The Real Know How

How-Tos, Videos, Tutorials — Ramping Up for the 21st Century

Archive for the category “the west”

28 Mar 2012

Antelope Valley Inexpensive BoxBike Build

Boxbike from http://www.highdesertcyclists.com

Boxbike from http://www.highdesertcyclists.com

A boxbike (bakfiets) is a kind of cargo bike popularized in the Netherlands. They can be a really useful way to get around — and to move your stuff around – but they are also very expensive to buy (prices are in the thousands).

Here’s an inexpensive boxbike build tutorial by a member of the High Desert Cyclists Club of Antelope Valley, California:

S/he writes “I started this over two weeks ago and spent $50 total [my emphasis]. It took 2 complete bikes and one old long-john project bike to complete it. Many parts were re-purposed. Cantilever brake bosses were used for the steering linkage along with go-kart heim joints.”

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Posted in biking, california, cargo bike, save money, the west, transportation and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
14 Mar 2012

Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper and Urban Beekeeping

“Bryon Waibel runs what he believes is the world’s only urban beekeeping store [in San Francisco]. It’s called Her Majesty’s Secret Beekeeper and Waibel, who uses the handle 006, does seem to believe that he/ the store/ urban beekeepers are serving a cause.”

Posted in beekeeping, california, farming, food production, honey, livestock, local food, san francisco, sweeteners, the west, urban, urban farming, wild foods and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
13 Mar 2012

Growing Rice

A look at the Lundberg Family Farms’ rice growing operation in California. I had no idea that they sow rice from the air.

On the Isbell Family Rice Farm in Arkansas they grow a Japanese variety of rice called Koshihikari for export to that country.

Christian Richard, a rice farmer in Louisiana balances growing rice and raising crayfish.

Posted in agriculture, arkansas, california, farming, grain, rice, success story, the west and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
07 Mar 2012

Salmon Jerky

Dennis of white-trash-cooking.com in California makes salmon jerky. He learned the process from his Alaskan uncle.

“A very healthy snack food, salmon jerky is high in omega-3 fatty acid, which is considered valuable in reducing blood cholesterol levels. It’s also delicious and easy to make. Marinate the salmon and let it dry in a warm oven overnight. It keeps well.”

Posted in dehydration, fish, food preservation, salmon, seafood, the west, wild foods and tagged , , , | Leave a comment
07 Mar 2012

Seaweed Harvesters

“Meet John and Barbara Stephens-Lewallen: They harvest seaweed. Operators of the Mendocino Sea Vegetable Company in Philo, California, the Stephens-Lewallens are farmers/fishermen of another stripe. Their catch includes bladderwrack, sea lettuce, kombu, and nori.”

Posted in california, dehydration, food production, foraging, seaweed, the west, wild foods and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
02 Mar 2012

Earthbag Construction How-To

Laura Bartels of Greenweaver shows students how to use earth bags in construction. Filmed on location at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Posted in alternative materials, building materials, buildings, colorado, construction, earthbag, the west and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment
01 Mar 2012

Barrel Cactus Candy

Barrel Cactus - photo by Vegan Feast Catering on Flickr

From Cooks.com

BARREL CACTUS CANDY
Take the barrel cactus and cut off around until you get to the white meat. Do not use center of cactus because it’s very hard to slice.

Start by slicing one inch strips of cactus. Soak in cold water overnight. Next morning drain and slice into one inch cubic squares.

Cook in boiling water until tender.
For two quarts of cactus cubes, make the following syrup: 1 c. water 2 tbsp. orange juice 1 tbsp. orange juice 1 tsp. orange peel

Stir and dissolve syrup over low heat until thoroughly dissolved. Put in cactus and cool slowly until syrup is absorbed. Roll in powdered sugar.

Posted in cactus, cooking, desert, recipe, southwest, the west, wild foods and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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