No-Till Gardening Scores More Points
National Academy of Sciences and the U.K.'s Royal Society determine that no-till gardening is better than tilled gardening
A potted lime tree sets fruit in the recent heat wave.
Vernal Equinox
September 23rd marks the beginning of fall, the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. It couldn't be more welcome after all the heat we've been having. It brings with it a hope of rain (here in drought-stricken California) and the chance to grow cool-weather crops. Here at Gardenerd our eyes are clouded with the promise of kale, broccoli, sugar snap peas and more. But before we can put our fall crops in the ground, before we pull the last of…
Flowers form into balloon shaped "hairy balls"
Ask Gardenerd: Pruning Back Milkweed?
A question came into Ask Gardenerd this week that I even asked myself last year: "First year planting swamp milkweed for Monarchs - just had two butterflies exit their cocoons this morning. Had five plants this year - going big next year. Question - lots of info on how to get plants started but nothing on end of season maintenance. Should we cut back the stems on the existing plants or do we just leave them? Not sure what to…
Apples Galore
600 varieties of heritage and cultivated apples from regions all over the world
Back to My Garden's Dave Ledoux interviews Christy about writing, gardening and failure.
Gardenerd on Back to My Garden Podcast
A fellow gardenerd up in Canada has a new podcast (okay, not so new. He's got 20 episodes already) called Back to My Garden. Dave Ledoux grows in northern climates, where snow and short growing seasons are a reality. He wanted to interview me about Gardening for Geeks and growing food in Southern California for a change of pace. Listen and subscribe to Dave's podcast, Back to My Garden on iTunes or Stitcher. His podcast is different from most gardening…
Abundance is everywhere at the Heirloom Expo
Field Trip: Heirloom Expo 2014 Review
This year's Heirloom Expo was particularly delicious because I had the chance to give a lecture on my favorite subject: small-space biointensive gardening for urban gardeners. The rest of the time, however, was spent blissing out on gorgeous displays of seeds, melons and squashes, and rare breed livestock. Let's take a tour: The Heirloom Expo is a yearly event in Santa Rosa, CA at the Sonoma County Fair Grounds. Now in its fourth year, the festival is running on strong…
Food Forward
Watch some food rebels take positive routes to make a difference in food and agriculture
Our verdict: I love veggies! Bake is a winner.
Recipe: I-Love-Veggies! Bake
It's new recipe time! This one uses foods from the summer harvest (mostly) and makes enough for leftovers. Mixing flavors of sweet potatoes, butternut squash and green beans also makes this dish colorful, and the delicious, savory sauce made from...cauliflower (don't be afraid) put smiles on everyone's face at the table. This dish requires some time, but it's well worth it. If you have a mandoline or a sous chef to do all the slicing, that will cut down on…
Ask Gardenerd: Low-Light Crops for Fall
An eager gardenerd wrote into Ask Gardenerd last week asking, "What crops can I grow in low-light conditions (5 hours of sunlight)?" Since not everyone has access to full sun, we're guessing this question has come up at least a few times for our readers. Here's the answer: You're in luck! There are many low-light crops that will keep you eating all season long. With 5 hours of sunlight, you can grow all the greens, as well as many root…
Heirloom Expo
Fall garden planning, seed starting, and the Heirloom Expo