garden
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Gardening in the Shadow of Redwoods: What Actually Grows in the Shade
Living where the redwoods come right up to the property line is one of the best parts of being here, but it does mean I’ve had to let go of a lot of the standard “full sun, six hours minimum” advice that most vegetable gardening guides lean on. Between the tree canopy and the acidic…
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Watering Wisely: Keeping a Zone 9 Garden Going Through a Dry Summer
By the middle of July our garden here in the Santa Cruz Mountains is fully in its dry-summer rhythm — no real rain until fall, warm days, and a redwood canopy that pulls its own share of moisture out of the soil. Zone 9b gardeners everywhere are facing some version of the same question right…
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Aphids, Hornworms & Squash Bugs: Organic Pest Patrol for the July Garden
By mid-summer the garden is at its fullest and, unfortunately, so are the pests. Between the heat, the lush growth, and everything ripening at once, July is peak season for aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs out here in zone 9b. I’ve never been one for spraying anything harsh on food I’m about to eat,…
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Succession Planting in July: Starting Your Fall Garden Now
It feels strange to be thinking about fall while the tomatoes are still climbing and the squash is taking over, but out here in zone 9b, July is exactly when the fall garden needs to get started. Our long growing season is one of the best things about gardening in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and…
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Summer Garden Tour: Straw Bales, Kakai Squash & Zone 9 Growing
Part one of the summer garden tour, straight from our patch here in Santa Cruz — zone 9, straw bales, and a bed full of tomato seedlings getting a head start under cut-open milk jugs. Milk jug cloches Every gallon jug that comes through the kitchen gets a second life out here. Cut the bottom…
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A Messy, Poorly Planned Garden (That Still Produces)
A messy, poorly planned garden that produces anyway. Sometimes we don’t have to stress about the rules — we just do what we can with what we’ve got. That’s the whole philosophy behind this two-part garden tour. No perfect spacing, no color-coded planting chart — just vegetables going in wherever there was room, and somehow…
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Almost Pickles: Growing Cucumbers, Scarlet Runner Beans & Dahlias
Almost pickles. That’s where the cucumbers are at right now — vining up the trellis in one of the raised beds, tangled in with scarlet runner beans and a stray dahlia that muscled its way in. It wasn’t exactly planned that way, but it’s working. Cucumbers on a trellis Cucumbers want warmth, sun, and something…
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10 Easy Ways to Create a Sustainable Farm-to-Table Garden in Your Backyard (No Matter the Size!)
Introduction Imagine stepping into your backyard and picking fresh produce and flowers for your meals. Creating a sustainable farm-to-table garden isn’t just for large farms—it’s achievable even in small spaces. By incorporating eco-friendly practices, you can enjoy fresh, organic harvests and reconnect with nature. Follow these 10 simple steps to turn your backyard into a…
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2024 Heirloom Tomatoes
There is a place where the earth whispers its secrets to those who listen. Where heirloom tomatoes ripen in the golden sun, their flavors singing of summer’s bounty. This is Forest Girl Farms, where generations of growers have nurtured the land with care and purpose. Now, they bring the fruits of their labor to local…
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The Magical World of Ranunculus Flowers
Their delicate, paper-thin petals unfurling like ballerinas in tutus. Their kaleidoscope of colors from vibrant yellow to blushing pink. Ranunculus flowers are truly marvelous wonders of nature. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the enchanting qualities of these flowers and provide helpful tips for adding a touch of ranunculus magic to your own garden.…
