Seed Saving!

Never understood the significance of seed saving and seed propagation till recently.  I'm beginning to understand that the quality of crops largely depends on the genetic strengths of the seed. By saving and replanting the seed of the fruit you just grew, you are creating a stronger offspring, especially if the yield was good!

Here I saved the seeds of the green beans for next season.  As well, I have removed some corn kernels from the three strongest fruit,  and hopefully my technique proves to yield a nice new set of crops!

Fly, Butterfly!

MY friend and neighbor just discovered these beautiful monarch caterpillars in her yard, and created an amazing haven for them to flourish into winged beauties.  She placed the caterpillars on 'milkweed' plant, which is their primary food and sustenance.  They then took refuge in the makeshift home she created, as they transformed into pupa(chrysalis).  The metamorphosis from caterpillar to a gorgeous butterfly has been immortalized in so many stories and legends, and teaches kids and adults alike to appreciate the wonders of our world, up close, in detail.

Currently, the caterpillars are in the "chrysalis" stage(2nd and 3rd pictures),  which is between the larva and the adult stage. When they reach adulthood, and grace our gardens, they will be one of the important pollinators in our food chain.

Simply amazing!

Friday Funnies

Sometimes we need to lighten up and just have a laugh.  I thought this was pretty cute.  It illustrates so vividly, both the wondrous beauty of vegetables, and also the humor surrounding its consumers.

Planting in Confined Spaces

When I lived in a tiny 400 square foot apartment in Studio City, I'd keep a few pots of herbs growing at the front entrance of our small, 6-unit building. With the permission of my neighbors, of course.  What I didn't know then, was that I probably could have grown a whole lot more than just herbs, using the same, sunny spot on the concrete landing, and with a little more creative use of pots in vertical spaces. Thinking back, we could have grown seasonal chard, or spinach, or lettuce, just enough to share between us. But, then again,  the true love of edible gardening had not been born in me, yet.

Years later, I'm still trying to find more space efficient ways to grow food, even though I have a much bigger playing ground now.  I just enjoy demonstrating how simple it can be to use, for instance, a pot with a bag of soil, and some seeds, to grow food.

Here, I am experimenting with just that. As you can see, the seedlings have already taken, and with good enough drainage from the bag, the roots should have no problems sustaining the growing greens.

Step 1:  Choose your pot, placed in sunny location 

Step 2: Place some stones, or large pebbles at bottom of pot, to allow for drainage 

Step 3: Poke holes throughout bottom of your bag of soil.

Step 4:  Cut open top of the bag, and place into the pot, so it sits comfortably.

Step 5: Distribute a few seeds, planting according to directions on seed package.
Here, I placed Swiss Chard seeds about 2-3 inches apart, to avoid overcrowding.
Watch the seedlings grow within 7-10 days!

Fifty Shades of Green

Spoiled Angelenos....we are just finally feeling the first shivers of autumn.  That's fall, for some people, as in, fall "back" one hour, as in time changing, and darkness setting in earlier. This time of year traditionally gives me the blues. But one way I've found to beat the blues, is to keep surrounding myself with the greens ;)

What I love more than the taste of home grown food, is the variation of colors, especially greens. I got fifty different shades of green still growing in the back, and we are officially in November, the month of the full Beaver moon. If you go by the book, you know it's time to plant for winter crops, but the heat would not let up till about a week ago.  So here I've been admiring the giving source, my summer crops. These are, from seed, the strong yielders of the past season!

Baby watermelon, green pepper, jalapeno, green beans, and okra.