Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, December 30, 2023

8

 Mountain Views News Saturday, December 30, 2023 


CHRISTOPHER Nyerges [www.SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com]

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

SHY BUT SWEET BONDED 
BROTHERS

 Meet Kingston & Byron, two 
handsome bonded brothers that 
are looking for their furever 
home. They look almost alike, but 
seems like Kingston has the more 
striking features, while Byron has 
softer fea-tures and a bit wider 
nose. A Good Samaritan rescued 
these broth-ers. Although quite shy they 
have made lots of progress. One of them 
will get in bed with you for lots 
of pets and purrs once he gets 
to know you. They other one is 
close behind just waiting for the right time. They are both 
very well mannered and quiet so they would need a quiet 
home without little ones and very patient and understanding 
adopters that will let them continue to grow at their own 
pace. They are neutered, vaccinated, and dewormed. Won't 
you please take these boys home and see them thrive! What 
a wonderfur gift of love that would be! See more pictures and 
adoption info at https://www.lifelineforpets.org/kingston--
byron.html, or use the QR code.


LOCAL BACKYARD “FARMER” PUBLISHES HER 
FIRST BOOK Urban farmer Julie Balaa sells unique plants at the local 
farmers market Her first book just released: “LOW COST EMERGENCY 
PLANNING.” Foreword by Actor Ed Begley Jr.

Urban farmer Julie Balaa 
has just produced her first 
book, an in-depth guide 
to being prepared for emergencies and life’s 
crises without breaking the budget. Her book, 
“Low Cost Emergency Planning: A Do-it-
Yourself Guide to Family Disaster Planning,” 
(Skyhorse, 2023), covers the basics of water 
and food storage, home food production, 
making things, and how to live a more self-
reliant life without spending an arm and a 
leg. The book is fully illustrated with color 
photos. The actor and environmentalist Ed 
Begley Jr. wrote the optimistic foreword.

She is scheduling book readings, lectures, 
and classes based around her book. 

Balaa grew up in San Marino, and now lives 
across the Arroyo Seco in Highland Park, 
where she does urban farming. Besides 
growing things in the greenhouse she built, 
she farms the one acre urban sanctuary of the 
non-profit where she works. 

At the Tuesday Highland Park Farmers 
Market, Julie Balaa has been teaching her 
customers how to create sustainable gardens 
in their own yards for several years now. 
Balaa’s booth at the market caught my attention because she was selling less-common foods, and 
instructing people how to grow their own.

At her farmers market booth, she sells New Zealand spinach, lamb’s quarter, California pepper seeds, 
cactus pads, as well as a variety of potted foods, such as purple tree collard, sapote, and ficus trees. 

Balaa is always engaged in conversations with customers, explaining that these are all the plants she 
grows and sells can be used to create sustainable gardens. Her book will be one extra tool that her 
customers can use as a guideline to creating their own self-sufficient home.

 

Her book addresses all the basic needs of any urban or suburban dweller who doesn’t have a lot of land, 
but wants to still be prepared for emergencies and wants to be a bit more self-reliant.

Balaa begins with a chapter on water, and since she’s in the Los Angeles area, she lets readers know that 
only 26% of the water that Los Angelos use is local – all the rest comes to the city via 3 aqueducts from 
sources about 300 miles away. Thus, Balaa encourages her readers to do as she does: conserve water, 
don’t waste water, and lots of grey water recycling. She describes what it takes to collect rain water, and 
how to store water in plastic buckets in case of emergencies.

Next, she explains how to store food, and that you can have some food in your yard if you grow food 
producing trees and vegetables. She discusses even the common wild foods – such as pricky pear 
cactus, lambs quarter, and purslane – which are common and have great nutritional value.

How do you cook when the power goes out? Balas shares some simple methods, including how to 
make a low-cost solar oven. She also addresses the basics of first aid in emergencies, how to create a 
simple backyard “survival camp,” and all the very important economic considerations that are all too 
often ignored in “survival” books.

The book is a pleasure to read, with lots of common sense coming from someone who had to work 
with a limited budget.

When she is selling her products at the local farmers market, one of her popular foods is the prickly 
pear cactus pad, or nopales, which have been used in Mexican cuisine for centuries. She sells the 
pads ready to be cleaned and eaten, as well as the potted pads which can be grown as a border plant. 
The prickly pear cactus has been demonstrated to be effective for treating high cholesterol and type 2 
diabetes, as documented in such books as “Prickly Pear Cactus Medicine” by Ran Knishinsky.

At her table at the Farmers Market, Balaa had a list of all the plants that her clients could grow in their 
yards to create a perennial, sustainable garden for the least amount of work. The list included trees, of 
course, like olives, citrus, and figs, and grape vines, asparagus, onions, Jerusalem artichoke, potatoes, 
tree collards, and, of course, prickly pear 
cactus.

As part of the permaculture philosophy 
which is embodied in Balaa’s new book, 
she and her family also recycle all of their 
kitchen and yard scraps by composting 
them into soil, rather than just tossing it 
all into the trash can. “It’s very rewarding 
to do these techniques,” said Balaa, 
“because I feel it’s what we should all be 
doing. Sometimes it’s hard, but it makes 
you feel good for doing it.” She also 
practices safe grey-water recycling, where 
she sends all her kitchen and bath water 
into the garden.

 [Her book is available from Amazon. Balaa can be reached for consultations, and the hours of her 
nursery, at juliebalaa@gmail.com. The Highland Park Farmers Market occurs every Tuesday from 3 
to 7 p.m., at Avenue 58 and Figueroa in Highland Park.]


Pet of the Week

 If you’re looking for a fun companion to ring in 
the New Year, look no further than Sebastian! This 
handsome guy is sure to turn heads as you walk 
him down the street!

 Sebastian is three years old and has a lot of playful 
energy. He loves playing in the yard, but is happiest 
out on the go. He’s been on a number of walks with 
Pasadena Humane volunteers and they rave about 
him. He knows several commands and is keen to 
learn more. He has favorite treats that are a good 
motivator for him!

 Sebastian will thrive in an active home. He doesn’t 
mind being the center of attention as long as he is 
included in all the adventures! He would love hiking or camping, and he would probably 
also enjoy a training class to show off his skills. 

 Bring this stunner home with you today!

 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.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE 

SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE


Our holiday show begins this Friday! Cori Cable Kidder's Holiday Spectacular: A 1940s Christmas 
Revue will play on our stage from Nov 24 (the day after Thanksgiving) through Dec 23.

These original WWII-era military-themed holiday concerts star Sierra Madre Playhouse's Patsy 
Cline, Cori Cable Kidder, who received an Ovation nomination for her 2015 Sierra Madre Playhouse 
performance following a four-month run of sold-out performances of Always...Patsy Cline. 
You won't want to miss Cori performing military and holiday classics of the 1940s, with live musical 
accompaniment by Sean Paxton on piano and a 3-piece band. 

MJ THE MUSICAL

The perfect last minute Christmas Gift!


[ID[?@􀀖@[fi) ©Gucru□[fi)@f 􀀃□[fi)􀀗@ Wo􀀘Gu@OJJ􀀘 @􀀘@[fi)@f 
@□OW@[? @􀀙@@[fi)@z} (p0cfil􀀚@@f 
Instant Cash For Scrap Gold & Silver 
ALL LOANS 4 MONTHS 
10 DAY NOTICE 
READY PAWN 
42 E. LIVE OAK 
ARCADIA, CA. 91006 
( 626)445-8822Lie. #1902-0997 
The smash-hit musical, MJ will play the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited 
six-week engagement this holiday season from December 20, 2023 - January 28, 
2024. 

Ticket prices start at $39. Additional ticket information at www.
BroadwayInHollywood.com. 

Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique 
and unparalleled artistry comes to Los Angeles as MJ, the multi Tony Award®-
winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World 
Tour, begins a tour of its own. 

Created by Tony Award®-winning Director/Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon 
and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, MJ goes beyond the singular 
moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and 
collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.

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