I consider myself to be a cookbook collector. Shortly before the pandemic, I started a monthly cookbook club to celebrate and feature new cookbooks. A cookbook represents possibility and wonder. Most cookbook creators have spent many years perfecting their style and honing their niche. Cookbooks can all at once represent diverse cuisines, highlight decorated chefs,…
This started as a joke to myself – “no more seeds, Carmen” – as I picked up yet another seed package in the mail. When it felt like I had gone too far, I made a promise to myself. I promise to not buy anymore seeds until I inventory everything I have and make a…
A garden is not complete without herbs. In fact, I think that any beginning gardener should begin with herbs. Right after I graduated college, I lived in a small apartment with a small balcony. On the balcony, I grew rosemary in a small container. That rosemary plant followed me to my next apartment, and the…
Indoor seed starting can be intimidating… but it really doesn’t need to be. When I first started getting really serious about gardening I watched tons of YouTube videos about intricate, expensive seed starting systems. I’ve tried a lot of different seed starting products and a lot of them are really bad. There is truly nothing…
January is hands down the busiest month of gardening if you live in Southern California. Not only are you juggling your regular garden maintenance, but you are rapidly starting amazing new varieties for spring and summer. While exciting, January can be an exhausting month for the Southern California gardener. My advice? Batch out your seed…
To grow sweet peas from seed: first soak your seeds for 24 hours prior to planting. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 6 inches apart. Use a trellis to support your sweet peas. Once your plants are 6 inches tall, pinch them back about an inch to encourage them to grow fuller and more…
What to Plant in Your Garden: December Southern California (zone 10b). * THIS GUIDE IS A WORK IN PROGRESS* Tools and Supplies You’ll Need Root Zone Fertilizer I use rootzone fertilizer for everything I transplant. It gives your transplants the extra boost they need. It includes beneficial microbes and mycorrhizae. Dr. Earth’s Root Zone Fertilizer…
Expand the purpose of your garden even further by exploring the world of natural dyes. There are many options for you to grow natural dye in your own garden. Even better, most of the selections below utilize the scraps of plants you are already growing! What will you grow to create your own natural dye…
It’s been about eight months since I first got my five chickens. Looking back on these eight months, I have learned so much. My chickens, Rosa, Marge, Gladys, Denise, and Megg, have been my much needed garden companions during quarantine. Although it is such a joy to find fresh eggs in the nest box every…
To grow tulips successfully: plant in well drained loose soil, less than one inch apart, eight inches deep, in an area that gets full sun. Harvest tulips in the morning when the bloom just begins to exhibit color but is still closed. To grow stunning tulips from bloom to bulbs, you’ll want to get acquainted…
Right now may seem like the time for your garden to go dormant but November offers so much possibility. November is the perfect time to plant a variety of greens and make the investment for Spring blooms. Contrary to popular belief, November is a very busy month for the Southern California gardener. For gorgeous harvests…
A nook is the perfect opportunity to express your individual style. Rather than hiding nooks, put them on full display with enchanting wallpaper, jaw-dropping light fixtures, and dashing accents. We moved from a remodeled home into a much older, historically designated home. At first the compartmentalized floor plan was shocking to me. While I am…
