My yard: 10 years of growing

My yard: 10 years of growing

A decade ago, at the end of June 2013, my pregnant wife and I began moving into our house. We bought this place in Ramona using every penny we had. It seemed to offer almost everything we wanted: plenty of indoor space for us to fill with a family; and an acre of...
Shovel don’t lie

Shovel don’t lie

Nick and Anna-Marie told me they had planted a white sage in their backyard, and the plant’s tag said it was a “compact” version but it had grown over five feet tall and wide. I looked out their back door to see the plant. There it was: A robust white sage with flower...
The Yard Posts food gardening calendar 2023

The Yard Posts food gardening calendar 2023

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...
Backyard farming: Scaling up your garden

Backyard farming: Scaling up your garden

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...
Spring happenings, 2023

Spring happenings, 2023

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...
Why diversify your food garden?

Why diversify your food garden?

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....
Flowers for bees all year in Southern California

Flowers for bees all year in Southern California

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...
Lessons of winter, 2021-2022

Lessons of winter, 2021-2022

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...
Why grow food at home?

Why grow food at home?

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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