What’s Growin’ On

Read more about the article Adventures with City Mulch

Adventures with City Mulch

Awhile ago, my husband and I decided to put a hold on our backyard design project until the economy levels off.  This of course took place after we had ripped out most of the existing plants and installed drainage and irrigation materials.  So we had a lovely expanse of dirt we were perfectly willing to live with (which many students have seen if you've come to a class at the house and test garden). 

Of course, what happens when you have a large expanse of dirt?  You get weeds. 

We needed mulch to cover the dirt.  Lots of ...

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Read more about the article Pumpkins on the Early Side

Pumpkins on the Early Side

Believe it or not, our pumpkins have finished up already this year.  The vine has dried up and those bright orange globes are littered about the garden, just waiting for fall holiday celebrations.  But we had a good reason to put them to use right away in the middle of summer - curiosity. 

You may recall an earlier post where I talked about the crazy pumpkins taking over the yard:  Houston, we have some Squash!

What I didn't mention is that, even though I hand pollinated all of those pumpkins, only 1 of them actually came out ...

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Broiled Tomatoes

It's during hot summer days like these that the will to cook evaporates.  You're staring at a pile of freshly picked tomatoes wishing that they would get up and cook dinner for you.  This is the time when fast and easy recipes are indispensable.  Have I got one for you.  Broiled Tomatoes.

This gem has been a favorite of mine for about 5 years. It comes from a 2003 issue of Real Simple Magazine and lives amongst the tomato recipes in my binder.  All you need to do is cut beefsteak tomatoes in half width-wise (across the equator), stuff ...

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Read more about the article School Garden

School Garden

Gardenerd.com has partnered with the Woolly Pocket Company and School Nutrition Plus to create a pilot program for school gardens that not only integrates the garden into the curriculum, but gives the children something to take into the cafeteria too!  Over the last two days we converted an abandoned garden area on the campus of Santa Monica Blvd. Community Charter School into a revitalized growing space that includes a vertical garden!

We started with weeds, old raised beds, tired soil and lots of odds and ends (we even found a shoe).  There was a lemon tree starving for sunlight ...

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Gardenerd in The Ray Magazine

It's official. Gardenerd's Christy Wilhelmi is a columnist!  You'll find a quarterly column on gardening, called Take It Outside, featured in the newly revamped The Ray Magazine. 

A little about The Ray: Statistics show that most women feel worse about themselves after reading "womens magazines".  The Ray Magazine has set out to change that!   You can subscribe to this unique magazine that nurtures a healthy self-image for women by visiting the website or finding a copy in Los Angeles outside of Whole Foods.

 
Look for Christy's column, ...

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Read more about the article First Summer Harvest

First Summer Harvest

Even though we've been harvesting squash for awhile now (see "Zucchini Anyone?"), it doesn't really feel like a summer harvest until the tomatoes start showing up.  This week, it's official!  They're red and ready to start pickin' at the Gardenerd test garden. 

Although, to say that they're red would be discriminatory.  These heirloom tomatoes are ripening in nearly every color of the rainbow.  Red is almost passe with all the delectable heirloom options out there. 

...

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