Another garden road trip this last weekend took me to Seabreeze Organic Farm located in San Diego, CA about a mile East of the 5 Freeway in Del Mar. The property was purchased in 1978 back when the land was mostly eucalyptus trees and rolling hills and has been producing crops for the past 21 years. Owners Stephenie Caughlin and Kendall Cook had a dream to create an organic farm while at the same time fostering community awareness about where our food comes. Seabreeze Organic Farm is a CSA Farm: Community Supported Agriculture which connects local growers directly with the community that is consuming their food. In order for a CSA farm to be productive it must have a commitment from its supporters with a recurring monthly fee since the economic future of the farms depends on the ability to produce and deliver goods in a continuous relationship with them. Some of the challenges of a small farm are its ability to produce a diversity of produce while at the same time getting paid a fair market value for what is grown.

I was surprised to learn about the increasing economic and political challenges that the owners face on a weekly basis to keep their farm prosperous. In order to keep up with the financial strains they have opened up their farm as a sanctuary for tours, fundraisers, private events and nature walks to name a few. Deliveries go out on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to 27 cities in San Diego county including gift bag options, mixed edible flower bags and fruit deliveries to businesses. Online shopping is also available on the Seabreeze web site for a diverse selection of items like raw honey, coffee, edible flowers, eggs, oils, herbs, earthworms, etc. Emphasis on the ETC. there is much more available on the web site.

The Tour on Saturday was hosted by members of  Slow Food San Diego with about 25 people in attendance and a cost of $35.00 a head. The tour included meeting the owners, an amazing sit down vegetarian lunch and plenty of time to ask all the questions we wanted. Owner Stephenie Caughlin was wonderful about allowing us to meander freely around the farm and was available to educate us every step of the way. The photos below show how lovely this farm truly is and hopefully conveys how vitally important it is for a community to know and support its local growers. Buy Local!  Link to: Seabreeze Organic Farm Link to: Slow Food Urban San Diego

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com ♥ A place to grow ♥

Made with hay -building on property

FLOWERS

Chicken Coop

Every area of the property has something growing in it. The farm produces an abundance for its size.

Squash growing on fences

Vertical Garden area of Bok Choy

Lemon Verbena and Lavender Tea served at lunch. Herbs were brewed in the sun just like sun tea. It was yummy!

Lavender Drying and Hanging in bunches

Free online template:

LINK TO: Seed Packet Printables

An online web site offering a variety of printable seed packet templates. This is a great alternative to the usual ziplock bag/ sharpie marker labeling. Lately I’ve been doing “seed exchanges” with heirloom flower and vegetable seeds and these online templates will make it easier to organize and store them. For a sturdier seed packet try card stock paper when printing out the template.

Satin Ribbon added to packet

Pretty Patterned Template With Labels From M & Co.

These are a few photos of several templates offered on the web site, but check out the link above for other styles and sizes.

Great for kids seeds by using 'crazy eyes'

Template before cutting out

Seed Packet Freebie By Pamela Donnis Designs

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♥ a garden blog ♥

BASIL * Oregano * Thyme * Sage  

CILANTRO * Strawberry Plants 

Broccoli (transplant)

BEANS (Bush) & (Pole)

PARSLEY * Peppers * Eggplant

BEETS  * CARROT  * KALE

CORN * CUCUMBER  * Zucchini

 LIMA BEANS * Chard * Watermelon

RADISH  * SQUASH (Summer)

FLOWERS: Zinnia * Sunflower * Cosmos

* Rotate crops for best success of plants and soil each season.

Carrots, tomato, radish and lettuce from my July garden

Creating Garden Space

BEFORE

Eight weeks ago I decided to move the kayaks out of one area in my garden/side yard to create some more edible planting space. This area only gets about 5 hours of sun due to the tall fence that prevents afternoon sun exposure. I researched what I could grow here and found a list of Shade Vegetables. I was surprised to learn that I could have a partial shade garden that could produce all of my lettuce and radish supply for the year. Here is a list of “SHADE GARDEN” vegetables that only need about 3-6 hours of sun per day.

BROCCOLI, PEAS, BEETS, RADISH, SWISS CHARD, BEANS, COLLARDS, MUSTARD GREENS, LETTUCE: ARUGULA, ENDIVE, RADICHIO, ETC. SPINACH, KALE.

Not a bad list for an area that might not get to produce sun-loving vegetables like tomatoes, basil and eggplant.

AFTER

This is an after photo of the area now set up with drip irrigation and planted with lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, strawberries, broccoli, and nasturtium.

The fence is painted with Behr Premium paint color called Chipotle, the red tones of the fence next to the green plants created a nice color pop. Always on a quest for adding more garden planting space to my yard I was pleased with the outcome. Maybe the next thing to go will be the back lawn?

Thanks for your visit today and happy planting.

New carrot patch in shaded part of garden

Deciduous Citrus- Subtropical- Fruit Trees- Berries and Grapes

How to Prune Fruit Trees by R. Sanford Martin

Need a little help with pruning? How To Prune Fruit Trees by R. Sanford Martin is the best price for pruning advice you can purchase hands down. For a grand total of $6.99 I  bought this book at Armstrong Nursery with an original copyright in 1944 in its 21st edition. This simple 90 page book deals with pruning almond, figs, lime, pear, persimmon, plums, raspberry, strawberry guava, and berries to name just a few. There is also a chapter on planting and training young trees and the very interesting technique of Espallier Training. With each fruit tree described you will learn how that particular tree bears fruit and its individual pruning needs written with the most simple instructions possible. Taking the time and caring for potted or in ground trees is much more rewarding when the harvest outcome can be manipulated by how the tree is pruned. R. Sanford Martin born in 1900 was an author and horticulturist who spend years developing techniques in pruning, soil treatment and natural fertilizers known as humus. During his lifetime Martin’s ideas were not mainstream and yet today this book is still one of the most sought after pruning books, simple and straight forward. Interestingly the author is quoted in the forward of the book: “It is not my intention to make expert pruners out of everyone owning a fruit tree, but I hope that I may help those who have the desire and time to care for their own trees, thereby eliminating much unnecessary neglect and destruction by incorrect treatment.” Well said, this is my  book pick of the month!

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Cultivate- Harvest- Enjoy!

A guide to a simple Backyard Salad Garden:

Cherry Tomatoes: Buy them as small plants or sow seeds directly into the soil. Home grown cherry tomatoes make a great potted plant and the taste is far better than anything you can buy in the grocery store. Vine ripe has its advantages in flavor and color!

Basil: Grow basil right next to the tomatoes to maximize space and take advantage of a great duo companion planting. Eating them together right off the vine is what gardening is all about.

Carrots: Buy seed strips/seed tape for easy planting and pour very hot to boiling water over them when sowing the seeds to encourage faster germination. Carrots are a very rewarding vegetable since they are ready to eat in about 60 days and with so many varieties available it is fun trying out different colors and shapes. Sow carrot seeds every few weeks throughout the summer in full sun. A square foot area can produce 25 carrots.

carrots and radishes

Radishes: Super easy veggie that is ready to eat in 21-30 days after sowing. These come in many varieties and add a great surface color to the garden.

Easter Egg Radishes: Colorful radishes in purple, pink, red and white

Lettuce: Another easy to grow vegetable that prefers partial shade in the hot summer months. This can also be planted with planting strips and has an average 40 days to harvest.

* A link to PLANTING STRIPS / Seed Tape

* A link to unique RADISHES

* A link to some unusual Carrots

All you need is a little space to create a great backyard, patio or balcony garden this summer. Happy Planting!

www.nadiaknows.com

Plant- Grow – Enjoy

One of my Lettuce patches with sunflower and tomato in the background

A HOMEMADE BIRD BATH: Antique Marbles, Shells and Glass Stars glued on a glazed pottery flower-pot saucer makes for the perfect little bird bath. Glue the dish on an inverted flower-pot for the stand. Now just wait for the birds to arrive!

… Let’s find some joy in little things
We’ll talk of nothing much
Just wander down the garden path
Sweet flowers we shall touch.

We’ll find a spot to sit awhile
And watch the clouds float by
We’ll listen to the song of birds
And sigh a pleasant sigh …

~ C. Anselmo

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

♥  Plant – Grow – Enjoy ♥

The reality of my backyard is that I’ve run out of space to grow fruit or citrus trees in the ground, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying to create a backyard orchard. With an abundance of information available in the gardening industry on “Edible Landscaping” and “Backyard Orchards” I’ve found a way to add trees to my landscaping even without the soil space. My desired list of trees were: Mission Fig, Meyer Lemon, Eureka Lemon, Mandarin Orange, Navel Orange and a Juice Orange Tree. By purchasing 5-15 gallon trees and placing them in large container pots around my house I was able to achieve a little mini-orchard. One of the more popular questions concerning an edible landscape with trees is: “Do I need to purchase Dwarf Trees if they are going to be placed in a container?”. The answer is no , by pruning a regular sized tree whether in a pot or in the ground they can be maintained at any desired size and shape.

A few gardening tips for trees in containers:

1. Plant them in large enough containers with future growth in mind to prevent the roots from getting root bound.

2. Feed/fertilize once per month with a good organic nitrogen fertilizer. Trees in containers need to be fed more often than those in the ground.

3. Deep water once per week, there is no need to over water fruit and citrus trees.

4. Place in a sunny location with at least 6 hours of sun per day.

5. Adding 25% cactus mix to a pre-mixed potting soil will be a good blend for optimal drainage.

6. Using a 1/2 whiskey/wine barrel with drilled out drainage holes on the bottom work well for tree containers.

What about variety? There are many trees that work well in containers and create a beautiful edible landscape, here is a small list for the California gardener: Satsuma Mandarin, Kumquat, Bearss Lime, Meyer Lemon, Black Mission Fig, Dwarf Ruby Star Grapefruit, Moro Blood Orange, Blueberry Bushes, Anna Apple, Strawberry Guava, Persimmon Tree, ‘Dwarf Lady Finger’ Banana.

A lime tree on the patio or a pair of kumquat trees to enhance the front entrance of a home are wonderful ways to add edibles to the landscape. Why not try a few blueberry bushes on the balcony or an orange tree next to a bench in the backyard? When the citrus blossoms are present the fragrance alone makes it worth having a potted tree!

Bearss Lime Tree in a whiskey barrel (and a plumeria)

Meyer Lemon Tree in a pot

Naval Orange Tree in a pot with glass mulch

Eureka Lemon Tree and A Mission Fig Tree in a wine barrel. Strawberries on the sides.

Thank you for visiting my garden blog: www.nadiaknows.com

Create – Grow – Enjoy

A place where I can share my garden and learn along the way!

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Blueberries have specific requirements for a successful harvest and following just a few simple steps can make blueberry gardening very rewarding. 

1. Blueberries need acidic soil of 4.5-5.0 meaning a low pH. Purchasing Azalea Mix/Soil is the perfect blend for growing blueberries. Acidic soil is crucial for fruit production.

2. Buy more than one variety because blueberries need to be cross pollinated. Make it simple by placing several different varieties in one container.

3. Deep water once per week in the dry season, otherwise keep evenly moist.

4. Choose varieties that grow well in Southern California with low chilling requirements: Southern Highbush, Sunshine Blue and Misty Blue are several examples that will work well. These are low growers and make a great ornamental shrub.

5. Place a nice thick layer of mulch on the top soil. I use the Mulch Block made up of coconut husks.

6. Six plus hours of sun per day unless they are in a very hot and sunny area, if the leaves start to burn at the tips move it to an area that gets partial shade.

I used two halved wine barrels for the containers and drilled holes at the bottom for good drainage. One barrel contains three bushes and the other one across the garden path has a large single bush. It’s almost mid-May and the bushes are already producing super sweet and plump berries. I tried blueberries several years ago and was not aware of the acidic soil requirements and as a results it was a failure. I was also not aware of choosing more than one variety for cross-pollination. This year following the above steps is turning out to be much more successful.

Blueberries are considered an antioxidant/super foods - this might just be the quintessential plant to get into the garden this year!

Thank you for your visit- has your garden inspired you today?

www.nadiaknows.com