My blue recycling can arrived from the city of Bakersfield yesterday. The instructions were taped to the side of the can in a plastic bag. The plastic bag has a little number 4 in a triangle on it. The blue trash can only accepts plastics with the number 1 or number 2 on them.

It was an inauspicious beginning.

The service costs $4 a month and I realize I'm paying the city to do something they'll make money from, but I was too lazy to fully recycle beforehand so that's OK with me.

Like my co-worker (our environmental reporter), I'm growing vegetables in a plot behind the garage in the backyard.

I've planted tomatoes, squash, cucumber, jalapeno peppers and bell peppers. In containers, I've planted cilantro, parsley (flat leaf and Italian) and basil.

I've buried gallon milk jugs with tiny holes in the bottom next to the tomato plants in order to get water as close to the roots as possible. (Thanks to the kind folks at Dagny's who have been saving their used jugs for me. That's why I've been carrying milk jugs and a coffee on my way back to the newspaper every morning.)

Everything is going well, with a few exceptions. Otis the dog nibbled a cucumber plant to its base, the jalapeno pepper plants are developing purply-black markings at the junction of the main stem and the side stems (not sure of the technical jargon), and two of the milk jugs were still half full a day after filling. Also, the cilantro is looking brown.

I know there are loads of people who grow their own vegetables, so feel free to weigh in with any suggestions.