Edible gardens play an essential role in improving local food security and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. By bringing fruits and vegetables straight from your garden to your plate or local community members’ tables, those same meals don’t have to travel the extra miles (as much as 1500 miles!) to get to there. Additionally, the activity...Read More

As a supplement to a new post I wrote for Houzz on espaliers, I would like to share a few local (Southern California) resources for these space-saving beauties — all ready for your Christmas list. Bountiful Gardens is a hidden gem in Lakeview Terrace. Now open to the public after years of selling exclusively to...Read More

Yesterday my husband and I welcomed over 400 people to our garden, which was one of seven featured on the free, annual South Pasadena Beautiful Garden Tour. Each garden displayed principles of sustainability–including California native and Mediterranean landscaping, planting for wildlife, bioswales, permeable paving options and recycling organic waste. In front of our house was...Read More

More than a humble vegetable plot, a potager is both beautiful and productive. The loveliest such kitchen garden I have ever seen is that of the late British gardener, Rosemary Verey. I visited the garden at Barnsley House after Ms. Verey’s death, when it was in the process of being converted into a boutique hotel....Read More

Looking for inspiration to start raising and preserving backyard produce?  Karen Veitch and Steve Friedman have spent the past 13 years transforming their 11,000 square foot urban lot into a lush backyard farm.  What began as a family pastime when their children were young has turned into a passion.  “If I hear about an obscure...Read More