Read more about the article Big Changes for a Big Front Yard
New bioswale captures and sinks water deep into the ground for fruit trees to enjoy.

Big Changes for a Big Front Yard

Continue ReadingBig Changes for a Big Front Yard

Our largest Turf Removal Rebate project to date involved eliminating 3,000 square feet of lawn in a big front yard and parkway in Beverlywood. The owners wanted to reduce their water bill and make their front yard an inviting place for kids to play, while providing native habitat for birds and pollinators. These were big changes for the neighborhood, as a quick drive around the block would prove. Every house had a lawn. This was going to be big. This…

Read more about the article Making Carob Powder
Technically a fruit, carob pods are eaten while the seeds are discarded.

Making Carob Powder

Continue ReadingMaking Carob Powder

Autumn brings with it an array of colorful fruits and vegetables from the garden...and seeds. This Thanksgiving, as we dig into our root cellars for orange carrots, purple potatoes, and red beets, as well as colorful persimmons, pomegranates, and grapes,  let's not forget our podded friends, seeds and nuts, that also contribute to holiday stuffings, nut breads and more. Today we're exploring one other option: Carob, a locally grown seed pod that substitutes for chocolate (okay, nothing replaces chocolate) and…

Read more about the article Field Trip: Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg Ranch
Round the corner to the entrance to the farm and you're greeted with roses and hay bales.

Field Trip: Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg Ranch

Continue ReadingField Trip: Cal Poly Pomona’s Kellogg Ranch

It was 5:30 in the morning when I got in the car to drive the hour it would take to get to Cal Poly Pomona. By the time I arrived the sun was just creeping over the mountains, streaking light across the sleepy landscape. It revealed acres of open pasture, rows of fruit trees and yes, even the classic red barn. Translucent greenhouses glowed amber in front of the sun's assent. After driving through the long stretch of city life,…

Read more about the article Giveaway: Random Acts of Gardening
Gardener's Supply discontinued this bumper sticker years ago.

Giveaway: Random Acts of Gardening

Continue ReadingGiveaway: Random Acts of Gardening

It appears that the holiday season has officially begun, so in the spirit of giving, we're digging into our treasure trove for something special to give away to you, our faithful gardenerd readership. Oh, it's special, believe me. In fact, it's not even available anymore. That's right, you can't get this gem anywhere else. What is it? Behold: Funny how something becomes more valuable once it's not available anymore? We thought so. So how do you win this fantastic, no-longer-available…

Read more about the article One More Turf Removal Rebate Garden
As plants grow in, the family can enjoy fresh lettuce, kale, and radishes from their new garden.

One More Turf Removal Rebate Garden

Continue ReadingOne More Turf Removal Rebate Garden

People in Southern California are finally catching on to the idea that lawns are a waste of water, especially during a drought like the one we've been in for many years now. The City of Los Angeles is providing incentives to remove lawns (up to $3.75 per square foot as of this writing) through its Turf Removal Rebate program (see available Rebates here). It's a chance to save some money on revamping your yard, and a chance to turn it…

Read more about the article 2014 Fall Garden Tour
6 types of kale, 2 plants each

2014 Fall Garden Tour

Continue Reading2014 Fall Garden Tour

The fall garden is our favorite here at Gardenerd. The cooler temperatures lend themselves to growing crops without pests, and with much less stress than summer months. If we ever get any rain, these crops will hardly need help from us to thrive through winter. So what's growin' on? Let's take a look at all the lush green goodies you have to look forward to if you live in a place where winter gardening is possible: We planted 3 varieties…

A Bug’s Life in the Garden

Continue ReadingA Bug’s Life in the Garden

Bugs are part of gardening. It's a fact of life--you will have bugs. There are good bugs and bad bugs, and if you create the right environment, the good bugs can keep the bad bugs at bay. Today we discovered a few signs of a bug's life in the garden. We're hopeful that our garden ecosystem will be kept in check by these guys. It took a little searching to identify them, but we thought we'd share our findings here.…

Read more about the article New Restaurant Garden in Downtown LA
The Market at Artisan House. Delicious food and drinks for the discerning palate.

New Restaurant Garden in Downtown LA

Continue ReadingNew Restaurant Garden in Downtown LA

Artisan House, a combination market and restaurant/bar on the corner of 6th and Main Street, serves delicious, fresh food all day long, offering organic produce, artisanal wines and small-farm dairy products. The restaurant menu sports all the eye-catching entrees, sandwiches, soups, and fresh salads you could wish for. There were plans for a roof-top garden, but when that fell through, the owners asked Gardenerd to transform their patio into an edible experience for customers. When we visited Artisan House, we…

Read more about the article Fall: Time to Plant Perennials
California native plants are ready to go in the ground now.

Fall: Time to Plant Perennials

Continue ReadingFall: Time to Plant Perennials

Fall is the time of year to plant perennials. Why? Isn't the season winding down? It is, but it's the perfect time to put winter-hardy perennials in the ground because they will use winter to develop strong roots. When spring rolls around, those fall-planted perennials will be leaps and bounds ahead of spring-planted plants, and will produce flowers or fruit more quickly. We're taking these cooler days to plant California Natives in the front yard. Next spring they'll jump into…

Read more about the article Nailed It!: Zucchini Flan Fail
"Finished" zucchini flan

Nailed It!: Zucchini Flan Fail

Continue ReadingNailed It!: Zucchini Flan Fail

This one is especially for anyone out there who thinks we're perfect here at Gardenerd. Hang on to your hats, it's gonna be great. Years ago, when traveling to Italy, we picked up this great cookbook from a vegetarian farm hotel in Umbria. We bought it mainly for one recipe: the sformatini di zucchine, a "soft creamy ricotta cheese and courgette flan with a hint of marjoram." It came to us in a cup/dish made from Pamagiano Reggiano cheese that…

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