune Passionfruit Organic Cultured Coconut, also available in a few other flavors.  The texture is on the thick side, so they did a good job with that, which is challenging in nondairy yogurt.  The flavor has a very bright fruity, floral top note, creamy coconut notes in the middle, and buttery nutty bottom notes.  Overall very summery and tropical.  It's tangy but not eye-crossingly sour, also not overly sweet.  It's on the lower-sugar side of the scale.  The thickener is tapioca starch, which I'm sure helps the flavor as well as the texture.  I quite like it. 

I think this would make a great topping for a bowl of fruit salad, or if you like a yogurt dressing it should work for that too.  The label is a little hard to read in places, but I believe it contains 6 different cultures, which is way above the usual 1-2 of commercial brands, and even health food yogurts average 3-4.  So if you are eating yogurt for the probiotics, then this is an excellent choice.  :D  Also worth trying as a starter if you want to culture your own cocogurt, and you don't want to buy a starter per se.  Most highly recommended.

How to Grow Plants

A friend asked me about gardening and houseplants, so I gathered some resources.

EDIT 3/14/25 -- See the followup discussion of food forest resources.

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Half-Price Sale in Polychrome Heroics

The March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl made its $300 goal, so there will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday 17 through Sunday 23.  Please mark your calendars, and I hope to see you then! 

Photos: Miniature Irises

Today the miniature irises are blooming in more colors, and more bees are out.  So I took a few pictures.

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Potting Bench Ideas

I want to make a potting bench, so I'm organizing some notes here.

I started out looking at commercial potting benches. They are mostly too small, too flimsy, and too expensive. The best ones are homemade with actual woodworking skills, which is over my head and likely to stay that way. Then I found the ones based on salvaged materials, particularly concrete blocks with boards or posts. That I can handle.

For reference, the concrete blocks are 16 x 8 x 8 inches with two holes through the middle. The holes are probably about 4" and have a squarish or oblong shape.

So here are some thoughts...

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