Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
FOOD WEEK AT UC SAN DIEGO
Earl's Garden is so excited to be a part and fully supportive of this week! Its aim is part of a national grassroots campaign to change the American food system to be more humane and sustainable. Please read more at the Food Day site: and check out UC San Diego's Food Week events here!
Please attend the events! Be part of the change!!
Please attend the events! Be part of the change!!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Summer is ending, Fall is beginning.
Hi friend!
We at Earl's Garden hope that you all had an amazing summer. In just four days, we will be back in swing of things for Fall Quarter, 2011 at UCSD. It should be an exciting new quarter, and we hope you can grow with us.
Our new Fall volunteer times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 2PM - 3:30 PM. We hope you can join us! If these times don't work for you, we can also meet you another time. Please email us at earlsgardenucsd@gmail.com
We are also giving anyone the offer to transplant, get a little piece of land, or gets seeds to grow at home year-round. This is part of the expanding vision of Earl's Garden: to provide resources to encourage at-home gardening and food growth. We hope you take up the offer and develop your green home.
Here's to a new year!
Growing on,
Jessica
We at Earl's Garden hope that you all had an amazing summer. In just four days, we will be back in swing of things for Fall Quarter, 2011 at UCSD. It should be an exciting new quarter, and we hope you can grow with us.
Our new Fall volunteer times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 2PM - 3:30 PM. We hope you can join us! If these times don't work for you, we can also meet you another time. Please email us at earlsgardenucsd@gmail.com
We are also giving anyone the offer to transplant, get a little piece of land, or gets seeds to grow at home year-round. This is part of the expanding vision of Earl's Garden: to provide resources to encourage at-home gardening and food growth. We hope you take up the offer and develop your green home.
Here's to a new year!
Growing on,
Jessica
Monday, September 5, 2011
Summer Harvest
Hi friends! It's been a while since our last post. I (Jessica) have been away for a month and recently visited and worked at the garden. It's really taken shape! The tomatoes are ripening, final beets are growing, the basil is multiplying, and the garden overall is a-buzzin. It's been the most abundant harvest so far, and I can't wait for the future.
We are still discussing the way the garden will operate, organizationally speaking, so if you'd like to offer suggestions or get involved at all, please let us know at earlsgardenucsd@gmail.com
Grow on!
Jessica
We are still discussing the way the garden will operate, organizationally speaking, so if you'd like to offer suggestions or get involved at all, please let us know at earlsgardenucsd@gmail.com
Grow on!
Jessica
Friday, July 15, 2011
Grow these year-round in San Diego!
You can grow these plants fall, winter, spring, and summer in San Diego!
1. Beets
2. Caneberry
3. Carrots
4. Cilantro
5. Onion
6. Radish
7. Spinach
8. Strawberry
9. Turnip
Happy planting :-)
1. Beets
2. Caneberry
3. Carrots
4. Cilantro
5. Onion
6. Radish
7. Spinach
8. Strawberry
9. Turnip
Happy planting :-)
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Putting Signage in a Garden
If any of you have gardens at home or are working on a project where you want to ID plants, below are some ways on how to go about doing this. This information is being provided by the 2011 president of the San Diego/Imperial County chapter of the California Native Plant Society. We are grateful for her sharing with us!!
---
There are so many ways to help people ID a plant. See #8 first, then read the rest.
1. You should start by looking at greenhouse and nursery supply catalogs on line. You'll find cheap tongue-depressor like labels (ink fades on them, beware) and nice 3" X 5" double layer aluminum signs are embossed (see 2) that last a very long time, mounted on metal frame and stakes - however both of these kinds of signs are small and are so low to the ground that people can't really see them without getting down on hands and knees. They tend to be pulled up so they can be read and then not put back right. Also see #7
2. Another cheap but durable plant tag available from greenhouse/nursery supplies is double-layer aluminum tags with ties. The plant name is embossed/ impressed into the aluminum using a pointy pen or mechanical pencil without the tip extended. The person writing it must have excellent handwriting for this to work. The tag is then tied to a durable tie materials which is then attached to a twig on the plant as close to eye level as possible using a tie that allows for the twig to grow and expand. . These tags can last for decades. Because they are attached to the plant close to eye level, people usually don't pull them off, but often the plant overgrows the label and you can't find it. The tag tie must be loose enough to not girdle the twig as the twig grows.
3. You can go to a tile workshop and use glazes to write names on the tile and fire the tile. The tile can be set with mortar on a brick then buried at a tilt in the soil. Quite nice, a lot of work and expense. See # 7
4. A very clever artist friend made outdoor labels rolling high quality sculpture clay into 1/2" thick sheets, cutting the sheets to a uniform rectangle, and then using alphabet pasta pressed into the clay to spell the words. When these were fired, the pasta is burned out leaving the shape with a dark stain/tint. Less material cost but a lot of labor. See #7
5. Names can simply painted on stones or bricks, using a durable outdoor enamel after cleaning the surface of the rock or brick, and a masonry seal applied over the paint to give it more longevity.
6. On the expensive end, stones can be inscribed with letters (I'm sure you've seen these with "peace" "harmony" etc.)
7. Any sign may last long after a plant has died and a different one, usually a weed, has replaced it, leaving the weed mislabeled.that is embedded in a heavy concrete footing .
8. For this reason, it's better and easier to make up a bunch of numbers, whatever signage system you =choose, and then make up a print (and of course electronic) list that identifies the plants associated with each number. If a plant dies, reuse the number for another plant and alter the list.
---
There are so many ways to help people ID a plant. See #8 first, then read the rest.
1. You should start by looking at greenhouse and nursery supply catalogs on line. You'll find cheap tongue-depressor like labels (ink fades on them, beware) and nice 3" X 5" double layer aluminum signs are embossed (see 2) that last a very long time, mounted on metal frame and stakes - however both of these kinds of signs are small and are so low to the ground that people can't really see them without getting down on hands and knees. They tend to be pulled up so they can be read and then not put back right. Also see #7
2. Another cheap but durable plant tag available from greenhouse/nursery supplies is double-layer aluminum tags with ties. The plant name is embossed/ impressed into the aluminum using a pointy pen or mechanical pencil without the tip extended. The person writing it must have excellent handwriting for this to work. The tag is then tied to a durable tie materials which is then attached to a twig on the plant as close to eye level as possible using a tie that allows for the twig to grow and expand. . These tags can last for decades. Because they are attached to the plant close to eye level, people usually don't pull them off, but often the plant overgrows the label and you can't find it. The tag tie must be loose enough to not girdle the twig as the twig grows.
3. You can go to a tile workshop and use glazes to write names on the tile and fire the tile. The tile can be set with mortar on a brick then buried at a tilt in the soil. Quite nice, a lot of work and expense. See # 7
4. A very clever artist friend made outdoor labels rolling high quality sculpture clay into 1/2" thick sheets, cutting the sheets to a uniform rectangle, and then using alphabet pasta pressed into the clay to spell the words. When these were fired, the pasta is burned out leaving the shape with a dark stain/tint. Less material cost but a lot of labor. See #7
5. Names can simply painted on stones or bricks, using a durable outdoor enamel after cleaning the surface of the rock or brick, and a masonry seal applied over the paint to give it more longevity.
6. On the expensive end, stones can be inscribed with letters (I'm sure you've seen these with "peace" "harmony" etc.)
7. Any sign may last long after a plant has died and a different one, usually a weed, has replaced it, leaving the weed mislabeled.that is embedded in a heavy concrete footing .
8. For this reason, it's better and easier to make up a bunch of numbers, whatever signage system you =choose, and then make up a print (and of course electronic) list that identifies the plants associated with each number. If a plant dies, reuse the number for another plant and alter the list.
A special visit! Kids!
On Sunday, July 10th we had a special visit from a UCSD Professor and her four children, two nieces, and one nephew for a gardening day! Also joining the day was Earl's Garden coordinator's mom and sister! It was full of fun, sun, and harvesting. We hope you can join us this summer!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Thursday, June 30, 2011
What Grows in San Diego County?
What Grows in San Diego County?
San Diego is blessed with a long growing season, abundant sunshine and many micro climates, giving us a huge range of seasonal choices for locally grown food. Unlike many parts of the country, food can be grown here year-round.
From the coastal areas to the deserts, the mountains and the inland valleys, we grow a full range of fruits, vegetables and other farm products.
All Year
Plants, flowers, mushrooms, eggs, fruit, nuts, lettuce, greens, honey
January
Navel oranges, lemons, avocados, kumquats, strawberries, cauliflower, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, tangerines, tangelos, carrots, celery, cabbage, peas, beets, cherimoyas, guavas
February
Navel oranges, lemons, avocados, kumquats, strawberries, cauliflower, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, tangerines, tangelos, carrots, celery, cabbage, peas, beets, cherimoyas, guavas
March
Navel oranges, lemons, strawberries, squash, rhubarb, asparagus, carrots, peas, artichokes, tangelos, grapefruit, avocados, cherimoyas, guavas
April
Navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, avocados, strawberries, squash, snap peas, beans, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, cherimoyas
May
Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, avocados, sweet corn, peas, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, sweet onions, cucumbers, cherimoyas
June
Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, peaches, plums apricots, avocados, eggplant, corn, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, sweet onions, cherimoyas
July
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, avocados, tomatoes, beans, raspberries, potatoes, onions, peppers, figs
August
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, peaches, plums, apricots, avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, squash raspberries, potatoes, boysenberries, blackberries, apples, figs
September
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, peaches, plums, avocados, tomatoes, grapes, squash, cucumbers, beans, carrots, raspberries, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, figs
October
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit peaches, avocados, tomatoes, grapes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, figs, Asian pears, pears
November
Melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, raspberries, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, Asian pears, pears, pumpkins, persimmons, macadamia nuts, kiwis, cherimoyas, guavas
December
Tangerines, grapefruit, macadamia nuts, avocados, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, apples, kiwis, carrots, beets, lemons, cherimoyas, guavas
Source: San Diego County Farm Bureau
San Diego is blessed with a long growing season, abundant sunshine and many micro climates, giving us a huge range of seasonal choices for locally grown food. Unlike many parts of the country, food can be grown here year-round.
From the coastal areas to the deserts, the mountains and the inland valleys, we grow a full range of fruits, vegetables and other farm products.
All Year
Plants, flowers, mushrooms, eggs, fruit, nuts, lettuce, greens, honey
January
Navel oranges, lemons, avocados, kumquats, strawberries, cauliflower, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, tangerines, tangelos, carrots, celery, cabbage, peas, beets, cherimoyas, guavas
February
Navel oranges, lemons, avocados, kumquats, strawberries, cauliflower, asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, tangerines, tangelos, carrots, celery, cabbage, peas, beets, cherimoyas, guavas
March
Navel oranges, lemons, strawberries, squash, rhubarb, asparagus, carrots, peas, artichokes, tangelos, grapefruit, avocados, cherimoyas, guavas
April
Navel and Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, avocados, strawberries, squash, snap peas, beans, carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, cherimoyas
May
Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, strawberries, avocados, sweet corn, peas, beans, squash, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, sweet onions, cucumbers, cherimoyas
June
Valencia oranges, grapefruit, lemons, peaches, plums apricots, avocados, eggplant, corn, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, sweet onions, cherimoyas
July
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, avocados, tomatoes, beans, raspberries, potatoes, onions, peppers, figs
August
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, peaches, plums, apricots, avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, squash raspberries, potatoes, boysenberries, blackberries, apples, figs
September
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, peaches, plums, avocados, tomatoes, grapes, squash, cucumbers, beans, carrots, raspberries, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, figs
October
Sweet corn, melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit peaches, avocados, tomatoes, grapes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, figs, Asian pears, pears
November
Melons, Valencia oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, beans, carrots, raspberries, potatoes, apples, onions, peppers, Asian pears, pears, pumpkins, persimmons, macadamia nuts, kiwis, cherimoyas, guavas
December
Tangerines, grapefruit, macadamia nuts, avocados, cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli, apples, kiwis, carrots, beets, lemons, cherimoyas, guavas
Source: San Diego County Farm Bureau
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Earth Day Celebration with W.A.V.E. April 22, 2011
Thank you Warren Association of Volunteer Enthusiasts (WAVE) for organizing a visibility event at Earl's Garden on Earth Day. This event consisted of giving out informational flyers and soil and seeds to interested students, spreading awareness of the garden and equipping passersby with an at-home garden.
We're all smiles!
We're all smiles!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
More Information about the Garden...
Hello friends!
It seems that a lot of people may want to know more about the garden. Here are some answers to popular questions...
1. Brief summary, inspiration, and benefits
The inspiration for starting Earl's Garden, a student-run garden in a residential area of the UC San Diego campus, came from the Resident Dean of Warren College taking on a tour of the college and sharing different visions she had with me. I took up her specific idea of creating a garden because I was inspired to provide the opportunity for students to grow their own food and connect with nature and one another. The Earl's Garden project benefits the environment on a local scale. The soil that was once lifeless is now full of microbial and insect life. The garden is also a location that supports biodiversity by hosting native, insect, and bird attracting plants. The garden benefits the community because it provides with with a peaceful place to connect with nature, serving as a therapeutic retreat as well as an educational and social center.
2. Goals of the garden and how we can accomplish them
The goals of the garden are to give students the opportunity to grow their own food, enrich the community, and increase social activity. When I began planning for the project, I hoped I would accomplish these goals. I plan (and we do) accomplishing these goals by having open volunteer days to allow students to grow their own food and help with the overall efforts and maintenance of the garden. In order to enrich the community, we publicize involvement opportunities to the college in which the garden is located. We build up the Warren College community also by allowing residential advisors and Warren College organizations have volunteer days at the garden. Our last goal of increasing social activity is met by networking with other student organizations and allowing them to unite together in the garden space to plant a tree or other plants.
3. Description of project
The garden project has been full of complexities to get to the point we are now. It started with an idea. I was inspired by the idea of having a community garden with my college campus, and this desire to provide students with such a place kept me going through the months of meetings, intense planning, and blood and sweat to get the garden established.
The entire project currently consists of open Sunday volunteer days, two interns running separate projects for their major, a volunteer that is doing a specific project for extra credit, a UCSD alum maintaining the space and planting, four plot owners, one unity plot established by seven student organizations, and a garden coordinator maintaining all of the connections with the students, organizations, and college residential life office by bi-weekly meetings.
The garden is structured by a coordinator communicating with all of the people involved and reporting progress of the garden to the community. The two interns serve separate functions. One intern serves as a researcher for ways to correctly maintain life and attract biodiversity to the garden. The other intern created and maintains the native plant garden within the larger garden and aids in tabling events, co-running volunteer days, and encourages involvement with the garden to the campus.
Activities within the garden occur by students owning their own plots by their schedule. These plot owners have true ownership of their plots because they come and water and maintain them whenever is convenient for them. All the plot owners know how to use the watering system. The coordinator checks in with the plot owners periodically if there is any problem and also to ask if they are interested in renewing their plots for the next quarter.
The other and main activities within the garden occur on arranged or Sunday volunteer days. We have had student organizations and student organization boards volunteer as a group. We also have Sunday volunteer days from 11am-2pm where students with different backgrounds attend and help with different garden projects going on.
The last part of the project is with publicity. We are currently working on creating clear signage to encourage involvement with the garden. We are also publicizing about the garden on a larger scale through leaving brochures, being included on weekly list-serv emails, and tabling at events.
It seems that a lot of people may want to know more about the garden. Here are some answers to popular questions...
1. Brief summary, inspiration, and benefits
The inspiration for starting Earl's Garden, a student-run garden in a residential area of the UC San Diego campus, came from the Resident Dean of Warren College taking on a tour of the college and sharing different visions she had with me. I took up her specific idea of creating a garden because I was inspired to provide the opportunity for students to grow their own food and connect with nature and one another. The Earl's Garden project benefits the environment on a local scale. The soil that was once lifeless is now full of microbial and insect life. The garden is also a location that supports biodiversity by hosting native, insect, and bird attracting plants. The garden benefits the community because it provides with with a peaceful place to connect with nature, serving as a therapeutic retreat as well as an educational and social center.
2. Goals of the garden and how we can accomplish them
The goals of the garden are to give students the opportunity to grow their own food, enrich the community, and increase social activity. When I began planning for the project, I hoped I would accomplish these goals. I plan (and we do) accomplishing these goals by having open volunteer days to allow students to grow their own food and help with the overall efforts and maintenance of the garden. In order to enrich the community, we publicize involvement opportunities to the college in which the garden is located. We build up the Warren College community also by allowing residential advisors and Warren College organizations have volunteer days at the garden. Our last goal of increasing social activity is met by networking with other student organizations and allowing them to unite together in the garden space to plant a tree or other plants.
3. Description of project
The garden project has been full of complexities to get to the point we are now. It started with an idea. I was inspired by the idea of having a community garden with my college campus, and this desire to provide students with such a place kept me going through the months of meetings, intense planning, and blood and sweat to get the garden established.
The entire project currently consists of open Sunday volunteer days, two interns running separate projects for their major, a volunteer that is doing a specific project for extra credit, a UCSD alum maintaining the space and planting, four plot owners, one unity plot established by seven student organizations, and a garden coordinator maintaining all of the connections with the students, organizations, and college residential life office by bi-weekly meetings.
The garden is structured by a coordinator communicating with all of the people involved and reporting progress of the garden to the community. The two interns serve separate functions. One intern serves as a researcher for ways to correctly maintain life and attract biodiversity to the garden. The other intern created and maintains the native plant garden within the larger garden and aids in tabling events, co-running volunteer days, and encourages involvement with the garden to the campus.
Activities within the garden occur by students owning their own plots by their schedule. These plot owners have true ownership of their plots because they come and water and maintain them whenever is convenient for them. All the plot owners know how to use the watering system. The coordinator checks in with the plot owners periodically if there is any problem and also to ask if they are interested in renewing their plots for the next quarter.
The other and main activities within the garden occur on arranged or Sunday volunteer days. We have had student organizations and student organization boards volunteer as a group. We also have Sunday volunteer days from 11am-2pm where students with different backgrounds attend and help with different garden projects going on.
The last part of the project is with publicity. We are currently working on creating clear signage to encourage involvement with the garden. We are also publicizing about the garden on a larger scale through leaving brochures, being included on weekly list-serv emails, and tabling at events.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Earl's Garden Survey Winner- Rachel!
Congrats to Rachel for successfully filling out Earl's Garden Survey and being picked as our prize winner! She received a bouquet of Earl's Garden Produce! Thanks to all those who filled out the survey, we really appreciate your time!
The native plants of Earl's Garden are growing!!
Native Plants of Earl's Garden:
Earl's currently has a handful of native plant species of southern California growing in its very own garden! Particularly, four different species were planted by Tate Perrine, our garden's Native Plant Design intern, and have already taken root and begun to grow.
Salvia leucophylla Point Sal; commonly known as "Low Purple Sage", this lovely plant is extremely fragrant and blooms rose-pink flowers that contrast its silvery-green foliage. You will see this plant blooming in the spring/summer.
Sisyrinchium bellum commonly known as "Blue-eyed Grass"; this dainty semi-herbacious perennial blooms small purple flowers in the sunlight only; it flowers January to June (especially right now!!)
Encelia californica common name "Coast Sunflower"; this species of sunflower is seen throughout regions of coastal sage scrub, especially out on the cliffs overlooking Scripps pier. It has a dark brown center with bright yellow petals. Flowers can be seen from February to June.
Mimulus puniceus common name "Red Monkey Flower": this native plant has trumpet-like brick-red flowers that bloom in the springtime (April-May); When the round, two-lipped white stigma is gently touched, the plant responds immediately and the lips close; the lips open again to allow bee or hummingbirds to deliver pollen. (Flowers can be seen now!)
Earl's currently has a handful of native plant species of southern California growing in its very own garden! Particularly, four different species were planted by Tate Perrine, our garden's Native Plant Design intern, and have already taken root and begun to grow.
Salvia leucophylla Point Sal; commonly known as "Low Purple Sage", this lovely plant is extremely fragrant and blooms rose-pink flowers that contrast its silvery-green foliage. You will see this plant blooming in the spring/summer.
Sisyrinchium bellum commonly known as "Blue-eyed Grass"; this dainty semi-herbacious perennial blooms small purple flowers in the sunlight only; it flowers January to June (especially right now!!)
Encelia californica common name "Coast Sunflower"; this species of sunflower is seen throughout regions of coastal sage scrub, especially out on the cliffs overlooking Scripps pier. It has a dark brown center with bright yellow petals. Flowers can be seen from February to June.
Mimulus puniceus common name "Red Monkey Flower": this native plant has trumpet-like brick-red flowers that bloom in the springtime (April-May); When the round, two-lipped white stigma is gently touched, the plant responds immediately and the lips close; the lips open again to allow bee or hummingbirds to deliver pollen. (Flowers can be seen now!)
4/24/2011 Volunteer Day!
Thanks to all our volunteers! and to Reslife for the lovely bushes they donated to us!
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