Category Archives: Blog

True Red Velvet (beet) Brownies

Posted on December 7, 2011 by Christy

After last week’s Tip of the
Week on beets, it got me thinking about red velvet cake. Where did it come from? How was it made before the introduction of Red #40?  A quick search revealed that prior to the
availability of more alkaline “Dutch processed cocoa”, bakers could count on the reaction between cocoa and acidic ingredients like vinegar or buttermilk to create a red tinge to the
…
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Gift Giving Ideas from Local Artisans

Posted on December 6, 2011 by Christy

The latest post from Mar Vista’s Bounty Hunter is ready for your perusal. Find some hidden gems in the local artisan scene (with websites
included for those farther away) for great gifts this holiday season:

Gift Ideas from the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market
 …
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Green Living Project – Dec. 8

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Christy

This one’s for Angelinos. If you’re in the mood to watch a few soul-inspiring films and do some eco-conscious holiday shopping, be sure to
check out the Third Annual Los Angeles Film Premiere next Thursday night, December 8th,
from 7-10 p.m.

Green Living Project has partnered with Green Drinks and Green …
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Thanksgiving in Rome – a Farmers’ Market Oasis

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Christy

It might seem odd to go to Europe to celebrate an American holiday, but when your American relatives live there, Thanksgiving must travel.

One of the benefits of traveling to other countries at different times of the year is getting the chance to see foreign vegetables and fruits of the season. We visited Umbria, Italy in May of this
year and found some beautiful offerings there. Our visit to Rome this November
offered even more.

Campo dei Fiori’s …
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Macarons the Natural Way

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Christy

Got a sweet tooth?  These French macarons fit the bill. See what’s new at the Mar Vista Farmers’ Market:

France Meets Mar Vista with Local Macarons
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Jerusalem Artichokes

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Christy

One of the benefits of participating in the Westside Produce Exchange is that,
while you never know what you’re going to get, you can usually count on something new and unusual. This month’s Exchange featured Jerusalem Artichokes.

The participants stood in a cluster, staring down at these knobby roots (tubers actually) wondering 1) what are they? and 2) what do we do with them?  The answers that followed were as colorful
as the questions.

4 …
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Updated – New 2012 Spring/Summer Seed Collection

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Christy

It’s time to start thinking about the future, and whether that’s the upcoming holiday season or next year’s garden, Gardenerd is here to motivate you. What better way to start the ball rolling than a
tour through the new 2012 Spring/Summer Seed Collection?

Each year we select our favorite heirloom varieties, or coveted heirlooms that we’ve been dying to grow. We choose a trusted seed source that takes the Safe Seed Pledge and promotes bio-diversity by
offering heirloom and open pollinated varieties that you can grow, save and plant again year after year. …
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Think Bare Root

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Christy

Fall is the time to start thinking about next year’s fruit, mainly because bare root fruit trees and cane berries will soon be in stock. Most seed companies and nurseries encourage you to order early
for deliveries that start in January, and their supply sells out quickly. So now is the time.

Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply has always been my go-to place for bare root fruit trees
and  cane berries (no, I don’t get any kickbacks for promoting them, I just love these guys). The folks at …
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Hey Gardenerd, Fancify My Garden

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Christy

October was a busy month for garden design, as Southern California gardeners became excited about fall gardening. Our most recent project already had an existing vegetable bed, but the homeowner
wanted more space to grow, and less grass to mow. We took it from there.

The existing garden bed was infiltrated with devil’s grass, crawling its way up through 18 inches of fecund soil. Crabgrass surrounded two young fruit trees, potentially hampering future growth. The
homeowner wanted berries and had an ideal location along a neighboring garage wall.
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Beware the Citrus Psyllid

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Christy

A not-so-new threat to America’s citrus population has recently been found in Southern California. Almost 4,000 sightings of the Asian Citrus Psyllid, including in Riverside and Mar Vista, have been
reported in 2011. The damage from the Psyllid can potentially send a citrus tree to its grave.

The Citrus Psyllid can be a carrier of a bacterial disease called Huanglongbing (HBL) or Citrus Greening disease, which causes the leaves to appear yellow with green veins, and the fruit becomes
misshapen. Eventually the trees die.

…
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