Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, January 13, 2024

10

 Mountain Views News Saturday, January 13, 2024 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

[Nyerges is the author of “Urban Survival Guide,” and other books. More 
information at www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

Adorable ARCHIE!

Archie is just the sweetest 
little kitten! He needed 
a rescue and much help 
to save this little dude's 
leg following a femoral 
fracture that landed him 
on the euthanasia list at 
SEAACA. 

Now we are happy to report that not only is Archie 
still a quadruped, but his leg is 80% healed and he 
has been discharged to foster care! His rescuer said, 
“Archie was a clinic favorite! He’s full of love and purrs 
and will make an excellent addition to any family!” 

Our thanks to the wonderful foster mom 
extraordinaire, who is keeping this sweet boy safe and 
loved while he continues to heal. Born 10/25/23. We are taking applications now for when 
he is ready to be adopted. 

See more at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/archie.html. Lifeline for Pets.


A LITTLE FIELD OF DREAMS

Excerpted from Nyerges’ “Squatter in L.A.,” book, the true story of how he lived as 
squatter for a year and a half. Available from Amazon as an e-book or hard-copy.

 

I was living in a small cinder-block house set on one acre of wild property, 
located at the end of cul de sac. I often felt like I was in a universe far, far 
away.

While I lived there, I practiced recycling of household wastes, did composting, water recycling, 
animal raising, and lots of gardening.

 

My garden never seemed highly productive but I had a few of the tall red amaranth plants, 
some squash, a corn patch, some greens, and wild foods. It was probably my first successful 
corn patch. I didn’t plant the rows of corn that you see so often in gardens and on farms. 
Rather, in my approximately 10 by 20 foot corn patch, I had corn more of less evenly spaced. 
I had wanted to try the so-called Three Sisters of the native Southwest, of corn, beans, and 
squash.

 

In the arid soil of the Southwest, the corn was planted first, and once it arose, beans were 
planted at the base of the each corn. The beans’ roots fix nitrogen and this acts as a fertilizer 
to the corn. Squash was then planted as a sprawling ground cover to retain the valuable scant 
moisture of the desert.

 

I planted my corn in what had been my wood chip patch, three seeds per hole about two 
feet apart. Corn came up, and then I planted bean seeds. Beans are usually an easy crop to 
grow, but not that many came up. Who knows, maybe my ducks ate them. I planted squash 
too. Not a desert squash but ordinary zucchini which did a good job as a ground cover and 
food producer. I loved the little garden, and at night when I sat at my plywood desk with my 
typewriter, I’d look out my window through the several feet tall corn patch to see the lights 
of the city below. During the day, little birds would flock to the corn patch and eat bugs. I 
enjoyed the fact that this little garden that I created with my simple efforts was now teeming 
with wildlife. It felt good just to look at it. It provided some food for my body, food for 
wildlife, and food for my soul.

 

Not long after I started this patch – it was near Thanksgiving – my friend David Ashley came 
by for a visit. David had already moved into the neighborhood from wherever else he’d been 
living. He came up to the top of the hill where I was a squatter to pay a visit. My housing 
status didn’t cause David to lower his regard for me.

 

I took David out into my garden, and we stood there talking about the mysteries and meanings 
of life. I pulled off a ripe ear of corn and handed it to him and picked one for myself.

 

“What’s this for?” asked David.

“To eat,” I responded as I began to peel off the leaves and hairs on my average size ear of corn. 
He took a bite of the sweet kernels.

“I didn’t know you could eat corn raw,” said David in a surprised voice.

“Yep, you can,” I told him as I chewed on my sweet tender kernels from my fresh-picked cob. 
David began to peel his and take some 
bites.

“Wow, that’s really good!” said David, 
chewing on more kernels. We stood 
there for a few moments, eating our 
corn, looking at the outside world 
through the stalks of corn that were 
taller than us. It was a quiet, special 
moment. We didn’t say a whole lot 
more, just stood there eating every last 
kernel, and looking down at the vast 
city of Los Angeles as if it were Emerald 
City.

 

Eventually, David left, and over the 
ensuing months, I would occasionally hear David excitedly telling someone about his surreal 
experience eating raw corn in Christopher’s little corn patch, our own little “field of dreams.”


Pet of the Week

 
Five-year-old Kilo is such a good boy- and he 
knows it! He’s sweet and affectionate with a very 
calm demeanor. 

 Kilo has become a favorite of the volunteers at 
Pasadena Humane who have taken him out on 
several field trips. He walks well on leash, enjoys 
car rides, and always has a fun day out on his 
adventures. He’s quite fond of hiking, but really 
any excursion for him is a blast!

 He has been known to sit calmly in the backseat of 
the car, his nose sticking out the window, serenely 
watching the trip unfold. He’ll then lay down for a 
nice nap at your feet. If you’re looking for a ride-
along pal, Kilo would love to be it!

 Kilo is eligible for the Seniors for Seniors program, 
so his adoption fee is waived for any adopter over 
60. 

 The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog 
adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines. 

 New adopters will receive a complimentary 
health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with 
information about how to care for your pet. 

 View photos of adoptable pets and schedule an 
adoption appointment at pasadenahumane.org. 
Adoptions are by appointment only, and new 
adoption appointments are available every Sunday 
and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Limited same-
day appointments are available during weekend 
Visiting Hours. Check website for times.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot 
be held for potential adopters by phone calls or 
email. 

 Kilo was such a great boy on his adventure and 
was a great candidate as being my first dog taking 
to a park/ hike 
setting. When 
approaching my 
car, he would sit in 
front of the door 
waiting for me to 
take the time to 
unlock and open 
it for him. He 
does seem to have 
trouble jumping ( 
not sure if it is an 
age related issue 
). Once in the car 
he loves to stick 
his head out the 
window and had a 
specific preference 
on the R side . Did not bark in car nor whine. When 
seeing dogs passing by while having his head out 
the window. he would stare but never bark or seem 
to fixated. Our first park trip, he loved to smell the 
dirt and grass and did not react to runners passing 
by. Taking him to our second hiking location, he 
did good. Loves to smell the environment and 
mark occasionally. When children, men and loud 
groups passed by, his attention was focused on 
looking forward or other smells that caught his 
attention. (2) larger dogs were passing and he seem 
interested in staring but was redirected with treats 
and sit commands. Smaller dogs he seems more 
fixated on; headed back down a small Maltese 
started to engage and repeatedly bark at Kilo to 
where he reacted and pulled and headed towards 
dog until he was redirected with defensive leash 
handling and treats. Kilo did not bark or growl at 
the small dog. Treated him to a pup patty with no 
salt after his hike and he definitely enjoyed it!


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com