Category Archives: Blog

The Martian and His Potatoes…and Mistakes

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Christy

Everyone, I mean everyone told me, “You must see The Martian. He grows potatoes on Mars.” So I went. It was well done, except for a couple things: 1) No one could possibly stay that positive in those circumstances, and … Continue reading →

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Field Trip: More Italy!

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Christy

There’s nothing quite so exotic as a farmers market in a foreign country. You get to see the staples of the local diet on display. Here in the US, we see peppers and eggplant and tomatoes just like in Italy, … Continue reading →

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Fall Planting is Here!

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Christy

It’s still hot here in Los Angeles, but there have been a few cooler days that we took advantage of to plant out our fall brassicas. If you’re ready for fall planting, now is a good time. Seeds will germinate … Continue reading →

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Recipe: Almond or Hemp Seed Pesto (Vegan)

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Christy
Salad Leaf Basil

It’s wonderful to return from Italy to find the garden bursting with basil. This is cause for celebration! It’s time to make more pesto to freeze for later use. Since one does not return from Italy thinner than one was … Continue reading →

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Field Trip: Villa Vignamaggio, Italy

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Christy

We took a little break from gardening here in the states to visit the Chianti region in Italy for a friend’s wedding last week. Little did we know we would be staying in a magnificent villa complete with organic vegetable … Continue reading →

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Wordless Wednesday: Harvest 2015

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Christy
Some home grown, some pilfered. All beautiful.

These are never really wordless, but you get the idea. Today is a celebration of a season passing, and a season’s passion. Harvest time is satisfying, beautiful and temporary. Next we start fall crops. Here is a little of both. … Continue reading →

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Field Trip: Arlington Gardens, Pasadena

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Christy
One of several Pomegranate trees on the property.

During the Garden Writers Association Symposium in September, bus loads of eager gardenerds stepped off to visit Arlington Gardens, an historic site in Pasadena, CA. It is “Pasadena’s only designated public garden designed to demonstrate sustainable water-wise gardening in a … Continue reading →

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Ask Gardenerd: Preventing Bugs Next Year

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Christy

As we start over with a fall garden in warm-winter climates, or put the garden away in more temperate regions, the question arises once again: “How can I prevent bugs that were problematic this year in my fruit and vegetable … Continue reading →

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Basil Trial: Our Favorite Basils

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Christy
Purple Opal basil

This summer we tested four new basil varieties against four of our favorites. That was a lot of basil! It was a grueling process (ha-ha) and as a result, we have many pints of pesto in the freezer for winter … Continue reading →

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Ask Gardenerd: Are Grasshoppers Bad?

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Christy
Grasshoppers bite chunks out of the sides of leaves, but can consume entire leaves over time.

We love it when people ask about bugs before killing them. Better safe than sorry. You may be killing a beneficial insect, so please ask before taking action. Like Dora here: “Are grasshoppers bad for my garden? If so how … Continue reading →

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