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Oh how I adore when I see those little asparaguses (asparagi?) poking their pointy heads through the soil in my garden. Who doesn’t love this tasty little tree of spearrific deliciousness? No one, that’s who!

And the best part about this happy-looking and scrumptious-tasting vegetable? Well, for many people it grows as a perennial. That’s right—no need to replant year after year, it just keeps on comin’ back. To that I say: sign me up.

Many gardening websites and experts note that asparagus is picky about where it sets its roots—it needs a deep bed and hates weed competition especially. That’s probably true, though I haven’t had too much trouble with my pair of plants, now about 5 years old, and I pretty much neglect them completely (though I did take the time to dig kinda deep and amend with compost when I first planted them). The only trick to remember is that, after planting a seedling (known as a “crown”), you shouldn’t harvest any spears for the first couple/few years.

Practice patience, I know it’s hard. But after that, snap away, though try to limit yourself to only those spears that are thicker than, say, a no. 2 pencil. You can harvest for a few weeks—do it daily—and then stop and let the spears grow up nice and tall (they can reach 5 to 6 inches). Watch them burst out into pretty airy fronds, which are especially pretty in rain and snow and ice (when they become one of my favorite photographic subjects.) I cut mine to the ground in very early spring (around March in these parts) because I like the frondiness for winter interest and garden structure.

So the world is ending in six months. Damn. I guess I’ll never go to Paris; I guess I’ll never write that novel. There’s that list of books to read in the back of my mind though—the classics, the Must Have Read Before You Die titles. What would I read if I only had six months left to live?

Photo by Ryan Harvey

Every Wednesday, we offer advice and strategies to survive all of the most dire and urgent circumstances, as well as some of the more common scenarios we all deal with.

This week we’ve got an excerpt from the original Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. If someone had shown me this before I went skydiving, I am not sure I would have done it at all! But it’s better to be prepared if you’re going to do something as insane as jumping out of a plane.

Take Cinco de Mayo to a more epicurean level this year (put down that watered-down margarita, stat!) with one of my favorite taco recipes out there: Halibut Tacos with Tequila-Lime Marinade. I’ve been a fan of this recipe ever since I picked up a copy of Becky Selengut’s Good Fish cookbook a few years ago. And her spirited take on a Mexican classic makes this an ideal dish for one of my favorite days.

For all you booze-hounds out there, substitute the called-for red cabbage slaw with Roberto Santibanez Apple-Tequila Guacamole. Or if you want to keep it at a hydrating level, go with Santibanez’ refreshing Pineapple and Cucumber Guacamole. Either guac will hit this Fifth of May meal out of the park.

A tip: Take your Cinco de Mayo feast one step further and make your own tortillas. Don’t freak out! All you need to do is track down a tortilla press, some Masa Harina (corn tortilla flour that should look like this) and some water and you are ready to go with this easy, breezy recipe. These toasty tortillas are a million times better than the pre-made variety–and are completely preservative free.

“I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.”

On Friday, May 4th I have an excuse to talk about planetary alignments, otherworldly tornadoes of Mars, and the marvel of black holes. Space Day, which falls on the first Friday of May, is an annual celebration of human space flight. Around the globe, students and educators gather to discuss space exploration, life cycles of stars, Hubble discoveries, and so much more.

I think of Ray Bradbury on Space Day. His book ideas, insane imagination, influence on moon crater names, and his unmatched career in science fantasy make him a fine literary figure to look up to on this holiday of sorts. After all, it is Bradbury who said, “It is good to renew one’s wonder. Space travel has again made children of us all.”

In light of this year’s space celebration here are several more inspiring quotes from Mr. Bradbury that encourage creativity, wonder, and moon habitation!

* “We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give back to the universe… If we make landfall on another star system, we become immortal.” – Speech to National School Board Association, 1995

* “We’re all fools… all the time. It’s just we’re a different kind each day. We think, I’m not a fool today. I’ve learned my lesson. I was a fool yesterday but not this morning. Then tomorrow we find out that, yes, we were a fool today too. I think the only way we can grow and get on in this world is to accept the fact we’re not perfect and live accordingly.” – The Illustrated Man

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“I have never listened to anyone who criticized my taste in space travel, sideshows or gorillas. When this occurs, I pack up my dinosaurs and leave the room.”

On Friday, May 4th I have an excuse to talk about planetary alignments, otherworldly tornadoes of Mars, and the marvel of black holes. Space Day, which falls on the first Friday of May, is an annual celebration of human space flight. Around the globe, students and educators gather to discuss space exploration, life cycles of stars, Hubble discoveries, and so much more.

I think of Ray Bradbury on Space Day. His book ideas, insane imagination, influence on moon crater names, and his unmatched career in science fantasy make him a fine literary figure to look up to on this holiday of sorts. After all, it is Bradbury who said, “It is good to renew one’s wonder. Space travel has again made children of us all.”

In light of this year’s space celebration here are several more inspiring quotes from Mr. Bradbury that encourage creativity, wonder, and moon habitation!

* “We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give back to the universe… If we make landfall on another star system, we become immortal.” – Speech to National School Board Association, 1995

* “We’re all fools… all the time. It’s just we’re a different kind each day. We think, I’m not a fool today. I’ve learned my lesson. I was a fool yesterday but not this morning. Then tomorrow we find out that, yes, we were a fool today too. I think the only way we can grow and get on in this world is to accept the fact we’re not perfect and live accordingly.” – The Illustrated Man

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