Category Archives: What’s Growin’ On

Summer has arrived early it seems, with the first clear indicator being the garden’s bountiful offering of basil. This year we planted more
(varieties and quantities) than usual, and the results are in. Basil is here to stay (at least for the summer), so it’s time to start using it.

We planted a test round of Salad Leaf Basil from Renee’s Garden Seeds, along with our old
stand-by Lettuce Leaf and
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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.  

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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
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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.

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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Every once in a while, instead of instilling calm and comfort, the garden promotes panic. Such is the case when I discovered that my heirloom
Black Aztec sweet corn was starting to send out tassels.

Black Aztec sweet corn gets a jump on …
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