Milli on KCET Short Video: Deep Watering for Edible Gardens

Video: Recycling Old Dresser Drawers into li'l raised beds by your's truly

B4 I re-use...

my plastic pots, I wash them out with Dr. Bronner's soap. I want to be sure there are no yuckies lingering around to cause future problems to my baby seedlings :) Its already tough enough to keep the white moths from laying their eggs!!


-- Post From the Field

Hey Ma, you've raised us well! We know where our food comes from! Our backyard!!

We are lucky enough to be able to harvest these beauties weekly!! I'll be making fruit roll-up, jam, kale chips, dried fruit chunks, chutney, and much more!! Yay!!

Got abundance of fruit?

Make fruit leathers a/k/a fruit roll ups!!! YUM!
Recipe to follow...

Peaches, Agave, li'l lemon to retain color!


-- Post From the Field

Red Baron peaches!!!

Our vegetable garden gets 4-5hrs of sun in the summer, boooo right? Successful organic summer gardens should get at least 6-8hrs of sun :( Our tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers are taking soooooo long to grow :( Ahhh, the challenges! Our garden is at its low at the moment :( A few years ago we were yearning for our very own organic fruit trees! So we decided to plant an orchard where we get the most sun (mind u we tore up a gorgeous zen landscape for it, I mean it had a waterfall, tiny Irish moss growing, and bamboo!) u get the idea...

Well I'm super happy we decided to do it, because here is a list of awesome sweet juicy fruit we are eating these days! YaY!
Peaches
Nectarines
Plums
Apples

I still cant believe the orchard is only three years old :) Last yr was our first batch of fruit, this yr we estimate 50-70 pieces of fruit from each tree :)

I guess we don't mind trading gorgeous healthy tomato plants for some juicy sweet organic fruit!!!



-- Post From the Field

Zucchini this Zucchini that

-- Post From the Field

Work Hard Play Hard

Just got back from speaking at the State Master Gardener conference in Santa Rosa, worked diligently for several hours to put my presentation together and didn't have the best travel experience on the way back :(

Today the birds are singing a different tune, I accomplished to play hard in our oasis, barefoot enjoying the warmth under my feet and on my back :) And had the satisfaction of picking mulberries one at a time, as the sun was peaking thru the leaves warming my face :) Ahhhh, life in the edible zen garden is blissful!

Now to play in the kitchen and start my first batch of Mulberry Jam! Yay!!!






-- Post From the Field

Homegrown Loquat Jam

Our first batch, YaY!

Patch.com Video: Planning your summer garden

English:



Spanish:

Summer Plan 2011

Planning on graph paper always helps this gal out! Especially when I have multiple garden plots to plan out! Reference books also help!

Happy Growing!



-- Post From the Field

Photos speak louder than written words!

Sexy :)

I find it very Sexy :) when Hubby picks our dessert :)

Happy Spring Days!

Life is good when there is no need to purchase...

Swiss Chard
Spinach
Collard Greens
Lettuce
Beets
Cilantro
Parsley
Cabbage
Kale
Peas
Broccoli
Oregano
Peppers
Mint

What a fantastic fall/winter season we've had! We've had a continous harvest all season long, may I add it's been several pounds of fresh organic veggies!!!

What has been the key?
Real Dirt - We were having lots of problems with the bags of soil purchased at ur local home improvement stores :(. Boooooo!
Worm Tea - Black Liquid Gold!

-- Post From the Field

Seedlings love classical & meditative music!

-- Post From the Sunny Side Bdrm

What's growin on at Modern-Sustainability Urban Homestead??

Indeed, we've been busy bees in our daily modern-sustainability ventures and have not posted in months about what's growin on in our li'l Urban Homestead! Let us begin 2011 with what I've sowed in the past few weeks for Spring/Summer:

Too cold or wet to play outside? Improvise is our key :) Lay out an old sheet and begin to play in doors, preferably near a sunny window!

Friday, Feb. 18th Sowed the following seeds:

• Heirloom Pole Rattlesnake/Purple Bean
• Edamame Bean
• Montezzuma's Red Bush Bean
• Black Azteca Corn
• Oaxacan Corn
• Container Bush Slicer Cucumber
• Spacemaster Cucumber
• Container Li'l Prince Eggplant
• Green Fleshed Honeydew Melon
• Yellow Old German Tomato
• Brandywine Tomato
• Container Super Bush Tomato
• Italian Zucchini Romanesco
• Mini Jack Pumpkin
• Dark Green Raven

Wednesday, Mar. 2 Seedlings are looking healthy and strong! Except a few seeds did not germinate :( So I decided to resow them :)


What are these li'l guys being fed? A light worm tea concoction w/ kelp and pond H2O. Also, they are receiving light through a unused lamp I found in the office. Remember Improvise! I move the lamp around the seedlings so that everyone gets a bit of light. Plus, when the sun is out, I place the trays directly in the sunshine!

More to come! Stay tuned...

peas,
milli macen-moore

Canceled due to rain: Organic Sundays with Yvonne Savio!! 3pm Nov. 21 at Milagro Allegro Community Garden

We are sorry to inform you that we are canceling today’s “Organic Sunday’s” with our dear friend Yvonne Savio, due to the unpredictable rain. We hope to be able to schedule her for a later date.

Thanks again for supporting our educational workshops and Happy Holidays!

Milli Macen-Moore

Dreaming about buying that new "perfect” tool? Forget it. Recycling
and inventing new uses for household items can be more productive and
certainly less expensive.

Milagro Allegro is honored and privileged to welcome Yvonne Savio,
Manager of the University of California Cooperative Extension Master
Gardener Program and Horticulturist of the year! Yvonne will show us
how to recycle and develop new uses for household items and will also
discuss the UCCE Master Gardener application process.

What: “Organic Sundays”: Recycle "Useless" Items into "New" Garden
Tools with Yvonne Savio
When: Sunday, November 21, 2010
Where: Milagro Allegro Community Garden

115 S. Avenue 56, LA 90042
1 block SE of Figueroa, behind the Highland Theater www.hpgarden.org
Time: 3pm (Spanish Translation provided)

Please bring a plastic gallon jug and an egg carton.

Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for lack of funds

Fall's UC Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative at Milagro Allegro Community Garden

There is still some spots available for the upcoming UC Grow LA Victory Garden Initiative, if you should be interested in this amazing series, please contact me. Thanks!

Milli Macen-Moore
:)

September Events at Milagro Allegro Community Garden

Milagro Allegro Community Garden
115 S. Avenue 56
Highland Park (Los Angeles)
CA, 90042
(Behind the Highland Park Theater)

Calendar of Events for September 2010

* September 19 – Organic Sundays, 4-5pm “What to Sow & Transplant this Fall”
* September 25 – Fresh from the Garden, 4-5pm This month’s topic: “Squash”
* September 26 – Garden Swap, 5-6:30pm


September 19 – Organic Sundays, 4-5pm “What to Sow & Transplant this Fall”

Eating locally and organically is important, and in Los Angeles we are fortunate to be able to grow delicious, nutritious and organic fresh food year-round. Join us for “Organic Sundays” – an incredible and stimulating series of organic edible garden workshops every third Sunday of the month held at Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park.
With Fall fast approaching, this month’s class will focus on how and what to sow and transplant this Fall. Master Gardener Milli Macen-Moore, will also be giving FREE organic edible, non-GMO Fall/Winter seeds!! Plan to get your hands in the dirt, and bring your baggies, and markers for your seed treasures.

Master Gardener Milli will also be available one hour before class to answer your gardening questions.

Join us for this month’s Organic Sundays class “What to Sow & Transplant this Fall”

Sunday, September 19, 2010, 4:00-5:00pm (English), 5:30 – 6:30pm (Espanol)

Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for funds

Check out our informational flyers in English or Spanish for more info.




_____________________________________________

September 25 – Fresh from the Garden, 4-5pm This month’s topic: “Squash”

We invite you and your family to take part in “Fresh from the Garden” – free nutrition workshops and cooking demonstrations being held every fourth Saturday of the month at Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park.

This month we will discuss the health benefits of eating fresh squash, how to properly harvest, store and how to healthfully prepare them. Take home a delicious healthy recipe to share with your family and friends!

Join us for September’s “Fresh from the Garden” focus on Squash.

September 25, 2010, 4:00-5:00pm



_____________________________________________

September 26 – Garden Swap, 5-6:30pm

Do you have a surplus of fresh veggies, seedlings, or garden tools? Have you ever thought of swapping your goods for something you need? Now’s our chance! Let’s gather our goods and exchange for FREE! Seeds, worms, compost, plants, fresh vegetables, innovative gardening ideas, food recipes, worm tea, tools, magazines, and books, are welcome. Master Gardener, Milli Macen-Moore will also be onsite and happy to answer all of your gardening questions.

Monthly Garden Swap

Sunday, September 26, 5pm-6:30pm

Swapping begins at 5:30pm! Don’t be late!

Paul Stamets on 6 ways mushrooms can save the world - Mycilium

Great events this MONTH - August 2010!!

Lots of great events happening this month all over Los Angeles! Many are educational, artistic, and very helpful if you're planning on developing a your own edible garden, school garden or community garden this fall!

Hope you guys find the below events helpful and resourceful!

Free Seedlings in exchange of your opinions regarding LAUSD School Lunch! Wednesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM
Location: Manual Arts High School

Locally? Locally, tomorrow, Wednesday, August 18 at 6:30 PM all interested parties are invited to make their opinions known about "school food" at Manual Arts High School. Mud Barron will co-facilitate with Laura Benevides of Food Services. This is the official listening session of the School Food Parent/Student/ Teacher/Communit y Taskforce before the first LAUSD Board meeting of 2010-11 school year. We have been instructed by the Superintendent' s office to gather input for board consideration. Speakers will have the opportunity to hear & discuss options. You bring the "options"... right?

5,000 organic tomato, chard & veggie plugs will be distributed afterwards.

"Organic Sundays"
“Planning Your Fall Organic Edible Garden”

"Planificacion de su Jardin Comestible Organico"
Sunday, August 22, 4-5pm (English Workshop),
5:30-6:30pm (Spanish Workshop)

Location: Milagro Allegro Community Garden
115 S. Avenue 56

Highland Park (Los Angeles)
CA, 90042
(Behind The Highland Park Theater)

Eating locally and organically is important, and in Los Angeles we are fortunate to be able to grow delicious, nutritious and organic fresh food year-round.

Join us for “Organic Sundays” – an incredible and stimulating series of organic edible garden workshops every third Sunday of the month held at Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park.
With Fall fast approaching, this month’s class will focus on planning for your Fall edible garden! Master Gardener Milli Macen-Moore will teach you how to rejuvenate your soil organically and plan your fall raised beds – all while getting DIRTY! (Please remember to bring your gloves!) Milli will also be available one hour before class to answer your gardening questions.

Join us for this month’s Organic Sundays class “Planning Your Fall Organic Edible Garden”

Sunday, August 22, 2010, 4:00-5:00pm (English), 5:30 – 6:30pm (Espanol)

Suggested donation $10, no one turned away for funds

Planting the Seeds of Success for Your Community or School Garden
Wednesday, August 25, 8:30am-4pm
Location: The Huntington Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road San Marino, CA 91108

The Network for a Healthy California--Los Angeles Region and the University of California Cooperative Extension invite you to join them for an exciting sharing forum, designed to help you make your school or community garden a center for nutrition education. OR, get ideas for starting a school or community garden that will help improve health in your community!

Highlights of the day will include speakers on:
-Victory Gardens, Then and Now
-Garden Research Findings: How Gardens Promote Good Nutrition and Improve Food Security
-Best practices and resource sharing

Breakout sessions will be offered for:
-School Gardens
-Community Gardens
-Gardening 101
-Physical Activity in the Garden
-Nutrition in the Garden
-Evaluating Your Garden

Registration costs $15 ($30 if you would like to include lunch from Home Girl Cafe) and is available online at http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=5094.

Advance registration required. We look forward to seeing you there!

Vertical Veggies: Urban Gardening and Cooking at Homegirl Cafe
Thursday, August 26, 6 to 9 pm
Location: Homegirl Cafe
130 Bruno Street, Chinatown
Metro Gold Line is right across the street, plan your trip at Metro.net
$15 includes dinner plus gardening or cooking workshop

Summer is here! Join de LaB and LA Commons for an evening of urban farming, cooking and—most importantly—eating at Homegirl Cafe. Choose from several gardening and cooking workshops led by experts at Urban Farming and Homegirl Cafe that specialize in the art of growing (and preparing) edibles in small and surprising city spaces:

• Cooking workshop with Homegirl Cafe that shows how to use homegrown produce
  
• Container gardening workshop focusing on what you can start growing now for fall
• Vertical garden workshop showing you how to make the most of your walls and fences
  
• A brief tour and overview of Chinatown's "crack gardens" where produce is literally growing out of cracks in the pavement
  

In addition to the workshop, your $15 ticket also gets you an all-inclusive dinner from Homegirl Cafe made with produce from their on-site vertical garden (and including their homemade sangria!). Plus, live music by Fandango Sin Fronteras all night long! Proceeds benefit Homegirl Cafe and LA Common's Trekking LA program. See you in the garden!

6:00pm Dinner and drinks (dinner service will continue throughout the night)
7:30pm Workshops begin
8:15pm Drinks and live music

Fresh from the Garden: This month’s topic: “Tomatoes”
Saturday, August 28, 4-5pm
Location: Milagro Allegro Community Garden
115 S. Avenue 56
Highland Park (Los Angeles)
CA, 90042
(Behind The Highland Park Theater)

We invite you and your family to take part in “Fresh from the Garden” – free nutrition workshops and cooking demonstrations being held every fourth Saturday of the month at Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park.

This month we will discuss the health benefits of eating fresh tomatoes, how to properly harvest them, store them and how to healthfully prepare them. Take home a delicious healthy recipe to share with your family and friends!

Join us for August’s “Fresh from the Garden” focus on Tomatoes"Garden Swap"

Sunday, August 29, 5-6:30pm

Location: Milagro Allegro Community Garden

115 S. Avenue 56
Highland Park (Los Angeles)
CA, 90042
(Behind The Highland Park Theater)

Do you have a surplus of fresh veggies, seedlings, or garden tools? Have you ever thought of swapping your goods for something you need? Now’s our chance! Let’s gather our goods and exchange for FREE! Seeds, worms, compost, plants, fresh vegetables, innovative gardening ideas, food recipes, worm tea, tools, magazines, and books, are welcome. Master Gardener, Milli Macen-Moore will also be onsite and happy to answer all of your gardening questions.

Monthly Garden Swap

Sunday, August 29th, 5pm-6:30pm

Swapping begins at 5:30pm! Don’t be late!

RSVP: milli@modern-sustainability.com

"Garden Swap" Time!

Our first pilot "Garden Swap" was a true success! Folks swapped SEEDS, veggie plants, gardening tools, avacadoes, lemons, apples, squash, all sorts of herbs, oranges, swiss chard, baked goods, flowers, compost, worm tea, reusable grocery bags, magazines, fresh worm castings, and much more!

Join us at our next "Garden Swap" where the entire community of Los Angeles will have the ability to swap their gardening goods for other free goods. Please see below or attached for more details:

FREE “Garden Swap”

Everyone Welcome

Saturday, July 31st 6pm-8pm

at

Milagro Allegro Community Garden

115 S. Avenue 56, Los Angeles, CA 90042

1 block SE of Figueroa, behind the Highland Theater www.hpgarden.org

Do you have a surplus of fresh veggies, seedlings, or garden tools? Have you ever thought of swapping your goods for something you need? Now’s our chance! Let’s gather our goods and exchange for FREE! Seeds, worms, compost, plants, fresh vegetables, innovative gardening ideas, food recipes, worm tea, tools, magazines, and books, are welcome. Master Gardener, Milli Macen-Moore will also be onsite and happy to answer all of your gardening questions.

What: Garden Swap

When: Saturday, July 31, 2010

Where: Milagro Allegro Community Garden

115 S. Avenue 56, LA 90042

Time: 6pm-8pm