Spring Seed-Starting
If you start planting out your garden in March, it’s time to get crackin’ indoors.
Shower essentials: A bucket and timer
New Drought, or New Normal?
Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency as California has yet another year of lower than average rainfall. In the case of 2013-2014, almost none. Not only is rainfall at an all-time low, temperatures have been at an all-time high. (Excuse me, 80° in January?) Is this just a new drought, or is it the new normal? There's no way to know for sure, but we all need to prepare for having less access to water. What can we do…
Recipe: Porcini Sea Salt (AKA cheating Williams-Sonoma)
In my 20s, when I had nothing, I drooled over Williams-Sonoma catalogs with wistful aspirations of "one day." Now many years later, stocked with a full set of cookware, I see WS for the overpriced eye-candy it is. Okay, principle aside, I still want everything in their Agrarian department ('cause it's pretty), but I have everything I need and can easily talk myself down. Or better yet, make what they're selling for a lot less. Case in point: Wild Porcini…
Water Leaks mean $$ Leaks
Tips to help you save money and be more energy efficient.
New Seed Catalog Favorites
Seed Catalog Favorites for 2014.
Basic instructions come with the tree, but more is available online.
Million Trees LA – Free Fruit Trees
Last Sunday at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market we were treated to a free fruit tree giveaway by the City of Los Angeles. It's all part of the Million Trees LA program, the project set on planting one million trees in Los Angeles to reduce energy waste (trees insulate homes and keep them cool in the summer), and increase our green infrastructure (tree help reduce pollution). The program ordinarily gives away up to 7 shade trees per household, delivered to…
Packets before going into the oven - a thing of beauty!
Recipe: Seitan, Vegetables and Cracked Pepper en Papillote
New Year, new recipes to cook up home grown goodness. It's also time for quick meals that don't require a lot of work or fancy preparation. This recipe may look fancy, but it comes together quickly using vegetables and parchment paper (papillote) in about half an hour. If you are exploring more meatless meals, this is one to try. I used homemade seitan on-hand, but store-bought is fine. You can probably substitute an animal protein if desired, just adjust cooking…
Greens and roots make a big show in winter gardens
Late-Fall Garden Happenings
Half the country may be covered with snow, but the Gardenerd Test Garden is going strong here in Southern California. Don't think of it as bragging; think of it as a beacon to spring plantings to come. This Saturday marks the first day of winter, but it also means the days will get a little longer each day--a step closer to spring as each day passes. How nice for you...what can I do now? This is the time to spray…
It didn't look like this for long.
YouTube: Growing Chicken Forage Mix
Our last YouTube video of the year is up and running, and it's all about growing chicken forage mix. Homestead hens love to eat fresh greens and those greens can be hard to come by in winter. Start a seed flat or two of forage seed mix and you'll have happy, healthy hens all winter long. We use a regular seed flat and a seed mix from Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply. It's offers healthy omega-3s for you and…