Large Apartment available in L.A. Eco-Village

Recent mulch delivery at 4-plex

This is a great opportunity for a household ready to take the big leap to live its dream for participating in the creation of a more sustainable city by example.  Take a look and see if your household qualifies:

Large two bedroom available in transit rich/bicycle friendly permaculture oriented neighborhood (about 3 miles west of downtown and 4 miles south of the Observatory as the crow flies).

The Beverly-Vermont Community Land Trust (BVCLT), a non-profit organization committed to securing permanently affordable, environmentally sensitive housing for low to moderate income households, owns a 4-plex in the L.A Eco-Village that it intends to convert from rental units to affordable condominiums in the next 3 years.  BVCLT is currently taking applications for a one-year lease with an option to purchase if the renter’s household meets purchaser qualifications and demonstrates timely rent payments. The building is located on the southeast corner of Bimini and White House Place. Opportunity to become a member of the LAEV Intentional Community. Approximately 1000 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, dining room, living room, kitchen, laundry room, shared front and back yards, extra closets.  Rent: $1200 per month plus gas and electric.  No parking. Car-free household or “on your way to car-free.”  Minimum of 2 people, not more than 4 people; families with children encouraged to apply. Length of lease: one year.  No pets. No smokers (residents or guests). Must be aligned with LA Eco-Village core values and BVCLT tenant guidelines

Move-in costs:  $3,000.  Includes 1st and last of  $1200 plus $600 cleaning deposit.

If you are interested, please email Kris Benjamin (140Bimini@gmail.com) to set up a time to view the unit and go over the application. Applications are due as soon as possible, and candidate selection will occur sometime in April.

Income restrictions:
Combined annual income of all people in the household
-Not less than $29,000
and
-Not more than $39,780 for a family of 2
-Not more than $44,760 for a family of 3
-Not more than $49,680 for a family of 4

Credit check and rental application fee:  $25. -4-year rental history check (provide addresses and contact information of previous residences)-Verification of employment and 2 months of pay stubs or comparable

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2/23/13 walk through laev garden part 1

George noted that mango has begun to thrive after josh took over it’s care.

Throughout the walk myrtle was observed encroaching on other plants and the building.
Maybe that’s why Greco-Romans used myrtle as an emblem of love. (wikipedia)

pittosporum in clutches of myrtle The p. flowers are small, white and similar in shape to those of the Orange tree, so it is sometimes called mock orange.

George observed that quince needs pruning.

mexican “sage” one of several plants intruding on public sidewalk.  Prune, maybe re-locate.

peach – branches extend over fence; and lure passers-by into picking fruit and often breaking branches. Recommend prune back fr. fence; remove compost pile next to trunk; think about replacing tree as it’s getting old.

mandarin

pomegranate

background: almond (pink flowers) -not bearing, bark split; foreground – fig.  There’s a smutty  orange tree in there someplace; oranges don’t ripen.

olive tree supports grape vine;

North side 117 bimini

Agave in trash can area overflowing into path.

Myrtle encroaching on apricots, nectarines.

Watering challenge in this area due to run-off.

potential planting space north wall.

more live oaks (& a dead one). Large live oak in background is 8 feet from foundation.

Courtyard

We were getting tired, so just noted that many plantings in need of systematic watering here; plantings in pomegranate area heavily infested with aphids; myrtle needs taming; plum needs re-evaluating – hope it perks up when greywater re-connected; 2 nectarines and apricot aren’t producing; may be able to graft onto apricot as it is very hardy stock. Peach seems to be OK.

The “nightshade tree” is rubbing against the roof tiles.

Many, many thanks to George for generously sharing his time, gardening and landscaping knowledge and familiarity with LAEV gardens.

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potato & red wiggler compost update

Three potato plants in various growth stages that were planted in the first above ground compost site.  The site was ready for planting earlier than expected (6-8 weeks).  Potato seeds were then place at bottom of 9″ deep holes & barely covered with soil.  Lower left – new sprout.  Lower right – dirt filled in to ground level.  Background – hilled up.  For those not familiar with growing potatoes, covering the stem (hilling- up) with soil or organic material as the plant grows provides medium for roots to spread out, spuds to form and protects spuds from sunlight.

Re: composting.  Now that a significant red wiggler population has established itself in each of the above ground compost sites, I’ve begun transplanting some of the wigglers (and their composting allies) into the new compost sites.  Let’s see if that enhances the composting process.

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Great amaranth shakedown

In my opinion, a delicious crop of red amaranth volunteered in “children’s garden”.

During the dry heat last week, I harvested it & set to dry.  A few days later I cut off

some of the dry seed heads & spread them on clean paper to began the great “shakedown”.

Beating with a stick loosened some seeds, (black), and a lot of other dry plant parts.

Eventually I had to strip the stalks by hand to release the seeds, dehydrate my skin

and expose my hands to the plants’ prickly hairs.

In an hour I got bored and poured the mess onto a winnowing frame, allowing seeds

to drop onto the paper while the breeze carried off some – but not near enough – of the

lighter ”chaff”. (Sounds biblical).

So I shook the frame over another clean paper. Most of the seeds & some chaff fell through.

A grand 1/8 cup of amaranth.  We need to create an efficient – or at least a group -

winnowing process.

I soaked the amaranth seeds and cooked it with some quinoa.  It tasted OK. There are

still many heads left, so help yourself to a grainy treat.  Watch for the next crop of

amaranth volunteers.  The leaves are tasty and nutritious, as the plant’s deep

roots reportedly pull up nutrients not available to more shallow rooted greens.

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Visit where your food comes from

Nisha from Local to Global Life Works made this short interview with the folks from New Frontier Family Farm during a visit with the L.A food lobby people (a local food coop/food buyers club).   It’s really cool to see and hear the people that raise the things you eat.  Please visit Nisha’s original post to see more pictures and get the full scoop on the visit to the farm.   Thank you Nisha!

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FUN TO BE HAD & HELP NEEDED SUNDAY 8/21 FROM NOON TO 5

L.A. Eco-Village is repairing its cob lizard bench on Sunday 8/21
from noon to 5.  If you are interested in natural building, take
this opportunity to observe and work with Ray Cirino, artist/inventor/
permaculturist, and mosaic artist, Lee Adams.  Ray
will be bringing his Sparky, the dragon pizza oven to the event
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSq9_QA4m0 so bring a pizza or pizza
toppings to enjoy from his very eco-friendly oven. AND, we'll also be
doing a partial street closing with music and dancing in the street.

Come and have fun, even if you don’t have time to help.
But if you do, here’s the help needed:

- Schlepping tables, chairs to the street and/or
- Traffic control (we will be closing off half the street) and/or
- Take a turn as pizza chef (this is really simple and training provided) and/or
- Bring acoustic musical instruments to make music in the street and/or
- Setting up shade canopies if needed and/or
- Staffing a sign-in and info table for Echo Park Time Bank and L.A. Eco-Village

Come for an hour, a few hours or the whole event. Time Dollars paid for how many hours you spend helping (for Echo Park Time Bank members http://www.echoparktimebank.com)

Note that Ray’s Dragon Pizza Oven is also available for events and parties.

Contact: Lois Arkin, 213/738-1254, crsp@igc.org
Location of event: 131 Bimini Place, LA 90004 (one block east of Vermont between First and Second Streets

Ray Cirino’s Dragon Oven

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Music Event/Food Sat Night 5/7 from 6 to midnight

Sat., May 7, 2011 from 6 pm to midnight at L.A. Eco-Village

Music! Music! Music! Different kinds. Some loud! Some soft!
Bands Single performers Duos
Electronic. Amplified. Acoustic
Some you’ve heard of; some not.

Fundraiser for L.A. Eco-Villagers’ and Friends’ Burning Man Cafe
$5 to $20 sliding scale.

Cafe Negro at Burning Man provides FREE Cafecito Organico coffee and musical entertainment to Burning Man attendees.

Please help us do it again this year, and support local businesses and fair trade organic coffee!

6 to 9 pm:  BBQ
8 pm to midnight: Music:
The Atomic Bomb Audition, The Shirley Rolls, fitter, Thiago Winterstein, Dust4ngel, Astronovazz, Telematique and more

Dunkelbunt Brewery Beer available by donation.

No reservations required.

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Diana Leafe Christian Ecovillage Talk Feb. 22

If you haven’t heard Diana’s talk before, don’t miss this one.  OR if you have heard it, you won’t want to miss this one either, because it’s new and better than ever!

Ecovillages: Where They Are, What They’re Doing, Why They’re Important
Diana Leafe Christian (in person)

Diana Leafe Christian

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 7:30 pm
at L.A. Eco-Village
117 Bimini Pl, LA 90004  directions

Fee: $10 to $5 (sliding scale)
Reservations required: crsp@igc.org or 213/738-1254

With over 400 photos, this slide show demonstrates how ecovillages worldwide integrate ecological, economic, and social/cultural/spiritual sustainability, through:

• Permaculture design
• International peace activism
• Natural building
• Service to populations in need
• Renewable energy/off-grid power
• Local currencies
• Alternative technology
• On-site cottage industries
• Sustainable agriculture
• Participatory decision-making
• Earth-restoraton projects
• Conflict resolution & communication skills

WHY people are devoted to developing ecological settlements.
HOW ecovillages are beneficially influencing the wider culture.
HOW ecovillages will probably affect patterns of human settlement in the near future.

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Great News! Learning Garden Agreement Signed!

This vacant lot will soon become the White House Place Learning Garden

On January 20th 2011, the Los Angeles Unified School District and the Beverly Vermont Community Land Trust (BVCLT) signed the joint use agreement that enables a new learning garden at Los Angeles Eco-Village! The site is the currently-vacant lot at the north east corner of the intersection of Bimini Place and White House Place.

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KPCC Video Showcases L.A. Eco-Village

Lara's cameo in the KPCC video - click to watch at KPCC website

KPCC’s Pacific Swell website acknowledged Eco-Villager Joe Linton (me) as an everyday hero. Click for KPCC video showing off Los Angeles Eco-Village’s fruit trees, chickens, greywater, las trincheras (terraced water harvesting garden looking neglected), and more!

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first swarm capture

there are days when things just come to you.   i was about to leave on another bee escapade one afternoon when Joe comes over and tells me there is a swarm in front of his apartment.  plans were changed, our friend Erik was summoned and very quickly i was propped on a ladder against the zapote tree holding a box below the very gentle bees you can see in the picture above.

Erik directed the whole operation and it lasted about an hour.  swarming bees are usually quite peaceful since they don’t have any honey to protect.  swarming bees are also in a very fragile state.  they have a window of days to find a place to call home (hive?) before thee food reserves in their stomachs run out and if it rains they are screwed.   capturing a swarm is quick and easy compared to doing “cut outs” (literally cutting a hive and putting it into a box) and doing “trap-outs” (trapping bees out of a place where the comb is inaccessible to the beekeeper) but the chance of success is also lowered.   the swarm can decide to fly away -after all they are looking for a place they like- and sometimes even if they decide to stay in the human managed place  the beekeeper offered there is the risk of the virgin queen being eaten by birds when she ventures out to mate.  for more info on “cut outs”, “trap outs” and swarm captures head to the backwards beekeepers blog.  if you want to see more pictures of this capture check out this picture gallery.

anyway, our first swarm capture seems to have been successful, so far that is.  i checked on them every day four days after we put them on the roof.  on day one i took this video where nothing happens except for bees coming and going from the “nuc”(nucleus) box, there are the occasional pollen packed legs and the cool vertical take off maneuvers, but otherwise i only expect hard core bee fevered geeks to watch the whole thing:

after two weeks we transferred the frames inside the nuc box to a larger permanent home.   the bees were very active and had drawn about three half frames with comb.  they were feestooning (“a lacework of bees hanging together, leg-to-leg”) which is quite amusing to observe.

here is a picture of their new home.  i’ve been playing with a hexagon pattern stencil (utter bee-feverish) and this time i used four hexagon shaped rubber feet.   i welded the stand with random scrap metal parts. i’m a bit dubious about the way i implemented the oil cans, still working on that.

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what you can grow when you gotta go…

here’s a nice article from Scientific American posted on July 23, 2010 about the wonders of pee.  when it comes to your garden, you don’t need to just rely on store-bought fertilizers, because you’re in charge! (urine charge!)

Gee Whiz: Human Urine Is Shown to Be an Effective Agricultural Fertilizer

Researchers say our liquid waste not only promotes plant growth as well as industrial mineral fertilizers, but also would save energy used on sewage treatment

By Mara Grunbaum

USEFUL URINE: Human urine, which contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, can be used to fertilize plants, scientists say.
FLICKR/John.E.Robertson

The beets Surendra Pradhan and Helvi Heinonen-Tanski grew were perfectly lovely: round and hefty; with their skin a rich burgundy; their flavor sweet and faintly earthy, like the dirt from which they came. Unless someone told you, you’d never know the beets were fertilized with human urine.

Pradhan and Heinonen-Tanski, environmental scientists at the University of Kuopio in Finland, grew the beets as an experiment in sustainable fertilization. They nourished the root vegetables with a combination of urine and wood ash, which they found worked as well as traditional mineral fertilizer.

“It is totally possible to use human urine as a fertilizer instead of industrial fertilizer,” says Heinonen-Tanski, whose research group has also used urine to cultivate cucumbers, cabbage and tomatoes. Recycling urine as fertilizer could not only make agriculture and wastewater treatment more sustainable in industrialized countries, the researchers say, but also bolster food production and improve sanitation in developing countries.

Click here to see the full article.

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The war on terrorist Milk and Eggs

For those out there who occasionally like to purchase food outside of the normal distribution networks (although why we don’t just blindly believe that FDA ‘oversight’ of un-inspected food processing factories keeps us safe is beyond me), there is bad news. Grist.org is reporting that “Raids are increasing on farms and private food-supply clubs“, and has some handy tips for anyone involved in such a project for protecting themselves and the project. Sad, but recommended reading.

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World Cup Final Banana Bread

2010 World Cup whole-wheat banana bread - recipe below

This doesn’t have a lot to do with eco-village, though it’s somewhat in the flavor of how we share meals together. A handful of us, mostly Julio, Julio, Somer, Becca, Eric, Doran and me, have been watching the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament. For the final today, we and another half dozen eco-villagers crammed in to Julio’s apartment. That’s where the best television at LAEV is located - and it’s probably one of around a dozen total TV’s in our 48 apartments.

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bees dig flowering artichokes

going to the roof just to watch the bees is not practical nor desirable (from the roof’s wear standpoint).  so i noticed some bees coming to the artichoke flowers today and took this little video (and only after uploading it did i notice there are many more like it on youtube):

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the avocados are coming!

i went on the roof today to check on the bees and i snapped a pic of the incoming crop of avocados.  i sure hope the squirrels leave some for us humans.

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bee fever!

The New LAEV Beehive

this weekend was filled with bee action.  we saw a talk with Kirk Anderson from the Backwards Beekeepers, we went to see Erik’s beehive (The shop-vac beehive itself) and with his gracious help we transported a beehive to our roof.  our friends Fernando and Hazel are moving to Argentina so they generously gave us their established beehive.

the move was interesting and challenging.   we tried to tape some mesh to the entrance at night but we failed, there were too many “bearding” outside of the landing pad and they got really angry so we decided to rethink our strategy.  not wanting to carry an angry beehive through the halls of the building with escape holes haphazardly closed with duct tape.   i made a large bag with vinyl and mesh and we did it in two steps: first, we smoked them during the day and carefully slid the bag under the hive.  then we came back at sundown, smoked them again, and pulled the bag over the whole thing as quickly as possible.  that made it safe to transport.  we left a “nuc box” behind to catch the stragglers.   it was quite the operation.

the picture on the left is the hive in its new home with the customary L.A palm tree in the background.  the white box on top is a new addition.  the green boxes below where built by fernando himself.  the bees are getting used to the new location.

here is a video i took after adding the new box on top, it has some annotations about the stand and the oil cans:

and here is a closeup the the bees cleaning the original top, complex and amusing beings they are:

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Earth and Water Films Coming Up at LAEV

This Friday (May 14th 2010): Dirt the Movie – 7:30pm, suggested donation $5. Thanks to host Nick from Bike Talk!

Next Friday (May 21st 2010): Rock the Boat – 7:30pm, suggested donation $20. Filmmakers and L.A. River Kayakers present - including L.A. Eco-Village’s and L.A. Creek Freak‘s Joe Linton.

 

Of course, all the details are available on Facebook event pages: Dirt here, Boat there. No one turned away for lack of funds.

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Melba on the Tavis Smiley radio show

our very own l.a. eco-villager melba thorn was interviewed last week on the tavis smiley show promoting her delicious vegan chocolates in time for mother’s day. click here to check out the interview. great job, melba!

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Food Lobby’s Jaime Farms in the news

people often ask me “where do the veggies come from?” when i talk excitedly about the delivery of abundant, locally grown, organic, affordable produce that gets sorted in our lobby for distribution every sunday. i say “Jaime Farms, a local farm”, but can’t say much more.  so i was happy to see that Jaime Farms’ co-owner Sotera Jaime, was featured in an LA Times article yesterday.  it doesn’t describe the farm itself so much, but adds a human face and credibility that the farm does exist and it is local.  if you want join the “food lobby” and partake in the volunteer-run sharing of healthy deliciousness, you can check out the food lobby website.

=====

LA Times April 29, 2010

Sotera Jaime always has a lunch date

The co-owner of Jaime Farms is up before dawn to help out at one of the farms’ 20 or so farmers market stands. But she still finds time each day to make a hearty hot lunch for family, friends and employees.

By Jenn Garbee, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Sotera Jaime and her trusty 10-quart stainless steel stockpot have seen a lot of mileage over the years. As the matriarch of one of Southern California’s most popular farmers market families, almost every day Jaime cooks up a hearty hot lunch for an ever-changing cast of a couple dozen extended family members, farmhands and part-time sales employees.

The 61-year-old co-owner of Jaime Farms hits the road before dawn, driving from her home in Chino to one of the farm’s 20 or so farmers market stands, scattered across Southern California — at the Pasadena market on Tuesdays, to Santa Monica for the Wednesday market, even all the way out to Palm Springs on Saturday…  read full article here

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