by Greg Alder | May 24, 2023 | Misc |
(See here to become a Yard Posts Supporter) 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...
by Greg Alder | May 9, 2023 | Misc |
The new calendar is ready! See the order page here. What is this calendar? It helps Southern California food gardeners by listing for each month which vegetables to plant, how to care for different kinds of fruit trees, and guidance on watering. It’s based on my...
by Greg Alder | Apr 28, 2023 | Misc |
Spring fever is in the air, and you might be tempted to take your food gardening to the next level. You might envision your garden becoming a backyard farm. I support you. This week I joined the Master Gardeners in San Diego County to talk about backyard farming. Here...
by Greg Alder | Apr 21, 2023 | Misc |
I was away from my yard for the past two weeks. In the spring, after a winter of abundant rain, a lot happens in two weeks. Here is what is on my gardening mind this week, with links to past posts or videos on the topics. I’m guessing that at least one will be...
by Greg Alder | Feb 24, 2023 | Misc, Weather |
Yesterday I hung out with a group of avocado growers. The current cold and rainy weather that is following a lengthy cold and rainy winter was a main topic of discussion. “There have been, what, three days over 70 degrees this winter?” said one grower....
by Greg Alder | Jan 27, 2023 | Misc |
For several years, I have recorded which flowers I see bees feeding on in my yard and elsewhere in Southern California, as well as the dates I see them. For example, this month I noted that there are many bees visiting the flowers of my bolted greens (above). Below is...
by Greg Alder | Dec 2, 2022 | Misc |
I’m aware of four ways that people use to remove Bermuda grass. As far as my experience goes, only two are highly effective though. I’ll share my experiences, moving from the most effective methods to the least. Glyphosate Poisoning Bermuda grass with an...
by Greg Alder | Nov 25, 2022 | Misc |
A couple more days and it’s March, in which starts spring. But before we move on, I’ve pulled three lessons from the past winter. 1. Consequences of 28 degrees The coldest night of this 2021-2022 winter in Southern California just passed, on February 23-24. My yard’s...
by Greg Alder | Sep 30, 2022 | Misc |
I was in Robert Kourik’s neck of the woods this summer, and at that time I happened to be reading his newest book, “Sustainable Food Gardens.” While camping along the Russian River up in Sonoma County, I considered how different his part of...
by Greg Alder | Sep 23, 2022 | Misc |
Sometimes gardening feels like a leisure activity, but sometimes it feels like work: weeds, aphids, gophers, heat waves. At which times I think, Why not just buy all my food at the grocery store? It’s so convenient. You show up any day and choose from all sorts of...
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