Monday, October 17, 2016

Master Gardeners - October 23rd

You might think that Fall is a time to rest in the garden but it’s really time to start your Spring garden! 

Plant some seeds, pick up some seedlings — all FREE! — on Sunday, October 23 as the UC/CE LA County Master Gardeners  return to the Green Tent from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring your gardening questions and curiosity; you could be starting a great winter salad garden right now!

A few weeks ago they planted up a bunch of seeds, some of which are ready for market and a few others that might not yet be big enough in time:


Snow peas — they’re great in stir fry, salad, raw or steamed. Eat them, pods and all — these are slender pods.


Turnips — the holidays are coming, root veggies are you best friends! Try these instead of mashed potatoes!



Kale —  everyone’s favorite superfood/green            


 Spearmint — This is a species of mint often used for medicinal purposes, loaded with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants; does not contain as much menthol as traditional mint


Baby napa cabbage - Use this in your kimchi or stir fry or just eat it in salads!

Nasturtiums     —  they’re edible flowers and yummy with a dash of goat cheese and balsamic vinegar, or toss them atop your salads for color.  But they grow like crazy and can cover an ugly wall! 


Arugula — practically self seeding once established, the flowers have a nutty flavor while the leaves are spiky and spicy! In England it’s called “rocket” — not sure why! 

There may be a few more surprises so stop by. Meantime, study up your Fall and Winter gardening basics by reading this verycomprehensive article.

And please don’t forget — if you have empty plastic six packs, bring them with you so the Master Gardeners can plant up more seeds for next month’s booth.




Friday, October 14, 2016

Garden School Foundation, October 16

This Sunday at The Green Tent, the Garden School Foundation will be making seed bombs — the perfect way to spread the love this fall! Bring the kiddos by to cultivate a new generation of guerrilla gardeners and teach the little ones that you can garden anywhere!

The Garden School Foundation stands as the premier model of garden-based education in Los Angeles. After 7 years at the 24th Street Elementary School in West Adams, they’ve developed not only a thriving, organized, beautiful, and sustainable garden classroom but a comprehensive curriculum that speaks to the particular needs of schools in under-served communities. Since 2003, they’ve been turning asphalt into ecosystems, working to create a healthy, educated and aware future generation that care for their bodies and for the earth. GSF’s Seed To Table (S2T) program, which is comprised of K-5 year-round curriculum, operates in six Title I elementary schools and their new Greenhouse Program teaches vocation-based curriculum to students with developmental disabilities at Widney Career and Transition Center. 

GSF holds Community Garden Days every month at their various sites, providing a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and volunteer in one of their school gardens. We have two upcoming Community Garden Days.The last one for October will be located at 24th Street Elementary School Saturday, October 29th from 10 am - 1 pm. Please visit their website if you are interested in participating on either day or at any future Community Garden Day. You will also find details for our upcoming V
irtual Harvest Moon Annual Giving Campaign, Greenhouse Seedling CSA Program, and news on their amazing expansion into 10 new schools providing teacher training workshops! Check out their website for more exciting things happening at The Garden School Foundation. 

Friday, October 7, 2016

Selva International, October 9

CONSERVATION DONE RIGHT

SELVA International, a Mar Vista based environmental non-profit, has partnered with conservation biologist and sustainable landscape professional Steven Williams to offer EcoGardens, a landscape service to help you convert your water thirsty lawn to an ecological garden.

4536 Irvine Ave., Studio City 91364 - BEFORE
4536 Irvine Ave - AFTER (9/13/14 - Charlene Mathers)


Learn how your garden can:

• Conserve water
• Save money
• Grow native plants to attract birds and butterflies
• Reduce polluted runoff to our beaches
• Collect and use rainwater
• Support our local community - SELVA International hires and trains students at Venice Youth Build, an at-risk youth skills-building program, which also allows them to lower your cost.

At the Green TentSELVA International will display before and after pictures of sustainable, "Ocean Friendly Gardens." They'll have information handouts on SELVA's EcoGardens program, LADWP funded Hands On Workshops (HOWs), and Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens program. They'll have some CA native plants local to our area. Get your questions answered and free advice on ecological landscaping!


2006 S. Crescent Heights Blvd., LA, 90034 - BEFORE   
2006 S. Crescent Heights Blvd., LA, 90034 - AFTER (10/11/14 - David Beeler    )