tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48240156688318962102024-03-13T02:55:55.136-07:00GrowcologyGrowcology is an inland Southern California based public benefit organization dedicated to sharing resources on gardening, edible landscaping, sustainable living, and empowerment with our community. We also seek to provide high quality, affordable, hands on workshops on all of the above.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-80961149670652288162010-04-07T07:43:00.000-07:002010-04-07T08:07:23.030-07:00Growcology International<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/1605046281_1a6e23fb4a_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 412px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/1605046281_1a6e23fb4a_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />One of the main motivations for founding Growcology was to learn as much as we can about how things grow,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span>and to share that knowledge with our hometowns, our home country, and the rest of the world. We've been learning so much about how plants grow, how our own ideas grow, and how organizations and human systems grow, we're finally getting to the level where our projects have grown beyond our home base of Riverside.<br />This month, two of our founding board members, Nick and Bianca, are visiting South America. They've been given a great opportunity to link up with a Peruvian organization named <a href="http://www.mundodeania.org/">ANIA</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkCOSf44fOg">Tierra de los Ninos</a>, and <a href="http://www.imaginethistv.com/">ImagineThisTV</a>. Bianca will be speaking at an international conference in Puerto Maldonado on plants and plant medicine, and Nick will be reunited with his friends from ANIA who he worked with for 7 months and connecting them with documentary film crew to highlight the work they're doing.<br /><a href="http://www.ashoka.org/node/3728"><br />Tierra de los Ninos</a> is a truly amazing organization. Their philosophy is that children need to be empowered in their formative years, so they do a form of Asset Based Community Development with 7-12 year old children and then donate a parcel of land to the kids themselves and have them and their families fix it up. They create beautiful community gardens and playgrounds in a wide range of environments, using almost only the local resources and planned almost exclusively by the children.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/1817632552_44a2539d0f_o.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 511px; height: 382px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/1817632552_44a2539d0f_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>At Growcology we're interested in learning from the best, and Tierra de los Ninos is one of the best non-profits around. They've got a proven track record for over 10 years, and a whole curriculum that will be invaluable for our own children's garden.<br /><br />We're also working on a project called <a href="http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/first-steps-to-create-a">Global Gratitude Gardens</a>, where we'll be encouraging people around the world to find out what their heritage is for food and farming techniques, then link up with local organizations and farmers to create living seed banks and social enterprise incubators. More on that later!Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-62814694776894034232010-04-05T17:14:00.000-07:002010-04-05T19:21:55.452-07:00Growcology's New PartnersThe last month has been a blur of activity and exciting new partnerships. The Growcology Learning Center has built over a dozen new gardens in collaboration with various organizations, and have embarked on several ambitious ventures for the coming year.<br /><br />Our Chef's du Potager program is gaining steam, as seedlings break through the soil and the contest's participants salivate in anticipation of delicious their bounty of home-grown produce. Twenty tow students from RCC's Culinary Academy have broken into teams of two to test their mettle and see who can create the tastiest treats from their gardens at the Growcology Learning Center.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qaUwX7_hI/AAAAAAAAAGg/mz18F66LwT8/s1600/filming.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qaUwX7_hI/AAAAAAAAAGg/mz18F66LwT8/s320/filming.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456843579886140946" border="0" /></a><br />We're also excited to announce a partnership with the Master Gardener program through the UC Cooperative Extension. We've donated a section of our garden to the current crop of Master Gardener trainees to develop a "Grow Lab", where they can try out different vegetable growing techniques that they're learning. The Master Gardener phone squad will also employ the "Grow Lab" for their community outreach. An added benefit will be a whole slew of knowledgeable Master Gardeners on site at the Growcology Learning Center to help our volunteers and partners with their projects.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qaD_q-dwI/AAAAAAAAAGY/DBYsUgIXij8/s1600/mastergardenerplot.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qaD_q-dwI/AAAAAAAAAGY/DBYsUgIXij8/s320/mastergardenerplot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456843291934750466" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qahrDy_PI/AAAAAAAAAGo/rN2-AIxtKWE/s1600/MGvegetableplan.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 278px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/S7qahrDy_PI/AAAAAAAAAGo/rN2-AIxtKWE/s320/MGvegetableplan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456843801797786866" border="0" /></a><br />Stay tuned for more developments as we announce some exciting new programs! We're going to be teaming up with some international non-profits to roll out a "Global Gratitude Garden" project that will pay homage to our ancestors and fore-fathers by creating living seed banks world-wide.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-66364242651659849422010-03-01T11:38:00.000-08:002010-03-01T11:51:21.492-08:00Spring Vegetable WorkshopWe've got a workshop this weekend at the Growcology Learning Center to help people plan their spring and summer vegetable gardens. Whether you want to plant some tomatoes on your patio or deck out your whole yard with delicious veggies, we've got the knowledge to share with you to get the job done.<br /><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4242192420_a6b3e72d92_d.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 270px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 364px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2738/4242192420_a6b3e72d92_d.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br />Master Gardener Lucy Heyming will be teaching the workshop, with extensive hands on instructions on vegetable guilds, companion planting, pest management, plant selection, watering, and more.<br /><br /><br /><br />Cost is $35. Tickets at <a href="http://www.growcology.com/">http://www.growcology.com/</a>Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-47243927356718146832009-08-29T16:28:00.000-07:002009-08-29T16:33:00.169-07:00Meeting the Authors of "The Urban Homestead"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://astore.amazon.com/growcology-20"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 84px; height: 125px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_P0CsAJN2bVM/Spm6MeEJeAI/AAAAAAAAADE/TRYETKn1k3M/s320/513THs6T49L._SL125_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375532353635055618" border="0" /></a><br /> Last Tuesday, Nick and I were invited to attend a special evening at <a href="http://www.projectbutterfly.org/" target="_blank">Project Butterfly</a> in Los Angeles. Apparently, my wishing upon stars finally payed off! Guest speakers that night were Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen, authors of The Urban Homestead. Being face to face with the authors of a book that inspired me to take life to the next level, left me feeling almost like a child in a candy store. :)<br /><br />The evening topics included:<br />1. Sharing their home and homestead ideas along with photographs.<br />2. Building self irrigating containers for tomatoes and other large edibles.<br />3. Preparing sauerkraut! Yummy!<br /><br />After their talk Nick and I told them all about <a href="http://www.mygreenriverside.com">www.mygreenriverside.com</a>! We also invited them to come to the Growcology Learning Center. We hope to have them come by soon, and we have higher hopes that they will do an event for all of us to enjoy. We'll keep you posted on the idea. In the meantime, I encourage you to take a look at their blog site <a href="http://www.homegrownevolution.com/" target="_blank">www.homegrownevolution.com</a>.Words for the Manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06547033100353230319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-36576439968858437592009-08-12T21:25:00.001-07:002009-08-12T21:25:56.185-07:00Check out THIS Squash<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspeyere/3816116009/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3816116009_eda56352c9.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspeyere/3816116009/">Check out THIS Squash</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/inspeyere/">Mr. Nicolás</a>.</span></div><p>We've got alot more where this came from. Actually, this Boston Marrow was picked TOO EARLY! Its supposed to be 5 pounds heavier and almost red... Oh well, its still delicious...</p>Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-8857767870837820462009-07-21T13:05:00.001-07:002009-07-21T13:20:10.043-07:00Growcology Reviews<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P0CsAJN2bVM/SmYf3GrrJ2I/AAAAAAAAACc/hUmXCYTiXmk/s1600-h/0025-0802-2709-3052_clip_art_graphic_of_a_green_tree_leaf_cartoon_character_looking_through_a_magnifying_glass.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_P0CsAJN2bVM/SmYf3GrrJ2I/AAAAAAAAACc/hUmXCYTiXmk/s320/0025-0802-2709-3052_clip_art_graphic_of_a_green_tree_leaf_cartoon_character_looking_through_a_magnifying_glass.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361007437978216290" border="0" /></a><br />Growcology Reviews:<br /><br />One of the goals of Growcology is to offer our community valuable information that they can apply directly into their lives. Valuable information can be desceminated through our workshops, events, our even our online community (<a href="www.mygreenriverside.com">www.mygreenriverside.com</a>). In addition to these options, Growcology plans to put "Green Products" to the test! We are beginning our side by side analysis and reviews of products companies are marketing to you daily. We expect to discover which products fulfill their promises, which companies are the most green, and furthermore which products are actually worth their cost. If there is something that you would like to have us test please send us an email at growcology@gmail.com. We'll do our best start a review on the products.<br /><br />Review: ENERGY MONITORS & POWER STRIPS<br /><br />This blog is written for anyone interested in making a inexpensive purchase and saving a lot of money almost immediately. I will be offering a review on the <b>"Kill A Watt," "Watts Up,"</b> and the <b>"Smart Strip."</b> Little devices you can purchase for your home and save money. :)<br /><br />Recently Nick and I had some folks over to the Growcology Center for a garden walk. I always love having these walks because they are so casual and we get to really connect with community members. One of our community members shared how he purchased a little device for under $30 and was able to save himself lots of money by learning what household devices were sucking up energy without he even knowing it.<br /><b><u><br />ENERGY MONITORS</u></b><br /><br />The "Kill A Watt" and the "Watts Up" are known as Energy Monitors. You plug the Energy Monitor into the wall and plug your appliances into the energy monitor. Immediately the devices will start counting how much energy your appliances are using and also provides calculations to determine how much money you are losing when keeping these devices plugged into the wall. <b>Some users calculated that they save upwards of $15.00 per month!</b> These are great tools to see just how much energy is being used by our refrigerators, microwaves, entertainment centers, etc.<br /><br />So what is the difference between the two?<br /><b>Cost:</b> Kill A Watt $23.43, Watts Up $99.00<br /><b>Conversions:</b> Kill A Watt requires simple math (multiplication) to determine your energy cost. Watts Up calculates those numbers simply by punching them into the device.<br /><br />Growcology believes that the Kill A Watt is the greatest return on investment. Granted it may not have all the high tech features offered by the Watts Up, but the deficiencies are really easy to remedy. Not to mention it is an investment that keeps giving. <b>If you purchase one of these little devices you can lend it to your neighbors, family, friends, etc.</b> Talk about stretching your money to have a greater environmental impact!<br /><br /><b><u>POWER STRIPS</u></b><br /><br />Once you determine which household items are costing you the most it is recommended to use a power strip. Basically a power strip not only protects your devices from power surges but also is saves money with a flip of switch. You can purchase a power strip for around $10.00 at most appliance stores.<br /><br />However, I want to discuss the hand dandy <b>"Smart Strip."</b> Unlike most power strips this devices offers a "Control Outlet." To better understand this function imagine plugging your computer into the Control Outlet and your printer, fax, speakers, into the other outlets on the strip. Or another example would be to plug your television into the control, and your cable, speakers, DVD, into the others strip outlets. When you turn on the devices plugged into the control the other devices will automatically turn on. Vice versa, when you turn off the device in the control outlet all the other devices will turn off as well. This will save you time in unplugging all your devices when not in use.<br /><br /><b><u>GROWCOLOGY STORE</u></b><br /><br /><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/growcology-20"><img src="http://api.ning.com/files/8CdKB9SYvKuUYl1-33y8Ma8kKFQW9HyaRN-Q4eoS3d2G2scRsgHGZugEahX4FUq1kCauimlntGA2RDzQHUuMH8FVQM-BR1jr/images.jpeg" alt="" style="float: left;" height="116" width="116" /></a><br />To Purchase any of the reviewed devices visit the new <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/growcology-20" target="_blank"><u>Growcology Green Store</u></a><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/growcology-20">:</a><br /><br />Growcology has teamed up with Amazon. You spend the same exact amount if you were to make a traditional amazon purchase, the only difference is that Growcology makes a small commission when products are purchased out of our little store. Let us know if there is something you would like to see in our store, and we will do our best to make it available. We value every nickel and dime Growcology can make, and in return we provide services to our Riverside Community. Thanks for all your support!<br /><br />For more reviews on the Kill A Watt and Watts Up please visit: <a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/03/power-meters-kill-a-watt-watts-up-save-energy-utility-bills.html" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a><a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/03/power-meters-kill-a-watt-watts-up-save-energy-utility-bills.html"><br /></a>Words for the Manyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06547033100353230319noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-73615037144843322452009-07-09T15:18:00.000-07:002009-07-09T15:31:14.550-07:00New Website and Article<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SlZvWcmxHLI/AAAAAAAAAFo/SBAczQYigqc/s1600-h/barn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SlZvWcmxHLI/AAAAAAAAAFo/SBAczQYigqc/s320/barn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356591238230383794" border="0" /></a><br />The local newspaper, the Press Enterprise, just put an article out on our non-profit. Check it out <a href="http://bit.ly/WY6aA">here at this link</a>.<br /><br />Bianca has been busting her butt getting our new website up, and it was just in time because we finished it last night and the article aired today! Its at <a href="http://www.growcology.com/">www.Growcology.com</a>. There is all kinds of information on there about what we're growing, the history of the property, and feedback forms for workshops.<br /><br />We've been really hustling the past few weeks to keep our garden alive in these hot summer months. We had a huge break in June, as we were still planting up until the last week. Fortunately, Spring actually extended all the way until the summer solstice, so our seedlings got a break and were able to get strong roots developed before the harsh summer sun baked and killed them.<br /><br />We've finished planting both of our three sisters demonstration gardens, the corn is growing fantastically and our melons and beans are peeking up. Our okra is growing strong, although there are alot of lamb's quarters and oats trying to grow in between them. We've also spotted some cheeseweed, filaree, and datura, and a volunteer tomato!<br /><br />Our tabletops are transitioning from spring to summer crops. Almost all the greens have fried except for the montain spinach and amaranth, though the broccoli and chard are still doing ok. Our squash won't put out fruit for some reason, but our tomatoes and basil have taken over all the boxes except one, and we're going to be sundrying like crazy in a week. It was cool how we stacked the planting so that as soon as the spring crops dried up, the summer ones took over. We're going to keep playing around with that in the future...<br /><br />Also, we have some sad news. Spencer and Sarah are moving back to LA, but they'll still be helping out on work weekends and harvesting their plot. Bianca and I will be moving onto the property to safeguard our little plant babies, and we're expanding Growcology's board with some exciting established and young leaders from the area. Stay tuned!Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-29736037643755903562009-05-25T20:18:00.000-07:002009-05-26T00:33:12.031-07:00Growcology Takes To the Field<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqAKF9AsfIg/Shuat5AlP4I/AAAAAAAAAAc/0kAGd6TP0JE/s1600-h/welcomeCenter_01.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqAKF9AsfIg/Shuad1GJoqI/AAAAAAAAAAM/7ZLf9ewtZGI/s1600-h/welcomeCenter_02.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqAKF9AsfIg/Shuad1GJoqI/AAAAAAAAAAM/7ZLf9ewtZGI/s320/welcomeCenter_02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340031620437615266" /></a><br />I am proud to present our latest milestone. <div><br /></div><div>The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Growcology</span> team headed out into a barren, sun baked, rock hard field last week with the intent of making a fertile, productive, and long term drought tolerant garden to serve as our welcome area in front of the barn. This evening we kick back with a few beers and enjoy the satisfaction of a day's end, having toiled together for a common cause.</div><div><br /></div><div>What you see in the picture is the spirals halfway <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Lasagna Mulched</span>. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqAKF9AsfIg/Shuat5AlP4I/AAAAAAAAAAc/0kAGd6TP0JE/s1600-h/welcomeCenter_01.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mqAKF9AsfIg/Shuat5AlP4I/AAAAAAAAAAc/0kAGd6TP0JE/s400/welcomeCenter_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340031896365907842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Following the recipe in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gaia's</span> garden, we put down a thin layer of goat manure over the earth which we broke up with pick axes followed by a layer of newspaper about 5 sheets thick. We then added another layer of goat manure followed by a foot thick layer of slightly decomposed horse bedding and manure. The next step is to put down a good layer of compost and then a nice thick layer of straw over that. </div><div><br /></div><div>The principle of the lasagna mulch is not to have fertile soil right away. It is actually to compost the way the forest builds soil, only in a highly expedited way. The lasagna mulch will actually make nutrients like nitrogen unavailable for up to six months while it all breaks down, resulting in thick, rich, water retaining soil with a healthy microbial profile. The way we plant it in the mean time is to carefully dig holes in through the mulch layers and fill them with finished compost or topsoil, plant our seeds or seedlings in them, and cover them back up with the straw layer. </div><div><br /></div><div>The lasagna mulch required quite a bit of water to get started. We must have spent hours standing with hoses, hand watering every layer to make sure it was of the consistency of a damp, wrung out sponge. Maintaining a proper moisture level is vital to the process, and it requires regular watering, especially in Riverside summer heat. Over the long run, however, the healthy soil with good mulch cover and shade from plant canopy will retain water extremely well and require much less than if done other ways.</div><div><br /></div><div>I would like to take the chance to thank Frank and Lucy Heyming for allowing us this opportunity on the property, and providing us with most of our materials. I would also like to acknowledge our rock star volunteer Twelve and his two children Ruby and Nova for showing up almost every day we've been in the field and putting in a few hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>Keep an eye out, as there is much more to come</div><div><br /></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-60819175680212851022009-05-19T09:13:00.000-07:002009-05-19T10:15:00.599-07:00A weekend in Paradise<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLlLQ7r-KI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_0IKWy7JRNE/s1600-h/CIMG3190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLlLQ7r-KI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_0IKWy7JRNE/s320/CIMG3190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337580490074093730" border="0" /></a>Awesome Mizuna and Shungiku mustardy greens growing around some carrots, calendula, some really healthy tomatoes, some peppers, a forest of turnips, and some radishes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLkheYnIxI/AAAAAAAAAE4/2dnW6JKW3BE/s1600-h/CIMG3197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLkheYnIxI/AAAAAAAAAE4/2dnW6JKW3BE/s320/CIMG3197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579772130566930" border="0" /></a>SQUASH! Summer squash, or zucchini, the healthiest my mom has ever grown, with some volunteer onions popping up in between.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLj8PXqSfI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8__x2mjN9xQ/s1600-h/CIMG3186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLj8PXqSfI/AAAAAAAAAEw/8__x2mjN9xQ/s320/CIMG3186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337579132444887538" border="0" /></a>Spencer and Sarah's bed has a whole polyculture of spring and summer plants, with chard, mountain spinach, onions, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, yarrow, and arugula.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjtGklroI/AAAAAAAAAEo/g3ekCjN-C_A/s1600-h/CIMG3187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjtGklroI/AAAAAAAAAEo/g3ekCjN-C_A/s320/CIMG3187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337578872385154690" border="0" /></a>My nephew Owen and niece Addison helped plant the beans in this plot, which also has my transplanted tomatoes, tomatillos, purple mountain spinach, cucumbers (with their sweet bamboo pyramid), squash, and amaranth.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjbYISg3I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Qh3S8SWNW18/s1600-h/CIMG3194.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjbYISg3I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Qh3S8SWNW18/s320/CIMG3194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337578567860650866" border="0" /></a>I designed a tree of life keyhole walkway in my mom's herb garden, where all different types of basil, thyme, oregano, marjoram, chamomile, lavender, agastache, savory, sorrel, geraniums, sage, rosemary, and more add spice to our garden and our meals.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjLOEKnyI/AAAAAAAAAEY/eo8s5iPZWGE/s1600-h/CIMG3192.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLjLOEKnyI/AAAAAAAAAEY/eo8s5iPZWGE/s320/CIMG3192.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337578290281094946" border="0" /></a>Globe artichokes. Not quite as tender as the purple kind, but great producers!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLi71UfY9I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/vcqxDGvsRb8/s1600-h/CIMG3196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLi71UfY9I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/vcqxDGvsRb8/s320/CIMG3196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337578025940640722" border="0" /></a>Sarah designed this keyhole bed, where carrots share space with different chards, brussel sprouts, lettuce and mixed greens, arugula, tomatoes, and green onions.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLitMIZuFI/AAAAAAAAAEI/qRVWHRJ0wW0/s1600-h/CIMG3204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLitMIZuFI/AAAAAAAAAEI/qRVWHRJ0wW0/s320/CIMG3204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337577774365915218" border="0" /></a>Bianca pauses while she designs the three sisters' garden to take a breath and pose for the camera.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLifyQI25I/AAAAAAAAAEA/V8IzRnQ14EM/s1600-h/CIMG3184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLifyQI25I/AAAAAAAAAEA/V8IzRnQ14EM/s320/CIMG3184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337577544080743314" border="0" /></a>There is method to our madness. This will be the welcome area to our workshop space, with a variety of different warm and dry weather vegetable guilds as illustrated in Sarah's previous post.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLgMOZQl2I/AAAAAAAAAD4/BksheUqF8j8/s1600-h/CIMG3205.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLgMOZQl2I/AAAAAAAAAD4/BksheUqF8j8/s320/CIMG3205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337575009014552418" border="0" /></a>Spencer irrigates.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLenwhKPsI/AAAAAAAAADw/BQfZ3s949Nk/s1600-h/CIMG3214.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLenwhKPsI/AAAAAAAAADw/BQfZ3s949Nk/s320/CIMG3214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337573283007708866" border="0" /></a>Swinging a pickaxe all day in 100 degree weather is what my grandparents used to call a 'character building' experience.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLcHkmGLnI/AAAAAAAAADo/NaqpWXtNgIk/s1600-h/CIMG3218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLcHkmGLnI/AAAAAAAAADo/NaqpWXtNgIk/s320/CIMG3218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337570531028119154" border="0" /></a>Bianca and Rufus test out the new chicken tractor, as Sarah and Spencer attach the chicken wire. Our good friend Betty donated 5 more chickens to the flock, but when we introduced them to the old hens they nearly got pecked to death... hence, the new mobile chicken coop.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLa7ojguSI/AAAAAAAAADg/fFozFp_vYlI/s1600-h/CIMG3228.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLa7ojguSI/AAAAAAAAADg/fFozFp_vYlI/s320/CIMG3228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337569226420959522" border="0" /></a>A finished three sisters garden bed. For now, the straw covered mounds have 4 corn seeds planted in each. Once the corn pops up, we'll plant the runner beans to climb up their natural 'trellis', and then we plant the squash in the other mounds to spread out and shade/protect the topsoil... All fertilized organically with goat and llama manure.<br /><br />So thats what we were up to this past weekend at Growcology. We've also been developing an online resource that we'll mention in our upcoming newsletter, as well as some programs with the various community gardens in the city. More to come soon!Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-84921689273911088712009-05-15T23:33:00.000-07:002009-05-15T23:56:37.949-07:00Stimulus Grant!Great news! Growcology has been awarded a community stimulus check from BWB: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/BWBStimulus">here is the list</a> of grant recipients. I'm so grateful and humbled to be among such great projects as <a href="http://www.piscosinfronteras.org/">Pisco Sin Fronteras</a>, a group near and dear to my heart that arose from the rubble of the earthquake ravaged town in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspeyere/2337870691/in/set-72157603926383104/">Pisco, Peru</a>. There are fourteen total stimulus recipients, all of them are so inspirational.<br /><br />We're going to be spending our grant on heirloom and organic <a href="http://www.seedsavers.org/">seeds </a>and materials for a <a href="http://www.desertgreenhouseguide.com/">localized </a>plant <a href="http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/vegetables/vcomp.asp">guilds </a>nursery and for building <a href="http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/">community gardens</a>. We're working <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gardeningblog.net/pictures/money.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 263px;" src="http://www.gardeningblog.net/pictures/money.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>all tomorrow on our new welcome area for the learning center, hopefully we'll have all our planting done before it gets too hot...<b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></b><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.desertgreenhouseguide.com/images/stories/easygallery/920/1240091788_20090413-shade-cloth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 298px;" src="http://www.desertgreenhouseguide.com/images/stories/easygallery/920/1240091788_20090413-shade-cloth.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">W</span></span></span></b>e'll probably need to make a cooler structure for propagating our seedlings, as it can get<span style="font-weight: bold;"> ridiculously </span>hot here in Riverside. Here is one of the designs we're looking at. We'd like to be able to grow more of all the great helper and useful plants already growing here and share them with the community.<b><br /></b>Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-51092603041227363062009-05-13T10:46:00.000-07:002009-05-19T10:33:19.605-07:00Growcology spirals out of control!!!!<div>After much thought and deliberation, we would like to present our plans for the entryway of the Growcology site. The bottom of the design ends at the edge of the barn, to the right are the veggie garden plots, at the top is the solar panel, and to the left is a chain link fence and Spencer's and my driveway.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LfOw1elCbQo/SgsQuNNerFI/AAAAAAAAABg/isTgK_dJyeY/s1600-h/FieldDrawing_Sarah03a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_LfOw1elCbQo/SgsQuNNerFI/AAAAAAAAABg/isTgK_dJyeY/s400/FieldDrawing_Sarah03a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335376569556708434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLtQFUprtI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/ELcjhBC5uPc/s1600-h/irrigation4Nick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 304px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/ShLtQFUprtI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/ELcjhBC5uPc/s320/irrigation4Nick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337589368949944018" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Revised irrigation plan<br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The spiral design and infinity symbol pathways were designed by Spencer, who, just the other night, reminded me how it was only a few months ago that he had so rudely scoffed at my suggestion that we make our gardens spiral shaped. * After everyone agreed that Spencer lays out a mean spiral**, I charted the veggie and groudcover layout/combinations, making sure to pair and group plants that benefit each other's growth and development (who knew that potatoes like to grow with watermelon?). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Note that section A does not have little plant icons in it - simply due to my laziness. I think that section will be somewhat randomly planted (unlike, for instance, the Three Sisters area, which has a definite layout) so it seemed a bit of a waste of time to draw in little plants. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, everyone decided on the irrigation layout, making sure to include both auto-sprinklers and standpipes for hoses (I love handwatering - I mean, who <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">doesn't</span> want to play with a hose in 100º weather), and now. . . now the fun part begins - digging trenches! WHEEEEEEEEEE!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*I would just like to point out that right here, I am using my amazing willpower to resist adding a pun about how Spencer came around to my way of thinking.</div><div><br /></div><div>** I apologize for any images of Spencer pooping that I may have conjured in your head with that phrase. I do not, however, apologize for any images conjured as you read the sentence preceding this one.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-84507229571343361192009-05-11T09:14:00.000-07:002009-05-11T09:29:10.792-07:00Cool WebsiteI just was emailed a link to the <a href="http://www.veggietrader.com/">Veggie Trader</a>, a website for people with excess veggies so they can barter them with gardeners in their area. Its a nifty idea, hopefully more people will start using it so that we can all fill up our plates.<br /><br />We've been really busy in the Growcology garden, we've planted all the rest of our bean and tomato seedlings in the solarized bed, and today we're looking to finish the <a href="http://earthfriendlygardening.wordpress.com/2007/07/03/the-earliest-guild-corn-squash-beans-three-sisters/">"Three Sisters" guild </a>bed as well. We'll be using the layout recommended by <a href="http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/3sisters.html">Renee's Garden</a> for our first attempt at recreating North America's first <a href="http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/Permaculture-Food-Forest/">polyculture guild</a>, and as we finish our welcome area we'll try some variations on it.<br /><br />Speaking of which, we're completely remodeling the welcome area to the workshop space in the barn. We're incorporating permeable walkways made from wood chips, spiral planting areas irrigated with well-water, and planting a variety of summer crops and herbs that will illustrate various symbiotic relationships between plants. The melons, squash, pumpkins, cucumber, tomatoes, corn, eggplants, and other veggies we plant will be ready throughout the summer and fall, while our spring garden is already providing us with more veggies than we know what to do with.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-45836928403730308012009-04-29T16:29:00.001-07:002009-04-29T16:31:11.470-07:00May is Afoot, What do I do in the Garden?Here is an <a href="http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/garden_tasks_for_may_in_hot_to_warm_climates">awesome link</a> from Vegetable Gardens 101 that talks about the chores to do in May in your garden. I'd reprint it here, but the author expressly asked that we get her permission prior to publishing her material, so why not just click the link and read all about it?Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-67321112581902477352009-04-27T19:06:00.000-07:002009-04-29T09:53:36.376-07:00Follow up on Earth Day how to guides<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs016.snc1/2981_100658581205_658036205_2975988_813108_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 604px; height: 453px;" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs016.snc1/2981_100658581205_658036205_2975988_813108_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth on Saturday. We had a great turnout and really were impressed by all of the enthusiasm.<br /><br />I had quite a few people ask me for some further information or possibly a guide on how to make the recycled water bottle self watering planters we were demonstrating. I considered making a quick guide with some steps and some photographs, and came across some other guides that are just as good as anything I would make, so I'll just link to the following guide:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-watering-recycled-plant-pot-for-growing-herbs/">Instructables.com - Self watering recycled plant pot for growing herbs.</a><br /><br />Stay tuned, as we have alot in the works right now with announcements coming soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-397865241116187822009-04-23T16:41:00.000-07:002009-04-25T08:28:07.982-07:00Earth Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.habitatriverside.org/images/stories/earth_day_event_flyer_revised.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 143px;" src="http://www.habitatriverside.org/images/stories/earth_day_event_flyer_revised.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We're going to be making our first foray into booth jockeying at green events: Saturday, from 11-4, we'll be at White Park in Riverside for the Earth Day festival. Its hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Riverside, and will feature all kinds of exciting booths and workshops.<br /><br />We'll be bringing our tabletop gardens, to show the kids what they can do at home with a minimum of time and money invested. We'll also be showing how to grow using different reused cups, bowls, and pitchers, as well as newspaper pots and more painting and crafting activities.<br /><br />So Saturday, if you're in the I.E. come by our booth and say hi. We'd love to see you, and we'll probably be going back to the property afterwards for some lemonade.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-77288499713852138822009-04-14T12:35:00.000-07:002009-04-14T15:14:56.470-07:00Community Garden!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTnBUeNCiI/AAAAAAAAACk/zWMEqDUCgjs/s1600-h/CIMG2625.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTnBUeNCiI/AAAAAAAAACk/zWMEqDUCgjs/s320/CIMG2625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324634669320047138" border="0" /></a>Nova shows us his squash<br /><br /></div>Well, there have been some pretty exciting developments at the Growcology Learning Garden. Our first family plot is up and running, with our friend Twelve and his adorable children coming by and planting their tomatoes, squash, carrots, and other veggies this past weekend.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeToEKEfvyI/AAAAAAAAACs/Ce1UI9BXaeg/s1600-h/CIMG2632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeToEKEfvyI/AAAAAAAAACs/Ce1UI9BXaeg/s320/CIMG2632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324635817579101986" border="0" /></a>Twelve and his kids get plantin'<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />We've also been fortunate to have a soil scientist and landscape designer working with us. We met Sean Roulan at Oscar Clarke's house at the UCR botanic gardens, far from Sean's home on the coast of Massachusetts. He has been helping us in the garden for the past few weeks, sharing his knowledge about propagation and site design and getting dirt under his fingernails. We've been so blessed here at Growcology to have so many wonderful volunteers, our projects are really gaining momentum.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTpBHkXfsI/AAAAAAAAAC0/CIqlCWt1B-Q/s1600-h/CIMG2673.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTpBHkXfsI/AAAAAAAAAC0/CIqlCWt1B-Q/s320/CIMG2673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324636864879492802" border="0" /></a>Sean spreads fresh compost in the herb garden<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now seems like a good time to introduce the Growcology team. We've written about some of our friends and volunteers, but I don't think we've written about our core founders. Here is me:<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTpqMwsAvI/AAAAAAAAAC8/zqfM18FVqjY/s1600-h/CIMG2504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTpqMwsAvI/AAAAAAAAAC8/zqfM18FVqjY/s320/CIMG2504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324637570647982834" border="0" /></a>My nickname on the farm is the PoopSmythe. Can you guess why?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I'm Nick, the Chief Composting Officer for Growcology. My focus around the garden is making sure all the 'waste' stays put and the nutrients continue to cycle through our ecosystem (instead of sending them to the dump). I've been writing most of the posts on our blog so far, but hopefully the rest of the crew will be contributing their words in the coming weeks and months. My background is in Disaster Relief and food distribution. These days I'm trying to get as many people into gardening as possible, for lots of reasons.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Another one of our founders is Chief Money Officer and secretary Sarah.<br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTrTNC94bI/AAAAAAAAADE/QfZFcoBGooc/s1600-h/P1070727.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTrTNC94bI/AAAAAAAAADE/QfZFcoBGooc/s320/P1070727.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324639374610915762" border="0" /></a>Sarah has been designing websites for years, and we're lucky to have her attention to detail and impeccable editing skills. She's also a graphic artist and fire performer, and you can spot her in the garden by her fiery orange hair. She's also an excellent chef, and makes sure that all the delicious pot-herbs in the garden make it into our bellies.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our Chief Buildin' Officer and resident carpenter and percussionist is Spencer.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTsYHntdeI/AAAAAAAAADM/ap_bhPMy5Ec/s1600-h/CIMG2547.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTsYHntdeI/AAAAAAAAADM/ap_bhPMy5Ec/s320/CIMG2547.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324640558565389794" border="0" /></a>Spencer fashions a fence around the community garden<br /><br /></div>Spencer spent many of the formative years of his life remodeling and building homes with his dad, a general contractor from Alabama. He's also a sound engineer, as well as an avid gardener and drummer. He and Sarah recently relocated from downtown LA to our garden in Riverside so they can stay on top of all the food we've got growing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Our last founder, but certainly not least, is Chief Inspiration Officer Bianca.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTt6m6iLCI/AAAAAAAAADU/_ny3k2BkmaI/s1600-h/CIMG2630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SeTt6m6iLCI/AAAAAAAAADU/_ny3k2BkmaI/s320/CIMG2630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324642250593020962" border="0" /></a>Here Bianca chomps down on a stalk of Swiss Chard thats taller than she is!<br /></div><br />When Bianca isn't chasing the chickens down so that she can hug them, you can find her tending the seedlings or pruning the orchard. She comes from a family of farmers and herbalists in New Mexico, and has studied and grown Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Native American herbs. She also is the founder of an inspirational media company, <a href="http://www.wordsforthemany.com/">Words for the Many</a>, and organizes motivational speaking engagements and backcountry retreats.<br /><br />So thats our Growcology crew! We're few, but passionate, and we're lucky to have dozens of amazing volunteers helping us out. We've already profiled a few of them, and we'll continue to as the food keeps growing and experts and newbies find their way to our farm. We hope to see you there soon...Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-89795562702203008952009-04-04T23:04:00.000-07:002009-04-04T23:14:26.554-07:00Permaculture in LAThis weekend the whole Growcology team is traveling out to downtown LA to learn from Larry Santoyo and <a href="http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/Teaching-Team/">Scott Pittman of the Permaculture Institute</a>. Larry's company, <a href="http://www.earthflow.com/">Earthflow</a>, is teaching their Permaculture Design Course at <a href="http://projectbutterfly.blogspot.com/">Project Butterfly</a>, an awesome workshop space in the warehouse district. <br /><br />So far, we've learned alot about the design principles and ethics that make permaculture such a versatile approach to problem solving. Both the instructors have great senses of humor, and they were keen on conveying to the students not to go out and preach before they've implemented aspects of the class into their lives. The last thing the environmental movement needs is half-informed, in-experienced, yet still preachy hippies.<br /><br />Personally, I really respect it when people are opinionated, but not dogmatic. Larry Santoyo has been presenting the information in a very accessible way, but doesn't insist that we do things like he does. He and Scott Pittman both backed up their ideas with stories from their combined 50 or so years of experience, but they refused to give any "one size fits all" solutions. I can't wait until we implement permaculture design principles at our workshop location, and hope that we're able to bring these instructors out to teach a full certification course in the fall...Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-85110243418383401632009-03-29T18:29:00.001-07:002009-03-29T18:35:23.384-07:00Tower of Vegetables<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspeyere/3396466615/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3396466615_38c10cdc93.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;"><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/inspeyere/3396466615/">Tower of Vegetables</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/inspeyere/">Mr. Nicolás</a>.</span></div><p>Today we planted almost a hundred little vegetables and herbs. We'll be transferring them to larger, re-purposed containers. We used all different types of soil, from commercial seed starter to mixes of soil and compost. In a couple weeks we'll know which work best.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3396465321_6797032308.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3396465321_6797032308.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3397276654_d4b113f10e.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3608/3397276654_d4b113f10e.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3396464859_3568d9589d.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/3396464859_3568d9589d.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3397276476_a02d86e102.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3397276476_a02d86e102.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a></p>Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-28080070093159462692009-03-24T00:19:00.001-07:002009-03-24T11:09:56.633-07:00A Datsun?!!?So up in Oregon there is a man driving one of the most unbelievable cars on Earth. The White Zombie is an electric powered Datsun whose owner has a penchant for drag-racing. See for yourself: <a href="http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/videos/view/56-Electric-Drag-Racing">Electric Drag Racing</a>.<br /><br />While an electric car that can beat a GTO off the line and set world records is noteworthy, there are a few things that concern me about it. It says that the White Zombie needs to be charged for 12-25 minutes after each quarter mile race. That means that its basically unloading all of its batteries to go 110 mph. Sure, its faster than the gas powered cars, but they can drive home afterwards on the same tank of gas, while the Datsun in plugged into the grid for a half hour.<br /><br />What really impressed me about this video was how the owner <a href="http://www.evdl.org/lib/index.html">converted an existing car</a>. That technology seems to be what is going to revolutionize the auto industry. Bailouts aren't going to do much, there are already more cars on the road than our highways can handle. We need to start converting the cars we already own to run on electricity, then find ways to get that electricity from <a href="http://sparkyev.ca/">something other than fossil fuels</a>.<br /><br />Stay tuned for a workshop on exactly that...Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-84210124483153839352009-03-22T13:09:00.000-07:002009-03-24T10:17:18.972-07:00(suprisingly) Our Hats Off To Lowe's Paint DeptSpencer here,<br /><br />So as Sarah and I prepare for our move to Riverside to start work on the Growcology project, we are sprucing up the place we are moving into in a few different ways. One of which is to paint the house. Determining which paint to use, factoring in our budget and environmental sensibilities, proved to be almost as much of a headache as breathing in the fumes of it in a poorly ventilated area.<br /><br />That said, we have found ourselves on the other side of this conundrum with a bit of relief.<br /><br />For those of you with a limited understanding of why most paint is the devil, here is a brief explanation of things to consider about paint:<br /><br />Paint consists of three primary components. Binding agents, Pigment, and Solvents. All three of which can contain <a href="http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html">VOCs</a>.<br /><br />VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds. They occur in all paint to some degree. They occur primarily in the binding agents. There is lots of reading to find on the <a href="http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2008/04/vocs-in-paint.html">internets </a>about the stuff. In a nutshell, they are really really bad for you at best.<br /><br />In addition to VOCs, another concern in paint can be different toxic pigmenting metals for colors such as yellow and red.<br /><br />To be a green seal certified paint, a paint must have at less than 50 grams per litre VOCs. To be considered VOC free, it must contain less than 5 grams per litre.<br /><br />Looking around at different brands of paint and trying to stay under 20 dollars a gallon for paint, without putting something on our walls that might be slowly poisoning us, here is what I have concluded.<br /><br />There are lots of companies out there that offer a sliding scale: If you want environmentally friendly paint, you had better be ready to pay an upward of 30 to 50 dollars a gallon for something that may be a little runny and hard to apply.<br /><br />After researching, the only company that I have found so far with a paint that is low voc and cheap is Olympic at Lowes. <a href="http://www.olympic.com/paint_products/going_green/index.htm">Olympic premium</a> is rated at zero voc and we paid 15 dollars a gallon for flat and 20 for gloss, semi gloss, satin and egshell.<br /><br />With that, I say to Lowe's: you may feel and smell like a Target as well as function like a Home Depot. But that said, you are the only one out there that didn't make me choose between affordability and eco-friendliness.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-3977888694925633892009-03-16T21:42:00.001-07:002009-03-16T22:16:53.470-07:00Chickens!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyEEiE8xrc95G1iRAdwDjOrN69CQ_wca9nal46lGNbJJgguPg4Fr7YAUI-5-_JyDh6e3WgLasL4pLzAZfIMjg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></div>The chicken tractor is now fully operational and has four beautiful lady chickens living in it. We even got our first egg to<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8tM1M_tvI/AAAAAAAAABU/WXe5xmhqHmk/s1600-h/CIMG2259.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8tM1M_tvI/AAAAAAAAABU/WXe5xmhqHmk/s320/CIMG2259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314015783783741170" border="0" /></a>day! A couple Auracana hens and a Golden Lace and Heinz 59 custom varieties are busy tilling up the soil, eating grubs, and fertilizing the orchard around our fig tree.<br /><br />Two of our most dedicated volunteers, Betty Wayford and Dan, helped us to procure the chickens and put them into our tractor. They've been indispensable in our garden, watering and planting the spring vegetables and sharing their energy and wisdom in building our community garden. Betty, a Master Gardener and caretaker of several community gardens in and around Norco, is also raising another 6 chicks for us at her home to put into the tractor once they're old enough.<br /><br />Today we also visited another pillar of the Inland Empire gardening community,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8tl0dsMCI/AAAAAAAAABc/JEZ2k37z00Q/s1600-h/CIMG2282.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8tl0dsMCI/AAAAAAAAABc/JEZ2k37z00Q/s320/CIMG2282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016213082058786" border="0" /></a> Oscar Clarke, at his home next to the UCR botanical gardens. He was the founder of the university's herbarium, and worked there for almost half a century. A walking encyclopedia of plant knowledge, Oscar showed us at least a dozen delicious, edible 'weeds' that grow up in the cracks of his driveway, as well as countless rare plant specimens from around the world.<br /><br />Oscar gave us some great inspiration and leads for future workshops, from propagation and cuttings to recognizing valuable 'weeds' all around us. The century and a half of wisdom that Oscar and Betty bring to gardening is a perfect example of our mission at Growcology. We fee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8uZY4KsdI/AAAAAAAAABk/38tiw2fxvco/s1600-h/CIMG2274.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/Sb8uZY4KsdI/AAAAAAAAABk/38tiw2fxvco/s200/CIMG2274.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314017099030114770" border="0" /></a>l that too few Americans know how to cultivate and grow their food in this era, so it is imperative for us to learn from those who have kept the tradition alive while we still can.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-7802006267533374342009-03-11T14:03:00.000-07:002009-03-11T14:19:53.028-07:00Community Worksite<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SbgnqjIFXII/AAAAAAAAAAk/HRR1fQA9O3U/s1600-h/P1070777.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_unUq6kwej3o/SbgnqjIFXII/AAAAAAAAAAk/HRR1fQA9O3U/s320/P1070777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312039372420635778" border="0" /></a><br />Things are humming along at Growcology. We picked up a load of goat manure last week, and are busy spreading it and our finished compost throughout the community garden. Over half of the plots are planted for Spring, as we finalize our plans for opening the site to the neighborhood.<br /><br />The solar system is up and running, and despite recent rains we're generating much more electricity than we're consuming. The property is almost entirely running on solar pumped well water, and the four season's garden is blooming beautifully.<br /><br />We're busy finding the best teachers in Southern California so that we can invite them to share their knowledge and help you to implement it in your home. The empty field in the foreground of the above picture will be a blank slate for the participants in our workshops, a perfect environment to put shovel to soil and get dirt under your fingers. If you know of any superb instructors, or have any topics you wish to learn more about, email us at Growcology@gmail.com .Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-21462589333053296712009-03-02T14:11:00.000-08:002009-03-02T14:28:52.872-08:00Spring PlantingOver the next few weeks we're going to be doing most of our Spring planting. Consulting the old <a href="http://www.almanac.com/">Farmer's Almanac</a>, you can see that its time to plant alot of different veggies here in Southern California. We're gonna need to get barley, beans, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplants, endive, kale, leeks, lettuce, onion, parsley, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomoatoes, watermelons, and maybe some wheat in the ground by the end of the month. And thats just the stuff from the Almanac's <a href="http://www.almanac.com/garden/plantingtable/index.php">planting guide</a>, we've got plenty of other seeds aside from these we're going to be planting.<br /><br />On top of that, we're finishing up preparing 5 different 12 X 12 community plots, and hopefully will get some cold frames up in the next week or two for our seedlings. The barn space needs some remodeling to prepare for our workshops later this spring, and we're soaking the roots of our fruit trees in aerobic compost tea to strengthen them for summer.<br /><br />If you have any ideas for interesting things to grow, or live in Riverside and are interested in a garden plot of your own, give us an email at growcology@gmail.com and we'll get right back to you.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-40505765268866287952009-02-27T17:49:00.001-08:002009-02-27T18:08:48.204-08:00Compost Tea and Chicken TractorToday we put another coat of paint on the chicken tractor. It is now a beautiful light green, and we're ready to toss some chickens in it. <br /><br />We also made a batch of aerobic compost tea. First we put a few cups of compost and well water into a barrel, then added a solar powered air pump to aerate it. After a couple days of brewing, we sprayed the tea on many of the plants that had been pruned recently. We've also been soaking the roots of the trees in the orchard. <br /><br />We still need to get feedback about potential workshops that people would be interested in attending. Please email us at growcology@gmail.com and we'll get right back to you.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824015668831896210.post-62725428987046553962009-02-22T22:08:00.000-08:002009-02-22T22:16:48.449-08:00Thanks for coming out!We had a fun stroll through the garden today, most everyone who came out left with a bag of fresh picked citrus and a belly full of delicious tacos. It was a pleasure seeing so many gardeners from across Riverside and Southern California. We hope you'll stick around as the garden and Growcology.com grow into resources for all of us to learn from, build, and grow.<br /><br />We're creating a calendar to communicate the projects, events, and workshops we'll be scheduling. We'll also be creating tutorials for ongoing projects that will be accessible at Growcology.com. Please feel free to contact <a href="mailto:%20growcology@gmail.com">growcology@gmail.com</a> with your ideas for classes, any questions you might have, or just your contact information so we can keep you updated.Nick Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17931060951809403571noreply@blogger.com0