Put that bacteria to work...November 13, 2013

Composting workshop! FREE!

Saturday, November 16, 2013. 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: The Farm House at City Farmers

Composting: a sustainable practice that provides important nutrients to soil, improves its structure, and offers a habitat for beneficial fungi. In our 2-hour, interactive workshop you will learn the basics of backyard composting and vermicomposting (composting with worms). Our expert educators from the Solana Center will teach you all you need to know to get started with a bin that fits your needs and lifestyle.

If you can't make this event, you can find another Solana Center Composting class on their website:

http://www.solanacenter.org/free-compost-workshops

It's a good time to plant!

• cane berries: 1 gallon for $9.89 each.
• assorted blueberries: 5 gallon for $21.89 each
• artichokes: 5 gallon for $11.89 each
• rhubarb: 5 gallon for $9.89 each Please call for availability.

Come check out our remodeled section for California native plants. The employees re-did the benches and they look GREAT!

For a great new herb selection...HONK! November 8,2013

“Honk” is the magic word to get into the nursery for the next few weeks. There is some really cool heavy equipment being operated outside our front gate; it’s road construction time! If you come to the Home Avenue/Euclid signal, just HONK! The road workers will wave you into the parking lot. Sorry for the inconvenience!!

Winter gardens are thriving now!  Start or add to yours and . . .

Check out our new herbs!

• mugwort
• soapwort
• horehound
• scented geraniums
• bee balm
• chamomile

Scoop up some Dig ‘em Up's while supplies last:

• spinach
• mustard
• cauliflower
• red cabbage
• broccoli

Select from a variety of assorted veggies in pots:

• celery
• chard
• fava beans
• peas
• assorted onions
• assorted lettuce
• kale
• rapini
• purslane
• spinach...

…and pick up a vegetable variety six-pack while you are here! Remember, if you are looking for something specific, call for availability. 

November in the garden...November 5, 2013

A few thoughts from Farmer Bill:

November is here!  Time to harvest the winter squash. What is winter squash? Does it not grow in the winter?  No, it is a squash that grows in the spring and summer that has a hard outer skin so it can be stored into the winter for many great soups and dishes.

Cooking is fun this time of the year, especially canning and dehydrating. What's more fun than sharing this event with friends followed with a nice glass of wine and some goodies by the fireplace to keep the chill of the evening away.

This is the time of  year for the inevitable first frost, the black death. It's called this because when the frost hits, it takes a couple of days for the leaves to turn black on the frost-tender plants. Using row cover will help prevent this on the nights when you hear the temperature will be falling below 32 degrees.

A few things to remember when you are out playing in the yard:

• Fertilize your lawns and re-seed grass in areas that need it.
• Plant fall bulbs.
• Plant natives and wildflowers.

Above all, enjoy this beautiful month!