Garden Reflections | Edible Landscaping Made Easy With Avis Licht

Heirloom Foods in the Edible Landscape

Sep 152011

Amazing Heirloom tomatoes at the Expo in Santa Rosa

On Tuesday, September13, I went to the Heirloom Exposition in Santa Rosa, California. It was truly amazing. There were many vendors from seed companies, tool companies, produce, nurseries, irrigation, master gardeners, farms, gardens, restaurants. And everyone there was interested in healthy, organic food. The ripple of movement towards healthy food is becoming a tidal wave.

The keynote speakers were Jeffrey Smith from the Institute of Responsible Technology, talking about genetically modified foods and the dangers they pose to human health and the environment, Alice Waters, the pioneer of the local food movement and the Edible School Yard, and Dr. Vandana Shiva from India, who founded the movement to protect the diversity and integrity of living resources, especially native seeds.

A mountain of gourds at the Expo defies description

Seed Savers Exchange defines heirloom seeds and plants as follows:

The genetic diversity of the world’s food crops is eroding at an unprecedented and accelerating rate. The vegetables and fruits currently being lost are the result of thousands of years of adaptation and selection in diverse ecological niches around the world. Each variety is genetically unique and has developed resistance to the diseases and pests with which it evolved. Plant breeders use the old varieties to breed resistance into modern crops that are constantly being attacked by rapidly evolving diseases and pests. Without these infusions of genetic diversity, food production is at risk from epidemics and infestations.

This is just the tip of the heirloom iceberg. How we grow plants, what we grow, how we take seed, how we harvest, sell and preserve this food is all part of the big picture of growing healthy, safe food, that is good for all living beings and good for the earth.

The simple act of planting food in your own home garden is an important step you can take to make a difference in your lives and your children’s lives. Choosing what to plant and how we take care of our gardens is up to each one of us.

Over the next few days I’ll be telling you about the wonderful seed companies, tool companies and more that I found there. Just know, that you’re on the cutting edge.

Herbs in box

Even a small wooden planter box can supply you with healthy, delicious herbs for the season. Start small and keep on going.

Labor Day in the Garden – A Labor of Love

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Sep 082011

Sunflowers and Dahlias in the Fall

Mostly I’m a very practical person. My motto is let’s get the work done and then go have fun. My garden writings are meant to give you very specific suggestions for your Edible Landscape. But every now and then I feel the need to wax philosophical, and you’ll just have to excuse me.

Labor Day is an American holiday that has been recognized on the first Monday in September since 1882. We take a day off to recognize the hard work of all the people. Gardeners are one of the hardest workers. You can’t work theoretically in the garden. Either you do it or you don’t. The plants live and die by our labor. We dig, and haul and plant and sweat and at the end of the day, there’s something to show for our efforts.

This steep hillside has some real issues (click to enlarge)

A few days later, with a good plan, and some great workers we have this:

The final landscaping solution for the hill

Stairs, retaining wall, and plantings are done (click to enlarge)

The rewards of the garden are huge. I have often thought that I’m like a 5 year old, needing instant gratification from my work. My friends who are therapists and teachers can work for years before seeing the results of their labor. We gardeners on the other hand, stand back at the end of the day and can see what we’ve done. Then we go and eat what we’ve grown.

I’ve been working in my own garden for over 20 years. It has taken shape VERY SLOWLY. Most of my time was spent working and raising my three sons. And that is as it should be. I encourage you to be patient with yourself and with the growing of the garden.

Over time you get to know you home’s particularities of weather: sun, storms and wind. You will see it in all four seasons. Inch by inch and row by row, you will gradually turn your yard into a garden of delight. For me it’s been a labor of love, and worth every drop of sweat.

People come to the garden to learn and see what I've done

: NEVER GIVE UP

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