That damn ol' fence

I have been working away at this damn ol' fence now for quite some time. At the beginning of it all I felt great! I was making progress. But then the fence was starting to rise. Then all a sudden it became isolated. The fence looks beautiful! It's as accurately built as a craftsman style home. But it's cold. It's isolating. It's not communal at all. It defeats the purpose of life. We should be able to say, "hello" every morning to each other. I feel like I wasted my money and time. Especially time. I worked really hard on this fence. Mainly because I have this stupid thing called a work ethic. In the end. I'm not surrounded by like minded folks. Therefore it must be done I suppose. Sad really. Unnecessary even. I have nothing to hide. I don't insult the neighbors sun tanning naked. I do wish they were more well kept. Now I don't have to see their trash.
I took a day off of work to fetch a 2,000 gallon rain tank, which took me 6 months to pay off. Every chance I had. I would throw a hundred bucks towards this thing. I was fortunate enough to have this company to distributes these things, allow me to do this. I had finally finished paying it off in November. I told the gal it wouldn't be another 4 weeks until I could pick it up, b/c I had all this stuff in my driveway to haul away to make the room. She was very sympathetic to my request. So my neighbor loaned me his Toyota pickup. The small little thing. Such a nice fella. I was scared as shit retrieving this damn thing, on the drive home. White knuckles like you'd never seen!. 40mph all the way down 101 south. I was thee most hated human for 2 plus hours. Hans was in the front seat with me the entire way. He constantly looked up to me with this puzzled look on his face. "What the fuck were/are you thinking you crazy ass hippy?!?" I was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. Because I knew that this tank would see 10K gallons during a rainy season and save me a mad amount of coin and flat out be cool as shit! So what if I look goofy driving home with this thing. Everyone on the freeway was looking at me and the tank like, "what the fuck is that thing!? What is he doing with his free time?" All while I'm thinking, "You must be jealous. I'm collecting free water!"
It's still sitting in my driveway. Not hooked up. I just finished that pointless fence. Fucking around with the topography for new landscape and flower beds. I've got cardboard laid out all over the place. All the misc. non sense I can find to hold it all down, so that the wind doesn't blow it over or away.

I've been finding myself laying in the wheel barrow alot lately. It's posture is quite nice. I would design a chair after this thing. Name it my next reading chair. I dropped 3K on a Kofod Larson chair I hardly ever use. Why not make the next one a cheaper investment? East Oakland has some really fucked up things about it. But I tell you what. When it's quiet. It's so peaceful. The sky is clear. The air is crisp and the breeze keeps it moving. So the smell is so distinct. I love the winter smell.

I try my best to find peace where I can. I also try and appreciate every thing and everyone where ever I am or can. I'm not perfect. But I'm mindful. So keep that in mind.

Christmas was great. I got a few books I've been wanting. This year was minimal. Food, wine, more wine, more food and music. No one was offended. I got a few pictures to share. If you have a wheel barrow, I suggest throwing on some really comfy clothes. Long Johns, wool socks, boots, beanie, and a nice warm jacket. Point that wheel barrow in a direction you like facing. Roll a joint or not. No pressure. And relax. Hang out. Listen to what's around you. Smell the air. It's mind numbing how peaceful it is. I wish to do this nightly. And I have been. Minus the joint every night. I have responsibilities as well you know.

Winter Crop

     So many folks disregard the beautiful winter months for growing veggies. And sure, your climate zone plays a role in this. I'm very fortunate. California, bay area especially is so amazing for growing damn near anything your heart desires. I am kinda pissed off that I can't grow brussel sprouts. It just doesn't get cold enough. This year however, I'm thinking it might happen. That's a very big might.
You see, sprouts need a constant cold. They form nice tight little buds during that cold weather. Like a virgin lover you've never experienced. It just doesn't do that here near the bay. The big water ways keep temps at this even passe. Some of ya might experience this is the Puget Sound area. Though far more north than I/us. A big mass of water keeps temps lower and steady.
But not all is lost. It's that time of year to plant your garlic! Plant those sexy bitches! And do as much as you can. Garlic is like wine. There's never enough and it's plentiful! It goes with everything. Name me one thing garlic does not go with. Come on! Okay okay. So it might not be so awesome in ice cream of cake. Or any dessert for that matter. There is not one fucking ethnic cuisine that garlic does not play a role in. And when you hit the market and see that it traveled from Argentina or China and you live in America. California has a amazing garlic area of Gilroy, Ca. Gilroy might be a butthole of town to you. But they produce stealer garlic! You have to show it some fucking respect though. It takes its sweat ass time to grow. Yeah, 120 days or more is a long time for a harvest. But it prevails.
   
Root crops are in full effect son. Carrots, beets, & parsnips. Lettuces grow damn near regardless. Bok Choy, spinach, kale, fisee, what ever strain of lettuce's you can think of. Onions, all different kinds of onions! And leeks. What the fuck is there not to like about winter?! It's wet as a motha fucka out. You don't have to use water you have to pay for! Get some rain boots. Throw on some ugly ass jeans or canvas type bottoms. A long sleeve and a rain coat. Maintain your crop. Maximize your yields as if your life depended on it.

Maybe you don't have a official garden space. You're planting in containers on a balcony. Great and kick ass for you. Grow what you love to eat. But I encourage you to grow something new. Shit you wouldn't normally cook with. Seek out recipes for collard greens or rainbow chard. What's the worse that could happen? You have a running shit in the morning after your cig and coffee and it's done with. Show that lady you finally convinced to go on a date with your sorry ass that you can man the fort and cook with food you've grown and respected.

Grow more of what you darn well know you'll cook. But also grow stuff you're either intimidated by or think is gross. Grow enough of it to experiment with. Try........I don't know..... like 6 different recipes with that veggie or ingredient. Then you can eliminate it. You can honestly say, "I tried that, this and this ah way." You're over it and you'll move on. No harm no foul. Just a leaking butt hole and some smelly shit in your toilet. Nothing a shower can't cure. Wash your ass clean and it done!

And that is my talk about winter crops. Stop being a bitch about it raining. Watermellon is not in season. Neither are tomatoes. Now grab your balls and push on to what is in season. Carrots, Leeks, Beets, and a shit ton of weed since Humbolt has trimmed, cured, and shipped. Eat, Smoke and be merry ass holes! Don't forget your favorite seasonal beers either. And don't forget to treat each other well and with respect.

Picture time

I got the memory card which has pictures of how things have been moving along. That speed is slow and steady wins the race since I'm going the work solo. When I pulled the sod out I came across some more weird shit in the ground. A poker table. 22" Weber BBQ, a child's doll, what use to be 2"x12"x10' board. I'm not surprised by what I pull out of the ground any more. I've about seen it all at this point. What I want to know is what the hell was going on back here at those times?

 

Some of these pictures will show you the fence that I have taken down. Two layers of cinder blocks acting as a retaining wall with only a 2" footing and no rebar. The  retaining wall had pressure from the back neighbors yard pushing against it, so it was starting to buckle onto my side. While the fence was leaning a cool 30 degrees into their yard. There was 4-5" thick nails that were exposed as well. Pretty dangerous had a kid or a family pet been back there while the thing fell down. I'm still really confused by that neighbors lack of participation in addressing this fence.                                            

It kills me to walk out to my backyard and see it in this condition. It looks like Sanford and Son's       backyard. I'm still debating on whether or not to yank out that lonely ill looking lime tree. I don't use lime enough to justify it's existence. I'd find a Lemon, apple, pomegranate, or a avocado tree far more useful. I do have 3 neighbors that already have a lemon tree. So pomegranate might be more up my       alley. If I did a avocado tree, it would be the dwarf version. Avocado trees can get freakishly huge.    

I've been building new axles for my Jeep so they can handle 35" tires for rock crawling. There is also a Bushman 205 gallon water tank to the left. I rather like my local representative, Barbara Lee. She scored our area a grant so that Oakland residents can get up to 620 gallons in rain tanks for cheap. I chose to get a few of the 205's. Once the fence is rebuilt. I'll be relocating the veggie beds to the back towards the new fence. Its great southern exposure and I'm really hoping that it'll all blend in really nicely with the new native landscape I'll be putting in. Along the new fence, I'll be creating a living wall with herbs. I'd really love to use these cool felt sleeves, but they cost way too much. So I'm thinking I'll go shopping for some of those shoe organizers that you'd hand on your closet door and string them along the entire fence. Cheap and readily available at any discount box store (Ross, TJMax, etc). One of the 205 gallon tanks will sit back there on a drip system. I can't wait to get this all going either. I kinda dislike my current watering regimen. The other 205 I'm undecided about where to place it. I'm thinking up front of the house to make it visual and easy access. I think if rain harvesting had more of a resents, it would be the norm. No one would bitch how ugly it is or wonder what it is. It would just be as normal as seeing trash can. I also plan on washing my car with rain water. You might be thinking I wont get much done with 205 gallons. However I just ordered a 1550 gallon Norwesco tank. I wont be able to pick it up until I clear the driveway, it's full of the remnants of the fence I took down and the veggie beds are in the way. I'll be placing it where the beds use to be. As well as blending in more native landscape, organizing my berry bushes better, creating a sitting area with strawberry patches, and possibly putting up a waist high fence between the house and garage, so that I can leave Hans out back and not have to worry about him chasing off the local kids. The concrete slab where I'm working on the axles is also going away. I think it breaks up the flow of how I'll have the landscape done. Besides, I fucking hate concrete. I've been looking for someone to take it off my hands to be repurposed as urbanit. I don't want to see it go to waste. I'm making a really small 3'x3'x6' tool shed to store gardening tools. I have a Reel mower which I'll probably never use again, a few rakes, shovels, and hand tools that will fit beautifully in it. The big worm compost bin will be worked into it all as well. So that is where I'm at. This is the time of year you want to be doing landscaping. The first few rain falls have come. New plants should establish easily and putting them in their place will be much easier as well.                                                                  

What it use to look like

Backyard, a photo by zero7negative on Flickr.

When I bought the house. This is what the backyard looked like. It looked "normal." I would have saved myself a ton of time, work, money, and effort had I just left it like this.
The bamboo screen against the crappy fence. That roof use to be a chicken coop. I couldn't stand those lava rocks. I cursed those things from day one.

Politics and voting

I hope you people vote. Some of my friends say voting is stupid. I actively listen to their points. And sure, the electoral college is a shame. I think we should be able to have every single vote count towards a president. We can put man on other planets, we can destroy another country with a few bombs, so why can't we get away with this primitive voting process?

My biggest thing is local voting. I know most people who vote only vote for a president b/c they lack the knowledge on prop's that are on the ballet. I think that's weak! People put all this effort into other useless bullshit like TV, Celeb gossip, and facebook (I deleted my FB account almost a year ago). So why not take a couple of hours to read through local issues? What's so hard about it? It seems people put more effort into purchasing a pair of shoes. It makes no sense to me.

I personally am a registered independent. I don't care what anyone says. Whether it be a Republican or a Democrat. They all spend a shit ton of money, they just justify it differently. Republicans love war and Democrats love giving our money to even poorer and lazier people. I understand we have a standard of living in this country. I also understand being humane and addressing social issues. But I do not care for being a welfare state. I know that probably pissed someone off.
I'm not a gung-ho democrat or republican. Living in the bay area democrats think voting democrat is the right way to vote. How is that being a informed voter? Little arrogant is it not? Same applies to Republicans. And if voting voting Democrat is the right way to vote, shouldn't Diane Finstein have done a shit load more in her 20 years in the same seat? Most of us would lose our jobs had we been that non productive.

I don't see a difference between the two ass hats running for President. I also think Californians are dumb asses for putting that failure Jerry Brown back as Governor. In case you didn't know. The state budget was passed only in hopes that Prop30 passes. Nice gamble huh? I voted yes for the tax increase. But I swear to fucking god, if the state comes back asking for more taxes I'm going to personally kick Jerry Brown in the dick. Especially after that high speed rail system non sense got funding. Sure its going to create jobs and be ground breaking for our state in the sense that we'll have the first thing like it in the country. I still think it's a joke of a project. Starting in Fresno of all places and ending in LA. At some point it will make it's way to San Francisco.

I also think Prop37 is stupid. If these so called "Organic" farmers wanted this kind of legislation. Why don't they take the liberty of labeling their own products? Isn't that being proactive? I'm 100% against GMO and Monsanto and it's affiliates. So don't get me wrong on that. I'm also a advocate for a food system that isn't tampered by man. USDA calls it, "Organic." I dislike that word too. All these bay area people puke the word organic like it's a new thing. I find it to be a excuse to charge an arm and a leg for produce and that's fucked up. Talk about separating classes. And I don't wanna hear a sad song about how farmers are broke. I've never met a broke farmer. And if they are indeed broke. Then stop ridding the coat tails of the government and work your farm. I come from a farming family and have known many.

I'm for the death penalty. I say put in a car pool lane. That's on the ballet as well. Not sure of the prop number, but California is trying to abolish it. Three strikes law is majorly flawed. How the hell is a dude going to be doing life in prison with no chance of parole over pizza? That is a non violent or sexual crime. Logic!
I would never claim to be a political scientist. Nor do I read through every little detail of legislation. I try to use as much logic possible and to ask questions about what is going on. So if you have a adult comment leave some words. And remember, opinions are like ass holes. Everyone has one and they all stink.

More obscenities and no pictures

Yep, just jibber jabber in this post. I gotta make it look like I'm still alive and kicking. I'm back to working at a real job 6-7 days a week. I'm still broke as ever, but at least I'm contributing to all my neighbors on welfare.
I have pictures to post. They are on someone else camera though..... I've got yet another fence to rebuild because it was about 50 or so years old. I say, "was" because I have now tore it down. This fence is what divides me and my back neighbor from one an other. That property is about foot taller than mine. So there was a cinder block retaining wall with a Jimmy rigged fence in place. You can tell it wasn't entirely original b/c it wasn't very uniform. There would be 5 or so normal fence boards then some plywood to cover a hole from once upon a time ago fence boards.
These knuckle heads that moved in have/had this dog that would jump through the fence. Shit all over my yard. Scratch at my side door. Dig up my recent redone front yard. And since Hans is a Rottweiler. These folks would freak out and ask me to take my dog inside b/c they were scared of him. Hans is pretty well trained and he minds me quite well. He was on my property not there's. So to have them tell me to take my dog inside, while they sit on their fat lazy asses, kinda pissed me off. I gave these people a chance at first. I was cordial at first. But after telling them to keep their dog outa my yard and not to throw things over the fence. I started to get irritated. So I became a little less friendly. I was just shorter and didn't gab it up with them if they were outside like I did at first. Then one day the lady sings me a song about how she's on section 8, a single mom of 4 kids, don't have a job, yada yada yada. Then my respect for her fell even lower. Before the fence started leaning 40 degrees to her side. I kindly asked to have the landlords contact info. She refused to give it b/c she said she felt weird giving it out. But this dude needs to help me flip the bill for this fence. And well. Now I've been stuck with footing the bill for it so far. The guys info is public record, so it's not like it's too hard to get. I just have to put in the extra effort.
Now after taking this fence down. I was shocked to see how filthy these lazy bastards yard is. Man I'm talking trash bags all over the damn place. There is MinuteMaid bottles, soda bottles, soda can boxes and trash bags everywhere! So one night I'm trying to big out some of the concrete from the retaining wall and all a sudden I'm surrounded by 8 fucking ninjas! Raccoons! I'm no stranger to raccoons. I'm from the sticks of Iowa. And in East Oakland we got some crazy things going on. But urban raccoons are no fuckin joke man! I'm not scared of the vato locos down the street with their assault rifles (they can barley hit a damn thing with it). I'm scared of these damn raccoons! They are freakin ninjas! And they have thumbs! Urban raccoons don't give a damn about humans. They don't just run away and find a new trash can. They stand up a little and do this hiss, that if they were English words would say, "Hey ass hole. I'm hungry and I have no problem fucking you up! Now make me a sandwich."
After the raccoons left I typed up a letter asking that they pick up the backyard b/c it was inviting to unwanted visitors. My only concern was whether or not if they could read. It took a couple of days to get done, but finally most of the trash was picked up.
Now don't get me wrong. I know while reading through this post it could be mistaken that I've become a judgmental and non sympathetic prick. I am opinionated, sure. My sympathy stops at laziness. People who don't seek out the better in themselves. And just plan ol' stupid! And that is where I'm at. East Oakland has weathered me a touch, just a touch though. California as a whole is a topic of in its self.
As for the fence. I'm workin on it. I still have prep work to do. Clearing space for the new footing for the cinder blocks. Acquiring the cinder blocks and rebar. Minor acquisitions, but very key in building a fence to last longer than the prior fence.
I'll post up pictures later. In the mean time. Have fun, read some books, make someone smile.

And more time has passed

Crazy things, crazy things. Its not that I forget to type or update. It's more a matter of whether or not if I feel there is a, "Wow" factor too post. I've had so many ups and downs this past year and personal challenges, I just don't post. I know it sounds like some pussy ass excuse. But I'll ride on it until it runs out. 
I've been continuously working on the landscaping. I did the front yard. The title on that was, "Are these plants citizens?" I tied the concept of what we as a society consider citizens into the titled because I live in a hood which has a heavy concentration of non documented humans. I personally don't give a fuck about those families statuses in regards to that.  I'm here to only tread as lightly and as respectfully as possible. So to make myself feel better about my existence, I plant native plants.

I have since my last post dug up the backyard, made a new worm compost bin, and went further into my Jeep build than I thought I'd ever go into. The latest compost bin is 4'x8'x18" and stand on 4' legs so I don't have to bend over as much. Equipped with a lid and dividers so that I can manage the compost better.

I was unemployed for such a long time that I had figured I should figure out my own means of a living. So I dove more and more into the vermiculture world.  There is a decent amount of info out there. I've been reading tons! "Worms Eat My Garbage." I read a few things from Charles Darwin and his observation on worms. I even got my neighbors, who own the taco truck, to do a garden share.They asked me what I used for fertilizer. I told them, "gusano mierda!" That's Spanish for, "worm shit." So I gave em 30lbs of mierda. It threw his hair back. Even for being bald headed. I showed em what i do with air rated compost tea. Dude thought I was off my rocker. The shit works wonders! I've been geeking out over teas lately too.

The beginnings of the new worm bin. Hans freaks out from the sound of a circular saw.

I didn't put as much effort into the garden as I had wanted to. I was really hoping to be done with the landscape, but a friend of mine completely flaked on me to do the design. I've got squash crawling out of my ass and belly button. I made the mistake of letting grow to about the size of a toddler. Had some awesome leeks, carrots, onions, beets, kale, beans, artichoke, berries, Parsnips, and all the lettuces under the gene pool.