Gardenerd Archives - Page 11 of 15

Changing of the Guard: Exit Winter, Enter Spring

Spring is just around the corner, and those who can grow fall crops are just starting to swap out winter's harvest for spring seedlings. Here's what we're harvesting this time of year: Lettuces Broccoli Romanesco Cavolo Broccolo a Getti di Napoli - Spigarello to many of you Spinach Arugula Kale Peas Root veggies - carrots, parsnips, beets, etc. There are a few nibbles here and there on lettuce leaves, and more aphids than we'd care to admit, but that's just…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 13, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:0 Comments

Colorful watermelon radishes enliven this salad

Recipe: Watermelon Radish & Goat Cheese Salad

Just to be clear, it's not a watermelon and a radish in this salad, it's two Watermelon Radishes. If you haven't grown them, put them on your list of "musts" for this season. Watermelon radishes look boring on the outside; their whitish-green exterior doesn't lend much excitement to a dish. Cut them open, however, and you'll find jewel pink centers that make other vegetables jealous. There's a trick to growing watermelon radishes though: you have to let them get large--about…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 12, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

The "thermal" in active batch thermal composting

Active Batch Composting

What the heck is "Active Batch Composting" anyway? You're about to find out, but first let's look at another term: Cold composting. Cold composting, though the name is a bit of a misnomer, is what most gardeners do. We have a compost bin or pile, and over time we add our kitchen scraps and garden waste, some leaves and shredded office paper, tissues, paper towels, etc. We water it and wait. The temperature may climb to 100-120°F but that's about…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 6, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:4 Comments

Linda's husband, Richard's recording studio overlooks a slope of rosemary, fruit trees and artichokes.

Field Trip: Permaculture / Biodynamic Garden

Field trips are always fun because you get to see concepts in practice. Visiting Linda Gibbs' garden was no exception. I stopped by her Malibu home last week for a look at her Permaculture/biodynamic garden as she prepared for spring. Linda's property sits at the edge of a gulch and overlooks the ocean. Lush green views and ocean breezes lend themselves to a peaceful garden experience. Over winter, wild fennel, borage and grasses volunteer to cover the hillside to attract…

Post author:Christy
Post published:March 5, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:1 Comment

Completed garden with cool season crops planted. We left room for warm season crops, which will be planted next month.

Family’s New Vegetable Garden

A student from my Santa Monica College gardening course hired me to design a vegetable garden - a few raised beds so his family could grow tomatoes, salad greens and more. The family had moved into their house recently and were overhauling the landscaping to make it low-maintenance. The homeowners enjoyed colorful, artistic surroundings, but they wanted a clean palette to start with. Old weedy lawns, ill-placed concrete borders and invasive plant materials all had to go. I wanted their…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 20, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:2 Comments

U-pins hold netting in place to keep curious hens from crawling out underneath.

Wider Pastures: New Chicken Run

We were lucky. Our chickens never really discovered the garden. They simply stayed within bounds to peck and scratch the day away. Until last week. Their eyes have been opened and all the world is suddenly their oyster. I think not. Time for a new, larger chicken run to contain the birds but let them feel as though the have free range of the yard. Taking note from Omlet's chicken fence, we set out for the hardware store for stakes…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 19, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:5 Comments

Kale Salad ready for scarfing.

Recipe: Northern Spy Kale Salad

For winter gardeners, kale is a staple crop that we have the pleasure of harvesting all season long. It grows well in spring in cooler climates, so for those covered in snow, you have that to look forward to. While there is no shortage of kale recipes to try, the goal, in fact, is to try as many as possible. Salads, soups, stews and main dishes; the possibilities are endless. This week we made the Northern Spy Kale Salad from…

Post author:Christy
Post published:February 13, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Mittens likes cover crops

Cats in the Garden: Our New Addition

There's a new member of our garden's ecosystem, and her name is Mittens. This little black and white cat arrived to our neighborhood in November, and has been courting us ever since. She won us over with her gentle regard and loving disposition, and the fact that she'd sit in my lap all day if I let her. Mittens investigated our back yard, watching our chickens but not attacking. That was the big test. If they could get along, she…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 29, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:3 Comments

Beans, squash, orach spinach, and herbs. Start these and more now.

Spring Planting: Gardeners, Start Your Engines!

It's time to start planning and planting that spring garden. Most gardeners in climates with last frost dates in March can start seeds indoors now. If you live in a warmer, frost-free zone, you can still start seeds indoors, but you'll soon be able to plant out in the ground next month. A question came in from a new garden about what to plant now. Here's our helpful spring planting guide: Cool Weather stuff: Asparagus – plant crowns and slowly…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 17, 2013
Post category:Blog Sage Advice
Post comments:6 Comments

Finished Citrus Salt, ready for gifts.

Making Citrus Salt

This holiday season we gave gifts from the garden, which came primarily from our citrus trees. Sunset Magazine featured an easy home made gift idea that struck a chord: citrus salt. Sprinkle it on salads, meats, and in soups to brighten flavors just before serving. Here's how we did it. Ingredients 1 cup course flake salt (we used Penzeys - our favorite spice company) 3 Tbsp. citrus zest, any kind (we used lemon, lime and orange, divided) How-to: Combine salt…

Post author:Christy
Post published:January 15, 2013
Post category:Blog What's Growin' On
Post comments:7 Comments