Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? Just got back from my favorite eco-responsible pick up lunch to go spot, Pret. I am hoping to do lunches from home soon but not there just yet – will start next week. So I went to Pret, being frugal and ready to order only a cup of soup when I noticed their Wheel of Fortune posted on the wall. I asked if they’d spin it for me. They obliged, and it landed on the equivalent of a Price Is Right car: a frrrreeeeeee lunch! Everyone clapped as I collected my sandwich, snack, drink, and soup (the soup I still purchased since it didn’t come with the lunch). Mushroom risotto soup – might not look like much but it made me plenty happy today and supplied my Friday dose of umami. Oooh, Mami! Thank you Pret!

Gotta love Seattle.  I’ve actually never been there, always wanted to go.  Last fall I met a wonderful Seattlite (ok, I know that’s wrong but sounds so right to me).  She keeps me up to date on the happenings there.  Here’s a novel idea from some west coast revel gardeners: use goats instead of pesticides to keep your land free and clear of unwelcome visitors.  Check it out here.

I’ve heard of other natural ways to keep pests away.  My other favorite is from the Self-Sufficient Gardener, who regularly emphasizes that pests are just a natural part of gardening, not all are bad, it’s important to know the difference between the good ones (beneficial) and harmful pests, and that one of the most important methods of pest control is planning.  A resilient garden grounded with healthy soil and packed with diverse and sturdy (think heirloom over hybrid) plants will put itself in balance.  Check out some quick advice from him on how to deal with pests here.

QUESTION: How do you deal with pests?  Have you been seeing any this year?  Do you plan your garden around them or just wait to see what shows up?  (I have to say I’m guilty of the latter in that I do only minimal planning – such as placing marigolds around my tomato garden – but just wait to see what shows up for the rest).  Do you use any organic pesticides or other products?  Go ahead … gimme the dirt!

On my walk today

I happened on several splashes of wildflowers

Growing free and easy

I was glad folks were letting them be

I thought, “this is a good day for a walk.” And this guy seemed to agree, as he stood still, aiming his steady gaze on the flower walkers.

Made in the USA

Granola bars cooling, a copy of American Grown by Michelle Obama on my coffee table (only $20 at Barnes & Noble with discounts — and, yes, printed in the U.S. of A.), and a couple of weird off kilter odd hour birds doing the old fashioned kind of tweeting.  My dog answers back with barks, and warns off any would-be interlopers or party crashers.  I know this bird.  I missed him last year, noticed he wasn’t around.  Before that, though, he would be up at all kinds of odd hours singing loud, listening to his tune bounce off the row houses and down the street.  People on the block knew him.  We called him the Crazy Bird.  “Did you hear that Crazy Bird at, like, 2 in the morning?”  Some people were amused.  Others, rubbing their eyes and pushing back their hair, fumbling for their metrocard, not so.  Even though he would wake me up inopportunely, something about the persistence was admirable.  He’d perch on the ledge of the deck outside my bedroom door, where my jalapenos were happiest last year but the morning glories never grew.  Some mornings I would wake up and there he’d be, wrapping up another night of revelry.  I don’t know where he went last year but he’s back now.  I can’t see him now in the dark of night but I do recognize his voice.  It’s unmistakable.  And  I tip tap away at my keyboard, wishing I could whistle back.  (It’s not a talent I possess).  I hear another one, though, talking back.  Might be telling this one to get some sleep.  I’ll take heed.  Before I do, I pause because I think I recognize that tune … sounds like happy birthday to me.

The following recommendation is from my friend and fellow reveler, Susan.  Since it’s her recommendation, I no doubt will be checking out the film as soon as possible.  If any of you have seen it or see it, your feedback’s invited.  Thanks Susan!

“This is a film recommendation for “Collapse”, an interview with Mike Ruppert, a former LAPD cop, investigative journalist, publisher, and thinker.  He has vital things to say about our world, some of which, like “peak oil”, are not exactly household terms.  It is not a light film, but there are issues here all of us ought to think about.  He connects the dots in ways that I haven’t seen before.  And although these are huge concepts, he explains them in ways that make them understandable for most of us.

“Ruppert shows how energy depletion is causing the collapse of the economic system that supports the entire industrialized world.  He doesn’t blame any of it on individuals of any political persuasion, followers of any religion or “-ism”, creed, or greed.  Although we all have our pet issues, he goes beyond them all and pares things down to what he sees as inevitable effects. He has no panaceas to offer, and he explains what won’t help, and why.

“I have to admit that in the first few minutes, I found Ruppert irritatingly full of himself and more than slightly  paranoid.  Of course, that could also describe some of us.  But the things he has to say are so basic and important, I’m glad I watched the whole film.  It lasts about 80 minutes. And I believe that if we understand the underlying causes, we will be able to better think about how to survive them, perhaps even cure them.

“For those of you on Netflix instant view, this film is downloadable until June 1.  I can’t wish that you enjoy “Collapse”, but I hope you watch it anyway.”