I spent the morning touring a friend’s newest project as we went over the things that needed to be done. Cleaning, painting, tinkering. He just sold his suburban home since he was ready to move on and this is a great time to sell property. However, it’s a terrible time to try and buy. So … Continue reading Bay Area*, Two Beds*, Two Baths*, Utilities Included, $340* a month (See Asterisks)
I spent the last several years on an extended tangent exploring land use policy, the dynamics of a shifting economic and political landscape, and popular interpretations of how things should be. I’ve come to a peculiar set of conclusions and it’s not what I expected. We have a collection of rules, regulations, social expectations, and … Continue reading Mind the Gap
I got push back from readers when I dissed some flavorless suburban condo complexes in the context of urban agriculture. My observation was meant to be simple. We’re on a trajectory of ever larger, more complex, and highly leveraged institutional “solutions” to endemic social and economic problems that don’t actually make things better. Quite the opposite. What … Continue reading Give it Another Century and We’ll See How it Goes
. . . I got an e-mail from an architect friend yesterday and I need to make a big decision. It’s not one I’m taking lightly. He let me know that in the wake of the recent fires that destroyed thousands of properties all across the county officials were temporarily suspending a lot of the … Continue reading Crisis. Opportunity. Ambivalence.
There are things that we can do as a society to work through our big structural difficulties at an institutional level. And there are other things that can be done independently at the household level by individuals. I don’t have the technical skills, political skills, social skills, credentials, patience, or desire to engage the large … Continue reading Orange County’s Low Hanging Fruit
One of my continuing goals is to extend and diversify my pantry and get better at preparing everyday meals from my food storage supply. I want to get well past rice and beans. Last night I made chicken pot pie and was really pleased with the results. I reached in to my stash of home … Continue reading Chicken Pot Pie
A friend wanted to learn how to handle firearms and she didn’t want to take lessons on her own. She asked if I’d join her knowing full well I’ll try anything new a few times just for the experience. We started by familiarizing ourselves with various weapons and their component parts with an instructor. First, … Continue reading Bang Bang
A few years back I did a video tour of Rishi Kumar’s suburban home in southern California. I was seeking examples of ordinary people living in cookie cutter landscapes who were making their households more dynamic and resilient. Rishi’s goal was to transform his family home from a center of consumption to a place of production. … Continue reading Manju Kumar and the Box People
Behold Evergreen Gardens in Pomona, California. The cultural imperative in the suburbs is to maintain the emotional facade of the single family home and the security of a private enclave. If you squint this place comes close enough. Cough. Residents drive in through the electronic security gate, park in the garage, and head for the … Continue reading Evergreen Gardens
Granola Shotgun 