What’s Growin’ On

Have you ever tried to replicate a restaurant meal at home?  It's part adventure, part science project around here. In our effort to eat from the garden as much as possible, we attempted to re-create, or at least give a nod to, the Poached Eggs and Asparagus dish on Venice Beach's GJelina brunch menu. Here's how that went.

Let me start by saying that I've never poached an egg ...

This one is for you locals out there. We've got three new vendors at the Mar Vista Farmers' Market. Learn about each one and what they have to offer.

New Farmers Come to Mar Vista Farmers' Market
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Here is Southern  California the cane berries are ripening.  We planted a cutting last year, and the reward has been sweet so far. We've been nibbling on a few blackberries each day.  

The question always comes up: How do you know when to harvest?  Here is a simple primer.

Blackberries produce fruit on second-year canes

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The concept of a Three Sisters Garden is romantic. A Native American tradition of growing corn, beans and squash together has traveled through the centuries and still remains a viable planting method for these hot weather crops. But what happens when it doesn't turn out picture perfect?  Let me tell you.

Our Three Sisters Garden started off with a whimper, with the heirloom Black Aztec sweet corn...

Being a participant in the Westside Produce Exchange means that you never know what you're going to get. A typical bag, depending on the season, contains lemons, oranges, greens like kale and chard, avocados, artichokes, green beans, and tomatoes. There's always a bouquet of herbs like rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme.

This month's exchange did not disappoint, but it did leave some of us in a quandary about what ...

In her delightful book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver wrote about planning an entire season ahead for a party that would feature a meal prepared from the garden. She worried that there wouldn't be enough food, or that the plants wouldn't be mature enough in time. This Mother's Day, we took a lesson from Barbara and planned a brunch that not only took place in the garden, but was ...

It's that time of year when gardens are looking their best and neighborhood garden tours abound. Here in Los Angeles, we finished up our own participation in the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase and last weekend we set out on foot to explore the homes on the Venice Garden Tour. Here is our quick photo review:

Ever since the Venice Garden Tour combined with the Venice Home Tour, the ...

This week Gardenerd got a mention on a local L.A. chef's website. Find out a little bit more about her adventures with seed bombs (a guerrilla gardening staple) and while you're there check out Pace's monthly supper club.

Flower Bombs in the City

P.S. don't forget to water those seed bombs regularly, or they'll just bomb.
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The latest post from Mar Vista's Bounty Hunter is live and in action at Patch.com. Learn all about Urban Green, an amazing program that educates and provides fresh produce in food deserts:

Urban Green Grows Great Grub
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