Gardenerd's Organic Gardening Blog

The Gardens of Esalen

We took a trip up the coast, our California Adventure we called it, through San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and then we visited Napa before heading down Interstate 5 to get home. We were blessed with the most beautiful weather, the kind, as my husband says, that explains the reason for high real estate prices.

We saw monarch butterflies fluttering in the trees and elephant seals basking in the sunshine along the shore. It seemed to be a good time for all things natural. The gardens were no exception. We spent 3 days at ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 29, 2009
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

Cool Season Crops

Winter Harvest

After being gone for 10 days up the coast of California during what could be called the most beautiful summer-like winter weather Northern California has ever seen, my husband and I have returned to find the gardens thriving. Some veggies are just coming into fullness, while others - like the Osaka Purple Mustard - are finishing up. We came home to find a bright yellow flower shooting out the top of overgrown mustard greens (we couldn't possibly have kept up with the production of those giant leaves). We also found tiny, bright white, waxy cauliflower heads starting to ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 25, 2009
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

Make Your Own Butter

Get back to the land and the idea of not letting anything go to waste! Follow these simple instructions for making your own butter.

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 23, 2009
Post category:Blog
Post comments:0 Comments

Pruning Time

Here's a simple way to prune your roses. Follow these simple steps in January for great rose blossoms in spring.

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 17, 2009
Post category:Blog
Post comments:0 Comments

LA Times Article on Victory Gardens

For those like me who don't get the paper, here is the recent article by Mary MacVean on the resurgence of Victory Gardens in Los Angeles. It appeared in the Saturday, January 10th edition of the Home and Garden section of the Times. Enjoy!

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-victory10-2009jan10,0,7167635.story ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 13, 2009
Post category:What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

Sorrel the Unstoppable

Here's a perfect vegetable for black thumb gardeners. Learn about this easy-to-grow plant that you can include in your garden.

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 9, 2009
Post category:Blog
Post comments:0 Comments

An Ailing Meyer Lemon

A desperate plea came in this week that sounds like a 911 call:

"New meyer lemon dwarf tree doing poorly, yellow leaves, flowers dropped off. So sad....Help! Suggestions?"

You said the magic word - new. I'm guessing that your lemon tree is suffering from transplant shock in some way. It can take around 3 weeks for a plant to show signs of it, but chances of survival are pretty good , especially in winter, if you address it right away. Here's what I can say about it and other possible problems your tree might be suffering from:

Yellow leaves - There are a ...

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 9, 2009
Post category:Sage Advice
Post comments:7 Comments

Building a Recycled Compost Tumbler

Someone from my home town wrote in recently:

"I am trying to track down a used food-grade barrel to make a compost tumbler. Do you have any idea where to check? I really want to reuse one and not buy new. I'm in 93065 zip code. (Simi Valley) Preferably it would be one with an lid that can open.Thanks for your help. PS I live in a small space hence the need for a tumbler. Also I don't think I'll be churning very often so I'm avoiding a bucket composter."

I grew up in Simi ...

Christy

January 8, 2009

Sage Advice

0 Comments