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Read more about the article Harvesting Jerusalem Artichokes
Some were large like this one.

Harvesting Jerusalem Artichokes

Continue ReadingHarvesting Jerusalem Artichokes

It's been 9 months since we planted the three Jerusalem Artichokes that had sprouted in the fridge. Now the plant has dried up and it's time to harvest. Most guide books tell you not to harvest until after frost, but here in Southern California things are different (heck, we planted in December, so that should tell you something). The flowers on our massive sunchoke stalk are long gone and the leaves and stems are crispy brown. The biodegradable pot has…

Read more about the article Field Trip: Quachuu Aloom Farmers in L.A.
Guatemalan farmers grow, harvest and sell traditional and contemporary seeds growing in desert climates.

Field Trip: Quachuu Aloom Farmers in L.A.

Continue ReadingField Trip: Quachuu Aloom Farmers in L.A.

The Seed Library of Los Angeles recently hosted a dinner with visiting Qachuu Aloom Farmers as they journey up to the Heirloom Expo this coming week. David King at the Learning Garden (home of SLOLA meetings) invited me to attend, and learn about how these native Guatemalan farmers harvest and save seeds for amaranth and other crops. We got more than we bargained for during this dinner event. Not only did we eat well, but we learned tricks for how…

Read more about the article Recipe: Ground Cherry Salsa
Ingredients for ground cherry salsa.

Recipe: Ground Cherry Salsa

Continue ReadingRecipe: Ground Cherry Salsa

We grew ground cherries for the first time this year. Having been previously under the impression that they only grow in northern climates, ground cherries were never something we considered growing here in the south. Now that we're full-up on golden ground cherries, it's time to do something with them. Ground cherries taste like a tropical fruit crossed with a tomato. If you love sweet/savory combinations, you'll find this fascinating fruit. When making recipes, our goal is to make food…

Read more about the article Ask Gardenerd: Roly Poly Problems
Diatomaceous earth or DE is safe for use in organic gardens without harming the good guys of the soil food web.

Ask Gardenerd: Roly Poly Problems

Continue ReadingAsk Gardenerd: Roly Poly Problems

Here's a new question that came in this week: " I have a ton of roly poly bugs in my raised beds right now... They at the roots/stems of my last round of cucumbers and I would like to get rid of them without hurting my worm population. Can I use Diatomaceous earth? - Tia" Hi Tia, Yes, you can use diatomaceous earth (DE) to get rid of the pill bugs (A.K.A. roly poly) without hurting your worm population. Diatomaceaous…

Read more about the article Recipe: Plum Skillet Cake
Finished cake - the recipes says it's 4 servings. It really is 8.

Recipe: Plum Skillet Cake

Continue ReadingRecipe: Plum Skillet Cake

Back in July we were up to our eyeballs in Santa Rosa plums raining from our front yard tree. We ate as fast as we could, but still there were about 60 plums on the counter at any given time. Drastic measures needed to be taken. Enter Plum Skillet Cake. Martha Stewart is good for one thing if nothing else: ideas for excessive amounts of fruit. Her recipes for plums run the gamut, offering a plethora of options for the…

Read more about the article Growing Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas)
A little more than 1/2 a cup of beans. We'll try again next year.

Growing Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas)

Continue ReadingGrowing Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas)

Cowpeas, or black-eyed peas, are a staple of Southern cuisine, but the pea (actually a bean) itself traces back to Africa, Southeast Asia and even Native American traditions. Last year we discovered a Native American heirloom called Tohono O'ohdam "U'us mu:n" cow peas.  Say that 10 times fast...if you can. This spring/summer we grew them out to see how they would do in our climate. Cowpeas, you should know, are available as both bush and pole varieties. Our packet of…

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