Master Gardeners, January 24

Baby it’s cold outside! 

The UCCE/LA County Master Gardeners return to the Mar Vista Farmers Market this Sunday, January 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,to hand out free seeds and seedlings for your soon-to-be bursting garden. But the little seedlings that the Master Gardeners planted are SO small (as this is being written) that they’re not sure whether they’ll be ready for primetime.

What was planted includes: 

Portuguese Kale, a large leaf heat tolerant variety from Portugal.

Scarlet Charlotte Chard, with wide crunchy stalks (don’t throw them out!) and gorgeous leafy veins in deep green leaves.

Neon Glow Chard — another yummy variety.

Slow Bolt Cilantro, which is bright, fresh and won’t go straight to seed at the first sign of sun or heat.

Heirloom Tuscan Baby Leaf Kale — just like the big boys, only smaller. It’s a “cut and come again” leafy green. 

Baby Pak Choi — perfect for your stir fry
Heirloom Broccoli Raab (aka Early Rapini)

And lettuces, including Garden Fern Leaf Lettuce, Sea of Red, Heirloom Cutting Mix Lettuce and a “Farmers Market Blend” of sweet greens and reds.

Last but not least — lovely crispy Sugar Snap Peas, the chunky ones you eat, pods and all. 

Two things to remember:

Please bring your empty plastic six packs so the Master Gardeners can continue to fill them for you next month.

And if you DO grow something that you got from the Master Gardeners, share it on social media with the hashtag #mglaseeds. They’re trying to start a little mini-movement!

For a great gardening website and email newsletter visit http://www.gardeninginla.net where Yvonne Savio, the retired director of the MG program, treats you to monthly tips for your SoCal garden.

Walgrove Elementary School Garden, January 17

Come and join the Walgrove Green Team at the Green Tent THIS Sunday, January 17, to learn about what is happening in the gardens at Walgrove Elementary School. On hand will be Green Committee Co-Chair Jeanne Kuntz and other Walgrove volunteers and students. And hopefully YOU!

We'll have fun games and activities for kids and adults that will inspire you to take the "Veggie Pledge"!

In the garden classes at Walgrove, students are learning about everything from native plants, the drought and watershed issues to plant anatomy as well as how to grow and cook organic vegetables right from their own gardens. 

You'll also have an opportunity to see the plans and proposals for all of Walgrove's new gardens being built in 2016, created by Landscape Architect Ryan Drnek of Sodder Studio.

Volunteering in the garden brings bountiful rewards to those who venture out! Come and enrich your life and see what's "growing on" right in your neighborhood.

Food Forward, January 17

SHARING ABUNDANCE WITh THOSE IN NEED

Learn how you can help provide fresh fruits and veggies to the hungry in your community! Food Forward is a Southern California based non-profit that recovers produce from backyard fruit trees, farmers markets and LA's downtown wholesale market and then donates 100% of what is collected to local hunger relief agencies. 

Since forming in 2009, Food Forward has collected over 14 million pounds of produce, which has helped to feed 100,000 clients a month through 200 diverse distribution partners across LA and Ventura Counties. 

Food Forward hosts 100+ volunteer-powered events per month so, whether you'd like to pick fruit or go to the farmers market with us, there are many opportunities to contribute to our efforts in providing nourishing fruits and veggies food to those most in need.

Food Forward not only battles hunger in Southern California but also works to curb the environmental issue of food waste. Recent studies have shown that 40% of the food in the country never makes it to the table and 20% of what goes into municipal landfills is food. Southern California is an abundant land of agriculture and donating surplus food to the 1.28 million food insecure in LA county is a win-win!

Learn more at www.foodforward.org.