A couple weeks ago I was driving down our local highway, glancing over at the day laborers standing in the Home Depot parking lot. They actually stand near the Staples rather than the Home Depot itself, since that would make their purpose even more obvious (either that, or they're looking for under-the-table office jobs). I thought to myself, Well, if push comes to shove, I can always try that. They generally get paid about $10/hr. for hot, backbreaking work, but it's certainly better than minimum wage (which is what I make at the Mother's store in Berkeley).

 

For a city-dweller I have a surprisingly large back yard.  This is probably because the city in which I dwell rose up only moderately recently from farmland, and I did NOT buy in a development.  So I have probably 2200 square ft. of yard, terraced into a level lower lawn and a sloped upper area which is 80 ft. x 20 ft.  Respectable.

Also, hard to manage due to the heat of the summer here.  The sun reflects off the back of my house (even though the house is olive green) and bakes the lower level quite nicely, thank you.  Every year after our first summer (when the Wife grew veggies) we have let it grow wild and haven't spent much time there.

This year, however, we have a dog, and cattails are anathema to dogs (the Sister's dog got one up his nose last year while visiting us, resulting in a nice vet bill).  So since I am currently job seeking and have some time on my hands, I am attempting to tame our yard.  I have managed to clear-cut about half of it so far, and should be weedwhacking another 25% today.

Because it's Earth Day (you forgot, didn't you?) I'm also planting a cherry tree for some more future shade.  This is in addition to the two full-grown almond trees, and the volunteer almond and oak (both of which only reach my chest so far).  There's a new low-water turf seed out now that I'm thinking of buying, too, so we can finally have a lawn I won't feel bad about watering.

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Speaking of Earth Day, try to do something today to help out the environment, okay?  Even if it's just making your street look a little prettier by picking up a candy wrapper you see lying on the sidewalk.  Remember, some of us have rain gutters that drain to the river, so that wrapper might end up there if you don't do your part.