Friday, May 9, 2014

Saving the Bees

I'm so happy that I have become acquainted with the concept of Permaculture within the past year!  

Now when I look at virtually any "problem" in the world including pollution, global warming, famine, injustice, etc. and consider how the practice of working with Mother Nature can help solve this issue, it gives me greater peace of mind.

Take, for instance, Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees – I have learned that there are multiple stress stresses on honeybees these days, due to the way commercial honeybee keepers manage their hives. Pesticides are merely "the last straw" for these little creatures in their efforts to survive and thrive.

This series of podcasts and videos by Paul Wheaton and Jacqueline Freeman clearly shows that healthy bees can, and are being nurtured by organic and permaculture methods:

Jacqueline Freeman is the author of an upcoming book "Bees, the OTHER Way".  She points out the different strategies that conventional bee keepers can use to help save their hives from colony collapse disorder.

Here is a short, interesting video about this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_691485&feature=iv&src_vid=XB2gTPKySdA&v=6MusqTKZ83I

and 4 in-depth audio podcasts:  (Click on this hyperlink, then scroll down to the appropriate podcast)

http://www.richsoil.com/permaculture/category/podcast

Podcast:
# 284  Reverence for Bees #1
# 285  Reverence for Bees #2
# 286  Reverence for Bees #3
# 287  Reverence for Bees #4

And a really sweet video on how to create a beautiful "watering station" for honeybees and other beneficial insects:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB2gTPKySdA 

Once we get little bit more organized here at our new home, I plan to set up a bee watering station right here! 

Friday, May 2, 2014

We Moved – to Pismo Beach, California!

Wow! The past few months have flown by, since December when Rick's dad "passed on" and left Rick his rental home in Pismo Beach.  January, February and March were spent getting ready for the move, and on April 1 we set off from Waldport, with our van, truck, and U-Haul trailer packed to the brim and our three dogs happily anticipating a "family outing/road trip".

Three days on the road, with one night spent in San Jose at Rick's dad's home and visiting with Rick's brother Mike, and we rolled into the warm, picturesque beach town of Pismo beach and to our new home!




Rick enjoying the panoramic view from the living room, including the Pismo pier, the beach, and the surf conditions!
 


A partial View from Our Living Room

Rick and the dogs enjoying "the good life" on our new sofas






Tiffany and I in front of an awesome jade plant in our backyard