The Giving Gardeners

Thinking of Growing Your Own? Go Organic!

2009-03-11T13:17:00.000-07:00

With all of the talk about the rising cost of food and the support of locally grown, sustainable food coming from the Obama Administration, i.e., the groundbreaking on the People's Garden at the USDA and the possibility of an organic food garden at the White House you might be thinking about jumping on the bandwagon and growing your own.

Since spring is just around the corner, it makes it an even better time to get started on your own fruit and vegetable garden. However, if you've never grown your own you might be wondering where to start and worrying that gardening might be bad for the environment.

A solution to both of these issues is to grow organically. But what exactly is organic gardening? As with anything that becomes trendy, the term organic has come to mean different things to different people. There are those people who define it in very narrow terms and for some people this may make it seem hard, if not impossible, to go organic.

Organic Gardening magazine offers a very simple definition. It defines organic gardeners as those who "don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants and that think of plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts in the soil and includes the water supply, people, wildlife, and even insects."

Basically, if you begin with the premise that gardening is part of a whole system, your goal as a gardener is to minimize the disruption of the natural system and to continually replenish any resources the garden uses.

The most fundamental way to do this is to practice good, basic gardening methods. The most important of these is "feeding" the soil, by providing fertility to the soil using natural sources of nutrients whenever possible. In organic gardening, soil is the most important component. It is the source of the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.

For those who interpret organic gardening in its most literal sense, this means adding organic matter or decaying plants wastes like grass clippings, leaves, and vegetable scraps from the lawn, garden, or kitchen in the form of compost. While compost is considered the ideal organic matter for garden soil, it's not for everybody. Organic soil amendments and fertilizers are available at local nurseries.

Another important component is to use plants that are best suited to the site you are planting them in. Choose plants that are adapted to your climate such as native plants because they are not heavily dependent on fertilizer or lots of water and are adapted to your climate.

Other key components of organic gardening include making sure to use healthy plants because are they are less susceptible to disease, mulching, using the right irrigation system, and weeding.

Organic gardening also involves the use of natural, safe methods of pest control including crop rotation, companion planting, and introducing beneficial insects.

It's become easier to go organic because many garden supply companies are now providing more nontoxic, natural controls for pests and disease for the organic gardener. Gardeners can also find an increased number of disease-resistance plants at local nurseries.

You will also find that organic gardening is not only better for the garden and the environment, it also means less work for you.

(Originally published on Care2.com, http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/thinking-of-growing-your-own-go-organic/)

Learn to Grow Your Own Edible Garden

2009-03-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

Coming up on Saturday March 21 at Descanso Gardens, is a wonderful class called, "California Kitchen Garden."

This hands-on course is taught by John Lyons and it provides an overview of how to install and maintain an organic, California kitchen garden. Topics include: soil development, raised beds, companion planting, composting and organic pest control. In addition, effective seasonal planting choices will also be discussed. Learn how easy organic can be.

Garden Member: $35

Non-Member: $40

For more information or to sign up, call (818) 949-7980

Daily Green's 7 Habits of Effective Gardeners

2009-01-06T14:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to let you know about a wonderful resource, The Daily Green. Today's tips include 7 tips for having a green, yet water wise and organic garden.

These are:
1) Make Compost
2) Use Compost
3) Plant Crops in Wide Beds
4) Mulch
5) Feed the Soil, Not the Plants
6) Share Something
7) Be There

For complete details on these, check out their site, http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/blogs/organic-gardening/gardening-tips-460109?src=nl&mag=tdg&list=dgr&kw=ist

But since this is the Giving Gardeners, I am going to highlight #6, "Share Something!"

As they point out, there are always people and groups in need. One of these I discussed here last year, is Plant A Row For The Hungry, http://www.gardenwriters.org/Par/Donation.html%20(which is what I am basing Giving Gardeners on, setting up my own chapter). The Garden Writers Association started this for vegetable gardeners to give away their extra produce to those in need.

Farm Lab Seed Giveaway

2008-12-18T08:40:00.001-08:00

Come to the Metabolic Gallery at Farm Lab this Saturday, December 20 at Noon for a free seed give away. As they note, all of their seeds are from heirloom stock. They ask that you bring your own containers to take your seeds home.There is a potluck as well so please bring your own eating and drinking utensils and your favorite dish to share so please RSVP so they know what food to expect.

Farm Lab is located at 1745 N. SPRING AVE., L.A. 90012. The phone number is (323) 226.1158, and for more information, info.@farmlab.org.

Never Forgotten: World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T08:11:00.003-08:00

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a day where individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day. Although we have come a long way since 1988, there is still much more to be done.
Take this opportunity to not only honor and remember those we have loved and lost, but to educate yourself about the epidemic as it stands today, http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/static/en/

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

It's been so long since I have posted here so I thought I'd just send some holiday greetings by showing everyone a photo of one of the types of projects I am hoping to develop as part of the Giving Gardener's.

This is a pumpkin centerpiece I just finished making using locally grown flowers and a locally grown pumpkin as well as some fall decorations from Joann's.

I am hoping we can get the Giving Gardener's going full steam after the first of the year to help bring cheer to those who need it, and fresh produce to those who are hungry. If you listen to the stories on the news this week, the number of people needing food assistance has grown dramatically in the South Bay (nationwide really) due to the economic downturn.

As you have your Thanksgiving dinner, think about those in need and how we can help them. One way is to grow more fresh fruits and vegetables to help!

Support A White House Victory/Food Garden

2008-10-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

In an NY Times Magazine article, noted author Michael Pollan is adovcating for the creation of a Victory Garden on part of the White House Lawn to address the issues surrounding food. These include the end of "cheap" food, obesity, and the environment.

Part of the solution is to create a "sun-based"regional food economy and system and so the symbolism of a White House edible garden would be powerful.

As Pollan says: "Since enhancing the prestige of farming as an occupation is critical to developing the sun-based regional agriculture we need, the White House should appoint, in addition to a White House chef, a White House farmer. This new post would be charged with implementing what could turn out to be your most symbolically resonant step in building a new American food culture. And that is this: tear out five prime south-facing acres of the White House lawn and plant in their place an organic fruit and vegetable garden.

When Eleanor Roosevelt did something similar in 1943, she helped start a Victory Garden movement that ended up making a substantial contribution to feeding the nation in wartime. (Less well known is the fact that Roosevelt planted this garden over the objections of the U.S.D.A., which feared home gardening would hurt the American food industry.) By the end of the war, more than 20 million home gardens were supplying 40 percent of the produce consumed in America. The president should throw his support behind a new Victory Garden movement, this one seeking “victory” over three critical challenges we face today: high food prices, poor diets and a sedentary population."

There is a group that has been advocating for this and is led by Kitchen Garden International creator Roger Doiron, they are calling their project, Eat The View.

Check out their site here and sign the petition to get a Food Garden put at the White House http://www.eattheview.org/. One of the things they say you can do to help and to make the case for an edible garden is to identify a near you that you think should be "edible-ized." If you recall, I have posted about the wonderful Victory Garden the City of San Francisco planted in front of their City Hall. And, the Governors of Maine and New York are already eating from gardens planted at their official residences. New school gardens are being dug across the country. Eat the View asks, "What about your town, your local schools, and elected official's residence?"

NY Times Story "Food Banks Finding Aid in Bounty of Backyard"

2008-09-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I posted and am glad to share this wonderful story here. Yesterday's NY Times had an article about a woman who stared a group called North Berkeley Harvest, a group of backyard "gleaners" who go around and "voluntarily harvest surplus fruit and then donate it to food banks, centers for the elderly and other nonprofit organizations."

I am going to get in touch with them to see how the organized themselves. I am so busy these days, I know I need help to get going, so if you can help me, I would appreciate it!

Here's the link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/us/14harvest.html?ref=todayspaper

Can You Help? Flowers Needed

2008-07-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

Well, the very sweet woman who runs the AIDS Circle of Life Program phoned me this a.m. and she is heartbroken. One of her clients passed away and she would love to fill up the place with flowers for his funeral service.

So, if you or somebody you know has extra flowers, please let me know so that I can get them to her. I sure wish I had my network better set up for things like this.

You can email me at FarmWriter@californiafamilyfarms.com, or even phone me at (310) 543-1917.

People Are Listening and Reading!

2008-07-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to tell everybody that I am going to pick up my first "official" fresh fruit donation tomorrow!

This lovely couple read about the Giving Gardeners in my Palos Verdes News column and that I would come and pick up their excess fruit and called me this morning! I am going to pick up about 10 pounds of their plums and deliver it to a great program here in the South Bay, Circle of Life AIDS food pantry.

A wonderful woman named Alma who coordinates it, is going to give out the fruit on Thursday as part of her holistic therapy with some clients and fresh fruit is something she usually has to buy on her own.

I am so happy that I can help in this small way and hope it leads to bigger and better things!

Meals On Wheels Needs Fresh Fruit

2008-07-11T09:04:00.000-07:00

I received this on my Master Gardener list and thought I'd pass it on in case any of you have extra produce to donate.

Meals on Wheels West out of Santa Monica is interested in receiving fresh fruit to supplement the diets of their home bound disabled and elderly clients.

They say that with the increase in food costs, fruit has been eliminated from the meals prepared by their food suppliers. But, their clients say they want to receive fresh fruit!

They will deliver the fresh fruit within one day of receiving it, so I will be glad to deliver it to them if you get it to me since we are still in the process of organizing The Giving Gardeners more formally. Just drop me an email: farmwriter@californiafamilyfarms.com, or leave a comment here.

Please consider helping. I am also going to be checking with the Meals on Wheels here in the South Bay to see if they would like some fresh fruit as well.

San Francisco Creating City Hall Victory Garden

2008-06-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

To those who read both of my blogs, I apologize for the repetition, but for those who don't, I wanted to make sure you got this information.

The City of San Francisco is supporting the creation of a Victory Garden at City Hall. This is not surprising since San Franciscans have been promoters and developers of sustainable food systems for so long.

Now, they are creating a Victory Garden right in front of City Hall, calling the project The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden that will replace the lawn at City Hall. They have the full support of Mayor Gavin Newsom and it is designed and built by the Garden for the Environment’s Victory Garden 08+ Program, CMG Landscape Architecture and City Slicker Farms, using seeds donated from Seeds of Change and numerous individuals from around the country.

Here's the scoop from a Press Release I received: Beginning Tuesday, July 1, the lawn in front of San Francisco’s City Hall will undergo a transformation from grass carpet to edible garden, as dozens of Bay Area organizations join together to plant the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden. On Saturday, July 12, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Slow Food Nation founder Alice Waters and more than 100 volunteers will plant the first edible garden in the City’s Civic Center since 1943.

The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden is one more way to showcase the City’s tangible commitment to sustainability and, as in the past, confront some of the most challenging issues of our times,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “For many urban residents, access to healthy and nutritious food is as important now as it was during the Second World War.”

Slow Food Nation, the largest celebration of American food in history, takes place in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend (August 29 to September 1, 2008). The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden in the Civic Center will serve as a demonstration and education centerpiece leading up to and following the Labor Day weekend event, providing visitors the opportunity to learn about urban food production. Bounty from the garden will be donated to those with limited access to healthy, organic produce through a partnership with local food banks and meal programs.

The partnership idea that they are talking about is my ultimate goal with The Giving Gardeners and I would also love to do something similar here, have our own Victory Garden where we could help on an even bigger scale.

Please email me or comment if you would be interested in being involved in setting up a garden like this with me.

Celebrate The Summer Solstice, Plant Flowers

2008-06-20T14:17:00.001-07:00

Since this afternoon at 4:59 p.m. marks the official start of summer, why not think about annual flowers to plant for the warm months.

The wonderful Cook's Garden now has "Flowers For The Vase," and these are easy-to-grow, direct sow seeds that are now available and should be planted now. Check out their site which includes some wonderful zinnia, rudbeckia, cosmos, and sunflower varieties, http://www.cooksgarden.com/departments.asp?dept=1025&lvl=1251&dpt=1
Cook's Garden Zinnia "Ruffles"

Since part of my goal with The Giving Gardeners is to bring a little joy to those in hospice, the hospital, or nursing homes, I can't think of a better way than to bring some fresh cut, homegrown flowers, especially during the warm and bright summer months.

Its Father's Day, Here's My Dad's Sunflowers

2008-06-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I don't know how he does it, but my Dad has the greenest thumb I have ever seen. These shots are of a couple of his freakishly tall sunflowers. Literally, they are at least 7 feet tall! In spite of my classes, Master Gardener Certification and all of that, I can never get things to grow the way he can.

Happy Father's Day and Happy Growing!!

Kitchen Gardens More Popular Than Ever

2008-06-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post about an email I got from Burpee Seeds that highlights how to get started planting your own Kitchen Garden.

They point out that growing your own can save up to 80% over store bought and that of course, you can't get anything fresher than home grown!

The Burpee link has some great start up tips and lists kitchen garden favorites in two categories: Pot Sown or Direct Sown. It's a great place to start to get some ideas and to see what you should be planting now.
http://www.burpee.com/contentarticle.do?itemID=555&cid=2008_05_20_kitchenGardens&

For some more great ideas and support check out the group Kitchen Gardener's International, http://www.kitchengardeners.org/

"Miracle-Gro Effect" On Backyard Garden Movement

2008-05-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

The Christian Science Monitor had an interesting story in their May 16 edition using stats from the Garden Writers Association of America.

The story reports on how those in the garden industry, (nurseries, gardening organizations, seed companies, etc.) have seen sales of vegetable seeds and starter plants increase. And, according to the the Garden Writer's Association, this year, 39 percent of people with backyards planned to grow vegetables this year. That's up 5 percent from last year, after remaining relatively stable with only small increases for much of the past decade.

The Garden Writers Association surveys people annually to see how they plan to spend their gardening dollars, and found a big increase in preference for vegetable gardens. For years, the top three on the list were lawns, annuals, and perennials, with vegetable gardening a distant fourth. This year, vegetable gardening jumped to No. 2.

The reasons for this increase are related directly to both the rising cost of gasoline and food as well as increased interest in having sustainable agriculture in the backyard, knowing where your food comes from and what was done to it.

Those in the industry are hoping that this trend continues because they believe that once people taste how much better their own produce is, they won't go back to store bought.

Finding Inspiration at Public Gardens

2008-05-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a wonderful (but too short) trip to San Francisco and had the pleasure of again visiting the Japanese Tea Garden and the San Francisco Botanic Garden in Golden Gate Park. It just reminded me of how easy it is to find inspiration, comfort, and hope in gardens, and thought I'd share a couple of photos I snapped with my cell phone camera.

Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week

2008-05-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Proving that there truly is a week for everything, this week, May 4 through May 10, 2008, has been dubbed "International Compost Awareness Week," by the US Composting Council (also proving there is a group for everything).

There's even a theme and the theme for 2008 is: The Possibilities are Endless...Compost!

So, if you have been thinking about doing your own composting, now is the perfect time.

There are even some upcoming compost demonstrations to help make the task easier, including one on May 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at South Coast Botanic Garden. They have a permanent composting demo there and the workshop will be led by LA County's Smart Gardening Program, which is a great program, where they teach you about backyard composting, worm composting, and water wise gardening. At the workshop, they will also offer compost bins at reduced prices, http://www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/specialevents.html.

Check out the Smart Gardening site to learn more about their other gardening programs, http://ladpw.org/epd/sg/

Michael Pollan on Growing Your Own

2008-04-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

There is a very interesting editorial from noted sustainable agriculture advocate and author Michael Pollan in the April 20 New York Times Magazine on dealing with climate change in your own life.

The piece is entitled, The Way We Live Now: Why Bother? And in it, he looks at the attitude many have: why bother to face the issue of climate change when it seems too big and hard to fathom? He goes through all of the issues and ultimately says that we should bother and that:

"The idea is to find one thing to do in your life that doesn’t involve spending or voting, that may or may not virally rock the world but is real and particular (as well as symbolic) and that, come what may, will offer its own rewards.

And one act he says can do this is to grow some of your own food.

"But the act I want to talk about is growing some, even just a little, of your own food. Rip out your lawn, if you have one, and if you don't, look into getting a plot in a community garden. Measured against the problem we face, planting a garden sounds pretty benign, I know, but in fact it's one of the most powerful things an individual can do to reduce your carbon footprint, sure, but more important, to reduce your sense of dependence and dividedness: to change the cheap-energy mind."

He also goes on to say, " It’s estimated that the way we feed ourselves (or rather, allow ourselves to be fed) accounts for about a fifth of the greenhouse gas for which each of us is responsible... Yet the sun still shines down on your yard, and photosynthesis still works so abundantly that in a thoughtfully organized vegetable garden (one planted from seed, nourished by compost from the kitchen and involving not too many drives to the garden center), you can grow the proverbial free lunch — CO2-free and dollar-free. This is the most-local food you can possibly eat (not to mention the freshest, tastiest and most nutritious)."

He also points out the other benefits of growing your own including the fact that it's a great workout that burns calories and doesn't involve having to use the car to go to the gym.

And, as he points out, we can learn what it's like to be self-sufficient, what we can do for ourselves:

"You quickly learn that you need not be dependent on specialists to provide for yourself — that your body is still good for something and may actually be enlisted in its own support. If the experts are right, if both oil and time are running out, these are skills and habits of mind we’re all very soon going to need. We may also need the food. Could gardens provide it? Well, during World War II, victory gardens supplied as much as 40 percent of the produce Americans ate."

Very powerful stuff and so well-written, as is everything he writes. Pollan's latest book is “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto.”

Pledge to Grow Sustainably For Earth Day

2008-04-22T12:16:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking of making the switch to organic gardening, Earth Day is a great day to make it "official" and get started, especially if you are growing food that you are going to eat.

Some people think that planting more plants, fruits, vegetables, etc. actually will use more resources. But, if you practice good, basic organic gardening techniques, you will actually be helping to preserve natural resources because they require you to use less water, less chemicals, fertilizers, etc.

What exactly is organic gardening? Organic Gardening magazine offers a very simple definition. It defines organic gardeners as those who “don’t use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants and that think of plants as part of a whole system within nature that starts in the soil and includes the water supply, people, wildlife, and even insects.”

Basically, if you begin with the premise that gardening is part of a whole system, your goal as a gardener is to minimize the disruption of the natural system and to continually replenish any resources the garden uses.

The most fundamental way to do this is to practice good, basic gardening methods. The most important of these is “feeding” the soil, by providing fertility to the soil using natural sources of nutrients whenever possible. In organic gardening, soil is the most important component. It is the source of the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.

For those who interpret organic gardening in its most literal sense, this means adding organic matter or decaying plants wastes like grass clippings, leaves, and vegetable scraps from the lawn, garden, or kitchen in the form of compost. While compost is considered the ideal organic matter for garden soil, it’s not for everybody. Organic soil amendments and fertilizers are available at local nurseries.

Other key components of organic gardening include making sure to use healthy plants because are they are less susceptible to disease, mulching, using the right irrigation system, and weeding.

Organic gardening also involves the use of natural, safe methods of pest control including crop rotation, companion planting, and introducing beneficial insects.

It’s become easier to go organic because many garden supply companies are now providing more nontoxic, natural controls for pests and disease for the organic gardener. Gardeners can also find an increased number of disease-resistance plants at local nurseries.

Check out the resources I have provided here for tips on how to get started. And think about this: You will also find that organic gardening is not only better for the garden and the environment, it also means less work for you.

The Great Sunflower Project

2008-04-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

I found this on my blogger friend's , http://cincinnatilocavore.blogspot.com/ site yesterday and thought it was such a great idea.

With her permission, I am cutting and pasting her blog post from yesterday as follows:

"All over North America, folks are joining The Great Sunflower Project, which during the summer of 2008 will collect data on honeybee activity across the continent. Honeybees are crucial to vegetable and fruit production -- many plants won't produce unless they've been crosspollinated by honeybees. Farmers need a healthy bee population.

Each participant will plant at least one sunflower (a specific kind -- Helianthus annuus, or the wild annual sunflower) and then at several points over the summer watch that sunflower to see how long it takes for five bees to visit. Participants report their data back to the project organizers, and The Great Sunflower Project tallies the data to see where bee activity is healthy and where it isn't, which may help discover the causes behind colony collapse disorder.

Why sunflowers? Sunflowers are easy to grow and are great resources for bees and birds. And why this particular sunflower? Helianthus annuus is a native wildflower and produces a lot of nectar and pollen, which attracts bees.

It's important that everyone use the same flower so that the data collected will be comparable.Registering is easy and free, and they'll even send you a packet of seeds for the right sunflower! So if you'd like to help the honeybees, here's a fun way to do it!"

Need For Food is At Critical Level

2008-04-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Although I am starting to feel a bit like a doomsday blogger, I keep finding and receiving story after story about the spiraling cost of food and the food shortfall at food banks that is accompanying it.

This story came to me from FoodLinks America's newsletter and I am reprinting most of it here because it's so important:

Skyrocketing Food Prices Contribute to Hunger Woes

'The rapidly rising cost of groceries is severely squeezing the budgets of low-income American households. Even for families receiving food stamps and other nutrition assistance, prices are increasing faster than benefits, sending numerous households to emergency food sources such as food banks and food pantries to try and cover the difference.

Officially, according to the federal government, the cost of food at home rose 5.1 percent between February 2007 and February 2008. But double-digit increases on many staple items generated consumer concern. During the same time period, bread prices rose by 12 percent, rice and pasta by 13 percent, cheese by 15 percent, milk by 17 percent, and eggs by 25 percent.

For low-income people, there is little relief in sight. “Increasing food costs may prove to be a greater problem for families than soaring oil prices,” FRAC observed. “The average household spends three times as much for food as for gasoline, with food accounting for 13 percent of household spending compared to four percent for gas.” To view the FRAC paper, go to: http://www.frac.org/pdf/factsheet_foodcosts_apr08.pdf."

Need for Food Grows in South Bay

2008-04-10T16:17:00.000-07:00

Today's Daily Breeze contains a troubling letter from Rev. Cheryl Kelly at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach. She was talking about a story she heard on KFWB regarding the increased need for food to the needy at the same time there is a decrease in the amount of food donated.

If you aren't aware of it, St. Paul's has a wonderful project that feeds those in need called the Project: Needs Food Pantry. They distribute bags of groceries to those in need in the South Bay and they estimate they do this for about 70 families and individuals at each pantry.

However, as she says in her letter, "This year, however, while we are experiencing an increasing number of those who need help, we are also experiencing a decrease in donations to our program."

So, the need is real in our area and The Giving Gardeners can help meet that need. If you have produce to donate, please let me know. If not, consider donating other types of food or items directly to St. Paul's.

I will end with her closing remarks: " As I listened to the report on the radio that afternoon, I thought about the story that needs to be told right here in the South Bay: the story of increasing need and decreasing donations. Perhaps that story would help us and others who are trying to reach out a helping hand." http://www.stpaulsrb.org

Grow Your Own For National Garden Month

2008-04-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

April is National Garden Month and for the second year in a row, the National Garden Association (NGA) is emphasizing how important it is to eat locally, pointing out that one of the best ways to do this is by growing your own fruits and vegetables. Eating locally is not just one of the hottest trends around, but is an important part of environmental and economic sustainability.

Most produce travels thousands of miles by refrigerated truck to get to your local grocery store. Local eating eliminates the need for long distance transport reducing the amount of fossil fuel devoted to your food supply, it helps local growers and the local economy, and you will get the freshest and best tasting food around.

Gardening helps in reducing global warming and climate change. Growing organically is even better because it emphasizes building soil organic matter not only improves the plant health and growth, but also keeps carbon out of the atmosphere.

The NGA also suggests that you consider donating excess garden produce to those in need by growing extra vegetables in your garden this summer. As the NGA points out, it’s estimated that almost 33 million Americans (including 13 million children) resort to emergency food because they cannot afford to purchase the food they need.

They talk about using the Plant a Row for the Hungry Campaign, which is what inspired me to start the Giving Gardeners and is the campaign I am using.

As they say on their site, "Plant a Row for the Hungry is a national campaign, sponsored by the Garden Writers Association, to help feed hungry families. The concept is simple. Plant extra produce in your garden and donate it to a local food shelf, shelter, or soup kitchen. It's a great way to help your community, and if you include your kids or grand kids, a valuable life lesson." http://www.nationalgardenmonth.org/

It's Tomato Mania Time!

2008-04-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the start of Tomato Mania at Tapia Brothers Farm in Encino! This is the place to go and get your seedlings to kick off your summer vegetable planting season.

This 3-day event features nearly 300 varieties of tomatoes, many of them heirloom varieties and it's at one of our last, local, farms, Tapia Brothers. It runs from Friday, April 4, through Sunday, April 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tapia Brothers is located just off the 101 Freeway at 5251 Hayvenhurst, just off the Burbank Blvd. off ramp. This the largest of Tomato Mania's seedling sales, for more info. check out the site http://www.tomatomania.com/
Posted by LA Farm Girl at 9:11 AM

Happy Spring!

2008-03-20T15:04:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day of spring and it's time for new beginnings, including getting The Giving Gardeners going. So, I thought I'd post a couple of photos I took up at South Coast Botanic Garden this morning. It's a great place to go and get gardening inspiration!

Growing Your Own Saves Money

2008-02-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

This interesting article was sent out by our Master Garden Coordinator. It's from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and it outlines how more and more people are growing their own food as prices continue to climb.

As the article says, "The UN Food and Agriculture Organization said retail prices would continue to climb as more agricultural crops, primarily corn, are processed into biofuels. Greater demand from India and China also are contributing to what likely will be long-term food cost increases, the agency said.

Those conditions are ripe for an increase in gardening, said Rose Hayden-Smith, a garden educator and historian with the University of California-Davis.

And, Hayden-Smith compares the current period of market uncertainty with that of the early- to mid-20th Century when the concept of "victory gardens" became popular in the U.S, Canada and Europe. 'A lot of companies during the world wars and the Great Depression era encouraged vegetable gardening as a way of addressing layoffs, reduced wages and such.'

'During World War II, gardens were pitched as an important part of the war effort - by war's end, the victory gardens were turning out 40 percent of the nation's produce, freeing up big farms to supply the troops. And they were important at home in a time of rising food prices and rationing, the Kitchen Gardeners' Doiron said.

'Home gardens made the difference between people being well fed and going to bed hungry,' he said, adding that the gardens increased consumption of fruits and vegetables to historic highs."

Click here to read the whole article, http://www.sgvtribune.com/living/ci_8297304

It shows how growing your own can feed not only those in need, but can save home gardeners some money as well.

Torrance Community Garden History

2008-02-21T21:32:00.000-08:00

City Council circa 1975-76 receiving a wheelbarrow of produce from the Community Gardens (including Mayor Jim Armstrong, Council members Katy Geissert and Dick Rossberg)

While researching my book on the history of Farming in Torrance and the South Bay, I came across an interesting file in the Community Services Department about the Community Gardens.

They began in January 1975, as an experimental project at the site of the old Standard Brands/Nishita Property, which became Columbia Park. There were 52 garden plots leased and by May 1975, 115 people were on the waiting list. By November 1975, there were about 450 people working 107 garden plots.

The success at Columbia led the City Council to approve the construction of the Lago Seco Park Community Garden in February 1976.

There were also some very interesting reasons (which are still relevant today) that City staff outlined to the Council for the need for the gardens. "What better way is there to cool the soaring inflation, improve nutrition, relieve the environment and provide leisure services while promoting vegetable gardening in general and Community Gardens in particular?"

Just shows that a good idea is timeless.

Growing Your Own Helps People & The Environment

2008-02-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

While I realize that I have put the purpose of the "Giving Gardeners" on this blog, I also realize that some people may not already be growing their own fruits and vegetables because they don't think they can, it's "too hard," or they think it's bad for the environment what with having to fertilize, amend, water, etc.

So, I thought I would try and explain why growing your own produce is not only good for the health and welfare of people, but our earth as well.

If you want to try and grow some of your own produce, consider this. Being a city farmer is good for you because you will be eating the freshest produce possible, and if you grow it organically, you know exactly what's been done to it, namely, that there's no pesticides or non-organic fertilizers added to it. Meaning also that nothing bad goes into the environment either. And, if you practice good, basic gardening techniques, you won't need them anyway.

But growing your own is also good for our environment. You are helping to absorb greenhouse gases, greening up the local environment, you are providing a natural habitat for beneficial insects and other critters, and you are cutting down on your need to travel to get your food and for transportation of your food to you, cutting down on gas use.

You might be thinking you don't have the time, the space, or the knowledge to grow your own food. But, that's where being involved with The Giving Gardeners can help. We will help you learn to be a better gardener, and how to be an environmentally responsible gardener.

For example, that's why I have included plenty of upcoming workshops and classes under Garden Classes & Events. And, I will be updating these continuously.

You don't have to start with your whole yard or patio, start with one pot, grow something you love to eat, have fun and experiment. I will also be including other links to some great places to get seeds and plants and some hand-outs and information from the UC Master Garden/Common Ground Garden Program as well, including this one on "Saving Water In Vegetable Gardens." http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/garden/articles/saving-water-in-vegetable-gardens.htm

Building a Giving Network

2008-02-06T21:15:00.003-08:00

Columbia Park Community Garden

Just another quick post to update everyone on the progress of our new Giving Gardener's Network.

I have been working on gaining support and commitments in addition to hearing some great ideas that people have for the project. One is to include community gardeners in the project and I am working with our Community Garden Manager and "Farmer Ed" to see if we can get their support.

I am also hoping that we can have our first meeting at the Columbia Park or Lago Seco Park Community Garden. Columbia has a great presentation area and being right in the garden will be very inspirational!

I have also been contacting garden club members and food agencies, including the LA Food Bank who thinks the idea is great and says we can earmark our food to those agencies we want to in our area.

So, things are moving along and once my book is completed next month, I can pick up the pace even more.

Please keep those ideas coming and vote in my blog polls I need the input!

Why Fresh Food Is Needed

2008-02-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

I posted this on my other blog, but thought it was worth putting here so that people can see one of the reasons I believe we need to do more to help get food to those who need it.

This very troubling story in the LA Times talks about the food shortage at local food banks/pantries. This article clearly points out there's a need to help as evidenced by this excerpt:

"The supply of donated food is at its lowest level in recent memory, largely because of a steep decline in government surpluses. In California, since 2002, donations of cheese, canned corn and beans, all longtime food bank staples, have been cut by more than half, from nearly 100 million pounds a year to 40 million. The difference, say officials from the California Assn. of Food Banks, translates into 44.7 million fewer meals for hungry people around the state.

The number of Los Angeles County households whose food supply is shaky increased 17% between 2002 and 2005; hungry families with children grew at an even faster clip, according to a report released last fall by the county department of public health."

The rest of the article can be found here, http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-foodbank21jan21,1,2216788.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=5&cset=true

Please, contact me if you would be interested in joining me in helping get fresh food to those who need it. We need volunteers to grow produce, collect it, drop it off, and to help build a meaningful network, farmwriter@californiafamilyfarms.com.

Welcome to The Giving Gardeners

2008-02-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

This is just a preliminary post to let you all know there's exciting things coming as we work together to help those in need in our community here in the South Bay.

Keep Watching this site for more soon!