Funtimehappygardenexplosion

Manga Farming.

2010-11-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Manga farming by Japanese artist Koshi Kawachi

Absolutely beautiful.

Man Made Greenery?

2009-12-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

The Secret Life Of Plants (1979)

2009-01-30T22:24:00.000-08:00

Directed by Walon Green
Score by Stevie Wonder

Very interesting documentary. It discusses the possibility that plants can feel emotions. There are tons of cool experiments documented in this film. Whether you believe plants are sentient beings or not, I definitely recommend going out, finding it, and watching it with someone or by yourself. There is a fun retro feel, including British accent man narration, and the ever-so-nostalgic blue tint to the entire film.

Or better yet, watch it right here:

This movie spurned some great artistic experimentation, including this piece:

Jill plays brain wave music/video, in concert with six channels of plant music (The Secret Life of Plants)
This photo is taken from RadLab. You can read more about this piece and RadLab by clicking on either of these two sentences.

oxoxo

The Mobile Urban Garden

2009-01-16T16:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some gardens on cars.

This first garden can be found in Los Angeles on Vine and Gregory in Hollywood.
There are few houses in this area, mostly apartment complexes which have little sun and little space.

I will continue to try to do some field research to find out who is the marvelous culprit behind this mobile garden.

This next garden is located within Burgamot Station in Santa Monica, CA. Burgamot Station is a cluster of contemporary art galleries.

This specific garden is made possible by a great organization called Farmlab. For more info about this multidisciplinary ball of greatness, please follow this link.

The really great thing about this garden is that it is lighted by these amazingly efficient LED lights that are solar powered.

I'm really digging this car-garden thing found in the motor-rampant city of Los Angeles. It really questions the idea of the urban landscape while reiterating the definition of LA's landscape as an artificial mess of cars and streets.

I also like how low-maintenance these gardens are by using low water consumption and drought resistant specimens.

Winter migration

2009-01-05T23:09:00.000-08:00

dear readers

i have recently moved and my garden is either left behind or in sad little pots outside my new home. things have been so hectic and i am in a state of disarray and am looking forward to a good weekend where i have enough time to unpack and begin working on my garden again.

the climate here is a little less dry so i will be experimenting with different types of plants. i am looking forward to working in a new environment.

i have also upgraded my camera so plant pictures coming soon!

oh yes, and happy new year! i have a feeling this year will be better than last.

xoxo
funtimehappygardenexplosion

The Road to DC

2008-12-14T20:52:00.001-08:00

Look what my friend is doing. Please help her, as she has never asked for anything before.

The Road to DC

$1's and $5's work well too!
Just make sure you egg her on to update this and write all about it.

xoxo
love,
funtimehappygardenexplosion

fun film

2008-10-01T20:32:00.001-07:00

This guy made it his job!

2008-07-21T23:50:00.000-07:00

Photo Credit: Peter DaSilva for The New York Time

After lots and lots of craziness these past few months, I finally had the chance to browse the internets and came upon this great article in the NY Times.

This guy makes it his job to plant and maintain urban backyard organic veggie gardens for his lazy (or busy) clients.

Here is a link to the article, I suggest reading this. It is a fun and easy read.

dear friends

2008-07-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Regretfully, I will be taking a hiatus from this blog. There are other things I need to take care of at this time. Sadly, my poor garden has been suffering from my extreme lack of time.

Please feel free to ask questions. I will post them with your permission along with any reply I can offer. Any question is welcome. Even if it is in regards to things other than gardening.

For the time being, please look at this amazing site from some folks over in Los Angeles. They are doing some simple and amazing things.

Fallen Fruit

Also watch this great video about "Animal Estates", brought to you by the same guy who did "Edible Estates", Fritz Haeg

xoxo, love funtimehappygardenexplosion.

I Survived the First Heat Stroke.

2008-05-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

Here where I live, Spring is usually about two weeks long. I envy those with longer springs. Take a look at the past weekend, from thursday until yesterday(Monday).

I have had to water everyday.

A good way of checking to see if you need to water is to stick your finger in the soil about a couple of inches.

Also, have you guys been noticing the ladybugs? I've been seeing a lot lately.

XOXO
love,
funtimehappygardenexplosion.

This is what I would LOVE to do

2008-05-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

This is from wikimedia.org

World's biggest tomato plant

Fun Time Happy Explosion! : Propagation by popping

2008-05-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

This is a delight!

I had no idea this could happen.

Take a look at those little seed pods.
The other day, I pet this guy on my way out. It started popping like crazy. I thought it was a bug infestation and got scared.

A week later, I came back out and tried it again. This time, I was delighted that I was wrong.

The plant produces seed pods in which the seeds incubate over time. This swells the pods and its contents are under pressure! Once touched, the seeds EXPLODE out of the capsules and shoot off in every direction. This is so the plant can spread out as far as she can.

POP POP POP POP!

Water Conservation and Recycling

2008-05-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

This spring/summer, I am growing beans!

Not only are they healthy and nutritious, beans also need little water and LOVE warm weather and heat.

So far, I just pushed some beans into my soil about an inch and covered them. That is how easy it is to grow them. Just water every now and then, just to keep the beans moisturized.

They grow really fast.

This is what they looked like about a week after planting.

I left for work, and when I came back only 5 hours later, they had actually grown 2 inches!

The great thing about beans is they are perfect for guerilla planting.
*(Tips: wear high heels to poke the hole into the ground. Carry a little water and sprinkle after planting. Make sure you plant next to some kind of fence. Those ugly chain link fences work magically.)

Q: Can you grow them next to your ugly bus stop?

A: Why yes! That would be perfect! Especially if you live in an apartment with no where to plant. While you wait for your bus stop, you can water it every morning if you want. Then you can come home and see how fast your beans have grown! Isn't that better than watching TV?

Right now, there are some beans growing in LA at the bus stop on the corner of Detroit and Wilshire. If you happen to be by there, Water the ground. :)

The reason why I bring up beans is because it is great when you can conserve what little water there is.

Other ways to conserve water is to reuse and recycle water in your own home. You can save the water you use when you wash your veggies and fruits. It is very easy. Just keep a big bucket/bowl in your sink to collect the water. I reclaim the water I use to wash my rice before cooking. This is especially great because the water has many valuable nutrients from the rice. My friend Maryanne reclaims the water she uses to clean out her french press. The coffee grinds add a magical compost flavor for the plant.

Another easy idea is to stack your plants. This is a no-brainer for everyone with little space. I have an old shelf I found on the street. I put the plants that need more sun on the higher rungs and those who prefer shade on the lower. When I water the ones on the top, they drip down to the bottom. (remember to let your pots drain properly) Not only am I saving water, I am also saving space.

BOTTOM FEEDING
I know some people like to put a bowl under their pots and let the water accumulate and bottom feed. This is ok for water plants or plants that need excessive water. But make sure you check your water. The water in Riverside has a lot of calcium and will leave calcium deposits in your soil.

The easiest way to find out if your water is "hard" is to look at your pots. Is there a whitish stain on your pots? If so, you have hard water. Here is an example:

See the white stains?

DISTINGUISHING WATER THIRSTY PLANTS

Look at the roots. The roots will usually give away the thirsty ones. Usually, the roots will have bulbous compartments for water storage. This will ensure the plants will survive if there is a dry spell.

Bulbous roots:

When the plant does not get enough water, the plant will dramatically slow down or even shut down growth. Though the plant will look like it is in bad shape, the roots will still be alive, waiting for water. I do not recommend shutting down a plant in this way, it stresses the plant tremendously. If you are a clumsy gardener and forget to water a plant like this for a while, at least read a bedtime story to it later.

From experience I have learned that if you have severely angered a plant, you will have to make voices for the different characters of the story.

Summer in Spring. Tips and Tails.

2008-04-13T16:04:00.001-07:00

I transpanted my carrot tops yesterday from my shallow water dish to my outdoor box. One thing to remember is only half to three-quarters are likely to make it once transplanting into soil.

here are the victors:

and here lie the slain:

Carrots are basically large "tap roots" (actual scientific name), with little tail roots that branch out. My friend Maryanne is trying to do this top-recycling method with her beet tops. I saw them yesterday and they are amazing. The great thing about beets is their leaves are very much edible. They are delicious and very nutrient rich. I think I should have tried the beets first.

For the growers in other parts of the country: count your blessings. Although the winter was tough and snowy, our riverside springtime has been curtailed. It is now summer with temperatures above 95F. I dread the over 100F temperatures just around the corner.

For you living in Riverside, please please please remember, NOTHING should be left out in full sun, unless it's a cactus or other desert friendly plant.

My best advice for growers interested in veggies is to plant against the north side of your place. There should be adequate morning sun and good evening shade shelter for 1pm and thereafter. The east wall might be ok but at all costs, avoid the south and the west.

Here is a scientifical diagram to help you plot out your growing areas.

Find out what side is north and go from there. Either that, or go outside at 3pm and see where there is shade. That way is the easiest and very scientifical-professional.

Another tip for dry-area gardening is to stack your pots. This is a trick I actually learned by accident. This is great for those humidity-thirsty plants like ferns.

The trick is to put a bit of soil in the bottom pot. Make sure your drainage is good enough to deter mold. I usually find a rock the size of the hole made when you connect your index finger and thumb. I stick the rock on top of any drainage holes the size of a dime or larger. I know a lot of books tell you to use broken pottery or gravel, but I'm a beginner and it doesn't bug me.

Ok, so this is what the bottom pot looks like:

Also remember that during the dry season I know your first instinct is to water your plants like crazy. Try not to do that. I've killed more plants by overwatering than underwatering. In fact, if one of my plants seems to be dying, I move it outside or inside depending on where it was, and just kind of let them tough it out without me.

Since I'm usually clumsy it seems to do the trick. I guess it depends on what kind of person you are.

Pictures Finally! Funtime Happy Carrots!!!

2008-04-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

Make sure there isn't too much water. About a centimeter of depth should suffice.

DON'T FORGET!!! CHANGE THE WATER EVERYDAY! otherwise, there will be mold and slime!

Side view:

Check out the auxiliary roots!

Recycling Carrots

2008-04-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

My carrots are all about ready to transplant. They all have little auxilliary roots sprouting. What would really be lovely is if I had some kind of plexiglass raised bed so I could watch to see how they grow.

My apologies for not showing any pictures. I have taken a few, and I promise you'll see them shortly; I am still without a USB cable.

Are any of you guys growing recycled veggies?
I've tried bok choy in the past. Here is a link to that post:
Attack of the Baobab!

On Recycling Plants: Gardens with a Minimal budget

2008-03-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

So like I said in my last post, I will be experimenting with a veggie garden using a minimal or absent budget.

My new project begins with carrots. Try this out with organic veggies from a local farmer's market.

I've cut off the tops of delicious carrots and are now soaking them in a shallow dish of water. So far, the tops have sprouted into small devilish cute little greens!

I would show a picture here, but I am unfortunately without a USB cable.

Once auxiliary roots begin to grow, I will transplant them outside in my deep box, the same one I used last year. For instructions on making a box, go to this post:
Build A Box!!!

Another veggie I will try out next is a beet. Perhaps a regular bloody one or the golden variety. Either way, if I am successful, I will be able to enjoy the yummy greens in salads, sautees, or soufles. or in risottos.

A plant I wish I could afford right now is a dwarf orange or lemon tree. I would like to opt for a non-stunted variety, however I do live in an apartment without a yard.

It's Just About Time! :)

2008-03-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

It's just about time to begin the great growing process. Are you guys ready?

I usually can tell when i'm ready to grow when my mint comes back from the winter.

It's been a long winter, hasn't it? My thoughts go out to all those growing in snowy areas. Have you kept up mini gardens indoors? A kitchen herb garden in the livingroom? I wonder if any of you grow in the attic? Probably a good place to hibernate bulbs, huh?

What else have you guys been doing? In Riverside, we've been pretty lucky. I think the lowest temperatures we've had here was about 40 degrees F. Other than that, we've had good rainfall and sunny skies.

Has anyone else in southern california tried growing strawberries? The ones I planted at work were thriving, from what I've been hearing. Unfortunately, I have been laid off of my job like many other small town Californian residents. It's been pretty bad here, 3 other of my friends have also been laid off. To give you a rough estimate, I have a fistful of friends.

They have also substantially cut back on city arts budgets, in fact they hired a guy to basically turn down project proposals left and right. So this year, I think I will delve more into garden recycling and other low budget growing.

Another thing I just realized is how much my awesome-jawsome has grown. If you see my profile picture above, there is the same plant. In that picture, I believe the plant is only about 6 inches in height. Now, awesome jawsome is almost as tall as me, about 5 feet tall!!!!!

Remember how I told you it was about to flower? Well take a look!!

Also, ive been having some problems with mailing plants. I guess it could look suspiciously leaky, and also, worries about sending plants in different states. It is also so so so so expensive!

Please let me know, what will you grow this season? I'm so curious and could use some new ideas myself!

Also, I gave my good friend a tip about gardening for beginners. Don't fuss too much over your plants. Let them grow, and don't water them too much.

Any tips from you, readers?
till next time...

XOXO
Love, Funtimehappygardenexplosion!

today is super tuesday

2008-02-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

It's time to vote, all you californians!

If you live in Riverside county but are unsure of where your polling place is, go here:
http://www.election.co.riverside.ca.us/polls/root0205/pollplac.htm
Click your zip code, then street name, then click on the street name & block link to see where your polling place is.

if you have never voted before, you will need to bring your driver's license or other photo ID to your polling place.

If you are registered and ready, but not sure who to vote for, please take a look at this website:
http://www.2008electionprocon.org/
It describes the various candidates and details their positions on a variety of important issues. It provides quotes from speeches/books/voting records to further explain candidate positions.

If you are not yet registered to vote, please go here:
http://www.rockthevote.com/home.php
to fill out the registration form. You can print it out and mail it yourself, or submit it online and they will mail it to you to sign and mail to your registrar.

Get ready your seed bombs!

2008-02-03T10:01:00.001-08:00

Who wants a seed bomb? They contain beautiful california poppies. They have shiny dark orange petals that suck onto your nose when you smell them.

Email me for a few seed bombs

xoxo
love,
funtimehappygardenexplosion

PS check to see if the poppies are invasive to your area first! remember to be conscientious.

Return of the blaurgh. Winter plants and the marvelous things they do.

2008-01-31T19:48:00.000-08:00

I don't want to gloat too much- I apologize to those who are knee deep in snow. But wintertime is here, and look who strolled in a little late.

That's right. Cute litte cheery cherry tomatoes. A couple of round happyfaces. I will nurture them and baby them and talk and sing to them until they plump up with rosy cheeks and then I will devour them like Saturn devouring his children.. yuuum.. crunchy....

Anyhow, remember how I told you my cloning plant grew a flowering spike? I really don't know why it does this when it is already so prolific in progeny. Let me show you the babies the clones gave off:

These are only about 10% of the baby clones I kept. There were so, so many of them. Let me know if you want me to send you one. I think they're really ready to go now.

Well, back to the flowering spike- This is so beautiful, I wish i could capture the beautiful red and pink tones through a lens. Unfortunately, all I have is this picture.

I will try to capture as many pictures as I can through this process. Hopefully something spectacular and climactic happens.

XOXO
Love,
Funtimehappygardenexplosion.blogspot.com

P.S. I was wondering if anybody has happy citrus growing right now. This would be the magic hour for them. I would love to see pictures. Plus, to all my fellow Southern California gardeners, those citrus must be über sweet since we've had so much rain!
Please send pictures of orange blossoms. They are my most favored aromatic flowers, oh swoooooooooon!

P.P.S. This is what I will look like when I devour my leetle cheery cherries:

It Only Comes Once A Year

2008-01-28T20:19:00.000-08:00

I've been very busy. That's why I haven't updated.

But I have been thinking a lot about all of you, my dear readers.
What kinds of wonderful winter crops have you all grown? Zucchini? watercress? other yummy, crunchy things?

I have noticed a lot of ornamenal kale growing around my town. It is a pleasant surprise, different from the more common succulent garden. I have also been wondering if anyone has planted strawberries?

I have planted strawberries at my work, which I have been spending a lot of time at. They are growing very happily. Everyday I visit them and we have a fun time happy talk together.

Something else of mention is this is the ony time of the year when the wild things grow very happily. It is very nice to see everything in nature drinking up the rainy season (which hasn't been present for 2 years due to drought). Ryan and I have taken a vaccation together to enjoy the uncultivated and unpaved areas which bring me more smiles than an urban garden.

New Zealand

Snow on the mountain

I haven't seen so much natural green in such a long long time. Though very wet, and cold, and soggy, wintertime is my favorite because plants are so easy to grow!

Also, I have good news for you.
The plant I named Awesome Jawsome the Crazy Cloning Plant has for some reason decided to flower. I'm not exactly sure why it flowers since it clones like crazy. You would think that it had evolved to not expend so much energy flowering when it already has such an efficient means of procreating.

I will take some pictures tomorrow morning if weather permits it.

XOXO
Love,
FunTimeHappyGardenExplosion.blogspot.com.

Tumbleweeds

2007-12-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

I am sorry for such a long hiatus. I have been in the middle of trying research. Also, my plants have all suffered from the winds, the brief flood, and now the dry winds again. Along with spidermites! >:(

So I have been forced to put my garden to the back-burner.

In all apologies, here is a little story from me to you.

Enjoy and happy holidays.

Tumbleweeds

Thank You says the Plant

2007-11-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

It's October and it is summer.

2007-10-29T10:24:00.000-07:00

I apologize whole heartedly for the extreme lapse of time. Things here in southern california have been somewhat hectic. I'm sure all of you know about the raging fire that has been burning about one third of the landscape.

It has been snowing ash over the last week. When I walk outside, I expect to see zombies creeping into the streets. The sun and moon have been bright orange from the smoke's filter. the air quality has been so bad that its like having free cigarettes all the time. No, not fun.

It has also been ridiculously hot. This is inexplainable. I've always remembered halloween to be cold to the point of dampening my halloween costume. This year however, was too hot. Yesterday was about 98 degrees, the nights are about 77 degrees. This time of year is supposed to be cold enough for a scarf. I have been wearing summer dresses.

This could be due to the santa ana winds which have driven this fire, but it just does not feel right.

But speaking of warm autumns and mild winters, Southern California is great for some plants. I think only here can you grow strawberries in winter.

Strawberries are natives to this area. And with a little water and some crushed eggshells, strawberry plants will brighten up your morning.

Attack of the giant strawberry! The hippo doesn't seem scared. In fact, he looks hungry!

I have begun to plant some in front of my store as well. We gave the store front a nice coat of paint, accentuating the original brick pillars. Soon, i plan to plant more edible plants when i get the time.

Are any of you planting lettuce? Kale? Now is the time! Plant away and have some nice winter varieties to even out your dinners! Lets see some pictures!

xoxo,
funtimehappygardenexplosion!!!!1!

sad day :(

2007-10-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the saddest day in a very long time.

The santa ana winds came with fury, and 90% of my leafy plants are thrashed to death.

to be continued.

negative ions make for happy plants and people.

2007-10-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

today is nice and cloudy. it makes me happy. it also makes a lot of other people happy. The reason for this is the abundance of negative ions in the air.

(+)
During hot dry times, such as the santa ana winds, there is an overabundance of positively charged ions. This makes allergens and dust particles as light as the air. It is hard for people to breathe, and also disrupts the constant flow of serotonin in one's brain. In los angeles, the murder rate spikes during the santa ana winds. It is the wind of crazies.

(-)
With negative ions however, the dust and allergens become kind of "magnetically" charged, and sticks to the negative ions. This causes them to fall, and clears out the air. For some reason, it also slows down and regulates the serotonin, and pacifies people. People become calm, contemplative, and content. Think of foggy airports.

Elevated levels of serotonin increase dream activity and habilitates easy thinking. These levels of serotonin can be increased with the presence of negative ion generators.

My plan: I will build 2 ion generators, one which generates only positive ions, and one which generates only negative ions. I will somehow contain each generator in some kind of room with plants. Of course, i will need a control plant which exists outside the contained areas.

Here is my dilemma: i would have to construct an airtight container. Because i have little space and materials, i was thinking about using fans, a ventilation hole, and large, clear trashbags. This would create a space of high humidity. Ions are naturally negatively charged by mist, often occurring near beaches or lakes. How will i be able to create a positively charged area within a breeding ground of humidity? Will the positive ion converter dry out the space? Or will i need to use more generators to get back to regular outdoor conditions? Should i just scrap the idea of constructing a contained air-tight area?

Interesting stuff i found during research:

Serotonin concentrations of 3 - 30 mg/kg have been found in plantain, pineapple, banana, kiwifruit, plums, and tomatoes. -From Wikipedia's search of seratonin.

The quinones and melanins derived from dopamine may help protect damaged fruit and vegetables against growth of bacteria and fungi. -Mayer, AM (2006). "Polyphenol oxidases in plants and fungi: Going places? A review". Phytochemistry 67: 2318-2331. PMID 16973188

using lie detectors to measure telepathy in plants.
Cleve Backster

Dancing telegraph plants

these plants respond to the vibration of music and will start dancing.

Blog Carnival!!!! and some good winter veggies

2007-10-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Balcony Garden is doing a Blog Carnival! If you are a garden blog, send Balcony Garden a link to your favorite post. I believe you should post in the comment box. Read more here for further instructions.

This is a great way to spend the down season, although there are still some great things you can plant.

Here's a quick list of things you can still plant:

Fava beans- High in protein and fiber. Great with pita bread. One of Ryan's favorites.
Beets- Beautiful color and taste. Great to color up any winter dish. Try a chilled beet borscht.
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Collards
Endive
Kale- also has an ornamental version with deep purples. This is will be a beautiful edition to any garden.
Kohlrabi- a kind of cabbage. Wikipedia says it is "sputnik in shape". How can you not grow these?
Leeks
Mustard
Bunching Onions
Parsley
Peas
Radishes
Roquette- a somewhat wild plant, great in winter salads for its peppery taste. Think arugula. high in vitamin C and iron.
Rutabagas- pie anyone?
Spinach
Swiss Chard
Turnips- a little bit of heat for the cold winter.
Winter Zucchini- hearts to infinity! try a pureed potato, onion, zucchini, and pear soup. garnish with mint! try warm or chilled!

it is windy and i am sad

2007-10-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Disaster has struck in my garden.
Poor plants, ripped apart and broken from the stems.

my nose is in a constant leak from all the blowing allergens.

i have a theory that it is mostly cat dander, blowing around into my nose.
riverside is a working class town, and with little room in an apartment dwelling town, cats are easy and cheaper to maintain than a dog.

cats are more self sustainable than the needy dog, and my eyeball sockets are oozing mucus.

i'll try to post some pictures of my fallen friends later.

how are all of your plants doing?

Free plants by mail.

2007-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Here is the giveaway!

I am giving away the clones of this plant:

This plant likes full sun. good indoor plant during the cold season. Great velociraptor markings on outer parts of leaves. watch it clone as well! the edges of the leaves curl up and look like toothy jaws. in short- this plant is the species awesome jawsome.

Email me at meminecaroline@gmail.com with your address. i promise i am not a weirdo stalker. a PO box will work great too. postage free, especially if you send me something in return.

A note to alaska: please take advantage of this great offer. i know i can bike to your house, but a plant by mail is so much fun.

A note to eli: this will make a perfect pet for you and jessica.

sorry for the lapse

2007-09-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

I have been greatly pressed for time lately. I have decided to take some life enriching classes at the community college. I also got in a bike wreck, completely my fault. i was being unsafe and silly. i have abrasions on my hands, lots of bruises, and a good shiner near my eye that will fetch me fifty points of street cred- wut wut?

i have been concentrating more on math, painting my kitchen, hanging out with good friends, letting the pavement kick my ass, and working on some art projects in the mean time. However, i promise to post something soon.

Usually when i have nothing to write about, i opt for the always good dinner recipes and the amazing link to something fantastic. keep in mind my left hand is throbbing with pain so it is hard for me to type. ok. here we go.

Amazing Dinner!!! Broccoli+Beets=<3

1. in a large skillet, brown some finely chopped garlic in some margarine.

2. throw in some florets of broccoli (one big tree) and a couple of diced beets.
you'll know when it's ready when the broccoli has shrunk and wilted. another good indication of it's readiness is when you burn the inside of your mouth with a good firm, but not hard, cube of delicious beet.

3. pour on some balsamic vinegar. about an eighth of a cup should do, depending on your taste.

4. drizzle on some extra virgen olive oil. and salt&pepper to taste.

serves 2-3.

Try this dish with some angel hair pasta. Or tortellini!

The reason why this is so good is because the broccoli florets soak up all the flavors. The beets add a subtle sweet taste and a divine color. This combination creates a very light late dinner, something that does not overwhelm. Try it with a shiraz. another perk to this dish is that it takes about 15-20 minutes to prepare start to finish.

Did i mention broccoli and beets are both amazing power foods exploding with vitamins?

oh yea, and the beet was once considered to be the devil's bleeding heart. how can you not like beets?

amazing link! architects from the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) design green homes that make me love

This one is my favorite, with some awesome pictures. a must see, i promise.
click here --> Dezeen

urbanizing space, from the development firms to everyday gardens.

2007-09-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to LA to visit my mother and my best friend. On the way, NPR was broadcasting a roundtable discussion between a representative from an urban development firm, the deputy mayor of LA, and a resident of the Simi Valley area concerning the application of sales tax revenue which funds public works such as roads, water, libraries, post offices, etc.

In large populated cities where public services are more needed, space is limited. A huge Walmart or Costco is definitely out of the picture. Development firms are becoming wiser and trying to maximize small urban spaces by building up, instead of the outward sprawl they're used to doing in the past.

They call this urbanizing space.

I am a big fan of upward spreading. When I was little, I imagined a mansion to be a tall slim tower opposed to a huge sprawl. Growing up in LA, I thought the only way to build my future mansion was up, not out.

Malibu Mansion:

My Mansion:

I kid you not, this was the drawing I had spent hours and days drawing over and over again.

Well anyway, while I was listening to the NPR program, I started to think about upward spreading. Here in Riverside (Urban Sprawl, USA), much of the buildings are short, low to the ground, and a huge waste of space. (I have not ridden an elevator for about 3 years now.) The city is remodeling the Downtown Library by expanding out. When I heard these plans, I was saddened because there is a nice lawn in front of the library. The new plans would expand the front of the building out to the street, eliminating the lawn, the trees, and the nice benches. I wonder why they can't build up, instead of out.

I also started to think about my garden. With it's limited space, I am now starting to run out of space. I have been throwing plants together in sharing containers, but I would really like to have another raised box to grow more stuff. So I started thinking what if my garden was like a high-rise apartment? That would surely work. Better yet, I began to think about plants themselves, and how they structure themselves to be the most efficient at gathering sunlight. What if we could imitate them and appropriate nature's mathematical designs? There has to be a reason why plants evolved over millions of years, why not adopt some of their lessons?

This plant has been featured several times before. Can you tell this is one of my favorites? When you look at it from a bird's eye view, the leaves whorl around the stem in order to achieve maximum sunlight. When you draw radians through the leaves, you come across this formation:

I assumed this famous trigonometric diagram...

...as a schematic for an urbanized planter:

And upon rendering, the planter would look something like this:

This is really interesting to me. I will try to work out some more designs for planters.

4 simple steps to become 22% greener.

2007-08-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Its hard to do a major overhaul of the way you do things but luckily for you, being green is easy as banana creme pie. Plus, it will save you lots of money that you could use for a vegetable garden.

1. Gas is expensive. Find other means of transportation.
Get a bike to travel locally. You don't have to give up your car, just use it less. Plus, you will be more healthy, maybe loose a little weight, eat less, buy less, look better. Public trans is green. Green is cheap. Green is sexy. Be green, get laid.

2. Food is expensive. Opt for fresh vegetables and fruits in season.
Vegetables are cheap- Way cheaper than those microwave boxes, cheaper than eating out. Vegetables are healthy. In the long run, if you eat five a day, you will save on health costs. Think towards the future. Instant gratification is way overrated. If you eat more veggies, you will be more healthy, you will have more energy, your body will become more efficient. Become a green machine. You will want to walk more, or ride your bike with greater ease. With vegetables, there is also little waste. No big boxes, no plastic packaging. Easy as pie. Rhubarb pie.
Want to know whats in season and when? Check out these links. Or find your own.
Food Network's seasonal chart
Nutritiously Gormet Seasonal Calander

3. Bottled Water is expensive. and stupid. Stop buying bottled water.
Tap water is extremely underrated. Trust me. Add some ice, maybe a lemon, try a few mint leaves- it's fantastic! But if you are finicky, opt for a Brita or other kind of water purifier. Re-fill and re-use your plastic bottles. Not only is plastic a huge landfill problem, it is also ridiculously expensive. People used to make fun of buying water. But clever advertising has programed us to think its not stupid at all. Trust me, it's stupid.

4. Ephemeral fashion is expensive. Instead of buying shoes and clothes every other day, spend money on an urban garden.
Grow mint, basil, eggplants, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, peppers, squash, etc. Not only are they pretty and tasty, think of it as an investment. Home grown foods taste so much better than your large-chain-grocer's because they are fresh. There's no scary chemicals in them either. The supermarkets also make a lot of emissions from transporting the produce from far away. Think it's a waste of water? What about your lavish lawns? Get rid of it and grow a veggie garden. Click this to go to the Edible Estates website to see how it's done. If you can eat what you grow, you spend less on food. See number 2 above. With all the excess money from not shopping a lot, plan fun pot luck with all your friends. Become happy so you don't have to fill the void with shopping all time. Opt for the thrift stores and cheap vintage stores. By doing so, you won't be supporting exploitative labor either.

Tomatillos

2007-08-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

If you don't think these are awesome as hell, you're not human.

These are tomatillo plants. I'm still expecting them to light up any moment now.

Guerilla Gardening: Seed Bombs

2007-08-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

Have you seen me?

Hello, I am an empty lot. I exist in your neighborhood. I'm just a big patch of dirt and some trash. I make my neighbors feel uneasy and sad. No one likes me and it makes me sad too. All over, it is a lose-lose situation.

But maybe you can help me? All I need are some seed bombs. They're cheap and easy to make. And if you do it right, they are completely self automated and great for the environment. They will be a sight for sore eyes and they will make everyone happy. Especially the butterflies.

Seed Bombs Ingredients
1) powdered clay
2) worm castings
3) wildflower seeds indigenous to the area
4) water
5) mixing container
6) stick

How to Make a Seed Bomb
1) mix 5pt powder clay, 5pt worm castings, 1pt seeds in a mixing container.
2) add just enough water to make a nice muddy clay consistency
3) roll up the mixture into little balls like gum balls
4) let dry in a cool dry place for like 3 days
5) throw them in empty fields.

The middle bomb is a great size.

How they Work
A seed bomb is a little capsule with everything you need to grow a plant all bundled up. The clay has lots of root-encouraging nutrients. The Worm Castings will give the seeds a nice fertilizer, good for land that hasn't been cultivated or worked on for a while. The indigenous seeds are custom made for your area. They will know how to grow given the conditions.

Now all they need is a nice rain. The perfect time to throw these is right before a light rainy season. The rain will melt the clay to expose the seeds, and your seed bombs will grow.

We had a seed bomb workshop in November. We used California Poppy seeds. Unfortunately there was no rain this year, so we have a whole bunch saved for this fall.

Now it's your turn. Make seed bombs. Invite your friends. Make your city greener.

EDIT**********

Check out these awesome people!

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I've got a bike you can try it if you like

2007-08-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

I usually ride my bike around town. Its the most efficient way to get around, and it's sooooooo much fun.
Look smart as you steer those streets.

The biggest argument about riding you bike is that it's too hot. Not true. Because the bicycle is so efficient, you are using up less energy than walking. With the steady stream of wind in your locks, it is as if mother nature has her AC on.

Go to the market. Go to the library. Go to work. Go throw your seed bombs into empty lots. Go get drunk. Yes, you can also ride your bike to the local pub. It's fun to bike tipsy, I swear. Fun time happy time.

Oh, so you want a bike? Very well. Here are your options:

Mountain Bike

These bikes are super fancy. They have nice breaks, nice shocks (do you need crazy shocks like these?), super fatty tires with which you can over-run a mole with sharp teeth. If you're commuting around town, this might not be so necessary.

Hybrid Bike

These bikes are a hybrid of the mountain bike and the road bike. This is very suitable for commuting around for the local grocer, etc. They are comfy, have gears for city slopes, and are very practical. The best thing about these is the upright seating position.

Road Bike

These bikes are the ones with the super skinny tires. This bike will zip you to your destination. They are fun, fast, sleek and wonderful. But careful when you see glass on the street. And road bikes are just for roads. No dirt, bumpy terrain, especially no gravel. Stick a rack on the back, and you're set to go. Zoom past cars on the street, smooth riding to the bar. Con: you better know how to fix a flat, you're going to be bent over while you ride.

Little BMX bikes

These bikes look like your 8 year old little brother's bike. They take 50 pedal rotations to move a wheel 3.14 feet. Not so awesome, but your street cred will skyrocket with the 14 year olds down the block.

Something I'm Looking Forward To: October 15, 2007

2007-08-21T16:07:00.000-07:00

No End In Sight

2007-08-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

I strongly recommend everyone to seek out this documentary.

It is not fun. It is enraging, shocking, devastating and heart wrenching. But I feel it is necessary to watch.

I just watched it tonight and I am deeply disturbed and thankful to have seen it.

Attack of the Cute Adorable Crunchy Yummy Babies!

2007-08-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Look at these cute crunchy yummy babies!!!

E.Fong Tomato

Baby Burpless Cucumber

and here's the money shot:

Faces of Evil #2- Red Spider Mites >:(

2007-08-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

Red Spider Mites: The Enemy.

Although these things are hard to see with the naked eye (but they are visible if you look close!) these things are my number one enemy. They are a menace and they drive me nuts. In order to conquer these, you must know them. Know their habits, know their environment, know where they come from. Know them. Be them. KILL them... in five easy steps.

Without chemicals or pesticides

These jerk-faces are a big problem to patio/balcony growers for many reasons.
-There is little space, so plants are often crowded.
-There is little natural humidity (esp if you are above ground level) due to the absence of a soil bed that can trap in a lot of moisture for all day timed release action.
-Because of the arid conditions, there is a small presence of beneficial bugs such as ladybugs and praying mantises.
-There might be another amateur gardener somewhere near you who doesn't take good care of his/her own infested plants and the creepies float on in by the wind currents.

The Spider Mite

(about 1,000x actual size, artist's exaggerated rendering)

-Very small tiny spider like creatures that make webs and suck the nutrients out of plants
-Loves dry climates
-Loathes wet things and humidity
-Is an equal opportunity plant eater/killer
-Is terrified of ladybugs

What to look for

-Webbing with little reddish spots that move around.
-White spots covering leaf
-Some wilting

How to kill them

Ok, so I know that a lot of people don't have much time. Don't worry. Depending on the level of infestation, it shouldn't take you over an hour.

If you have a potted plant, take them to the sink and wash them off. But if you have your plants growing in a heavy box with other plants, it will be a little more complicated. Especially if you live in an apartment with no garden hose available.

1. Get rid of the webs. Use a piece of toilet paper, Q-tip, napkin, stick, or anything. A lot of the little jerks will be on the webbings, so if you get rid of the webs, you get rid of them.

2. Dampen a Q-tip and get rid of all the other Spider Mites on the plants. Try a big bowl of water with 1-2 drops of dishwashing liquid. That's what I used. A very mild solution of soapy water.

Don't forget the nooks and crannies. The idea is to get rid of ALL the spider mites.

Look how disgusting this is.

3.Cut off the leaves that can't be saved.

Why waste a plant's energy storage on leaves that have no hope? Cut off the ones that can't be saved. But don't go crazy and cut off all the leaves.

4. Use that big bowl of soapy water and give your plant a good bath. This will leave a nice damp surface that Spider Mites hate. This will also get rid of any stubborn mites that you've missed.

5. My favorite step: Dump the water in the sink.

The bowl of soapy water will probably be a little brownish due to all the spider mites that are drowning in it. You can turn on the garbage disposal for added effect.

If you have really good hearing, the spider mites' dissension will be audible. Just shoot some expletives back at them. Don't worry. At this point there is no way they can beat you up.

Tomorrow, and every other extremely hot&dry day after that, spritz the plants with plain old water. Don't forget, most leaves like water too. This will also discourage new mites from coming back.

Amazing Things Are Afoot! Vienna Vegetable Orchestra

2007-08-15T02:22:00.000-07:00

The Vienna Vegetable Orchestra

These people take themselves very seriously. They've been around since 1997. I hope they don't just throw away the carvings. That would be a shame.

Please visit their website by clicking here.
This website features many sound clips, photos of their instruments, and an intensive FAQ section.

Attack of the Clones! When Plants Propagate THEMSELVES!

2007-08-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

When people think of clones they often think of weird freak mutations a la that dumb Michael Keaton comedy from way back when.
But this is not always the case. Sometimes these "freaks" become way better than the originals:

But in the plant world, clones are exactly the same as it's mother. The DNA of a plant clone is a carbon copy (exact replica) from the plant it came from.

This post is about plants that clone and propagate themselves. Awesome. Here is a list of all the self-cloning plants I have. There are far more different kinds of plants that clone themselves, cacti being the most well known self-cloner. Sansevieria plants have leaves that will self root in a sandy soil. Begonia leaves also do the trick.

The reason why I'm amazed by these plants is because they do all the work. They produce, sever, and root themselves with no chemicals, no cutting, no nothing.

Aeonium Arboreum

Plant

Clone

This little guy started growing from the trunk. It developed aerial roots, fell off, and started growing.

Kalanchoe

The genus Kalanchoe is actually known for it's cloning. Is it a surprise that I have 2 different examples of Kalanchoe? Two examples of Kalanchoe Crassulaceae to be exact.

KALANCHOE LAXIFLORA

Plant

Clone

What I love about this plant is it's beautiful scalloped leaves. There are touches of pink, red, and orange. These leaves also drop themselves and form little clones!

KALANCHOE DAIGREMONTIANA

Plant

Clone

I have never seen a more prolific plant in my life. This thing copy&pastes itself faster than a highschool plagiarist on Wikipedia.

I know there are so many other plants that clone themselves, such as the pineapple plant Ananas Bromeliaceae (When you eat a pineapple, you actually eat the clone), the spider plant, and many others.

Do you know of any? Send me some pictures and I'll post them up.

dear cucumber, I will eat you.

2007-08-13T22:21:00.000-07:00

Taste test number 1.

Actually, it's really taste test number two because we already sampled our cherry tomato and our yellow E.Fong tomato. But anyway,

Remember the cucumber that kind of puffed up and never puffed out? It was our semi-deflated animal balloon until we were sick of waiting for it to fully develop. I mean, we waited for like 2 months. So while making coleslaw tortas, I asked Ryan to go ahead and bring it.

And he brought it.

Yes, good cucumber. We're ready to eat you.

At this point, I sliced off two pieces and gave Ryan one. We had been waiting for such a long time, we regarded this little cucumber as if it was our own crunchy baby.

We have no photos documenting the precise moment of eating. Ryan had the camera ready, but once I raised my slice to my mouth, Ryan was overcome by a wave of jealousy because he didn't want me to enjoy the cucumber without him. He wanted to be the first to try.

Everything then became a big struggle, things knocking over the countertops as we each tried to hinder the other while trying to consume our own.

At some point, I don't know how, but we each happened to get a taste at the very same time. We stared at each other crunching and then it hit us.

The cucumber was nasty as hell.

Bad, Cucumber, BAD! But it was no use. No amount of screaming and chastising could relieve the bitter taste of betrayal in our mouths.

When bad people happen to good plants. How to save your plant.

2007-08-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

It happens to the best of us. It happens for many different reasons. It could be due to a cataclysmic change to your life such as a car accident, a new busy job, a trip to the emergency room, having to go somewhere for a prolonged visit somewhere. Maybe you've been paying too much attention to some plants and neglected another. By accident. It wasn't intentional, you love all your plants equally. You're a great plant person, you've got the greenest thumb within 3 consecutive counties. But sometimes it happens. One of your plants is dying.

Sound your alarm, Red Alert!

No, it's not because a naked man falls out of thin air! One of the most common problem of dying plants is lack of water.

Thristy Plants Symptoms
a) leaves are yellow or brown, and very brittle. Some green is still present in some leaves and stems. This is fixable.

b) you try to water the plant but the water just leaks through the drainage holes immediately. This is because your soil is so dry it cannot retain any water. Think of it like a dry sponge, or a dry cloth dinner napkin. You will not be able to soak up a spill because the air holes are constricted shut, and will not allow water to take rest in these small caves.

But this problem is easily fixable! As easy as 1-2-3.

1. Cut off dead leaves. Anything brown must go. This can even include stems. Why let the plant use up valuable resources to try to save parts that have no hope? Focus on what you've got.

2. Bring the plant to your kitchen sink. If it is a large plant in a large pot, take it to your bathtub. Douse the pot in water. Let the pot fill up with running water for five seconds. Let it drain by itself and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

3. Repeat step 2 until the soil is completely hydrated and can retain water itself. Once this is done, leave it alone for at least 3 days. This also depends of whether the plant is an outdoor or indoor plant. If it is an indoor plant, you may want to wait a whole week to a week-and-a-half before watering it again.

If you are afraid the water has washed away important nitrates and other fertilizer, sprinkle a little bit of worm castings into the plant. One to three tablespoons per square foot should do the trick.

Worm castings is Worm poo! It's my favorite kind of fertilizer because there is no odor, does not invite swarmy flies, is nicer to touch than other kinds of fertilizers, and is made from earth worms! All the stuff the earthworm eats is vegetarian, and the worms seem pretty happy.

Interesting Plant or Garden Related Videos

2007-08-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

Master Glass artist Dale Chihuly shows at NY Botanical Gardens
I can never take him seriously however, after watching a filmed interview in which Chihuly was clothed in only an eyepatch in a bathtub full of water. His forms are all inspired by organic designs. I think he is worth knowing about.

From youtube user nullgel.
"This is a plant that I rescued from an abandoned office back in 1998. It's become like a pet to me over the years and seems to "reach out" to me when I sit at my desk. No one believed me until I captured this time-lapse video. It slows down after the start, but be patient!"

Did you know mushrooms breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide like humans? Opposite from green plants.

Penis Plants Revisited

2007-08-04T12:35:00.000-07:00

Exhibit A:

My penis plants have disappeared. They lasted for about a week, the height being little caps sprouting throughout the bed and then abruptly disappearing.

I have been thinking much about these plants, and why they strike me as something curious. I am not interested in them being curious in of themselves, but more so why I consider them strange.

1. These penis plants came up without any notion that this could happen. They seem to be a perfectly random occurrence. It was something I didn't even know had the possibility of happening.

2. I have never seen this kind of plant before, therefore it is not cataloged in my database of information of natural occurring instances. I have no name for these...things, and so it is questionable to my matrix of language/definition.

3. The idea of luck seems to have a place in this specimen. How lucky it is that a random instance has occurred? Not only is it something I never even thought about, let alone the random penis structure, coupled with the random bright yellow color.

4. Random occurrences give way to humor, or more so a sense of euphoria. It was funny. And magical.

Let us explore:

In gardening, cause and effect are pretty clearly laid out.

Water=grow.
Too much water=dead plant.
Not enough water=dead plant.
The same can be said about sun, fertilizer, and many other variables. I always considered gardening to be a healthy balance between different elements, much like health in eastern medicine is applied to the human body. Zen of gardening, if you will. This characteristic is welcomed by so many and is enjoyed because of its ease to visualize the future outcome while posing enough of a challenge to cultivate one's art of gardening.

So for simplicity's sake, let us define gardening as:
Result=(Dedication)x(Expectable Outcome)
(or R=DE)

Here we can see that the result is very straight forward.

However, the penis plants pose a dilemma since it seems to exist without any context, furthermore, without a foundation of understanding outside of given parameters such as language or experience.

Thus the penis plant seems to hover without a function, without any establishment or function of its own. This encapsulates a randomness, uneasiness, and finally, the brain's surrender to the preposterous, leading to humor.

filler post: the wonderful world of trees

2007-07-31T20:57:00.001-07:00

My love of plants first originated from my love of trees. Having no property of my own, I often dream of a day when I can grow a tree outside the confines of an apartment.

Currently, I have 3 trees; 2 palms and a silk floss tree (Chorisa Speciosa)vaguely related to the boabab. Vaguely. This tree was grown from a seed I had taken from a beautiful specimen located from the university I attended.

This is what I hope it will look like someday.

(www.bentleytropicals.com)

This is what it looks like. This is not my tree. My tree is a little bit older.

(www.tropiflora.com)

This is what I wish my tree to someday become.

(www.floridagardener.com)

Anyhow, I found this post in Neatorama, a blog about neat things
Take a look. You will be amazed.

Here is the link:10 Most Magnificent Trees in the World.

WTF??? becomes new label.

2007-07-22T15:26:00.000-07:00

Before I go into details regarding the title, I'd first like to mention that this time of the year is hot, humid, and unbearable. However, there is some good to this month. Namely, this is when mint blooms.

these perfect purple spikes are not only gorgeous, they also emit a very pleasant smell.

Now on to the weirdness.

A new organism has made its home in my succulent box. I have no idea what this is. I was watering my plants today and when I saw it, I dropped the watering can and said out loud, "what the fuck is this?" For in my box, I have found a happy herd of yellow peni.

Dear readers, please help me identify what this is. I haven't the faintest. Why are there dicks in our dirt?

attack of the baobab!

2007-07-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

monstrous baobab?

or

baby bok choy?

naomi brought home some baby boks from the grocery store. When she was all done, I stuck the naked stems in the soil and they started growing like crazy.

I have always saved my beet tops, carrot tops, and other tops, however I could never find room for transporting the nubs from a water tray to soil.

Here is a great video about growing a free garden.

I haven't been updating in a while because I assumed the growing season was over. I was disappointed with the idea that Ryan and I planted too late in the season. The days have started to near the unbearably-hot mark and I reasoned with myself that the tomatoes will have to wait one year of maturity before fuition.

I was ready to throw in my towel, throw the spade in the pail, dump the dirt, scratch the patch so to speak.

But I put my berries in my butter too soon. The unbearable heat has taken control over the caterpillars. They have virtually disappeared and my plants are looking very happy. Take a look for yourself:

With no more caterpillars, my mint has been able to build up their chlorophyll carrying canopies!

Look at this terrific tear-drop tomato! These are yellow tomatoes- excess sprouts from Elliot Fong.

Here is a nice round baby cherry tomato.

Though the catapillars are gone, it seems I have a new enemy.

Can you see the little ants? They were congregating near my cucumbers after watering. I moved the cucumber container and recoiled in horror. This is what I saw:

That, if you can't tell, is a shitload of ants. They had taken residence in my poppy pot. Here is a close-up:

I wouldn't mind the ants so much if they didn't come inside my home to raid the honey pot and trash cans.

And for you observant readers, I did re-arrange my garden. :)

Before:

After:

Also in other news, Ryan and I have been very busy scouting the surrounding area for free edible delectables you can pick yourself. So far we have found figs, blackberries, mint, basil, oranges, lemons, peaches, thyme, and much more. Ryan is in the process of creating a google map.

waste no more: Biodegradable Pots

2007-07-05T01:37:00.001-07:00

Instructions:
To listen, click the link below. This should open a pop up of Real Player. The podcast should open immediately starting with a brief plea for donations to NPR. The real segment will open momentarily.

From NPR's MarketWatch Friday April 20, 2007

Putting more green into pots

Listen to this story

A lot of us are in our gardens putting in flowers and other plants, and we end up with lots of non-recyclable plastic pots. But some growers are experimenting with greener alternatives. Janet Babin reports.

This is a good thing to listen to when you decide to start growing vegetables/other kinds of plants if you want to buy the plant rather than cultivate from seed.

Circle of Life is nice because they concentrate on being eco-friendly from pre-production all the way out of the store. Here is a link if you want to learn more about the Circle of Life Pots.
Unfortunately there is no retailer in California yet, but if you're in another state, or in some parts of Canada, you just might be lucky.

If you are really antsy to start using these great new pots and cannot get to Circle of Life, I have found another source. I have found biodegradable pots from Sean Conway's garden line at Target. Sean Conway is like Target's version of Martha Stewart.Here is his website.

As a last note, look to the right of the screen under links. I have posted a new link of a Rashaad, a friend of ours. He is working on creating sustainable communities within the Inland Empire.

The Garden of Earthly Delights

2007-06-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to our very intelligent and interesting friend Eli.

The Garden of Earthly Delights by Stan Brakhage.

"he chose to live on his mountain patch until the end of his days, capturing 'the eventuality of everyday living.' With a camera in hand, he set about transforming himself into 'a collector of light, 24 hours a day.'" -Karli Lukas

Mr. Brakhage is like a leaf, collecting light. When I first heard the name Mr. Brakhage, I immediatly associated him with a bract. Im glad I did. It all makes sense to me.

In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, from the axil of which a flower or flower- stalk arises. A bract may also be any leaf associated with an inflorescence. Usually bracts are green and resemble the other leaves. Some bracts, however, are brightly colored and serve the function of attracting pollinators, either in concert with or instead of the tepals. - wikipedia

Many bracts are infact commonly mistaken for petals. Here are some examples:

bract

bract

bract

Urban Steali- I mean Foraging #1

2007-06-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

I decided to do laundry today. And like any person with a boyfriend, I asked Ryan to help me carry stuff into the laundry room. That was my mistake #1. He noticed a little tree on the other side of the fence. It had peaches on it.

"Hey caroline, look!"
He ran away and later I spied him loitering around the wall. He had brought something to help him define the situation.

Moments later he disappeared and I was forced to burden the heavy laundry basket back to the apartment alone.

When I walked in the door, Ryan had already started making his contraption.

I would post up the directions on how to make an urban forager, but I don't think this particular contraption needs any kind of explaining. But I'll just tell you it's made out of a broom, a yard stick, a plastic bag and a paper grocery bag, and lots of masking tape. Oh, and plastic coat hangers.

Ryan finished quickly. He tried to move as quickly as he could when he saw I was equiped with a camera.

Look at him run.

I walked back to the laundry room and sure enough...

If you really want to know how Ryan built his contraption, here is a close up:

There will be more urban foraging in the future. Like this one, I will try to take good pictures. Ryan will be working on a google map with a lot of public edible plants so you can forage for yourself.

Our Battle with the Caterpillars is Finally Paying Off. Time to Celebrate Wth Food.

2007-06-28T20:49:00.002-07:00

Organic Pesticides

Seems like we got things under control. We now know what to look for. The baby caterpillars like to hide in a shroud of silk oftimes in the small buds of young leaves. I have vigilently been scouring these buds with q-tips. I don't know how long it will take until I crack and start using pesticides.

There are some options, however. Ryan and I visited the local nursery which we strongly recommend to all local gardeners. If you are not from Riverside, I assure you, there will be at least one small mom-and-pop near you. Just search for them. Here is the address of our favorite gardening resource:

Parkview Nursery #1
3841 Jackson Street
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 351-6900

Not only were the employees hip in their straw hats with the beaded neck strap, they were extremely helpful, knowledgeble, and friendly. They even told us to bring samples of our plighted plants so they could pin-point what the problems were.

Oh, but back to pesticides.

Parkview Nursey offers a pesticide solution for those who are wary of synthetic and harmful chemicals. Pharm Solutions Inc. provides an eco-friendly insect repeller using ingreedients such as peppermint oils, garlic oils, cinnamon, and other natural home-made remedies.

These bottles cost about $15 a pop- a little too much for us, but maybe not for you. The man at Parkview told us it works well and is true to its creed, however I tried to do a little digging myself. Unfortunately this product is still pretty new, and I have yet to find some reviews other than on the product's marketing site. Take a look for yourself. Pharm Soulutions Inc.

If you are like us, and would like to make your own remedy, these insect repellers work because of the waxy oils. Some people just mix soap and water into a solution to spray the plants. The waxy coat halts the mastication of little caterpillars and aphids. The cinamon, garlic, peppermint, etc oils leave a nasty taste in the critter's mouths. And there you have it. Simple solution. But remember: if you're in a warm climate like we are, put off the spraying until the strongest heat of the day is over. Avoid spraying in the morning. These oils will bake your leaves and your plants will perish with the bugs.

Anyhow,

After weeks of grueling hand picking, It seems the caterpillars are letting up. Here is our first cherry tomato.

and here is our first eggplant flower. look how purple it is.
doesn't it look like a vampire squid?

eggplant flower

vampire squid

Recipe #1: Meditarrean 'Malgamation

Ingredients:

Cucumbers	Garbanzo Beans	Green Onions
Romaine Hearts	Pita Bread	Veggie Soy Dogs
BowTie Pasta	Extra Virgen Olive Oil	Balsamic Vinegar

Also: Sugar, Cayenne Peper, Salt, Black Peper to taste.

Step 1- Salad: Cut up tomatoes and cucumbers. Place in bowl and put a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Put a pinch of brown sugar in there and mix it good. By pinch, I mean a very- very small amount. Pour in your garbanzoes and spice up (salt, peper, cayenne) for taste. If you are using canned garbanzoes, these are usually a little salty, so taste it before you put more salt.
Step 2- Pasta: Boil Pasta. Boil sliced Soy Dogs. Dice up the bell pepers and slice green onions. Once the pasta is done, drain and drizzle in olive oil. Dump the sliced dogs on top and pour on the bell peppers and green onions.
Step 3- Put it together: Get two romain leaves, put them on a plate, and spoon some salad in one, and some pasta on the other. Get pita bread and enjoy!

Faces of Evil

2007-06-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

These little catapillars are so fast. This is why the pictures are so blurry. Also because our digital camera is sucky.

These catapillars are moth larvae. They eat up to 100 times their body weight in a single day. These little critters have decimated our zucchini and mint. So far, we have found 2 cacooning pupae wrapped up in leaves and silk. If if weren't for their voracious appetite, I'd consider them cute.

Farewell Bells

2007-06-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

So it looks as though our bell peppers are suffering an unbearable heartbreak, scorned by the Riverside sun, shriveling up and dying.

Ryan and I have been trying to save them. We have been talking about them at dinner time the way parents talk about their children who are on drugs or in rehab: What we did wrong, Should we have spend more time with them, Was it too early to have them leave our kitchen sill? Should we have paid more attention to them? And then we had it. Perhaps it was the environment they were raised in.

Seriously. Their environment. Remember the box we had built? Ryan had made a bad crib for our babies. And we'd like to share this mistake so you don't make the same ones.

We bought our wood from Home Depot. We used fencing wood that was pre-treated. Now mind you, the squash is doing fine, the eggplant a little shakey. Then i noticed something. The bell peppers are in the north-east corner of the box. The sun never touches that side. The chemicals in this box had not yet been cured by the sun and the dampness of the soil had seeped into the poor little roots of our precious green bells. And there you have it.

Look to the far left side of the box. Here is the bell peppers as a young happy child. This is when Ryan and I dreamed up all the happy possibilities- salad, sandwich, green curry, etc. Note the healthy leaves and great posture.

Look at the young happy fruit. Ryan and I were on the edges of our chairs, ready to break out the champagne and cigars. Saliva was pumping all thoughout our mouths.

but look. Now the fruit is shriveling and pouchy. The bell is soft and mushy. :(

You can also see the worm holes the catapillars have made on the leaves. This is going to be a hard summer.

Meanwhile on the other side of our garden...

We are planning a cucumber party soon. More details TBA.

<3 <3 <3

Build A Box! Grow Patio Veggies!

2007-06-03T18:46:00.000-07:00

So you want to grow veggies? Good idea! You don't have a yard? Who cares, we don't!(have a yard)

You can grow veggies outside on your patio. By building a raised bed, you can grow plants on your fire escape, on your air conditioner box, or even attatch brackets to hang from your bathroom window.

The Raised Bed

These boxes are referred to as "raised beds" because they are garden beds above the ground.

The good thing about growing in a raised bed is that it does have some degree of mobility in the event that you need to move.

So lets begin. This is what you will need:

Now you are ready to hammer it all together. Make sure you hammer enough nails to reinforce the sides. Don't forget, the contents of this box will be moist. This could lead to wood warping.

You will need two shorter panels and three longer panels.

And there you have it. This sort of raised bed is ideal for growing any number of vegetables, and even some fruits. Strawberries, cucumbers, or zuchini would all do well in a raised bed. Just make sure not to overcrowd your plants. We are budgeting space here, but at least give them enough room to flourish in moderation. You can plant multiple varieties of vegetables in a single bed if you like, but it would be a good idea to do some research as to which plants are complimentary and which aren't. If two plants in the same bed require the same kinds of nutrients from the soil, then neither will do well.

If you're feeling less industrious, there are plenty of other preconstructed containers in which you can grow vegetables, like football helmets or the bed of some dude's totally sweet lifted monster truck, but making your own is just more fun. If you do use some pre-existing container, make sure that it's not water tight. That means you'll have to drill a hole in your helmet, but the tomato plant to whom you've just given a new home will repay you in kind.

Where To Get Your Plants: Good Indoor Plants for Lazy Irresponsible Murderers.

2007-06-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

There are many different places to get your plants. Often the most easily accesible are mega chain nuseries like you might find at Wal-Mart, but there are a bevy of local growers whose entire businesses are dedicated solely to the art of raising plants. These local growers will inevitably have superior product, be more knowledgable about their trade and are generally more friendly. Supporting your local businesses is good for your local economy, your community, and you. A budding budget guerilla gardener might do well to scout out public spaces where easily accessible plants can be tastefully uprooted and transplanted, or borrowed from to begin building their own garden.

Be weary of supermarkets and drugstores. Many of the plants they wish to sell you are quick flowering ephemera. These angiosperms (flowering plants) will only last you a springtime; summertime if you're lucky. These types include pansies and other "ColorSpot" plants. For a more long lasting joy, look for the green foliage such as ferns, tropical plants like those ivy that can grow long tentacles you can drape on your window sills.

Rhaphidophora
This plant is commonly seen plainly labeled as tropical plant in grocery stores, hardware stores, and can be found in many college dwelling apartments. They can also be seen in dentist waiting rooms, small torta restaurants, and on the desks of many underpaid receptionists. Do not fear these mundane plants. They are fast growing, hard to kill, and can be propagated in the blink of an eye. Sure they don't produce bi-sexual conspicularities (flowers with showy petals)- but do not judge, for they are faithful and loyal housepets to the busiest, the laziest, and the most irresponsible of human beings.

Hedera Helix
This plant is also commonly labeled without care. It is Hedera (Ivy) and is commonly known as English Ivy. This specific specimen is a form of Hedera Helix which just means the leaves are smaller and are for "decorative purposes". This one is a slow grower and can be left alone in the dark, unwatered for a month. Although a little more attention needing then the above, it will suit the novice plant keeper just fine.

Aeonium can be found anywhere. Look to universities, specifically in the back of humanity libraries. All you have to do is cut a stem attached to a fine looking rosette. Take her home and place her in a vase of water. Once the roots emerge, plant her in a pot with well drain-able soil. If all you have is standard potting mix, try to mix 1 part sand with 3 parts potting soil. Be sure to put a blockage over the drain hole. A rock or a piece of scrap wood works well. Fat toy soldiers work better.
This succulent also comes in a nice dark purple shade. Look around and see what you can find. Look for its fleshy leaves and thick stem. Once this succulent is well established, Aeonium will branch off with new rosettes and will either self propagate or just grow new branches.

If you must buy from a supermarket chain try to buy from Trader Joes. There are many little decorative potted succulents displayed right outside the entrance. Just remember to check if these desert friends have good draining pots. If they don't, you can always re-pot them later.

Haworthia Fasciata is also known as Zebra Plant or Zebra Aloe. I got my plant at Trader Joes and re-potted it in a nice clay pot that drains well. When in full sun, this plant will be happy.

Edit: It has been brought to my attention that "conspicularities" is not a word. The person who pointed it out to me commented that it sounds like "peculiarities". Let me justify my word choice:

He is correct. It is a joining of two words- conspicuous and peculiarities. The fact that some plants flower (angiosperms) is quite a feat. Flowers are present after millions of years of painstaking evolution. The mere fact that plants have evolved reproductive organs (some female, some male, some both) is quite amazing, and justifies a birth of a new word.

Welcome

2007-06-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

This blog aims to record the trials and errors of trying to grow a vegetable garden with limited space and resources. In this blog, we hope to share our experiences with gardening. However, this is no gardening blog for the housewives with contracted laborers. This is for the poor and hungry, who wish to achieve a somewhat self-sustainable vegetable garden with little space and little money.

We are interested in low waste, high productivity, and a healthy environment using no pesticides.

Disclaimer: like our garden this blog is entirely organic and can mutate and evolve into whatever it becomes.

<3ryan&caroline