Rat-Proof Compost Bin

Posted on December 26, 2008 by Christy

A new gardenerd wrote in recently:

“Any suggestions [for a rat-proof compost bin]?  We do trap and try to control the rats but they just exist and like to
come around compost in our neighborhood.”

There must be a global increase in rats this year.  We’ve been seeing an increase in these critters around our community garden as well.  I had them nibbling away at my tomatoes all summer.   Here are a couple suggestions I can across in my research:

First of all, you will want to make sure that you aren’t composting any animal fats, bones or flesh.  Rats are …
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Winter Harvest Recipe

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Christy

In the middle of writing this month’s newsletter, I was struck with hunger and a craving for soup.  Could it be that I’ve been subsisting on gingerbread cookies all morning (made fresh last night)?  They are a complete protein, aren’t they? 

Anywho – the need to eat right away was overshadowed by the idea of having something really nice to eat that could be assembled with minimal time.  I cracked open my handy dandy binder of torn out recipes from magazines and leafed through to find something that used chickpeas and diced tomatoes – because that’s what’s in the fridge.  I fell upon a …
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Eco-Gift Festival

Posted on December 20, 2008 by Christy

There’s been a bit of a lapse on blog entries in the past week.  Reason being, I was at the Eco-Gift Festival for 4 days, and the workload leading up to it was tremendous.  Now that it’s over, and after a little much-needed rest, blogging can resume as regularly scheduled. 

For those who couldn’t attend, here is a little taste of what it was like at the Festival.  First of all, we had a great location – the first booth you saw upon entering the tent.  You couldn’t possibly miss our banner, which was wonderfully designed by Lenore …
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Easy Plants for Pots

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Christy

“Love your podcast and website. I am new to gardening. Browsed your site and enjoyed the blog on veggies in a pot. As I start thinking about the spring, I began to ponder the possibility of additional veggies and herbs in “pots.” What do you think are the easiest veggies and herbs to plant in pots. Right now I grow watermelon, tomatoes and strawberries in my tiny garden. Any advice? I live in New Mexico in a dry climate. Thanks—David”

Thanks so much for writing in, David. There are some great veggies that will grow in pots, …
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Garden on the Rocks

Posted on December 5, 2008 by Christy

A gardenerd wrote in this week:

“We have very rocky soil in No. Calif. What do I need to start a garden in a small area with bad soil. Thanks, Margo.”

Well, Margo, first of all let me say that you’ve got every gardenerd’s sympathy right now, but there is hope.  There are many things you can do to work with (or not work with) rocky soil.  Here are a couple of previous blog entries that might help your situation.

This one addresses how you can condition the soil:

http://blog.gardenerd.com/2008/02/29/a-rocky-start-in-paso-robles.aspx

This one gives you details about another great option – raised beds.  I …
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An Adventure with Parsnip Thinnings

Posted on December 1, 2008 by Christy

I was out in the garden the other day and noticed that my parsnips, which I had planted from seeds that I had saved last year, were sprouted and very happy.  In fact, they were in need of thinning.  See, I had planted several seeds on each hole because I didn’t know if my saved seeds would actually be viable.  Turns out, they are extremely potent. 

So instead of following my own advice to snip off the extra sprouts with scissors, I opted to gently pull them out and put them to use in the kitchen.  I was already …
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Lots of Flowers, but No Fruit

Posted on November 27, 2008 by Christy

A frustrated gardenerd wrote in recently:

“Having a little gardening crisis – I planted a second round of zucchini and cucumbers in September. They are large now and have produced many flowers, but no fruit! Other things I planted at the same time are doing well. Beans and peas aplenty. I know pollination is an issue, since what few bees there are right now are OBSESSED with the eucalyptus tree on the other side of the house, not my garden – but I’ve added some sweet alyssum pots to the garden area, and even poked at the flowers with …
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News on the Colony Collapse Disorder

Posted on November 26, 2008 by Christy

Admittedly, I’m a little behind the curve on this one, but I guess I can blame the fact that I don’t have television for getting news a little later than other folks.  Anywho…

For those who haven’t yet heard, it appears that a major cause of the bee collapse has been definitively sussed out. There are still a few other possible causes, but a recent report that came out in September confirms the connection.  Lawsuits are a’flyin’ and hopefully soon we will begin to see change around this issue.  Read below for more details:

http://globalwarming-arclein.blogspot.com/2008/09/colony-collapse-disorder-resolved.html

Special thanks to Ramon for bringing …
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Rats in the Garden

Posted on November 20, 2008 by Christy

A concerned gardener wrote in this week:

“Rotten rodents! …I have some rodent, maybe squirrels but more likely rats, that help themselves to whatever is young and tender in the garden. They have just decapitated all of my new little lettuces and broccoli. In the summer it was the new string beans that they decimated. How do I get rid of them?”

When someone uses the word “decapitate” I think of rats.  I have had a similar problem at my community plot, where broccoli plants have been eaten off right in the center, up from the ground about 6-8 inches.  Likewise, over the summer, my tomatoes …
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Gardenerd and the Eco-Gift Festival

Posted on November 15, 2008 by Christy

We can not make a major announcement like the unveiling of the new Gardenerd Collection without mentioning the impetus behind it all.  While it’s true that it has taken two years to get the starting lineup of premium Gardenerd Gear going, it could very well have taken three or four years had it not been for Tommy Rosen and the Eco-Gift Festival.

Tommy became a client of Gardenerd.com and asked us to build him a food garden at his Venice, California home.  He then invited us to participate as a vendor at the 2nd annual Eco-Gift Festival at the Santa Monica Civic …
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