The Polished Pebble: Organic gardening

Nothing is better than that first sunny warm weekend in early spring.

You slip on the grubby garden shoes like a broken in pair of bedroom slippers and grab the pruners and your old friend the garden hoe.

My favorite small perennial shovel is so worn the wood handle feels

soft and smooth from hours of digging.

And while I don't have nearly the amount of chores as I have had in the past, every thing is pretty much the same....like riding a bike...just on a smaller scale.

I usually hit the vegetable garden first.

These are Sweet 1000's from last year and I have a few cherries already planted.

If you think you can't grow a vegetable to save your life, just try a cherry tomato plant. They will grown in spite of your brown thumb....trust me on this one.

If you're just starting a vegetable garden try to give yourself at least 18 inches of well composted soil.

Depending on what you want to grow, most plants take about 3 months to get to the harvesting stage, so that gives them plenty of time to develop a really robust root system.

Challenge yourself to come up with creative trellis and supports.

Unless you're really short on time don't just settle for the usual junky stuff

from the local garden center.

It barely lasts a season and will likely wind up in the trash.

Here I used bamboo and willow and it worked wonderfully.

This year I have bulbs and flowers planted among the veggies.

I like the look of it and it helps to keep the garden bright and pretty.

Or hang a basket or and old bucket near by just for fun

In the rear of my garden I hung a set of harvesting baskets.

Not only useful but a cheerful addition to the kitchen garden space

A little bench is used for small containers and for working on topiaries and arrangements

which come into the house from time to time

Usually spring is the time I like to tune up the irrigation system.

Emitters and sprinkler heads get replaced and any thing leaking or that has become too small for the area is upsized. I always stop in at the local pro-irrigation store near me and chat it up with the guys behind the counter. You can learn a ton and they are always helpful if you are a new gardener.

Now for the good stuff....plant what you like to eat but....

I have had some epic failures trying so hard to do it all.

I typically steer clear of things that are plentiful in my local farmers market

and take up way too much garden real estate

I have planted lots of carrots but mine never look this good.

We eat them anyway!

And I always have some sort of onion planted but usually the smaller green scallions

and chive, both of which are super easy

A few things I've tried and will probably never repeat:

strawberries

corn

celery

tarragon

asparagus

artichokes

just to name a few

Lettuce and greens are an excellent choice for any new vegetable garden.

Lettuce doesn't necessarily need intense sunlight to do well either. So if you have a partially shaded area go of the lettuce varieties.

I always include radicchio and endive

as well as arugula and some of the spicy asian greens.

And no great kitchen garden is complete without herbs.

I love the idea of the dedicated herb garden

and will try to repeat something like the pretty one I had in Ojai.

But if you're short on space (like me) plant herbs among the lettuce and tomatoes

My tried and true favorites are Italian parsley, lemon thyme, rosemary, sage, chervil and of course no herb garden should be without basil

I plant the big Sangiovese style basil as well as purple

and some other odd varieties that all have great flavor.

Lettuce and greens can be self sown into the beds directly and will produce an amazing amount of yield from a small seed packet.

Remember, the soil must be warm and damp consistently or the seeds won't germinate.

Small turnips and beets are a great choice and super easy.

You can harvest them early and toss into a salad for some crunch just like a radish.

And do try some radish...easy and usually great results.

My favorite is the D'avignon

Perennial beds are always a challenge for me, especially because

my garden style is full and sort of messy.

To keep things in check, I prune and deadhead and clip....a lot!

And I didn't plant sweet peas this year either.

I know I will miss them

Instead I think I'll focus on some small little pockets for annuals and summer bulbs.

Bulbs are a great way to add color without a lot of work.

One of the garden chores no one ever like to do but is probably the most essential is to focus on the quality of your soil.

Adding in some big bags of compost will really change how your plants look and will save on weeding and water down the road.

I know pretty boring right?!

And when I'm not in the garden....

I'm actually starting a much needed kitchen renovation in about a week so I'll try to post a little more and share some new ideas, products and a few new discoveries.

Hope you are enjoying the beauty of spring

xoxo

You may have noticed that my blog posts have been a bit sporadic.

We have been busy with fall projects, work

and of course the usual hours of weekly garden chores.

Life in the fall is usually a slower simple rhythm

the days grow shorter

the sun dips lower and thankfully the temperature has fallen a bit

But then...."change"

that crazy little devil

knocked on my door

and I knewI was really in for it

About a month ago I got a call from a friend and neighbor who happens to be a realtor. She asked me if we would consider selling our little ranchette here in Ojai.

Now let me say this....we have thought about selling a few times before
but never really got too carried away with the notion.

The allure of the land and my love of the gardens
was just too much of a tug at my heart.
Owning a large property with orchards, oaks and gardens of all sizes can be wonderful but it can seem at times, a never-ending to-do list. It has definitely kept us busy!

And loving a house like this is really quite easy,
especially when it gives back great rewards

I have become the gardener that I never knew I could be...without really knowing it and learning the do's and don'ts along the way.
Its not really hard, it just takes time to find a good balance of
time, energy and enjoyment

I have also become a florist of sorts

mostly arranging the simplest of things...sometimes even weeds

I have found much solice in clipping and arranging and just walking this property to find a bloom or two to put in an old jar...it is truly a therapy for me

I can't seem to have too many flowers in this house

and always find time to create another, however simple

Birds and animals have been my constant companions and have taught me a love of nature I will never be without

I will always view birds, animals and insects with fascination and enjoyment

Having a dog like Millie here has been wonderful and I will never forget her!

She had become a country dog for sure!
Never with out dirt, fleas or something weird and mossy attached to her fur and her paws which...
well who knows what they are... but in the house they come....
riding long with Millie

The garden and fruit trees have provided an incredible opportunity to test my skills as a cook and to truly learn the lessons of stainable growing and how to use vegetables and fruit in more creative ways than I ever thought possible

Eating from the garden will turn you into a cook
even if you think you aren't one!

Some of my very best meals have been created using the hodgepodge of little orphans
that pop up on a daily basis
If you have a garden...grow what you like to eat
and cook what you grow

Let the harvest shape the meal and let the flavors do their thing
with out over cooking and seasoning

The very best chefs know that great food is simple food
and simple is easy

eating a warm tomato right off the vine is my favorite snack
along with a fresh peach, a crunchy radish, a green apple, a juicy lemon....etc

and herbs have become much more than a savory seasoning
I have learned to use them as a treat for breakfast
an appetizer for lunch
and the star of a salad at dinner

The compost bin has been a great inspiration to us and we have learned from start to finish about soil, and all of the good things that can be found right under your nose

if you look hard enough

Soil preparation is the backbone of a great garden
It's also the most labor intensive part of gardening

Talking about gardening is great but the process is quite a bit harder

Most of our weekends are spent working the soil to make sure we don't over water
and to nourish the plants in the most beneficial way possible

worms and all the living soil dwellers are our friends
and the trees and shrubs
thrive on the rich healthy compost we churn out each month

It takes time to get it right but when you do great things happen

The daily swing on the old gliders with a glass of wine or cup of coffee is something of a ritual for us

even though we don't sit to long

The gravel drive became more of a path...leading the way to beautiful trees, grassy lawns
and large pots and tables with flowers

places to linger and watch the birds and squirrels

Dining outside is alway so wonderful and I wish

we had more long lunches and breakfast like this one

Decorating this little house....often using cast off treasures and

quirky collections has been tons of fun

used "stuff"

much of it not at all valuable or actually needed

found a home here

camp blankets and quilts

bottles and books

wicker and wood

much just a mish mash of little things, not an important antique but well loved

and cherished none the less

and the holidays always bring in more color and green

than my usual daily arrangements

the tangerine trees are loaded this time of year and so orange

becomes a yearly part of my holiday decor

Re imagining a county kitchen was a joy

and I love this small kitchen with its simple plan and useable features

and best of all it is wonderful to cook in

what I like most about this kitchen is that even though many of the elements are very different they all blend nicely together

and I must t certainly thank those that have come through the front door...slammed the screen and helped create this home

many are friends and

many are family

we have enjoyed the company of new guests and interesting people who happen to have found their way here for what ever reason

thats what a country house does
it open its doors and shares wonderful memories

you come in
you sit down
and it just feels like home