The founders of Baker Creek, Jere and Emilee Gettle, have published a book – The Heirloom Life Gardener - that not only tells the story of Baker Creek from its humble yet eager beginnings, it shares growing and harvesting tips for heirlooms from A-Z.
Just a few moments in the garden reveal that it must be mating season for the cabbage moth. These deceptively cute white butterflies can be found twirling around one another and fluttering about the garden, looking for a good place to lay their eggs. Be prepared.
We planted out our kale and cabbage crops early this year, but took the precaution of covering them with floating row cover to keep the critters from settling in.
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If you grow from seed this fall, you'll have a chance to enjoy the benefits of thinning your seedlings right into the salad bowl. Baby greens may be expensive in the market, but they're free when you pick from the excess of sprouts in your garden.
Even when using Square Foot Gardening, I like to have a little bit of insurance. I plant two or three seeds in each planting hole, then wait for survival of the fittest to make itself known. The smaller seedlings are then snipped off (with scissors, rather ...
The latest post from Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter is live and ready for your perusal. Learn all about Rita's Roman Recipes (website coming soon), and where to get them:
A Taste of Italy in Mar Vista
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Rain has arrived here in Los Angeles and in the process of battening down the hatches, we discovered several new apps that you may find useful!
And now a moment of shameless self-promotion...
I've entered the Gardenerd Test Garden in a competition for cash and fame, and I need your help. YourGardenShow.com has partnered with Mother Earth News to give two lucky gardeners $500 cash and a chance at being featured in an upcoming issue of Mother Earth News Magazine.
We're currently holding in the Top 25 Gardens, ...
Aquaponics is a combination of hydroponics and aqua-culture. It is a closed-loop system that uses aquariums (or aquaria if we're going to use proper Latin) of fish to produce the nutrient fertilizer for plants to feed upon. The plants then grow in the water that is infused with fish droppings (and filtered for solids). It uses no soil. The water recycles back through the system to the fish and the whole process starts all over again.
I paid a visit to EVO Farm, a local experimental site that combines yardsharing with aquaponics. ...
I love when questions like this come from fresh gardenerds:
"I just stumbled on your website and am interested in gardening classes. I started gardening this spring by using pots and hanging pots. My veggies and herbs did extremely well. I put seedlings in potting soil, watered occasionally, and voila! I'm an Ocean Park farmer! But now I'm excited and want to learn the basics. Can you provide me with upcoming class information and recommend an introductory book? Thanks, Bob Meepos"
Hi Bob,
I'm glad to ...
The latest edition of Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter is ready for your perusal. Find out where to get organically grown pistachios in Los Angeles, and try the mouth-watering sweet and savory recipes:
Go Nuts with Organic, Kosher Pistachios
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Floating row cover (or garden fabric) helps protect your newbies while they grow. This week's Tip Of The Week explains the benefits.