Got Nematodes?
What the heck are nematodes? Find out in this week's tip, and how to get rid of them.
Bagrada Bug
Harlequin Bugs – Not Funny!
They look kind of funny, maybe even cute, but harlequin bugs are no laughing matter. If left to their own devices, they'll mutilate a plant within an inch of its life. They like brassicas - a lot - and this year they found my kale.
The Harlequin Bug (murgantia histrionica) is a True bug, and a stink bug - which you only find out when you squish them. They are black and orange and are often ...
Get Growin’ This Fall
Want to know what to plant this fall? This week's tip gives you all the details.
Preserving Leeks – High and Dry
Now that summer has come to a close (not that you could tell with all the hot weather we've been having lately), harvest season is upon us. As part of our harvest plan, we built a solar food dryer in order to alleviate some congestion in the freezer.
We've over our heads in leeks right now. The fridge is full, and the freezer is already full of batches ...
Rock Dust for a Rockin’ Garden
I love it when I get questions to which I don't know the answer. It gives me a chance to learn more too:
"Hi, I have read of the benefits of using rock dust in the soil and wanted to know your experience or opinion about using it. Also, do you know of a source in the LA area? Thanks, Alan"
Alan, I'll be honest - I've never used rock dust in my garden, but I've done a ...
Extending Tomato Season
Now that it's fall, tomatoes are heading out, but you can extend the season and protect your tomatoes at the same time with this week's tip.
Growing Garbanzo Beans (that’s chickpeas to you, darling)
You'll find them in Indian food, hearty soups, and as a ubiquitous staple of the salad bar at Soup Plantation, but you might not know how good they really are until you've cooked them yourself. Garbanzo beans, also known as chick peas, are usually undercooked when you buy them canned, and certainly don't hold a lot of flavor on their own (kind of like tofu), but they are a great base for many dishes and very satisfying to grow.
We experimented with growing garbanzo beans in our test ...
Building a Solar Food Dryer
Okay, so you've got a ton of leeks and you've already made a gigantic batch of potato and leek soup that's completely filled up the freezer. Now what do you do with the rest of the leeks (about 10 pounds or so)? One options is to dehydrate them. Dried fruits and vegetables require no freezer space, no refrigerator space, and no electricity to keep them at the ready for use in the kitchen. In fact, it ...
Fresh Melon off the Vine
Choosing a ripe melon can be an art. Find out how to know when they're ripe in your garden.
The Green of Mexico
We recently took some time off this summer to vacation in Michoacan, Mexico. The goal was to relax deeply and to see what the areas of indigenous Mexico had to offer. We were enveloped by the beauty of the land during this rainy season, and felt like we saw the real Mexico, rather than the tourist versions.
Our home base was in Lake Zirahuen, a small town around one of the purest lakes in the world. It rained ...