Fires, Farms, and being Neighbors
Do you remember my interview with John Schoustra? He is – I thought about this for a while to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anyone or exaggerating – the most innovative, open-minded, and experimental avocado farmer I know. (Please refresh your memory by checking this...
What to do in a Southern California garden in November
November is cool. The barometer falls to an average high of 73 this month, in my yard, which is about the same as most yards in Southern California. And the average daily evapotranspiration rate is only 0.08 inches in November, a threefold decrease compared to the...
The wild grape of Southern California
It grows in ravines and near creeks. It grows up sycamore trees. The wild grape of Southern California can cover a massive area, but you can tame it and grow it in your yard too. On December 28, 2015, I cut a few pieces from a vine in a canyon near me and stuck them...
Growing zucchini in Southern California
My job is to grow food for my family. Some crops I grow because we all love to eat them (Cara Cara oranges, for example), some crops I grow because just one of us is a big fan. My wife needs her zucchini so I've learned to sow, plant, water, and harvest them....
Supporting The Yard Posts
My goal with The Yard Posts is to help others grow food at home, with a focus on vegetables and fruits -- especially avocados -- in Southern California. How do I do this? I write short articles – “posts” – each Friday, and I augment each post with photos and sometimes...
Reed avocado high-density grove
In 2018, I first visited this grove of Reed avocados. The trees had been planted ten feet apart. In avocado-world parlance, they call that "high density" planting. Traditional tree spacing is more like twenty feet apart. But then the farmer further added a tree in...
Persimmons u-pick: Shoemaker Farm in Ramona, San Diego County
Shoemaker Farm (now called Ramona Fresh Fruits) will open for the 2024 persimmon picking season on Wednesday, October 30. The farm address is 18131 Traylor Road, Ramona. After opening day, they will be open from 9 AM to 4 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until...
Growing carrots in Southern California
I gave up growing carrots for a few years. I was failing at them; I got discouraged and quit. I first got back in the game because I was wearing the title "Master Gardener" and felt ashamed to do so while being incapable of something so fundamental. And then the...
Recent comments