Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 11, 2023

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Mountain Views-News November 11, 2023 

Mountain Views-News November 11, 2023 

He’s a Wonderful Boy! “GRINGO”

URGENT! This 
is a courtesy post 
for a very wonderful 
cat named 
GRINGO. He’s an 
exotic, rare, green-
eyed, flame point 
male, age 5.5. He 
is very lovable and 
friendly. He is such a beauty and when you see 
him you will realize he looks like he should be 
in a fancy home in the canyons being spoiled 
rotten with love & cuddles.He would do best 
with someone who works from home. A couple 
or single person would be ideal. A friendly 
resident cat would be nice, too. He's healthy 
and totally vetted and microchipped. See more 
pictures of Gringo at www.lifelineforpets.org 
at our “More Cats” page. 

Good news: Meemow has found a potential 
adopter!

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]


GROWING A PERENNIAL GARDEN

[Nyerges is the author of “Urban Survival Guide,” “How to Survive Anywhere,” and many 
other books. More information about his books and classes from www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.
com]

I don’t think that I am actually what is called a “lazy gardener,” though 
I prefer to do only the minimal amount of work to produce food in my 
own yard. If certain plants require too much work, or they always die, I 
generally quit trying to grow that plant. It may be that they are inappropriate 
for my environment – such as coffee. I grow coffee, but I know in 
the back of my mind that come the next freeze, they will die.

I love being able to grow certain plants that will more or less take care of themselves, year 
after year. I don’t mean trees, which are obviously perennial and are a great choice for 
long-term food production.

I’m referring to those garden vegetables that can be planted once and then as long as I enrich 
the soil and make sure everything is watered, they will produce “forever.”

ONIONS

For example, all member of the onion family – such as onions, garlic, shallots, etc. – are 
perennial if you eat only the greens and leave the bulbs in the ground. That means, they 
will produce and divide year after year.

ASPARAGUS

Asparagus seems to have fallen out of favor with gardeners, but there was a time when 
asparagus was in everyone’s garden. You can plant them from seed, or buy the roots, and 
then plant them in good soil. The plant can actually live up to 50 years and longer, and 
every spring you can cut the tender shoots and cook them.

POTATO

Sprouted and therefore inedible potatoes get tossed away all the time. Right? Most people 
quickly toss these into the garbage and wipe up the offending mess on the shelf.

But I take what remains of the sprouted potato outside, dig a hole in my designated potato 
patch, and plant it all at least four inches underground. Then I cover it with mulchy soil. 

The above-ground part will grow and eventually flower. It arises rarely more than a foot 
out of the ground. When the plant dies back in a few months, you can dig down and be 
amazed to find a dozen or so home-grown potatoes. It’s very easy to do, and I’ve done it for 
so long that I take it for granted that everyone grows their own potatoes.

Of course, we eat the underground root, so we cannot really say that the potato is perennial. 
However, when you harvest your potatoes, always keep a few of the little ones in the 
ground and you will have a forever potato patch.

JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE

This plant is not from Jerusalem, and it is not an artichoke, but otherwise it is an appropriate 
name. This is a member of the Sunflower family native to the eastern U.S. This 
sunflower does not produce seeds, but rather reproduces by its constantly growing underground 
tubers, which resembles ginger.

When you grow one of these – also called sunchokes – they will produce tall sunflowers 
and then die back in late summer. You can then dig some to eat like potatoes. Always leave 
some in the ground and you will soon have more than you can possibly eat.

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH

I had grown regular spinach from time to time, and I enjoyed it. It was good! You plant it, 
let it grow, then you harvest it for dinner one day. Then you start all over.

But then I learned about New Zealand spinach.

New Zealand spinach is a sprawling perennial spinach. If you plant it in an appropriate 
spot, it will spread and spread and you will literally have spinach year-round, year after 
year. When you want to harvest some, just pinch back the tender tips. The plant continues 
to grow where you pruned it back, often sprouting out two or three stems where there was 
only one. I had one patch that lived for nearly 30 years before I moved away.

BEETS

Did you know that beets are related to Swiss chard? You can take a beet that has started to 
sprout, and plant either the whole beet, or just the top part with the greens. We’ve done this 
many times and we get years of chard-like greens from the root, often for many seasons. 

Pet of the Week

 
Travis is a playful and entertaining guy! He’s about 
4 years old, weighs around 45 pounds, and has the 
inquisitive spirit of a puppy. He loves playing with toys- 
he'll even throw them up in the air, chase them and 
pounce on them. He literally plays fetch without any 
assistance!

 Travis has been introduced to some similar-sized dogs 
at Pasadena Humane and he seems to really like the 
attention. At a recent adoption event he was happily 
walking around with other dogs and surrounded by 
hundreds of people all day. He enjoyed every minute of 
it! 

 This smart guy walks well on leash and will never turn 
down a belly rub. He’s hoping to show off his repertoire 
of tricks to you!

 Travis is available for a 10-day adoption trial! 

 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. 

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


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