Comments for harpoon house

Comment on Plantings for the Front by Katherine

Katherine — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:34:15 +0000

Scott — We paid $6-8 for 1 gallon pots. They had a couple of sizes for most plants. If you are looking for something specific it may be a good idea to call ahead to make sure they have what you’re looking for in stock. We also just ordered some native flower seeds, since those 1 gallon pots do add up quickly. We’re getting two kinds of lupine, Western columbine, nodding onion, camas, paintbrush and penstemon. We’re not sure how difficult this will prove to be, but we plan to direct seed our park strip in October or November. From what we’ve read, most plants will take about three years to become fully established.

Comment on Plantings for the Front by Katherine

Katherine — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:12:56 +0000

S@sha — We have let our cardoon and artichoke plants all go to flower this year, so they can get established (plus, it’s nice to have the extra color in our garden!). It seems that you aren’t the only one to share that sentiment about cardoons — there’s a good post on Homegrown Evolution about growing and blanching cardoons. Next year, when I harvest, I’m going straight to Alice Water’s Chez Panisse Vegetables cardoon chapter. Cardoon fritters and bagna cauda are on the top of my list.

Comment on Plantings for the Front by Scott Weber

Scott Weber — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:16:47 +0000

Thanks for the link to Bosky Dell Natives…I’ve been looking for a local source for Epilobiums all summer…and it looks like they carry them! How were the prices…I don’t see them listed online. Make sure you keep the Lupines watered…they do tend to get Powdery Mildew if stressed (especially after flowering, it seems.) Can’t wait to see everything planted…we’ve got some nice, cool weather coming up, which should help ease them in…fall is certainly the best time to plant here in Portland.

Comment on Plantings for the Front by S@sha

S@sha — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:51:10 +0000

It’s true, so many bees on cardoons. It makes sense though if you stick your nose in there. They smell really sweet! This was the second year that I grew cardoons, last year I kept trying to eat them, but was underwhelmed by the ratio of work to flavor & texture that resulted. This year I just let them be pollinator magnets. Did you cook any? Any recipe recommendations? The best thing I came up with was on top of a pizza.

Comment on Herb Beds + Compost by Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:38:33 +0000

We got some similar advice from the Urban Farm Store… Because of how huge and old it is, Portland’s urban forester tagged the tree as one that has to be protected. Not that we’re prepared to do anything drastic to it anyways. We had good success with releasing a few bags of ladybugs this summer, so I think our plan for now is to just apply ladybugs every few weeks through the spring and summer next year as a preventative measure and see what happens. Hopefully that’ll at least keep the aphids at a somewhat manageable level.

Comment on Herb Beds + Compost by faith andrews bedford

faith andrews bedford — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:43:08 +0000

We built the deck of our solar house around a tulip popular. The deck was always sticky and discolored. Come to discover that if you have tulip trees you WILL have aphids which exude a sticky excretion (honeydew). Our bees loved the tulip poplar and we got great honey but we had to cut it down because everything around it as covered with stickiness most of the time. The aphids are not transitory; they are permanent.

Comment on Portland Monthly by Matt

Matt — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:30:41 +0000

Hi, the material on the outside of the SIPs isn’t tar paper, its a peel and stick bituthene… sort of like an adhesive roofing material.

Comment on Portland Monthly by Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:34:38 +0000

Great job on the house. I saw the article in Portland Monthly and had to check out the blog. I really love the wood clad rain screen siding. Can you tell me the material on the outside of the sips? It looks like tar paper but I was not sure if it was maybe some time of house wrap plastic.

Comment on Portland Monthly by Chani

Chani — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:01:09 +0000

Interesting article, and I agree, it’s nice to see the finished interior! It’s a beautiful house.

Comment on Portland Monthly by S@sha

S@sha — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:29:45 +0000

Nice to see the finished interiors, furnished and all. Amazing job!