I had several trees in original buckets for about 5 months after buying them. I decided to plant them early this spring (6 months ago?)... I think it was March or April.. but I dont have the info in front of me when I planted them. Anyway, they are all blooming right now here in Southern California and its a bit strange! Here is a list of the flowering trees and bushes ... - Eastern Snowball (usually already done, no?) - Lilac (right now???) - Anna Apple (when I planted i removed the 5 apples, but now its blooming wildly) - Eva's Pride Peaches (we just picked some in June! But now flowering again?) - Both cherry trees (one is a mini royal i think, the other I forget the name but is for pollinating) - Valencia Oranges (i think this one is correct) - Lots of Berries (black, blue, ras, straw) Although still relatively small Ive been picking these since spring So why all the blooms? Are these all confused? Will I be getting a new round of fruits or something? Should I remove any fruits that develop? The only thing Ive done differently... About a month ago I hooked up soaker hoses to these trees and shrubs and put them on a timer. Before, I was just hand watering them with a hose when I had time. Now they are really growing and green and flowering. Any ideas, tips? Suggestions? Thanks!

I thought I would post this because I'm a fan of listening to radio host Katherine Albrecht ( katherinealbrecht.com ) and ya'll might be interested as well. Back in December of 2007, radio host and freedom lover Katherine Albrecht interviewed the Dervaes family live on their urban homestead. It was a great interview covering a wide range of topics from solar cooking, raising animals, city water reclamation, biodiesel and homeschooling. You can listen to the interview here: http://www.katherinealbrecht.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2720:thu-december-13-2007&catid=20:show-archives&Itemid=44 Katherine Albrecht is a privacy expert, radio show host and author of award winning bestseller "Spychips: How Major Corporations and Government Plan to Track Your Every Move with RFID" You can find more about her here (including live and archived radio show listening links): http://www.katherinealbrecht.com/ I like her show a lot as it doesnt feel left or right slanted, just truth oriented. She talks a bunch about privacy issues, talks about how soy products are bad for you (it lowers sperm count in men and increases hormone levels), and covers other important news like teflon products, safe cosmetics, GMO, etc. Great show all around! Its on from 1pm to 3pm PST weekdays.

I dont mind the libertarian ideas. Self governing works great in places like Ukraine. You go to the marketplace (and each city has one) and the people who dont make good cheese, dont last long! And that goes for all products, natural or partially processed like cheese. Im not here to change you at all. We are all trying to do what we can. But I used to be really strict about how the government tries to "protect" its citizens thinking that was true, but the more you jump down the rabbit hole, the more you find out thats not really the case, its more about control than it is about helping people. I spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe and learned a lot from my experiences and it really changed the way I think and live. Raw milk being another example. I think my post could go in the same thread as Becky's about getting family to change. I have a brother who will not eat anything that is not prepackaged. At 45-ish (or whatever age he is) I realize what a very limited food intake & lifestyle he lives. Ive tried to talk to him, but Ive given up, instead just trying to take care of my family and myself. He takes a myriad of medications now which makes me sad, because he change fix that!

I'm excited to read this book, thanks for the tip. Not sure what you mean about the authors libertarian beliefs. I'll have to read the book to understand the comment. America was founded on the seeds of liberty as a republic, which differs from a democracy. Democracy is basically mob rule.

There are quite a lot of questions, philosophies, in your post to ponder. The easiest way for me to take it all in is that everything in this world, in this universe, is part of the big cycle of life. With the fires raging around me in Southern California and seeing the destruction it creates, there are positive sides to it all. Those forests will regrow anew and with more vigor than before. Fires in forests are natural and needed. I see all the ash landing on the cars and on my veggies too. Which is also a good thing. It provides potassium, phosphorus and other micro-nutrients. All the destruction, yet it provides new life and new growth too. The cycle of life. In regards to world population numbers... Its normal and natural. Yes, people will suffer, be it from starvation, fires, earthquakes, what have you. i think it will all balance out. I would be more concerned with people like those who created the Georgia Guidestones... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones They want a human population reduction of 90% down to 500 million. Yikes. Their #2 rule is all about eugenics, which Hitler and Stalin were interested in. Anyways, one thing great about a garden is it gives me less time to waste in front of the boob tube (unless its Jericho or Seinfeld!). The mainstream news media here in America is solid propaganda, just like it was for Russians in the USSR. I tune it out. Dont worry, I think we are going to be fine!