In support of community gardens

Didn't seem like much. Just two acquaintances who decided to form an alliance and grow vegetables in the same raised bed.

But since January of this year, when a fellow plant-lover and I started a community garden in our homeowner's association, I have had a great time and I've learned so much from him.

His one tomato plant has been a star, pumping out huge fruit for months, while 3 feet away my three plants have *ahem* produced some fruit. What's his secret? He pruned back a good portion of the foliage and didn't let the plants go all leafy. My plants are too vegetative; his plant's energy went to the fruit.

He turned me on to delicious banana peppers, which I plan to grow every year.

I was simply blown over (with admiration) by his guff ... he planted 5 or 6 raised beds at the other end of our community ... without permission from the HOA. His response: "It looked so ugly over there. This looks better." No argument from me. And the HOA retroactively approved it!

Always happy, always had a great outlook on life. Definitely an attitude to emulate.

Community gardens are the best way to meet people who share a love for horticulture -- even if it's just one cool dude. I'll be sorry to leave the raised bed we started here when my family moves, but I hope it will be a way for others in the HOA to have the same social-gardening experience that I did.

Cool blog Alert: Coloring Easter Eggs with Natural Dyes

Love this idea and the pictures from a fellow desert resident!

tea with iris: Coloring Easter Eggs with Natural Dyes: " Here's a natural, healthy way to dye Easter eggs plus a few photos from our Easter egg decorating party and hunt with frien..."

Not Trashy

Enjoyable find at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival last weekend: 50 recycling bins turned into works of incredible beauty for the "TRASHed @ Coachella" contest.

I heard the bins were to be donated to two local schools -- Desert Mirage High and Coachella Valley High -- after the event. Still looking into that.

Edited to add: KPSP Local 2 says 36 of the bins were donated April 21 to the Coachella Valley Unified School District.

Here are some more photos of the bins.

Waste not ...

Holy smoke, I read in Sunset Magazine (Jan. 2011) about a woman whose household produces almost no waste. Absolutely incredible. Here is her blog, which puts my tiny green efforts to total shame:

http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com

You know, as I sit and think about writing that previous paragraph, I am glad to have done what little part I can do. And really, my blog is more about getting started (white belt novice) not expert level (dragon black belt).

ETA: Here is the link to Sunset Magazine. http://www.sunset.com/home/natural-home/zero-waste-home-0111-00418000069984/