Seeds in the City

October Garden Calendar in San Diego

2011-10-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

Within the Garden - William Templeton

Summer has drawn to a close as cooler temperatures and shorter days takeover. Luckily our mild climate still allows for abundance in the garden and there is no shortage of events to inspire your fall plantings this month.

October 8th - This Saturday learn how to Design your Garden with Native Plants with Greg Rubin at the SD Botanic Garden from 9 - 12pm at a cost of $25-30.

October 8th - Learn how to Grow Your Own Food for free with VGSD at Olivewood Gardens. Class 1 of 3 is from 8 - 12pm and introduces you to all of the basics.

October 8th - Stop by the booths at The 4th Annual Sustain La Mesa Environmental Festival which is held from 10 - 2pm.

October 10th - The SDHS host highly entertaining author of Wicked Plants Amy Stewart who will present her new book Wicked Bugs. The event starts at 6pm and is $10 for non-members.

October 13th - The Center for Sustainable Energy host arborist Leah Rottke as she speaks about Planting Fall Trees for Spring Vigor from 5:30 - 7:30pm.

October 15th - The SD Farm Bureau host the 2nd Annual Farm Tour from 9:30 - 3:30 pm. This tour features 6 farms and the opportunity to see how mushrooms get their start, visit the Stone Brewing Farm, learn how to best grow avocados and finish with a wine tasting. $20 for adults, $10 children.

October 15 & 16th - The SD Botanic Garden will hold their 29th Annual Fall Plant Sale from 10-4pm that is free with admission.

October 19th - Enjoy pumpkin carving, food, music and the film Nourish at Seeds at City Fall Festival from 11 - 2pm.

October 22nd - Help to sustain the Seeds at City Urban Farm through their Young Farmers Fundraiser starting at 3pm within the Wild Willow Farm.

October 22nd - Learn to build a Hydroponic Fall Garden with AGPals at the SD Botanic Garden from 9 - 12pm. $70 pays for the class and materials.

October 23rd - Planning and Planting Fall crops will be the topic of this free class taught by Farmer Bill at City Farmers Nursery from 1:30 - 3:00pm.

October 29th - Learn How to Compost for free at the San Diego Zoo from 8 -10am at this event sponsored by the Solana Center.

Did I miss your event? Email me at info@seedsinthecity.com

June Garden Calendar in San Diego

2011-05-31T18:40:00.000-07:00


Marcela Camarena Lubian

The gardens are in bloom and the calendar is chocked full of fun and inspirational garden happenings this month.

June 2nd - The Best Sustainable Fruit Trees will be discussed from 5:30 - 7:30pm at this free class which will be held at the CA Center for Sustainable Energy.
June 4th - Succulent Reproduction is the focus of this class that teaches how to revive old plants and start new ones for $35.00 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm.
June 4th - This free Gardening 101 class will cover seed starting, irrigation systems and water harvesting from 9:00 - 12:00 pm at the Solana Center.
June 4th & 5th - SD Cactus Society's Annual Show and Sale will be held at Balboa Park from 10:00 - 4:00 pm.
June 5th - Choosing the Best Irrigation System is covered at Liberty Farms from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm for $35.00 and covers what irrigation will best meet your needs.
June 7th - Learn How to Start & Manage Community Gardens with the Solana Center at this free class from 6:00 - 8:30 pm that is taught every Tuesday of the month.
June 7th & 14th - Aquaponics Workshop will be held over at the Ecolife Foundation for $30.00 which includes lunch.
June 11th - This free class covers Xeriscape: Low Water Use Plants at the Walter Andersen Nursery in San Diego at 9:00 am. On the same day Summer Vegetable Care and Planting will be covered at the Poway store from 9:30-10:30 am.
June 11th - The final, free Gardening 101 class will cover pest, weed management and cooking and sharing from 9:00 - 12:00 pm at the Solana Center.
June 12th - Beehive and Frame Assembly will be the focus of this 11:00 am class taught at Liberty Farms for a fee of $35.00.
June 12th - Free Winemaking Demonstration will be held at Curds & Wine from 1:00 - 3:00pm, RSVP online.
June 18th - SD Master Gardeners Summer Plant Sale will be held from 10:00 - 3:00pm at Balboa Park. Arrive early for the best selection!
June 25th - Planting for Challenging Areas will be covered in this free class at City Farmers Nursery from 1:30 - 3:30pm which includes hills, shade and areas with poor drainage.
June 26th - Poultry Care and Management is the topic of this 10:00 am class taught at Liberty Farms for $35.00 that covers selecting the best breed for you and how to care for your chickens.

Did I miss your event? Email me at info@seedsinthecity.com

Inspiring San Diego Home Gardens

2011-05-10T18:29:00.000-07:00

The last month of garden tours have been full of inspirational design. It was such a delight to see how many people have converted their lawns and other water hungry plants through the creative use of succulents and drought resistant plants.

Combinations of color brightened up containers and landscaping.

It was also great to see how many people are now keeping backyard chickens!

And finally a few words of inspiration...

WTH?

2011-05-03T12:25:00.000-07:00

What the heck?

Before the heat of the summer takes over I tend to do alot of hand watering in the garden. Even though it takes considerably longer, because it really does no good to spray blasts of water in the direction of your plants, it has its benefits. When you hand water you tend to notice slight changes in your plants and even notice new visitors which will be the topic of the next post.

Insect activity is in full swing so you will no doubt have similar calling cards left in your yard.

Winter Squash

I noticed the lower leaves of this squash were starting to resemble freshly skated ice with strange looping trails going in every direction. Up close I could see that the leaf was literally mined as the insect moved over the surface. Which brought me to one conclusion;

Vegetable Leafminer Larvae

The pale green larvae of the vegetable leafminers adult form is a tiny fly that will lay its eggs on the underside of leaves. These tiny larvae can be spotted inside the tunnels they make which gives you an idea of how small they are. Not to worry though because the leafminer will rarely do enough damage to harm production. If the damage seems to be limited to a few leaves you can remove them which will limit spreading but if the damage is widespread the plant will still able to photosynthesize. The leafminer is also dinner for ladybugs and lacewings.

Eggplant

I noticed while watering this eggplant seedling that it had lost the upper edge of it's leaf. I looked for a nearby insect or slime trails and found nothing so I inspected the bite marks. The insect here only ate from the outer edge which meant caterpillar or grasshopper. On further inspection you can see that the entire leaf was a meal, veins and all. This meant we were looking at something with strong jaws.

Grasshopper

We were dealing with a grasshopper which everyone will inevitably find in the yard and they are unfortunately hard to catch. The more time you spend in the garden the more likely you are to inadvertently stumble into one as I have many times. Luckily the chickens prize this gourmet treat and make a fast disposal system.

Potato

The damage on this young yellow fin potato literally showed up overnight. In order to determine the culprit I looked for clues at the scene of the crime. The most telling are slime trails or a pest that is still enjoying it's meal. I had neither here so instead I had to rely on the holes in the leaves. They were closer to the center than the edge and small to medium which either pointed to an earwig or caterpillar. On closer inspection you can see that the bite marks are irregular in shape meaning one thing:

Cabbage Looper

The Cabbage Looper caterpillar is thankfully very easy to spot and can normally be found on the underside of the leaves on the plant showing signs of damage. You can just pick them off and in our case feed them to the chickens who love these tasty treats (another great reason to keep chickens). You will want to provide a happy home for lacewings, ladybugs, solider bugs and wasps who dine on this insect. Also cabbage lopper is deterred by compact thyme which makes a great addition to the garden.


Tomato

This tomato has not been attacked by a virus or bacteria, instead it been discovered by skeletonizers. Skeletonizer damage can be distinguished by sunken in, chewed away areas of a leaf where the veins are still intact. There are many variations of this species whose moth form is also spotted in the garden. I easily controlled it by handpicking them off the leaves and the tomato has grown exponentially with no new damage.

Here is the culprit

Keep in mind for most pest there is a predator and in order to lure and keep these beneficial insects we should not eliminate all of their food supply. Also if you take away one thing from this let it be that the only spray I utilized was a hard blast of water and most damage on plants, up to 20% of the plant above ground, will not harm production.

Any mysterious damage has you stumped? Email us at info@seedsinthecity.com and we will get on the case.

May Garden Calendar in San Diego

2011-04-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

May Flowers
Marcela Camarena Lubian

There is truly something for everyone this month...

May 1st
East County Earth Day will be held from 11:00 - 3pm at the Mt. Helix Amphitheater and the free event will include lectures on such topics as growing your own food and hummingbirds in San Diego.
Replace that thirsty lawn just in time for summer with City Farmers free class from 1:30 - 3:00pm that focuses on cost and water saving alternatives.
May 3rd
Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center will offer their free one hour guided tour of the gardens and spectacular education program. Go on the website to RSVP.
May 5th - 8th
Garden Festival at the San Diego Zoo celebrates the 700,000 different plant species and teaches guest about the many uses of edible varieties. Free with admission.
May 7th
Aquaponics - find out how you can GROW your own fish and create a closed loop system by means of Tilapia and their emulsion which becomes the perfect fertilizer for your vegetables at this free class taught from 1:30 - 3:00pm at City Farmers Nursery.
Mission Hills Garden Tour - "A Walk Down Sunset Boulevard" will showcase 12 homes and runs from 10:00 - 4:00pm. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
May 11th
Beginning Beekeeper class will be taught at Liberty Farms from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at a cost of $35.00.
May 12th
Re-imagining the California Lawn will be presented by author Carol Bornstein at the SD Botanic Garden from 7:00 - 8:00pm. The lecture will be $10 for members and $12 for non-members.
May 14th
Organic Gardening classes will be taught in a free four part series from 9:00 - 12:00pm by the Solana Center. Classes cover everything from garden design to cooking and sharing.
Historic Coronado Garden Tour from 10:00 - 4:00pm features 8 homes and is $20 in advance.
May 15th
Learn how to Make Your Own Cheese in this free class taught at City Farmers Nursery from 1:00 - 4:00pm.
May 19th
Growing up Vertical: The Future of Farming will be discussed by Gordon Smith at SD Botanic Gardens from 6:00 - 7:00 pm, this class is a must for apartment dwellers and is $10 for members and $12 for non-members.
May 21st
Ladybug Day at the SD Botanic Garden from 10:00 - 3:00pm.
May 22nd
Hive Management will be taught at Liberty Farms from 10:00 to 1:00 pm at a cost of $35.00
May 28th
Palm & Cycad sale at the SD Botanic garden will feature many rare and unusual varieties, free with admission. 9:00 - 3:00 pm

Did I miss your event? Email us at info@seedsinthecity.com

2011-04-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all that stopped by to say hi at today's Earth Day event! We are sorry that we ran out of seedlings so early but glad that they found good homes. If you have any questions about your seeds or seedlings; like how big do they get, how much sun do they like or how much water do they need please feel free to email us at info@seedsinthecity.com with your variety in the subject line. You can also comment here and we will be sure to get back to you.

Happy Growing!

Earth Day in San Diego

2011-04-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

The worlds largest FREE Earth Day event is back at Balboa Park tomorrow! This event goes from 10:00am to 5:00pm but set your alarm because if you arrive before 10am you will find most of us already set up and no crowds. With over 350 exhibitors there is a lot to see, eat, hear and learn. Seeds in the City will be on the Prado with FREE organic seedlings and seeds. Don't forget to bring a tote bag because you will probably pick up tons of goodies and information.

April in San Diego Garden Calendar

2011-04-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Spring is here and with it exciting gardening events for the month of April.

April 9th
Cuyamaca College Spring Garden Tour - This free event has a plant and book sale as well as demonstrations all within the colleges beautiful water wise garden.
Charity Garden Tour from 9am to 4pm featuring five north county homes including a visit to the Ecke Ranch greenhouses for bargain sales.
City Farmers Vegetable Gardens 101 - In this free class 90 minute class from 1:30-3pm you will get all the basics for starting your own garden.
April 9th - 10th

Cultivating Food Justice Conference - This two day free conference in City Heights will feature workshops and lectures on such broad topics as goats, solar cooking, aquaponics, sprouting, dry farming and a seed swap. Visit the website link to RSVP.
April 10th
Liberty Farms will teach a poultry care and management class for those of you considering keeping chickens, the class starts at 11:00 am and is $35.00.
April 11th
Jeffery Bale will lecture on "The Pleasure Garden" as part of the San Diego Horticultural Society special speaker event at 7pm, the event is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at the door within the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
April 16 - 17th
Coronado Flower Show and Garden Tour includes 10 front yard gardens, plant sales and seminars for $5.00.
April 17th
San Diego Earth Day at Balboa Park is a free event with over 350 exhibitors and the best part is Seeds in the City will be there with free seedlings and seeds.
April 23rd
Point Loma Garden Walk showcases 3 homes and ten gardens in the area of Sunset Cliffs, $20.00 advance tickets to benefit Children's Hospital.
Citrus and Avocados a free class taught by Richard Wright at the Walter Andersen Poway store, 9:30 am.

April 26th - May 24th

Become a Master Composter - Sign up to take this 5 session course being offered in San Diego from 6-8:30 pm every Wednesday.
April 27th
Introduction to Farm Animal Husbandry will be taught at Liberty Farms in El Cajon from 6:30 - 8:00pm, the class fee is $35.00.

April 30th
Compost Workshop - Learn how compost can benefit you, this free workshop is given by master composters from 10:00 -12:00pm at the Solana Center.
The Encinitas Garden Festival is from 10am-4pm and will feature an astounding 20 homes along with free talks, $20.00 advance tickets.
Walter Andersen Nursery Point Loma teaches their free one hour class on Growing Tomatoes at 9:00am, and Poway store teaches Water Conservation and Sprinkler Efficency at 9:30am.

Did I miss your event? Email us at info@seedsinthecity.com

Hali'imaile Community Garden

2011-02-22T18:19:00.000-08:00

Our own trials and tribulations to establish community gardens in San Diego inspired me to see how other cities, states and islands for that matter start gardens in their communities. So on the recent trip to Maui we made a stop at Hali'imaile Community Garden, the first such garden to be established on the island, in 2006.

The Hali'imaille Community Garden is an unexpected gem hidden among sugarcane and banana trees. As you drive down the dirt road to its entrance you hardly know what to expect then all of a sudden the road opens up to a patchwork of lovingly tended plots.

Elle was kind enough to meet us for a tour of the gardens and has been dedicating herself to this land for 2 years. Elle is a Southern California transplant that along with the additional members lends a hand in the compost bins, common areas, vermiculture and maintaining and clearing of new plots. The land is owned by the Maui Land and Pineapple Company and due to its odd shape the land was never fully utilized to grow their crops of pineapple and sugarcane even though both of those crops can be found there today. As a generous gift Maui Land and Pineapple allowed the community to utilize the land and just recently agreed to a five-year renewable lease on the property at no extra cost. Due to the private ownership of the land they were able to avoid the costly and daunting permitting process.

With these exciting developments came the formation of the Maui Community Garden Initiative which "exists to proactively engage Maui communities in growing food. Through strategic collaborations and public advocacy, we provide educational and technical support for cultivating and sustaining community based gardens" The initiative is dedicated to looking towards the future as an opportunity to involve local schools and the community in educational programs centered on organic and sustainable agriculture.With these new developments the HCG has seen an increase in involvement and membership. New plots are being cleared everyday to grow the likes of Taro, Broccoli, Borage, Kale, Sugarcane and Sunflowers. The yearly costs to call a 10X20 plot your own is a mere $50.00 which takes into account your water costs and access to all the amenities, including the herb garden, fruit trees and a tool shed. The community garden hopes to maintain the upward trend in membership through continued community events.

San Diego Community Gardens

2011-02-22T17:39:00.000-08:00

Many people often ask me if I can recommend a garden in or near their community that they could grow fresh produce in. I always say I know of several great community gardens, centrally located, but the waiting list can be up to two years long! You're probably asking yourself how that is possible in such a perfect climate town with what seems like an abandoned lot on every corner. Well NBC San Diego put together this quick video explaining why these gardens are so rare.

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video.

Basically most of these vacant lots are zoned for commercial property i.e. property that generates property taxes that go back to the city. These community gardens generate $0 for property taxes so they are essentially prevented from sprouting on commercial land. Now council members Todd Gloria and Sherri Lightner are pushing to change city zoning laws so that commercially zoned lots can become community gardens. With this change interested parties will still need to meet with the owners of the vacant land to get their permission as well as start the permitting process with the county which requires plans and a $5,000 deposit. Here are the previous application forms which are hopefully about to undergo a major face lift. Thankfully there are non-profits like IRC, Victory Gardens San Diego and One in Ten Coalition that are spearheading the movement making it easier for an individual to get involved and be heard by their government.

Lend your voice and sign the petition here to let the San Diego council members know this issue is important to you.

What the term Urban Homestead means to us

2011-02-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

Not just two words put together, Urban Homestead is quite clearly a way of life that describes people in their respective cities who may grow their own food, generate their own electricity, raise animals and more. These people have turned their homes into a symbol of taking responsibility for their lives. With each step closer towards self-sufficiency Urban Homesteaders have pulled the veil away from the source of all they require in their lives.

When we bit into our first homegrown tomato came an awakening, no longer did we have to imagine our food came from a sunny green farm on the hill, now we could know it for sure. Homegrown lettuce, strawberries, peppers, eggplant and potatoes followed. Why stop there? We tasted eggs from our own chickens and realized how they were meant to feel, how they were meant to look and the taste we had never realized we were missing. Then came composting our organics thereby limiting what we sent to landfills, making our own dairy products, collecting our first honey along with our own rainwater, as well as raising our own fish. Once we tasted and felt the difference we couldn't be stopped. We were a force, a growing, raising, eating force that took all of our neighbors and family members by storm with our new inspiration. We couldn't tell enough people about what they were missing. We spread the word by phone, email, text, tweet and post. This was a call not for a new and exciting movement, but for a return to our self-sufficient past.

The words Urban Homestead don't define us, no word or words could ever hope to express what we are and what we have gained through our return to a simpler life. Taking away the ability for all of us to pigeon hole ourselves with the term Urban Homestead doesn't change who we are or what we have accomplished. I'm thankful we have come to another realization through this tribulation, one where we realize that we are not alone in this passion for what we have achieved. Our worldwide community is ever expanding in this movement to take back what we hadn't even realized we were missing.

My one hope is that you too can come to the understanding that there is little meaning in controlling a word, in losing the ability to use these words we don't lose our abilities to continue our wonderful work. We are only further inspired to become undefinable.

We Are Urban Homesteaders!

2011-02-16T18:22:00.001-08:00

YES we are

The term Urban Homesteading has been trademarked by the Dervaes family.

Join the conversation HERE

San Diego Master Gardeners Spring Seminar

2011-01-30T20:48:00.000-08:00

The San Diego Master Gardeners spring seminar is back and registration opens tomorrow, January 31st. This year they are offering 3 sections of classes on April 2, 2011 that start at 8:50 a.m. with the last section starting at 1:40 and ending at 2:50 p.m.. If you pre-register classes are a mere $15, with a $5 dollar discount if you sign up for three classes. They have a very well rounded schedule of classes and instructors this year.

Topics include;

Attracting Birds, Hummingbirds and Butterflies to your Garden
Compost-No Longer the Dirty Little Secret in the Garden
Tips on Designing a Water-smart Landscape with Color, Interest and Budget Savings
Growing Herbs for Health, Taste and Fragrance
How to Get the Most Production from your Organic Tomato Plant
Understanding Our Soils and Simple Ways to Improve Them
Growing Summer Vegetables the Organic Way (taught by the inspiring Pat Welsh)
Successful "Green" Living Walls
Native Plants You and Your Neighbors will Love

The classes are going to be back at the USD campus this year.

What's Wrong With My Plant?

2011-01-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

The What's Wrong with my Plant team of David Deardorff and Kathryn Wadsworth are in town to help us all answer the seemingly year round, life long question, what the heck is wrong with my plant? Their widely successful book of the same name has been a godsend in identifying everything from random black spots to yellowing leaves. Not only do they help you identify the problem but they help you find a solution the organic way. I'm very excited to get to meet these two in person! Hurry and sign up online, the class is this Saturday the 29th from 10:00am-12:00pm at the San Diego Botanical Garden.

O'o Farm

2011-01-26T21:44:00.000-08:00

O’o farms is located in the lush green hillsides of Maui’s upcountry region. The farm exclusively provides all that it grows to three restaurants on the island of Maui. They average 34! inches of rainfall a year and are often under a misty cover during the winter months. Even so the farm is equipped with drip irrigation because it can really get hot and humid.

When you arrive at the farms the first thing you notice is the breathtaking views, overlooking both the north and south coasts. First to greet us was Richard Clark the farm manager who has been playing in this dirt for ten years and is obviously passionate about the land which totals 8.5 acres of virgin! territory that was once home to a thriving population of eucalyptus trees and hippies. This soil is the rich choclate cake color and texture we have all been craving and can never quite attain no matter how much compost we amend into it. I have now figured out the secret, get your own volcano!

I was happy to learn it’s not all perfect soil and ocean views, they have pest up here too. Thrips, aphids and snails are all regulars but the biggest problem is the humidity. I have enough problems with mildew as is but can you imagine an average of 70% humidity for most of the year in addition to 34" of rainfall? Cucumber, squash and pumpkins as well as tomatoes aren't fans of this climate so tend not to produce very well. O'o is all organic even though they cant legally say so, so no chemicals or pesticides. They use crop rotation, cover crops and row covers to help protect their plants.

The farm gives tours twice a week educating those who attend about everything farm including composting, vermiculture, healthy soil, chickens and growing organic food. Speaking of chickens the farm has a great coop pictured below with a couple of wild roosters to keep the hens in check. Richard hopes to establish a rolling chicken coop here in the near future which I look forward to seeing. At the end of the tour guest are treated to a gourmet lunch cooked on site by one of their fantastic chefs Barry Clark.

My dreams and imagination are in overdrive, especially upon hearing that O’o doesn’t need to do any outside marketing. This farm works with their three restaurants when planning what to grow and takes orders daily for each menu. In addition to the tours the farm sails full speed ahead with only four (very busy) helpers. I don’t know about you but this sounds like a dream come true.

Maui Come and Gone

2011-01-26T20:25:00.000-08:00

Kicking and screaming I've returned. We all had an amazing time and were welcomed with open arms at O'o Farm and Haliimaile Community Garden. We also toured several native botanical gardens that are hard at work preserving endangered species and agricultural traditions. It was truly an honor to share my time learning about farming on Maui and meeting the wonderful people behind the cause. Of course plenty of pictures are on there way, but in the meantime here are a couple from different hikes on the island.

Gone to Maui

2011-01-12T15:37:00.000-08:00

Seeds in the City is off to explore island farming life for the next ten days. I found this great map on the Maui County Farm Bureau website that shows all the different farms and gardens. I will be volunteering at O'o farms and I can't wait to see how things are done over on the island. There will be MANY photos to follow. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on places to visit.

San Diego Mushroom Fair

2011-01-05T21:56:00.000-08:00

As a lover of Italian cooking, mostly due to my infatuation with bread and cheese, I frequently utilize many different varieties of mushrooms in my cooking. They can get rather expensive once you start getting into the gourmet varieties so we have decided to grow our own starting with Portobellas. I'm hoping to get all the necessary information at this years mushroom fair which includes cooking and growing demonstrations as well as volunteers on hand to identify your own 'found' mushrooms.

When: Sunday, February 20, 2011
from 10:30-3:30pm
Where: Balboa Park, Casa Del Prado Building, Room 101
What: All things mushroom
How: Through your generous donations

The Urban Gopher

2011-01-04T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday, now back to work! Our first post of the New Year focuses on some very late/early spring cleaning we have had on our list since our very first post where we lost our beloved artichoke.

Finding it unfathomable that a gopher could exist in a concrete jungle we searched for possible reasons as to why our plants roots were disappearing overnight. We settled on some sort of soil borne disease that fed on our plants because we had never seen any signs of a gopher. I grew up in a yard of gophers and could see their mounds and tunnels from a mile away. Well it turns out that our gopher is very sensible of this fact and has managed to keep a very low profile, until recently.

Two dead Borage plants later I finally spied a tunnel and then a mound of dirt. Now, I'm the last person who would kill anything, I save daddy long legs for gosh sakes but this guy has taken it too far. I called in our resident gopher expert for some sage advice on ending this little guys reign of terror.

Her first advice was get the right trap. Essentially the metal style is the best, the one featured on the video has been passed down through generations of gardeners but a similar style can be found at Home Depot. Secondly we looked for the most active hole and we opened it wide up to fresh air and plenty of sunlight. Now it's time to set the trap.

After the trap was placed in the hole we placed a board across the hole and fenced it off so our dogs could not be harmed by it. Now we wait...tomorrow morning I will go down and see if we were successful. If not we will explore our next options together. Stay tuned

**Update**

1/7/11 The only thing the trap caught was a bunch of well packed dirt, to be continued....

1/10/11 Well R.I.P Mr. Gopher, you will not be missed. After the third try and much WD-40 we were successful in our efforts. The scene this morning reminded me of instances where I have come upon a car collision and cannot quite fathom how it was possible for the cars to get themselves in there respective locations. The gophers main hole where the trap was placed was filled with dirt and nasturtium remnants and he was outside the hole. Go figure.

First of Fall Harvest

2010-11-23T18:54:00.000-08:00

Our first of fall harvest is ready and I don't know about you guys but I'm looking for any reason to turn on the oven this time of year. Cheddar Cauliflower was the first crop ready this season and I have never grown it before, I was pleasantly suprised by it's beautiful bright orange color. Once I cut it up it looked like a bowl of cheddar popcorn!

There is nothing like potato gratin so why not try cauliflower gratin? I found a great recipe from the Barefoot Contessa and decided to give it a try. It was easy and quick. So delicious!

South Bay Botanic Garden Green Scene

2010-09-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

The 3rd annual green scene is tomorrow, September 11th from 9 to 3:00pm, to be held at Southwestern College.

This free event promises many wonderful booths such as Olivewood Gardens, San Diego Beekeeping, Wildcoast and the San Diego Master Gardeners.

In addition they have three great classes;

· Composting with Worms 9:30 - 10:30 am

· Reusing Gray Water 11:00 - 11:50 am

· Growing Cool Season Vegetables 12:30 - 1:20 pm

· Guided Tour of the Botanic Garden 1:45 - 2:45 pm

Garden Talks (in room 1802)

Hope to see you all there!

We Are What They Eat

2010-09-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

As with all things we consume and purchase these days it seems as though we have to constantly be on guard. Where did this come from? How was it raised/grown? What's in it? and the list goes on and on....

Us "organic" home gardeners and backyard chicken raisers tend to, I will admit it, feel a little smug but we have to be just as mindful as everyone else. Every time I let my guard down and allow myself to be lulled into a false sense of security I'm jarred back into reality.

This time in the form of arsenic in chicken feed, the feed is claimed to have elevated children's arsenic levels 50% and more above safe levels after consuming eggs from their backyard chickens. The additive at the forefront of this is Roxarsone and I urge everyone with backyard chickens to take 5 minutes and go outside and get the ingredients off of your chickens feed and study it. Although most feed suppliers have discontinued the use of the additive I think you might be surprised just how many ingredients you cannot identify yet alone pronounce.

Ingredients like Ammonium Hydroxide (yep, that's the same one as your floor cleaner), Bentomite (a clay that can be found in cat litter) and the ever popular and broad artificial flavoring category which could and does contain just about anything. I have to ask myself is it necessary for our chickens and ourselves to consume these chemicals? You might find ingredients even more mystifying then these, take a minute to enter them into your google search engine and see what comes up. I wager you might be questioning why you or your chicken needs things like Methionine Liquid.

Lucky for us gardeners we have a happy selection of foods for our chickens to forage and hopefully some not so happy bugs because if we look back to our chickens prehistoric ancestors they certainly weren't living off of corn and soybean meal.

Best plants for pollinators in the winter garden

2010-09-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Pollinators have a hard time finding food once all the spring flowers have died and gardeners focus on their winter crops but we could still use their services. Bees prefer the bright white, yellow and blue flowers while butterflies look for bright red and purple flowers.

Here is a list of plants that can brighten up your fall/winter garden as well as provide food and shelter for your hard workers.

1. Agastache (Hummingbird Mint)- Blooms through fall providing nectar to hummingbirds and butterflies. 'Blue Fortune' the dwarf variety only gets 3-4'.
2. Bluebeard - Bees love this late summer bloomer.
3. California Goldenrod - Late bloomer that provides food to the three B's! Bees, Birds and Butterflies.
4. Coreopsis Lanceolata - Good source of nectar that blooms well into summer with regular deadheading.
5. Gallardia - Oranges and Lemons as well as the dwarf goblin are long bloomers with deadheading.
6. Prince Calico Aster - Native to North America, blooms late summer through fall, attracts bees and butterflies.
7. Rosemary - A great choice for bees that blooms late into the season and adds great flavor in recipes.
8. Rudbeckia - Late season bloomer, provides food for butterflies.
9. Scabiosa (Pincuchion Flower) - Butterfly Blue attracts just what it's name suggest and with deadheading will bloom throughout summer into fall.
10. Yarrow (Moonshine) - Great food source for native pollinators that blooms through summer.

More than one way to grow

2010-08-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some wonderful shots from this years Paul Ecke Jr. Flower and Garden Show

This last picture is courtesy of Expert Aquaponics located right here in San Diego and was a small part of their absolutely amazing setup. This vertical garden is soil less and holds up to 50 plants! Look for more post on aqua-farming to come on Seeds in the City as one of our own has recently started her own aqua-farm with over 100 Tilapia!

Master Gardeners Fall Seminar

2010-08-30T18:17:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Master Gardener Association is back with their fall seminar that features great speakers and their plant sale.

When: Saturday, October 2nd
Where: Marina Village Conference Center
What: Many great topics this year including Integrated Pest Management, Garden to Table with chef Ron Oliver of the fantastic Marine Room, The Dirt on Soils and Growing Fungi in the Garden.

Hope to see you all there and of course I will share the best of the best right here on Seeds in the City.

Summer Cover Crops

2010-08-24T18:43:00.000-07:00

Summer is finally upon us in now sunny San Diego and to celebrate Seeds in the City is coming out of hibernation with a new post. Thanks for your patience!

Cover crops can be a very beneficial addition to your soil that most farmers and gardeners plant in the winter to ready the soil for spring planting. In addition to adding organic materials to the soil they can solve compaction problems as well as suppress weeds and attract beneficial insects.

In between the spring/summer and fall/winter garden you can also have a cover crop. Our soil is in definite need of a quick pick me up before the fall planting commences so I looked into a few options.

Our issues were specific, we needed a quick growing crop that could tolerate summer heat and could be tilled under in a matter of weeks. We ended up going with Buckwheat which is ready to till under right after it flowers in a mere 4-5 weeks and Soybeans. Here is a short breakdown of some options;

Buckwheat - Grows fast, smothers weeds, attracts beneficial's and releases potassium when breaking down in the soil.
Canola (Rape) - Smothers weeds, fast growing and suppresses nematodes.
Clover - Great for attracting beneficial's and some can be quite pretty. Downside is allot of clover varieties require up to 1 year before they can be turned under.
Cow pea - Smothers weeds, suppresses nematodes if allowed to bloom before tilling, adds nitrogen to the soil and it's edible!
Soybean - another edible choice that adds nitrogen and thrives in heat, till into the soil when 50% of the plants have flowered or wait to harvest the beans.

When you cover crop is ready to till under cut it to about 2 inches above the soil and let dry a couple of days. Then gently dig it into the top layer of your soil, preferably by hand.

When to Harvest - Top 10

2010-06-06T21:22:00.000-07:00

Knowing when it's time to harvest and enjoy the fruits and veggies of your labor can be tricky. Here are a few hints on the best times to harvest.

Carrots - can be pulled when they are as big as your finger, they will be sweetest then. Also look for a carrot top that is bright orange. Cut their tops off if your not going to eat them right away.

Corn - the husk should feel full, look for the plants silks to be dry and brown, greenish near the cob. Cut a slit in the husk to do the kernel test; pierce one kernel with your fingernail, if the liquid is clear it's not ready, if there is no liquid the corn is over-ripe and if there is milky liquid it's just right. Pick in the morning for ultimate sweetness.

Cucumber - look for the flowers to fall off of the cucumber, it should be dark green and large enough to use; pickling varieties should be 2-6" and slicing varieties should be 6-10".

Eggplant - the skin should be smooth and shiny but firm, most varieties will be more than 6", the smaller the eggplant the better the flavor.

Peppers - pick when peppers are big enough to use, certain peppers are not completely ripe until they turn their final color. If you pick certain peppers before they turn red that plant will continue to set new fruit.

Potatoes - new potatoes can start to be harvested anywhere from when the plant flowers to two weeks after the flowers have died. For non-flowering varieties this is about 10 weeks after planting. Dig out a few new potatoes for that nights dinner and replace the soil. For your final harvest and storage potatoes dig up the plant carefully when it's dry and after the foliage has died back. Leave the potatoes out in the sun to dry for a couple of days.

Snap Beans - look for beans that are straight and thin as a pencil, pick in the morning (only if plant is dry) when they are at their sweetest. The seeds should be barely visible in the pod and it's tips should be soft.

Sweet Potato - usually ready 100-140 days after planting, harvest when plant dies down on dry days before the first frost. Be careful to avoid damaging your potatoes when harvesting and cure a week before storing. Rinse very gently if absolutely necessary.

Watermelon - look for the tendril nearest the fruit to turn from green to brown, also look for the bottom of the plant to yellow.

Winter Squash - look for the vine to die down and the stem to dry, the skin should be hard making it difficult to pierce with your fingernail. When cutting, leave 1" of stem. Buttercup and nut varieties taste better after sitting in the sun for two weeks after harvest as does Spaghetti Squash which is usually ripe when the stem cracks.

Attack of the Potatoes

2010-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Okay recently in one corner of the garden I couldn't help but notice that everytime I turned around the potato plants seemed to be growing. I thought that it must just be a mistake because they were already bearing down on the 2 foot mark and the guide said they would be 1-2 feet tall. Mind you they started at the bottom of a 6 inch trench. I checked for flowers everyday as a sign that they were slowing down because frankly I just didn't allot that much space in the bed for the potatoes.

Well today they are just three inches shy of 3 feet tall and FINALLY a flower. I can only hope that this is some sort of signal that they have ceased their upward and outward takeover and will now focus on the actual potatoes. If anyone has found a way to send a message to your plants that that will be quite enough, there is no more room for you, please share. I have a couple more renegades that didn't seem to get the memo.

Apartment Gardening-Top 10

2010-05-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

Don't think that just because you live in a apartment you can't grow your own food. It's entirely possible to provide yourself with your favorite fruit and vegetables using your kitchen window, balcony, patio or rooftop and even hanging off your roof*! You will be surprised to learn that some of your favorites can even be grown inside (so long boring houseplants). First think about what you actually eat day to day and what is included in your favorite recipes. I'm just going to cover ten here but container gardening creates endless possibilities.

Dwarf Banana Plant-Can be grown inside, many different varieties
Cucumber*-Choose varieties with a more compact growth like bush champion or spacemaster, for growing upside down choose a slicing or pickling variety.
Herbs-Basil,Oregano,Rosemary-Probably the easiest to grow and will take up the least amount of space (except for rosemary). Perfect for a windowsill. Many wonderful dwarf varieties available.
Lettuce-Buttercrunch is a great variety that withstands heat as is Jericho. Pick the outside leaves for your salad or sandwich and it will continue to grow.
Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree- Can be grown inside, near sun of course, the container and pruning keep it small, has a wonderful fragrance and flowers.
Peppers*-Many favorites like Jalapeno and Green Bell. Will need a sunny spot, choose pots a minimum of 12" deep.
Potatoes-These can get big so be prepared, one potato plant can take up a 5 gallon bucket but it can also give you up to 6-10 potatoes that you can harvest individually each night.
Squash-Look for smaller bush varieties.
Strawberries-Great for little to no extra space.
Tomatoes*-Half wine barrels are a good choice for indeterminate varieties, for those with a little less space choose dwarf varieties that are perfect for smaller containers.

No longer will you need to consider where you food came from and if it was sprayed with chemicals.

For more great tips on apartment gardening visit: Life on the Balcony a great blog I came across.

Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center

2010-05-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Seeds in the City is so excited to be partnering with Olivewood Gardens this summer to provide seedlings for their urban garden.

Olivewood Gardens sits on a 1/2 acre in National City and they focus on education; connecting local communities to nature, educating them in the process.

Their mission is to reconnect students and families to the natural environment through food, education and community engagement.

We feel so lucky to share our seedlings with such an important group and the community. However Olivewood still needs your help in the form of fundraising, teaching, garden installation/maintenance, garden tools, kitchen supplies and of course monetary donations go directly to fund their very important work. To make a donation contact Amy Carstensen at 619-336-2253.

Website of the Week

2010-05-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

Find out more and get involved here.

City Farmers Nursery

2010-05-11T16:52:00.000-07:00

Great piece on City Farmers Nursery located in City Heights.

Find Inspiration in a Garden Tour

2010-05-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Bankers Hill/Mission Hills Garden Tour was today and I think I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Pearson's Garden & Herb Farm

2010-05-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

After numerous visits to my local nurseries I started to notice a trend in regards to the items I was purchasing. All of them had an identification tag from Pearson's Garden, so I decided to investigate the origin of all these plants a little further. Pearson's Garden and Herb Farm is about 40 minutes north of us in Vista. It is family owned and operated since 1989 by Cindy and Mark Pearson. It's very unassuming from the road, so much so that I drove right past it and had to turn back around because it's literally the backyard of a house. Not just any backyard mind you, once you enter through the beautiful gates it could be considered Shangri-la to many gardeners.

I was absolutely in awe, everywhere I looked there were neat organized rows of every herb and heirloom vegetable you could imagine along with gourmet veggies all in perfect 4"or 6" pots. Hard to find varieties I had been searching for were finally all in one place. The family is right on hand to help you navigate their nursery and suggest the best varieties. On top of all that you can trust that your plants are grown without chemical pesticides, hormones, fungicides or growth regulators and no gmo's. Also they do ship! Check out their online store and for me I justified the drive by having a long list ready of everything I wanted. In those terms ordering twice a year in bulk, saving multiple trips to local nurseries makes sense.

The Truth About Peat Moss

2010-05-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

I must admit I have often used Peat Moss as a great seed starter and soil amendment. If you stop by your local nursery you will usually see bags of Peat Moss for sale. Most likely it's Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss. Not to be confused with living Sphagnum Moss, Sphagnum Peat Moss is partially decomposed, slightly acidic and takes many, many years to form. Peat Moss got it's start in melted glaciers after the Ice Age. Today Peat Moss is harvested by draining surface area water, clearing vegetation and letting it dry under sun and wind. It is then vacuumed with harvesting machinery at 100 acres a day. In the year 2000 Canada exported 1.2 million tons of Peat Moss to the United States. According to the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), which is run by the 18 Peat Moss producers that represent 95% of the industry, Canadian Peat Moss is a sustainable industry.

A sustainable alternative to mined Peat Moss?

Coir/Coconut Dust/Coconut Peat-Short fibers of coconut shells considered to be a renewable resource that has long been considered a waste product in Southeast Asia. Auburn University and Arkansas University recently compared Peat Moss and Coir and found Coir to be comparable noting that it was less acidic, wet easier, decomposed slower and withstood pressure better then Peat Moss. Also the larger size brick form of coir expands to three times it size but is light and compact to carry.

Free Compost Bin

2010-05-04T18:14:00.000-07:00

We have a small kitchen composter but have always considered getting a compost bin setup in the yard. Mostly because we were hesitant to load our tiny composter in the kitchen with steaming fresh chicken manure. Well Josh spotted a couple of discarded wood pallets behind a dumpster and went to work. He disassembled the pallets taking off the inside pieces of wood and turned them horizontally. He then created angled slots in front of the bin which makes loading, unloading and turning the pile easy. Next he placed one pallet inside the bin at the bottom to allow for air flow and finally he loosened the soil where the bin was going to go.

Voila! Insta-bin

Sandy we need your grass clippings!

Invasive weeds got you down?

2010-05-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

We have weeds growing in several inaccessible places in the yard. They usually grow unchecked simply because we do not see them until they are towering over us, this Godzilla of weeds actually turned out to be more like a weed tree. Well now that Josh has gotten a week off he decided to attack these trees which actually required a chainsaw.

Being the clever guy that he is, he wanted to make use of this weed instead of sending it off to the landfill. I left him with a pile of sticks on the ground and returned to this...

I was floored to say the least and when he wasn't looking I threw a couple of weed seeds back into the pit from which it came envisioning new trellises for my beans and cucumbers. Maybe someday he will tell us how this came out of that giant weed.

What to do with all of your extra produce

2010-04-28T18:06:00.000-07:00

My last post got me thinking, or just freaked me out. We are going to have allot of extra produce this summer and fall that might actually exceed what we and all of our loved ones can actually consume. As much as our chickens would hate to hear this we need to look into other alternatives so none of our organically grown food goes to waste.

Backyard Grower Program- This program at the City Heights Farmers Market allows those of us with small scale gardens to still participate in the local food community. You bring your produce each Saturday morning to their booth and either sell it yourself for a $5 fee or have them sell it for a small percentage.
Crop Swapper- Started by two brothers in San Diego, Crop Swapper allows you to swap your produce with others in the San Diego area. They meet once a week at Del Cerro Park, 6475 Del Cerro Blvd, San Diego, CA 92120, with more locations to come.
Veggie Trader- The craigslist of produce, this amazingly easy to use sight enables you to list seeds, seedlings and actual fruits and vegetables that you have in excess. You just post a listing detailing what you have available then you choose if you would like cash for your goods or if you want to swap for some produce or seedlings your in need of.

What's Growing-Seeds in the City-Summer 2010

2010-04-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to have such a healthy and happy garden this year that is already producing. Friends of Seeds in the City get your recipes ready. This is what we have growing this year.

Basil-Black Opal
Beet-Burpees Golden
Beet-Early Blood Turnip
Beet-Pronto
Bean-Blue Lake Black Seeded Pole Bean
Bean-Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean
Bean-Royal Burgundy Bush Bean
Borage
Carrot-Danvers
Carrot-Dragon
Carrot-Red Core Chantenay
Carrot-Scarlet Nantes
Corn-Golden Bantam
Cucumber-A&C Pickling
Cucumber-Bush Champion
Cucumber-True Lemon
Dill
Eggplant-Imperial Black Beauty
Eggplant-Listada de Ganadia
Eggplant-Rosa Bianca
Lettuce-Jericho Romaine
Lettuce-Webbs Wonderful
Onion-Parade Bunching
Pepper-Jalapeno
Pepper-Mini Red Bell
Pepper-Quadrato Asti Giallo
Pepper-Sweet Banana
Potato-Desiree Red
Pumpkin-Cornfield
Pumpkin-Rouge Vif'd etampes
Radish-Cherry Belle
Rosemary
Spinach-America
Spinach-New Zealand
Squash-Anna Swartz
Squash-Buttercup
Squash-Spaghetti
Thyme-Spicy Orange
Tomato-Celebrity
Tomato-Paul Robeson
Tomato-San Diego
Tomato-Yellow Pear
Watermelon-Chris Cross
Watermelon-Sugar Baby
Zaatar

No SERIOUSLY, get ready, we might have gone overboard and in a couple months it's going to be crazy.

SLIME mold

2010-04-27T17:39:00.000-07:00

So on our daily check of the garden we came across this yellow substance that is a pretty strange sight. It's not bug eggs, but actually slime mold which can spread across mulch when temperatures get warm and humid. Slime Mold is part of the Myxomycetes family, it feeds on micro-organisms and is in no way parasitic. It prefers moist conditions and as it dries it turns a tanish-brown color. Pesticides and other chemicals do not effect it and it will most likely go away on it's own but you could scoop it out or bury it under if it's appearance gets to be too much.

SLIMETRAK

Currently Slime Mold is being studied all over the world and is featured in this article by Wired magazine for their unique ability to build efficient networks of travel. Slime mold designing our transportation networks?! I would never have thought that in a million years just by looking at it.

Hillcrest Farmers Market In Pictures

2010-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Womach Ranch-Part 2

2010-04-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

So we visited Curtis at the Hillcrest farmers market promptly at 9am when they opened so as not to miss our chance to try one of his chickens. It was great to meet him in person and he already had a line of eager customers looking for chickens and eggs.

We picked up our beautiful bird and I started planning our meal. Since our garden is not yet in full production mode we picked up a lemon, garlic bulb and yukon gold potatoes to add to our rosemary and thyme. We roasted our chicken with the garlic and lemon placed inside the chicken with rosemary potatoes lining the pan. I must be honest that I have never handled a chicken or cooked a whole chicken and it definitely brought me much closer to the food I was about to consume. After 1 hour and 45 minutes the bird was done.

We thanked the chicken for giving up it's life and dug in. We promised ourselves that we would only eat a small amount and try to make it last the week. As Josh likes to tell the story I was soon searching each bone for any morsel possibly left behind. I blame this on the fact that I hadn't had chicken in over 5 years. The entire bird was gone in one night.

When we were leaving the Womach Ranch booth on Sunday, Curtis offered to give us a tour of how things are done and to see the birds in person. Look for that adventure soon!

Womach Ranch-What Free Range Ought To Be

2010-04-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have seen Food Inc. you have no doubt longed for your own version of Joel Salatin's PolyFace Farm right here in San Diego. Well we have found it in Curtis Womach who is based in Julian and runs Womach Ranch. Womach Ranch chickens are what we have always idealized our grocery store chickens to be, actually "free range". Their diet consists of grass, organic feed and whatever tasty bugs they can scratch up.

You can find these chickens for sale at the Hillcrest Farmers Market every Sunday from 9am-12pm, but get there early, Curtis tells me they usually sell out before noon. For those of you who aren't early birds you can sample his fare at the always-delicious Linkery.

Food Inc.

2010-04-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

Airs tonight on our local KPBS station at 9pm. Check when it's airing where you live here. This is one of the most important food documentaries ever made. If you eat food then this is for you.

Before & After...Spring Edition

2010-04-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

My favorite part of Spring Planting...watching your labor of love grow.

Damping-Off

2010-04-20T18:59:00.000-07:00

We were wondering what the heck was effecting some of our seedlings just as they started to grow. It was the same story every time, things would be going great then poof the effected seedlings would just topple over looking like something possibly delicately nibbled around the stem like an insect version of a beaver.

Josh found the answer quite by accident while perusing one of the many books covering the house. This wasn't a new breed of insect but the very well known phenomenon called "damping off". Different fungi cause this and there is no cure but it's entirely preventable. Jerry Baker suggests 6 easy steps to make sure this doesn't happen to you.

1. Clean your seedling containers thoroughly with warm soapy water.
2. Use soilless seed starting medium
3. Plant your seeds in small containers and gradually transfer them as they grow
4. Water your seedlings from the bottom
5. Give your seedlings intense light and a little air movement, which will help strengthen the stems
6. Mist the seedlings with Jerry Baker's Damping-Off prevention tonic (4tsp. chamomile tea, 1tsp liquid dish soap. Mix in 1qt boiling water, let steep at least 1hr, strain and cool. Mist the seedlings as soon as heads appear).

Another great use for eggshells

2010-04-20T18:38:00.000-07:00

So this might gross out some of you but after enjoying our chickens eggs we dry out the shells, crunch them up and feed them back to our mostly lovely ladies. It provides them with calcium as well as a little bit of grit. Lately we have had so many eggshells that the extras have been making it into the compost bin, which is where I'm sure most of yours go but did you know they also can benefit your garden in another way?

If you crush them, then soak them for 24 hours you can pour the water right onto your plants to provide much needed calcium. This is especially beneficial to tomatoes and peppers.

Thanks Jerry!

San Diego Wildflowers

2010-04-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Are in bloom all over the city. Lupines are popping up everywhere I look, even lining the freeways. Because of the good amount of rain this year all the hillsides seem to be bursting with color. You must get out and see this before the summer heat takes it's toll. You don't have to venture very far, all of these pictures were taken within 10 miles of Downtown San Diego!

This trail can be accessed at the north end of Regents off of the 52 freeway. It is part of Rose Canyon, at the site of the proposed Regents Road Bridge.

Live from Earth Day San Diego 2010

2010-04-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

It was great to meet all of you who came out and picked up free seeds and seedlings today! Let me know how it grows!

Friday Night Lights

2010-04-16T22:51:00.001-07:00

Yes I spend my Friday nights in the garden and no I'm not checking to see if my plants are safe. Well actually I am, I have read that it's best to scour your garden at night for pests under the cover of darkness. Well we gave it a try and had great success. We found 7 slugs, mostly on the Marigolds (it's true what the say they are great slug attractors) and 1 snail. Overall a very successful night!

Coffee Grounds Good For The Garden?

2010-04-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

I'm sure we have all seen the free "Grounds for your Garden" in our local Starbucks. Coffee grounds sound like a good soil amendment, I know they always make me feel better, if only for a short while. But are coffee grinds actually good for your vegetable garden? I found a very informative article on Gardens Alive that had several good points:

Raw grounds straight into the soil.

First it's "not recommended [to add] raw ingredients [to your garden] before composting". Seeing as "coffee grounds alone are highly acidic [they would be] best for plants like blueberries that thrive in very acidic soil". Because grounds are so high in acid and nitrogen you "risk creating a 'mold bloom' where you spread them".

Okay, then I will compost the grounds and add them to my blueberries.

The author recommends "adding a cup of agricultural lime [or hardwood ashes] to every ten pounds of grounds before you add them to your compost pile".

Well grounds do have lots of good nutrients right?

Typical grounds contain "1.5% Nitrogen...also alot of Magnesium and Potassium, both of which plants really like, but not a lot of Phosphorus (the fruiting or flowering nutrient) or calcium, a mineral that many plants crave, and whose lack helps explain the recalcitrant acidity".

Here in California they mention it might do more good than bad due to our high alkaline content. I think most organic soil amendments in moderation, mixed with a compost pile that has good levels of green and brown, will do more good then harm.

Bake seedlings at 350 degrees for two hours....

2010-04-15T18:38:00.000-07:00

I must be honest; I have never owned a greenhouse. Being from Southern California, I have never really experienced what most people refer to as "seasons". That being said Josh has been eager to find some sort of housing for the seedlings after they inexplicably jumped off their perch on to the ground in his office (trying not to take it personally). Josh found a great portable greenhouse that wouldn’t take up much space, would house my seedlings and would give us a place to grow some summer crops in the winter.

It arrived the day before yesterday and it was perfect. Josh quickly set it up and placed it out on the balcony. I couldn't wait to get my seedlings into their new home so I promptly placed them on the shelves and zipped it up tight seeing as it was a cool overcast day.

I went about my day and while casually walking by the new greenhouse two hours later I couldn't help but feel a nice cozy warmth emitting from inside. I looked inside and gasp in horror as all my seedlings were wilting under the immense heat. I frantically zipped open the door and a microwave popcorn like steam was released from within.

As if they were on fire I quickly dosed everything with water practically drowning them in the process. The pumpkin and eggplant seemed quite pleased with the new temperature but the carrots and tomato were lost. I couldn’t help but wonder if they believed this was a payback for their stunt in the office. I almost think these seedlings and I might have too much past baggage and it might be better for us both to move on.

Whatever does end up happening, one thing I will probably not be caught doing until the dead of winter is zipping up the new greenhouse.

Cultivating Food Justice Conference

2010-04-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Cultivating Food Justice Conference is coming up on Saturday 4/24 and going until Sunday 4/25. It will be hosted for free at SDSU with free food and parking. Some of the workshops topics include:

4/24

Basics of Urban Homesteading
Greywater and Rainwater Harvesting: low-cost, simple solutions to creating a local water supply
Real Careers in Real Food: how to create jobs and start a business in our food system

4/25

Seed Sovereignty: How we can fight corporate ownership and protect our food diversity
Why are farm internships illegal?
Urban Farming and Aquaponics: Raising Tilapia and Produce in Water
Beekeeping for the Intrepid
Lawn to veggie garden conversion 101

Hard to believe it's free!

San Diego Garden Tours

2010-04-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

The annual garden tours are back and with over 20 tours available in San Diego County there is sure to be garden styles and inspiration for everyone. Some of my favorites from last year and must sees are listed here:

April 17th- Encinitas Garden Festival and Tour
April 17th & 18th - Coronado Flower Show & Garden Tour
April 24th- Point Loma Garden Walk
May 8th- Mission Hills Garden Club Garden Walk
May 22nd- San Diego Floral Association Historic Garden Tour (Kensington)
Information: (619) 232-5762 Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Companion Planting - Top 10

2010-04-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

Summer Crop Top 10

This post has been a few days in the making. As I researched the best plants for pollinators in raised beds I started to generally look into companion planting. Well needless to say now I'm hooked. I did some more research and thought I would put it into an easy to understand format. Here is a list of the top 10 summer crops and their likes and dislikes. Let me know if you guys have witnessed any other good partners or life long enemies.

Carrot
Plant With: Chive (Improves Growth & Flavor), Sage (Improves, Repels Carrot Rust Fly) and Tomato
Just Not That Into: Dill

Corn
Plant With: Bean (attracts beneficials, controls Leaf Beetle & Leaf Hopper), Potato, Pumpkin (improves growth), Squash (attracts beneficials, controls Western Flower Thrips)
Just Not That Into: Tomato

Cucumber
Plant With: Catnip (repels Cucumber Beetle), Corn (protects from wilt), Dill (repels pests), Eggplant, Onion, Oregano (repels pests), Pole Bean (adds nutrients), Radish (repels Cucumber Beetle), Sunflower, Tomato
Just Not That Into: Basil, Potato, Rosemary, Sage

Eggplant
Plant With: Green Beans (repels Colorado Potato Beetle), Marigold (controls Nematodes)

New Zealand Spinach
Plant With: Bean, Onion and Strawberry
Just Not That Into: Potato

Peppers
Plant With: Carrot, Basil, Eggplant, Onion, Tomato
Just Not That Into: Fennel

Pole Bean
Plant With: Carrot, Cucumber, Eggplant, Oregano (improves growth & flavor), Radish, Strawberry
Just Not That Into: Basil, Beet, Fennel, Garlic, Onion, Radish, Sunflower

Potato
Plant With: Corn, Eggplant (trap), Marigold, Onion (repels Colorado Potato Beetle)
Just Not That Into: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Rasberry, Spinach, Squash, Sunflower, Tomato, Turnip

Squash
Plant With: Borage (improves growth & flavor, attracts bees, repels squash vine borer), Corn (protects from wilt), Marigold (repels beetles, nematodes), Oregano (repels pests)
Just Not That Into: Potato, Pumpkin (only if saving seeds)

Tomato
Plant With: Basil (protects tomato from insects & disease), Carrot, Cucumber, Garlic (repels Red Spider), Marigold (repels Tomato Hornworm, Thrips, Aphid), Onion, Pepper
Just Not That Into: Corn, Dill, Fennel, Pole Bean, Potato

Organic Produce Delivery

2010-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I'm just learning about this, but everyone has really kept the request for post topics coming in and I can't tell you how much I'm learning. Keep it up!

In San Diego we have different CSA programs (Community Supported Agriculture) wherein the consumer purchases shares of upcoming harvest from local organic farms. These farms know that the average person doesn't have time to drive out to them so they bring the fresh produce to you! Also if you're a business I know several local CSA's can take orders from all the employees and do bulk deliveries.

Be Wise Ranch- Escondido based organic farm that delivers weekly seasonal produce boxes to pick up points around the county for it's CSA members. It's not only convenient but cost effective; a large share which provides a week supply of produce (10 tomatoes, 2 avocados, 5 oranges, 3 lemons, green beans, squash, beets and carrots) for a family of 3-4 is only $30.00 a week and a small share which provides produce for two adults and a child is $25.00 a week. Most of the member slots are full, but have no fear they open up membership again in June.

Garden of Eden Organics- Another Escondido organic farm, 7 pick-up locations, individual boxes that feed one are $108 a month, small family boxes that feed 2-3 are $139 a month and large family boxes that feed 4-5 are $164 a month. They also offer grass-finished beef, chicken and eggs.

Suzie's Organic Farm- They have several pick-up spots as well as being regulars at several farmer's markets around town. Each produce box contains 8-15 items for a mere $25.00. Their current list of produce looks delectable.

Beekeeping

2010-04-04T20:23:00.000-07:00

To Bee or Not to Bee

All this talk about bees has got us thinking...could we have our own bee-hive? I sadly missed several beginner bee-keeping classes here in San Diego given earlier in the year but I managed to find one more at the Cultivating Food Justice Conference 4/24-4/25.

In the meantime here is a general write up on beekeeping from the University of California.

Drip Drip Drip

2010-04-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

We made the mistake of leaving the drip irrigation system in place when we turned and amended the soil in February. One of the drip line distribution heads was damaged by a shovel. With the 1/4" plastic adapters broken off inside the head, the quick fix was to plug the holes with silicone.

It is always best to clean the drip irrigation system filters at the start of a new growing season. We were lucky to have no major build up of sediment from last year. After a quick test, we were relieved to find that all the lines were functioning well.

Jen did a great job of covering the drip lines with mulch this season. This should help not only the aesthetics, but also keep the sun from damaging the lines.

Wild Pig Spotted

2010-04-03T21:37:00.000-07:00

I've heard you should never disturb them if you come across one in the wild...any advice on capturing this beast?

Cover Crop | Compost | Mulch

2010-04-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

After a little bit of sun and heat the top layer of soil in the raised beds has taken a beating. Now that the seedlings have matured, and the drip could be placed, we decided it was time for mulch. We worked compost and the cover crop into the soil in February; now we just had to protect this work from the sun. We picked up a fine bark mulch and spread it in the boxes taking care not to smother the new seedlings. I was amazed with how great it turned out. This process conserves water, protects the soil and the drip lines from the sun, and is much cleaner looking without the drip lines exposed.

Spring S#%@

2010-04-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

The winter hibernation that took over the garden seems a world away now. The raised beds are now being attacked from all angles: from below the White Grubs, then on the surface the Cutworms, and today three grasshoppers were spotted flying in the matter of an hour. Just as we thought it could not get any worse, the dogs decided to help us out and deposit their own version of manure in the raised beds. The squashed seedlings and "presents" that were left sent me into a tailspin. Luckily, Josh came to the rescue. One Home Depot mission later, we had this beautiful garden fencing; which also acts as a support to the shade devices. Maybe, years from now, I will actually be one step ahead of all these creatures - heck anything would be better then 20 steps behind.

Best plants to attract pollinators

2010-04-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

As novice gardeners we feel satisfied when our garden stays alive and produces something other then pest high rises. Were definitely not ready to try and create those beautiful lush gardens you see in garden books. That being said I still like to try and have a diverse garden while adding color to our raised boxes, but if all you're going to do is look pretty then you have no place here. Plants that are going to get one of the small dedicated lots in the raised beds better be ready to multitask.

I set out to research plants and flowers that were perennials or annuals, would add some color, do well in full San Diego sun, not get too large, or require lots of water and will contribute to the ecology of the garden. Easy right?

Here's what I found:

Borage- Annual that gets 2-3' tall, attracts bees like crazy, edible flowers.
Cosmos (Sonata Dwarf)- Very pretty flowering annual plant that attracts bees and butterflies, tolerates heat and low water. It blooms late spring to early fall. Look for dwarf varieties that only get around 2'.
Dill- Annual, 3' tall with yellow flowers, can be used in recipes, many medicinal uses, attracts Beneficial's such as bees, companion plant to our cucumber vine.
Echinacea- Perennial that likes full sun, the beautiful purple coneflower can get up to 4' tall and 2' wide so look for dwarf varieties like 'Pixie Meadowbright'. Attracts butterflies and has medicinal uses.
Gallardia- Perennial, likes full sun, look for dwarf varieties like goblin that only get a 1' tall and wide. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Sea Holly- Perennial, likes full sun, very unique flower that blooms summer into fall and will add violet to your landscape, make sure you get a dwarf variety like eryngium planum 'Jade Frost' it only gets 8" high. They attract butterflies and beneficial flower wasps.
Sunflowers- Besides being beautiful, they attract the three B's; Beneficial's, bees and butterflies. When selecting your sunflower think of heirlooms simply because some newer varieties are pollen-less or are hybrids that don't attract bees.
Toad Flax- Perenial, mid-season bloomer that gets 2-3' high but only 1' wide, comes in pink or blue, attracts bees and butterflies.
Yarrow (Paprika)- Flowering perennial native that can endure drought, gets up to 3' tall, yarrow comes in many great colors and also attracts butterflies.

Some of these would do well in containers for those of you working within the confines of a concrete garden. Let me know if you have found any others that worked well for you.

Planting For Pollinators

2010-03-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

Seed World magazine ran an article last December that contained some pretty startling statistics. The author, Shannon Shindel, stated the facts, “at LEAST 80% of the worlds crop species require pollination with an estimated one out of every three bites of food coming to us through the work of animal pollinators which includes birds, bees, butterflies, bats and beetles that transfer pollen between plants... the declines in health and population of pollinators in North America and globally pose a significant threat to biodiversity, the food chain and human health”.

What Can We Do?

We can try to provide food, shelter and a water source for these hard workers and eliminate pesticide use if at all possible. In our garden we haven’t put one drop of chemical in or around our garden and yes there are pest galore but also an amazing amount of Beneficial’s that are helping to maintain a balance.

The Pollinator Partnership with NAPPC have a wonderful website that gives great tips and if you enter your zip code it provides you with your own personal full color guide specifically tailored to your region. Some of the many plants they suggest for San Diego’s Coastal Chaparral include; Yarrow, Milkweed, California Poppy, Sunflowers, Roses, Lavender, Blueberry, Eggplant, Strawberry, Geranium, Watermelon, Squash and Tomatoes. Also check out UC Berkley's easy to read and understand guide to the Urban Bee Garden.

San Diego Lawn Mower Trade in 2010

2010-03-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

The annual lawnmower trade in is back for the 11th year in a row. My sister and I participated 4 years ago and we love our Black & Decker battery rechargeable mower. On May 1st take your old, gas powered lawn mower in working condition down to the County building on 1600 Pacific Highway. Turn in your mower and get a brand new zero emission model for $99.99! They start at 8am but we got there at 7:30 and there was over 250 people already in line around the block. Four years ago they only had 350 available but I hear they will have more this year.

Call 619-531-5544 for more info.

ECOLIFE Foundation

2010-03-30T13:47:00.000-07:00

Ecolife is a local foundation that is truly inspiring. They will be featured on the CBS evening news tonight.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Ocean Friendly Gardening

2010-03-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Surfrider chapter is sponsoring an ocean friendly garden course just in time for spring planting. Their main focus is conservation, retention and permeability. The course consists of three components; the basic course which is on 4/7/10 from 6-9pm, a hands on workshop and the garden assistance program. The retention part seems particularly interesting as rainwater capture has been a to-do list item for years. All three classes and an ofg book is only $25.00, pretty amazing!

Spinosad

2010-03-29T18:15:00.000-07:00

Our dislike for the effects of sow bugs, cutworms and caterpillars on our garden is being severely tested against my love for bees and their pollinating abilities. We have been recommended Spinosad left, right and center to tackle our common pest problems and when I see a list of all the pests it eradicates I must admit I get very excited. Unfortunately the product container fails to mention it's disastrous effect on bees. We have been told probably like everyone else to avoid the flowers, standing water and use the pellet formulation and the bees will be fine.

If anyone has read Silent Spring by Rachel Carson then you probably know that it's very rare that any form of pesticide doesn't have far reaching effects. We cannot, attempting to be truly organic gardeners, fool ourselves into believing that Spinosad absorbed into the soil, through the roots and into the plant is not going to negatively effect the bees. For now we will have to put all our faith into the toilet paper roll jackets that are surrounding each seedling.

Where are your seeds coming from?

2010-03-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

As the planting season ramps up this spring I have been very excited to purchase all my seeds, some varieties that have worked well in the past and others that I have never tried. Trying to be a truly organic, self-sufficient gardener can be exhausting as there is so much research to be done and the amounts of information can be overwhelming. Despite this, if it's important to you to know where your food comes from then you logically you would start with the origin of your seeds. Take time to research the different seed companies, you may need to order via catalog or online but I know the satisfaction I feel when I'm informed makes all the little hassles worth it. Here is a select few out of thousands:

Seeds of Change = owned by Mars Inc.
Johnny's = Privately owned, fazing out seeds provided by Monsanto owned company
High Mowing Seeds = Privately owned, organic, gmo free
Victory Seed Company = Privately owned, non-hybrid, no chemicals, gmo free
Territorial Seeds = Privately owned, fazing out Monsanto influence
Fedco Seeds = Dropped all ties to Monsanto
Seed Savers Exchange = Non-profit seed bank
Botanical Interest = Privately owned

This is not to say that any of the above mentioned companies are bad or good, it's just a reminder to choose seeds and seedlings from like minded companies.

To Cut or Not To Cut?

2010-03-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

The Desiree Red Potatoes were ready to be planted today after sitting out for two weeks and we labored over whether to cut the larger potatoes before planting. Many garden books advise you to cut the potatoes and roll them in root tone or soil sulfur and then plant. This way you get more out of what you plant even though some research indicates bigger harvest when they aren't cut.

I talked to the professionals at two different local nurseries and both advised against the cut. They explained that San Diego soil already has high alkalinity and you're inviting mildew and fungus when you cut. We decided not to cut and 5 went in the ground today. Seed Savers recommended digging a 6" trench and burying them sprout up under 4" of soil. As the plants grow they recommend covering them with soil until you have a mound. As soon as I have mounds I will post a new picture.

Bee Problem????

2010-03-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

If you're one of the few that actually have a bee problem or troublesome hive please contact Malaki -
or Paul Maschka - 760.419.9453 as an alternative to extermination.

From the soil to the sky

2010-03-28T15:11:00.000-07:00

I realized today that we really had a problem when it dawned on me that I was so familiar with these pest that I no longer had issues with picking them up with my bare hands. These beetle larvae better known to us as White Grubs can be found in every one of our raised beds. I have attempted to thwart them with the equally as gross Predatory Nematodes, however I'm now ready to relinquish my false sense of having the upper hand.

Although research is still being done to determine levels of effectiveness, Pat Welsh recommended Milky Spore Disease at yesterdays seminar. I did a little bit of research and came across an article where Dr. Klein, Adjunct Professor of Entomology enlightened me about "Milky Disease" a natural occurring organism found in soil. For Milky Disease to be effective in getting rid of the White Grubs your soil needs to be above 65 degrees and the grub has to be actively feeding in order to ingest it. Which is why Dr. Klein recommends that you apply it in the summer or early fall. Also Milky Disease only needs to be applied once and don't worry it only effects the White Grubs. For those of you eager to get rid of the Spring grubs you're supporting keep in mind that they are entering the last stages of metamorphosis and will be taking flight soon in order to initiate airborne attacks.

Open Bar

2010-03-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

For the first time I have spotted slugs in the raised beds. I'm eager to get rid of them before they manage to reproduce thousands of organic veggie lovers. Experts advise that you bury a yogurt container with holes poked into the sides, then fill it up with beer right up to the holes. Considering no one can resist an open bar I'm hoping these slugs can think of nothing they would rather do on a Thursday night then take an ice cold Pacifico bath.

Sunshine + Warm Weather = Eggs!

2010-03-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

San Diego Master Gardeners Classes This Weekend!

2010-03-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

The San Diego Master Gardeners Home Gardening Seminar is this Saturday the 27th at USD. I'm surprised to see there are alot of good classes still open. Josh and I will be attending "Growing Summer Vegetables the Organic Way" taught by Pat Welsh. As a newbie to this whole world I'm excited to get some expert, easy to understand advice.

Some of the gardeners will also be selling vegetable seedlings of which you will find a list here (on the left side of the page) that would make great additions to any garden.

Rookie mistake

2010-03-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have discovered, a little late, when purchasing blueberry plants you always need to buy at least two because even though they are self-pollinating apparently you will get better yields if the bush is planted with another variety. Pat Welsh recommends Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush varieties for the San Diego climate. I could only find the Southern Highbush, so I went with Jubilee and Sunshine Blue. Sunshine Blue is great for an urban yard because it's semi-dwarf and it only gets 3-4ft. The Jubilee variety is an evergreen, upright bush, that gets 4-5ft tall and will give you berries late summer through fall.

This is a great reminder to study and research what you are looking for before you go shopping for plants. You can't always expect a knowledgeable staff person to be on hand. Don't end up with an impulse buy plant, like the outfit from the mall you never wear, that just isn't right for you.

Invasion of the body snatchers

2010-03-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

I'm getting serious now.

The nematodes arrived and have been hanging out next to the orange juice in the fridge. Tonight I decided to woman up and release them into the boxes. These microscopic predators attack and kill most insects in your soil (except my booming earthworm population) but leave the plants alone. The million come on a little blue sponge that you squeeze out into a gallon of water. They say you can spray them but at their price I decide I will pour. It's slightly creepy to deal with microscopic predators that invade the bodies of insects but I'm confident they will focus on the task at hand and not my flesh. I carried the milky pitcher of water out to the garden, still not convinced there was actually anything in the water and poured it into the boxes. Now I can fall asleep to dreams of my cutworm and white grub population losing the war. Or just having milky water poured on them.

So the battle begins

2010-03-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

The battle royale of farmer vs. pest has officially begun and we are determined to keep things organic. This year we started early by laying out the worm castings in February (they take about a month to kick in) to help with the ant population among others. They also help with the health of the soil, this brand had ash and kelp added in. I put the stuff directly into the soil but also around the edge of the hibiscus which was a white fly hotel last year. Also we released ladybugs at night to take care of our leaf dwellers and enlisted the help of the chickens before planting, their favorite treat is the white grub, and this method brings us the most satisfaction. The chickens get their protein and we get rid of our pests.

I'm also going to try and enlist the help of some of our fellow urbanites, the city birds. Although I have yet to see one in the yard, I'm confident my homemade bird feeder of black oil sunflower seeds will attract these grasshopper hunters. Just hours ago a sparrow landed on the boundary fence near the seeds so I know it's only a matter of time!

My Bee Attractor!

2010-03-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know every third bite of food you consume is brought to you by a honeybees pollinating prowess? We recently purchased this fountain on Craigslist to add beauty and the tranquil sounds of flowing water to the backyard. Well I wanted it for the bees! Bees love flowing water and I was surprised how quickly we were running a little bee pit stop. These bees will now stop off for a cool drink on the way to pollinating the tomatoes, cucumber, squash, watermelon, pumpkin and strawberries. Thanks Bees! Now the only trick is keeping he dogs from using it as their 24 hour water fountain.

What the heck happened to our Artichoke???

2010-03-22T18:19:00.000-07:00

We have been growing this artichoke for almost a year and it has grown tremendously in that time. Recently in the last two days the plant looked like it was in need of some serious water during the heat of the day. We didn't think much of it because it would always perk right up in the evening. Well two days ago it never perked back up. I did a little research and learned about all different kinds of rots and diseases. I went down to check under the leaves and this is what happened. The roots were non-existent, all that was left in its place was a dark hole! You can see all the critters on the stalks; pill bugs and slugs! (the first I have ever seen here.) Any advice on possible perpetrators of this act are welcome!

And so it begins....

2010-03-22T17:39:00.000-07:00

The first of the spring garden has been planted in our raised beds. Josh just built the perfect shade contraptions which you can see on the boxes. He made these out of an old outdoor umbrella! I hope this relief from the sun will give some of the more sensitive seedlings a chance.