Field Trip: Apricot Lane Farms
I had the pleasure of not only visiting Apricot Lane Farms in Moorpark, CA last week, I spent 2 hours working in their amazing vegetable garden. It was the kind of experience that gives one hope for a brighter future. Apricot Lane Farms is 130 acres of glorious symbiosis. Established in 2011, this new biodynamic farm is taking sustainability to the highest level. And <<inner child squealing with glee>> they have Hairy Coos (Scottish Highland long-haired cows--AKA walking teddy bears…
Saving Poppy Seeds
If you've ever considered saving seeds, but have been too afraid to try, start by saving ornamental poppy seeds. Why? Saving poppy seeds is practically labor-free, is incredibly easy, and can be done in about a minute. We grew a beautiful variety this year that came unannounced in the mail from Botanical Interests Seeds. It's called Lauren's Grape. I'm never one to turn down a gift, especially if it's purple or burgundy. This poppy inspires instant happiness. Now the flowers…
Bolting to Dollars
Save time, money and effort this summer by letting your plants bolt
Brewing Compost Tea
Last week we got up close and personal with compost, or more specifically the microbes in compost. Now that we've determined that our compost is biologically active and suitable for brewing compost tea, we took the plunge. Earlier this year we received a compost tea brewer as a gift (and a great one at that - thanks Mom and Dad!). The brewer pumps air bubbles into the water to keep it oxygenated and promote the growth of the right kind…
Recipe: Eggplant Stir-fry with Green Beans and Cashews
It's eggplant time, so it's time to decide which side you're on: love it or hate it. If you're at all squeamish about the texture of eggplant (like yours truly) you'll want to try this recipe that does an excellent job of masking the vegetable's inherent sliminess. It appeared recently in Vegetarian Times magazine and it is proving to be a reputation-building recipe for dear old eggplant. We happened to have harvested several Japanese eggplant and a handful of green…
Summer Pruning
Prune your fruit trees to prevent vertical growth and for a better harvest
Up Close and Personal with Compost
Nerd Alert: this blog post may cause irrational desire to look at compost under a microscope. Ever since I took Alane Weber's compost immersion workshop last year, I have been trying out the techniques I learned to make better compost. In our test garden, we've been building Active Batch Thermal compost piles as well as cold compost piles (slowly adding material over time) with plenty of water and a good balance of carbon and nitrogen materials. The results look good,…
Aeroponics for the Home: Growing Without the Mess of Soil
By now you've probably heard of aquaponics and hydroponics--growing plants in water instead of soil. This week we have an interesting post from a guest blogger who explores aeroponics (growing plants in air and water). Our guest Linda Bailey is from housekeeping.org. She is a Texas-based writer who loves to write about housekeeping, green living, home décor, and more. She welcomes your comments at b.lindahousekeeping @ gmail.com. Take it away Linda... Aeroponics for the Home Do you want a garden…
Repurposed Container Gardens
Discover ways to repurpose household items and more into containers for your garden