Surfin' the net

So what comes next after farm to table? some interesting new business models which includes collecting compost material from restaurants.

By any chance, you wouldn't be a container gardener artist? If you are, there's a contest for you: link at the Sunset magazine blog.

Boston Globe on their local community gardens

LA Times looks at the Long Beach gardens, worth reading because of the structure and rules involved in running their community garden.  Seems as though they have a lot of rules but I can see why they would do so.

What's up, bobcat?

Sunday was a beautiful day to go for a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains up Sycamore Canyon. Here, the main path is a wide fire trail, shared with horses and bikers.
There was a wildfire approximately 16 years ago which wiped out most of the vegetation in this canyon. You can see how the fire burnt this oak.

Indian paintbrush along side the path

Fossils in the rock set next to the path.

The highlight of our hike: we spied a bobcat resting on a tree trunk next to the main fire trail road.

Five ways to celebrate Earth Day

The best quote ever: Every day is earth day. Found in the Mutts cartoon for today, April 22nd 2011.
Five ways to celebrate Earth Day everyday:
1. Grow your own greens.

2. Practice gratitude.

3. Compost your greens. Start worm composting.

4. Recycle.

5. Walk, bike or use mass transportation.

So what are you doing to celebrate?

Surfin' the net

For spring: eleven ways to dye eggs naturally, all sorts of colors.

Has anyone been to the Brooklyn Gardens?  It just hit paydirt, with a 7.5 million dollar donation.

I think something about community gardening sparks creative juices, especially in ways they connect with a community. Just this week, here are a few links in the news.

In Texas, the Houston Community Garden offers not only a place to garden but free tai chi .  If this was southern California, you can bet you'd have standing room only crowds.

I like getting kids involved in gardening. This one is a win-win situation: kids discharge extra energy for a good cause and the community benefits.

Another good idea: in exchange of garden space, you donate some of your produce to the local food bank.

Examples of how community gardens enrich the neighborhood abound in this LA Times piece about a new Long Beach community garden. One plot is sponsored by a neighbor just for the local kids. There is a community herbal garden, open to all.

Meyer lemon very pretty

Though I still have ripening fruit on my dwarf Meyer lemon, I'm relieved to see buds and blossoms finally developing.