“All About Avocados” — a workshop at the 2026 EcoFarm conference
Alongside Ellen Baker and Freddy Menge of Epicenter Avocado Nursery in Santa Cruz County, I will be giving a presentation titled "All about Avocados" at the 2026 EcoFarm Conference on January 22. More specifically, our presentation/workshop will be on Thursday,...
Meet Frank Meyer, of the Meyer lemon
I spotted this sign in a Starbucks the other day, featuring a coffee that is claimed to have Meyer lemon in its flavor profile, and I wondered how that would make Frank Meyer feel. Initially, he might shake his head because he clearly requested that no plant be named...
December in Jacques’ garden
Dr. White, El Bumpo, Sabor, Lucida, Fino de Jete, Honeyhart, Fortuna, Deliciosa, Pierce, Booth. Who? Cherimoyas! It's all about cherimoyas in Jacques' garden this month. Have you ever eaten these "custard apples," also called Annona cherimola? They're tropical green...
Growing mangos in Southern California
For the past twenty years or so I’ve been observing other people’s mango trees in Southern California, and for the past ten years I’ve been trying to grow my own. I haven’t had quick success, frankly. But I take consolation in the fact that most others I know who grow...
All Yard Posts
It's a cornucopia, dig in. Find all of my Yard Posts under the categories and curations below.How I girdle avocado trees A tour of John Schoustra’s innovative, organic, low-input, high-density avocado grove Removing avocados to prevent sunburn The Hellen avocado tree:...
Do you need to plant two tomatillos to get fruit?
Some years ago, I heard the idea that you had to plant two tomatillos in order to get fruit. One tomatillo plant alone would flower but not set fruit. It needs cross pollination. This reminded me of the idea I had heard about avocados too: that you need two avocado...
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...
Transplanting fruit trees in Southern California
I'm sure you are smarter than me and have never planted a fruit tree only to later want to move it. Maybe you learned that the spot was too cold or that the tree would get too big, or maybe you are moving to a new house and want to take the tree with you. I've moved...









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