Get Organized
It’s time to clean and lubricate garden tools, sanitize seeding equipment, and clear out that collection of plastic pots that have gone unused all season.
Do The Math for Climate Change
Earlier this week I attended Do The Math at UCLA with Bill McKibben and 350.org. For those who aren't familiar with Bill McKibben, he is the author of 14 books including Eaarth and The End of Nature. He is an educated voice in the field of climate change and he has a plan to turn things around. As organic gardeners, we're already doing a lot to cut down on carbon emissions. We compost (which captures carbon), we grow our own…
Compostable cutlery, nearly three years later
Compostable Cutlery – Not!
I've been unknowingly conducting an experiment on compostable cutlery over the last three years. Today I report my findings to you, in hopes that it will dispel some of the myths about biodegradable products. I celebrated a landmark birthday in February nearly 3 years ago. In our effort to lower our carbon footprint, we bought compostable/biodegradable cutlery and planned to compost everything from the party, including paper plates and cups (no birthday girl wants to do dishes in a ballgown). …
Frittata fresh from the oven with blobs of goat cheese
Sweet Potato & Kale Frittata with Goat Cheese
As the weather cools down, the urge to turn on the oven increases. This new recipe from Selma Brown Morrow appeared in a recent issue of Vegetarian Times and captures the essence of cold-weather comfort food. It comes together in 30 minutes, but if you choose not to nuke your sweet potatoes as instructed, add about 15 minutes to the process. Sweet Potato and Kale Frittata with Goat Cheese 1 med sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces 8…
Soil builder cover crop
Fall Garden In Progress
Some gardens are shut down for the winter, while others are heading in that direction. In warm-winter climates, however, it's just the beginning of another great growing season. Fall gardens or cool-weather crops are some of the most satisfying to grow (not to mention the easiest). As summer veggies make an exit (or not), we'd like to share with you what's growin' on in our Test Garden this fall: We soak seeds overnight and coat the peas with inoculant before…
Chives (either garlic or onion) brighten any dish.
What to Do with All Those Chives?
I love chives, but let's face it--a little bit goes a long way. So what do we do with this fragrant, romantic herb besides snipping a few stems over baked potatoes? Let's explore.
Making Belgian Waffles
Belgian Waffle Tradition Takes Mar Vista
The latest article from Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter is ready for your perusal. Find out more about the connection between Belgian waffles and fries, and where to find these tasty treats in L.A. A Little Bit of Belgium in L.A.
Home Grown Sweet Potatoes
Home Grown Sweet Potato Recipe
The sweet potato is the jewel of fall and winter. This year we grew our own, and now it's time to serve them up in a savory recipe. There are far too many recipes which add sugar or maple syrup to sweet potatoes, which IMHO is a disservice to the tuber. Why not enjoy them in their natural state? Here's our favorite way to prepare sweet potatoes. Aren't they gorgeous!? They cook up beautifully too. We used our one and…
Swarm box ready for guests
Installing a Swarm Box
As you may know, bees are responsible for pollinating 1 out of every 4 bites of food we eat, so attracting bees to your garden is a really good idea. One way to do it is to put up a swarm box. Swarm boxes give bees an attractive place to call home. When their hive grows too large, the queen will take some of the bees and leave in search of new digs. If they choose to inhabit your swarm…
Food Day 2012
The purpose of this day of awareness is to take action by planning a local meal in your neighborhood, start better food initiatives in your schools, and look for healthier and more sustainable ways to feed your family.