About
Author, editor, homesteader, collector–our friend Ben is all that and (of course) much more. When asked by the moderator at one of those corporate seminars what I’d be if I could be anything at all, the answer popped into my mind like Athena bursting fullgrown from the forehead of Zeus: I’d like to be the head of my own think tank. That’s because I love to think, about all sorts of things, all the time. And I love to learn, and to problem-solve, and to create great ideas that will save the world (or at least small ideas that are fun and ingenious). You’ll probably see a few of those here, along with rantings and ravings, and even some good advice. Happy reading!
By the way, I really look forward to the next incarnation of “The Bible”…my only problem is that I am running out of testaments…might have to switch to “The Good Book I, II, and III”.
BTW, I’d be happy to write a review and post…I can guest blog in a couple of places, too. Always trying to spread the “good word” you know…
Ha!!! Many thanks! I’ll let you know when it comes out.
Just surfed through after your comment to my recent article over at Tomato Casual and I have to say BRAVO! I can still remember in 1990 when I found my first issue of Backwoods Home Magazine before they used color or anything other than recycled newsprint, and it has been one of my mainstays ever since. I’m add you to my reading list!
Thanks, Michael! I’m honored! And Backwoods Home is always the first magazine I read–cover to cover!
Took me awhile to figure out who ourfriendben was–and finally got over here. Very clever you are. I just added you to my blogroll which makes you ..well, a member of my blogroll…
I love your style and am much amused.
Thanks, Anna!!!
A Luddite…! That’s good enough for me; I’m adding you to my list of favourites post haste, once I can coax said action out of this dread machine. Sorry, have to go now. General Ned is ordering me back to my loom.
Ha!!! Thanks, Catherine!
Dear fellow epicureans and luddites,
This website is a trip—I’m in.
eliz
Excellent—thanks!!!
I’d like to know what info is out there about olive oil as a salad oil and what info says its safe for cooking. Are we still supposed to sear meat and fish using it? Mine seems to start smoking on med. heat and I thought that wasn’t good…
Readers, help please!
Dear Phebe,
I asked an Italian friend of mine, and (apparently) Italians never waste their olive oil on frying. Stick to veggie oil (canola, etc.) for searing meat or deep-frying anything.
Thanks, Zora! Much appreciated!!!
Just wanted to say I respect the time it takes to run a blog like this, and I really enjoy the content you have. Thanks for the hard work and good luck in the future.
P.S. I turned off my ad-blocker to see if you had AdSense… Why don’t you have AdSense?!
Thank you, James! As for AdSense, being Luddites, we had no clue how other blogs got ads on their sites until we checked out AdSense thanks to your comment. Figures!
I love your blog and look forward to reading more. What does a gardener do at night? Research and anticipate what I’m going to do next… Gotta be starting something.
I only have one thing to say about pesticides, Fire Ants in South Florida. Until I find a way to prevent them I think I’m stuck using pesticides, and I hate that.
I agree with you about thinking. I love to ponder while I garden. I’ve had many revelations about our natural world while working in the soil, or making soil as the case maybe. This is why I like your blog, I now have some new thoughts to consider. Hmm, am I a Luddite?
P.S. Install a pull-out keybord tray under the desktop, or get a wireless keyboard, they almost install themselves. I’m pretty sure if you take it one situation at a time you can outsmart the cat.
I have to keep mine from sleeping in my bed while I’m away. Our door handles are levers, it doesn’t even slow her down. I guess I’ll get knobs…and grease them.
Thanks, Liz! And hey, I’m with you on the fire ants. We have such dreadful poison ivy up here, if you buy a place with established vines, I know the herbicides would be a huge temptation. (Fortunately we “just” have to pull up seedlings here at Hawk’s Haven.) And I do use a keyboard with a pull-out tray, but unfortunately, when Layla plops herself on the actual laptop keyboard, it appears to override the “real” keyboard I use! Grrrr. The trials and tribulations! I can picture your cat blandly opening the lever handle and letting herself into the bedroom.