Steph Walker

I've definitely done this (the very lazy way) where when I pruned some unwanted trees that had gotten out of hand I formed a little teepee with the larger branches and put the smaller cut branches in piles around the teepee. Its is now a favorite hangout for my chickens, cats and wild birds! This was a local suggestion from our Marion County Soil and Water Conservation district to help local wildlife by making natural hidey-holes / habitat for them. If you look closely at my photo there is at least one wild bird in there

I've been putting tight mesh shade cloths and tarps on the outside of our uninsulated exterior walls and it helps a lot! Anything that can prevent the direct sun from hitting the house is a win for me during hot days. The key to preventing house heating during summer is preventing light from hitting the house/entering windows (the other is not having a hot black roof). For cold days blankets and quilts are also in the windows but I have to be careful to check the window/quilt gap space for mold because condensation can hang out in there. My dream is to have shaded porch/greenhouse areas around the entire house and a white/reflective roof but those are long term plans. Photo (not mine, from www.sevendaysvt.com) for inspiration:

I have an imperfect and sometimes ugly-looking system for all types of "trash"!
1. Any natural products (hair, paper, wax etc.) are mixed into a long-term compost bin OR are burned depending on whether it's dry season (compost) or winter season (burn).
2. I've been using the mail-in envelopes from Ridwell to handle thin plastic films and layered plastic films, though I try to reuse the bags when I can. Sometimes the films just go into the trash bag.
3. Food scraps are composted.
4. Layered paper with plastics/coatings/etc is put into the recycling bin, I have an old kitty litter bucket for this. Loose (not bagged) recycling is easier to separate (so I've heard).
5. Metal pieces (random metal cut-offs, rusted screws, foils) are collected and brought to the scrap metal recycler/given to someone who wants to take it in for cash.
6. Our county takes food cans in the recycling bin, I put them in the same kitty litter bucket as before and then pour it outside in the curb can.
7. Aluminum cans are given away at the curb for anyone wanting the 10 cent per can recycling money (we're in suburban Oregon).
8. Glass is reused as much as possible and our recycler takes the rest in a small bin outside.
9. Any specialty items (batteries, lightbulbs with mercury, electronics etc) are taken to the local dump recycling area for those categories.
10.  Leftover bits considered "true" trash are put in the trash collection curb bin. I've been using paper grocery bags for awhile as small trash bags because I hate the idea of buying more plastic garbage bags just to throw them away. My thought is that paper will degrade eventually (theoretically).

My setup is a mixture of kitty litter buckets, paper bags on the floor, big yogurt tubs (metal bits) and old bowls/buckets (compost/burn).

Writing all of this out I am realizing this is easy to manage now but is definitely more to keep track of!

William Bronson wrote:We have a growing population of "Lazarus" Lizards.
I think they are why we don't have more slugs than we do.

I think other inflexible, modular, biologically inert items might work as mulch.
Aluminum pans, or ceramic plates, for instance.
Aluminum flashing,would be more flexible but still ridgid by comparison to black plastic mulch.

Petrified hessian/ concreted burlap is another possibility for a ridgid mulch.

Ceramic plates sparked something in my brain! They're everywhere and I often can get them for free. Going to think on this more

Great idea! I've wanted to do do this also because weeds can't (theoretically) grow through a piece of tile or concrete in the short term

I use another way of shading windows. I've tacked white cotton sheets/fabrics in front (outside) of our hottest windows and it helps a lot. I get light but also a reduction in direct sunlight. It is also moveable if I want to peek outside to check on our animals. It only works for those who can tack items outside their windows (maybe not for 2nd floor rented apartments for example) but is an easy fix and probably as cheap as paint. Works better in times where I don't get a lot of summer rain. I've gotten my sheets at estate sales etc. for $2 or so a piece and take them down in winter. Something to keep around and always handy!

I REALLY like how my Yarrow is spreading over my small backyard and front yard! It is great for the bees/pollinators and keeping areas pretty and green with judgy neighbors. It's native here and is so easy to grow. I've also seen someone online use it as a lawn replacement which is my ultimate goal for certain dry areas of the yard.

I like this idea! For the non-slip part I'd try and sew a few pieces of flat rubber to the bottom. You could poke holes in the discs and sew them on like buttons or how traditional leather sewing pieces are attached.

Rosemary! I put these anywhere I know I have terrible clay soil, just supplement with a little potting soil initially. I don't take care of them at all except for some herb harvesting. They even do ok in dry summers. (I'm in the PNW).

So far I've gotten 4 hazelnut trees here in Salem, OR for free courtesy of local squirrels/bluejays squishing the nuts into our soil. I just move them into an area of our backyard we're turning into a food forest. The best way to get trees!