Category Archives: DIY

The Value of Making Dish Soap

Posted on May 11, 2010 by jkmcintyre


Tonight I was thinking about value. We make money to pay people to make things for us; food, soap, goods. Most of us don’t have time to make things for ourselves. But the truth is that we choose not to. Division of duties can be good; I’m not very interested in making my own bicycle, nor do I think I’d be very good at it. Sometimes it is much better to pay someone skilled to make something for you. But often I’m paying for something that’s not even what I want Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, homemade soap, household cleaner | Leave a comment

Hand building an olla

Posted on April 29, 2010 by jkmcintyre


Trying something new. I’m using low-fire clay bodies that mature at cone 04-1. RedArt Terra Cotta, RedArt with sand, and Terra Cotta (which has grog). I will fire them at our bisque temperature, cone 06 (~1000C), where I hope they will remain porous Continue reading →

Posted in ceramics, DIY, olla irrigation, vegetable garden | 7 Comments

36C in Seattle – really.

Posted on July 29, 2009 by jkmcintyre

Damn it’s hot. Loving the heat pump that keeps our main room 76F. I’m actually loving the heat – it reminds me of other places I have loved – Ontario & Argentina – in the heat of summer. The smell … Continue reading →

Posted in DIY, harvest, vegetables | 2 Comments

The Bottle Wall Project

Posted on June 9, 2009 by jkmcintyre


Although equipped with a huge and elaborated front yard, the back yard of our house is tiny. One hop, one skip, and one jump from the back door and you’re in the alley. Not a lot of opportunity for quiet reflection in the rare and precious sun of a fall or winter afternoon – especially with the fleet yard of O’Neil plumbing just off portside Continue reading →

Posted in bottle fence, DIY | 5 Comments