Seed Saving and Seed Libraries with Eleuterio Navarro
Beginners Tips to save Easy Seeds with our podcast guest, Eleuterio Navarro
We've secured corn silks with a clothespin to prevent entry by corn worms. We'll see if this works.
Wordless Wednesday: Summer Garden Action
The garden is seeing a lot of action this summer. Winter squashes are setting fruit, corn is tasseling, and cucumbers are climbing trellises. The summer garden is ON, including the heat. Here's some inspiration to keep you going this summer. Water your plants early in the morning or after the heat of the sun has past in the afternoon. Soak roots deeply and use mulch everywhere. Your plants will reward you in return. Enjoy your summer garden and stay cool!
Beige-white patches on tomatoes means sun scald.
Ask Gardenerd: Tomatoes with Heat Damage
Temperatures hit 116° F in some Southern California gardens this week, causing heat damage to many crops. This question from Mary is timely: "My tomatoes are getting heat stroke! I'm wondering if it's too late to save all of them. I've installed a 50% sunblock shade, and I've thrown out any that have bleached. I wish I had picked them before this insane weekend, but now I'm worried that any of them with dime-sized white spots are goners. This is…
Judi Gerber, co-author of From Cows to Concrete, wearing an awesome gardening shirt.
Podcast: History of Agriculture in L.A. with Judi Gerber
I was excited to interview Judi Gerber, co-author of From Cows to Concrete: The Rise and Fall of Farming in Los Angeles, for the Gardenerd Tip of the Week Podcast. I had a feeling her historical perspective on immigration from the agricultural standpoint would shed new light on the subject dominating the news. Judi is also a Master Gardener and program coordinator for Torrance Memorial, which rents a plot at the Torrance Community Garden. She teaches gardening classes and is…
Judi Gerber, co-author of From Cows to Concrete, wearing an awesome gardening shirt.
History of Agriculture in L.A. with Judi Gerber
LA used to be agricultural. Learn all about the Rise and fall of Farming in Los Angeles with our podcast guest, Judi Gerber
Please sign my petition to ask Target to bring back the BioStack.
Help Bring Back the BioStack Compost Bin
For years I've hoped that someone will bring back the BioStack compost bin. Now I'm doing something about it. And I need your help. Last week, after posting a YouTube Live video about composting, several people asked where they can get the compost bins shown in the video. The Smith & Hawken BioStack Compost Bin dropped out of production when Smith & Hawken closed back in 2009. Miracle-Gro bought the company and then sold it to Target. Target still holds…
A Shift in Perspective: Pachamama Alliance
Every day, I get upset about Climate Change. Some days I'm angry that "no one is paying attention". Sometimes it's despair that we're too late to save the planet. You see, I do this gardening thing to change the world one garden at a time, but it's not enough. So I feel helpless. This weekend, I did something about it. I attended the Pachamama Alliance symposium called Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream. Pachamama has many meanings, but for brevity's…
Compost is the most important ingredient in spring bed prep.
YouTube Live: Best Compost Bin Setup
We received a request to share our composting operation here at Gardenerd HQ, and to discuss what is the best compost bin set up. In this 11-minutes YouTube Live video we do just that. We talk tips about ideal location, the best bins (our favorite is no longer available), and the best tools for the job. We also cover the basics of composting (what ingredients you need), proper aeration and more. Come look behind the scenes and learn a thing…
Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne. Photo pilfered from RootSimple.com
Homesteading with Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne
Homesteading and cleaning products this season with our podcast guest, Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne
First time growing Blue Kuri squash. Our first fruit showed up and we hand pollinated it.
Wordless Wednesday: June Delights
Summer Solstice is almost here, but since school is out and days are longer, it feels like summer already. It's time to watch plants grow, and to enjoy harvests from the garden. It's also time to tackle problems like pests, insufficient nutrients in soils, and diseases that set in right about now. Take action early to avoid compounding the problem and enjoy June Delights. Here's what's growin' on in the Gardenerd Test Garden. Enjoy the ups and downs of the…