Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The native plant demonstration gardens are abuzz with Landmark Environmental
bees attracted by sweet nectars, brilliant colors and salvia
scents. An enthusiastic group of insect net-swinging stu- Education Center
dents from the popular Wildlife Biology class gather by the
nearby pond to debate the best strategies for collecting the
—Tanja Roos, MG06
dragonfly specimens that swoop over the cool waters for
their entomology study. dream of creating a living laboratory where he could take his
Over in the lush organic garden, Carmel Middle School students to study science and nature firsthand.
sixth graders are busily harvesting some of the spring time This vision slowly gained momentum and won approval
bounty for a cooking class in the outdoor kitchen: sugar snap from the District Board of Directors in the fall of 1995 — and
peas, freckles lettuce, red cabbage and bright orange calen- then the real work began. Hohenberger wrote grants, local
dula flowers, as part of the Ecoliteracy unit entitled garden groups like The Carmel by the Sea Garden Club and
“Creating a Sustainable Meal” — learning the importance of Rana Creek Nursery drew up designs and help came from all
ingredients that are LOCAL, SEASONAL, FRESH and OR- directions, including the Carmel Middle School science
GANIC with their eyes, noses, fingers and taste buds in the teachers and the ready hands of middle school students.
process. The first step was to plant native gardens, building on
the premise ‘If you build it, they will come’ — they are the 165
It’s a beautiful spring day and the Hilton Bialek Habitat, species of birds, insects and small mammals that depend on
where I work, play, teach and learn, is bustling with life. The Habitat’s now-mature landscape for food and shelter.
Fifteen years ago, the Hilton Bialek Habitat was a glim- The addition of a bird-friendly pond and versatile amphi-
mer in the eye of founder and current Director Craig Hohen- theater opened up possibilities for new educational venues,
berger who at that time was a well-seasoned eighth grade while the green house and shade shed empowered students
science teacher in the Carmel Unified School District with a and staff to propagate plants on a large scale.
deep passion for birds and nature. For years he would look In 2001, fifty raised beds were constructed out of red-
across to the abandoned 10-acre Christmas tree lot adjacent wood, an eight-foot fence was raised and the first edibles and
to the public school at the mouth of Carmel Valley and ornamentals were tucked into the fertile earth of the Habitat
site. In its early years, the Organic Garden was solely dedi- innovative programming to even wider audiences in the
cated to scientific experimentation and study with a few coming years.
fun cooking labs on the side. I began my work in the gar- Currently over 1,500 students now participate in pro-
dens on the heels of a visit from a fellow Berkeley grad, sus- grams at the Habitat each year, from third graders to high
tainable foods superstar and school garden champion, Al- school students (including Regional Occupational Pro-
ice Waters, when she spoke at the Habitat’s grand opening gram in Ornamental Horticulture and a newly added AP
in May 2003. Following her recommendation: “Any school Environmental Science class) to underserved members of
garden that wants to have a cooking and nutrition pro- the Boys and Girls Club and RISE Program (Recruitment
gram, must build a pizza oven,” we designed and installed in Science Education-CSUMB) and groups of administra-
a wood fired oven which became the cornerstone for our tors/teachers from around the world seeking inspiration to
outdoor kitchen classroom and also set the stage for deli- start similar programs at their own schools.
ciously expanding the interdisciplinary programs offered The small native plant demonstration plot has evolved
in the gardens. into an expansive showcase of four distinct habitat types:
Every year, as the seasons pass and my experience native grassland, mixed conifer forest, riparian zone and
grows, the productivity of the land increases and more pro- coastal dune/chaparral. This thriving ecosystem has be-
grams are developed. It’s incredible to look back five years come a powerful example for the students and community
and consider that I was originally hired as an 11 hour/week of the importance of growing native plants, especially in
intern to care for the entire property and develop/run all these times of diminishing water resources across the state
the programs. Today I am incredibly fortunate to be joined of California. The Habitat hopes to lead, by example,
by a dedicated and passionate team of five inspiring indi- homeowners and landscapers looking for responsible ways
viduals who make up the Habitat staff: Craig Hohenberger to design their landscapes.
(Founder/Director), Ellen Fondiler (Development Direc- The Native Plant Program generates 40,000 starts per
tor), Merrie Potter (Community Outreach Coordinator), year in contract with such notable entities as the State and
Amanda Yantos (Native Plant Program Director) and Jason Regional Parks, The City of Carmel and Friends of the For-
Sharrett (Business Office Manager). It brings to mind the est. Students are actively involved in seed collection, plant-
Mead quote, “Never doubt that a small group of committed ing, thinning, up planting and the eventual restoration
individuals can change the world…” While we may not work with the species that are grown at places like the old
have reached world fame yet, we are doing our best to Odello Fields west of Hwy 1, Palo Corona Ranch, down-
change the fundamental way little citizens look at the town Carmel and the Marina Dunes Preserve. Two popular
world every school day. plant sales invite the community to participate: one in fall
The thriving progress visible today in the Habitat is (Saturday, Oct. 3 this year, in partnership with the Califor-
nothing short of inspiring. In 2006, that progress earned nia Native Plant Society) and the other in spring (always
the Governors Environmental and Economic Leadership the Saturday of Mothers Day Weekend in May, complete
Award for Children’s Environmental Education. What with live music, a farmers market and expert advice).
started as a humble outdoor laboratory has expanded into The Organic Garden, meanwhile, has grown well be-
a landmark environmental education center here on the yond its original fence line, expanding to include a full acre
Central Coast and with the recent acquisition of its 501(c) of year-round cultivated gardens, an off-the-grid, solar-
(3) non-profit status, the Habitat is poised to broaden its powered greenhouse to propagate all the veggie and flower
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS summer 2009 3
starts for the gardens, and large scale vermicompost bins model green design and sustainable systems; non-profits
and compost piles, with a plan to plant an heirloom fruit and local businesses display their eco-wares; local food is
orchard next bare root season. (Many more exciting changes are served in the garden kitchen; music, art and community
in store for the gardens, to find out make sure to read Part 2 of the connections abound. For more information about this
Habitat article in Fall edition of GOTE.) event: www.solartour.info.
Along with the physical expansion, the diversity of This coming fall, the Habitat will be launching a series
classes and programs that now use the gardens is growing of adult education workshops in partnership with local
every year. While science continues to be the backbone, experts on increasingly vital topics like edible landscaping,
Chinese, French, language arts, history, art and world cul- planting native habitat gardens, water catchment and
ture are regularly found immersed in the gardens and in the other water efficiency techniques, green building design
and home composting.
Integrated Pest Management: mentals. Established woody plants are not typically dam-
aged by aphids.
Managing Aphids With a hand lens you can see a lot happening on an
aphid-infested plant. You’ll likely see the aphid nymphs
—Patricia Nicely, MG03 and adults, especially on the undersides of leaves. You will
probably see their molts, the tiny white skins that are shed
Every time I see a wad of aphids in my garden, I feel a
as they grow. If you have a large aphid population, you will
bit violated. I love insects, but I’ll admit that aphids creep
likely start to see the impact of their natural enemies.
me out a bit. I’m always surprised by their sheer numbers;
Predators include lady beetles and their larvae, soldier bee-
and I can’t help but think that if I don’t do something im-
tles, lacewing and syrphid fly larvae, aphid flies, and
mediately, I’ll come back the next day to find a shriveled,
midges. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs inside the aphids,
lifeless plant laying on the ground, surrounded by a bunch
and the wasp larvae kill the aphids; eventually, adult
of cartoonishly bloated aphids wiping their chins and issu-
wasps emerge, leaving behind large, crisp, aphid
ing satisfied belches in remembrance of their fine meal.
“mummies”. Aphids that succumb to fungal diseases
Once I am able to extract myself from this fantastical im-
(usually during humid weather) will appear fuzzy and
age, I see the aphids in a more realistic light. They are tiny,
shriveled.
fragile critters that provide sustenance for many garden
Aphids also have natural allies; like other honeydew
dwellers and usually won’t cause me too many problems.
producers, aphids secrete a sticky, sugary substance that
There are dozens of different aphid species in Califor-
ants love to feed on, so much so that they will herd and
nia ranging in color from green, yellow, brown, or black, to
protect an aphid population in order to maintain a good
red; some of them also secrete waxy or woolly coverings.
honeydew supply. Large amounts of honeydew can be
All are soft bodied, small (1/8 inch or less), and generally
quite messy, and can also foster the growth of black sooty
pear shaped, with long legs and antennae.
mold, which can decrease the amount of light available to
Adult aphids can be winged or wingless. Most aphids have
the plant. On the plus side, honeydew can attract benefi-
a pair of posterior tubular protrusions called cornicles, the
cial insects to your garden.
presence of which distinguishes aphids from other insects.
Left: Green peach aphid colony; right: woolly apple aphids, UC IPM website
So, given all this info, what is the best way for a home
However, many gall-making aphids and wooly aphids lack
gardener to think about aphids? Let’s go through the basic
cornicles. Aphids undergo incomplete metamorphosis (egg
steps of Integrated Pest Management:
-nymph-adult), and during most of the year this happens
1) Correctly identify the pest. If you see insects or damage,
asexually and very rapidly. Females can bear young with-
look for aphids. If you don’t see these, but you have a
out enlisting the help of a male.) In the fall some aphids
plant that is susceptible to root-dwelling aphids, such as
will reproduce sexually, leaving eggs to overwinter.
lettuce or apples, consult the UC IPM website for more
Most aphids feed on plant sap from leaves and shoots.
info on managing these aphids.
Large infestations can cause curling, yellowing, drop, galls,
2) Can you tolerate the pest? If you have confirmed the
or stunting, and can weaken plants. Vegetable seedlings
presence of aphids, determine your threshold of toler-
are very susceptible to aphid damage because of their small
ance. Low to moderate numbers of leaf-feeding aphids
size and rapid growth. Root-feeding aphids can kill lettuce
are not usually damaging. Honeydew is not usually a
plants and stunt or even kill young apple trees. Aphids can
problem unless it is causing a mess in outdoor areas or
also transmit viral diseases to some vegetables and orna-
creating such a mold problem that the plants are suffer-
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS summer 2009 5
Tour Thumbnail Lectures proper compost management techniques, you can keep
your plants healthy, your fertilizer needs low and your
(See ticket for times and locations) wallet full! Speaker - TBA.
Vegetable Gardening – Marcia Smullen Flower Arranging – Erik Croonquist
Learn tips and techniques for organic vegetable Create your own bouquets and nosegays from the
gardening and see examples of heirloom varieties of every- plants in your garden. Learn to use fronds, prunings and
thing from tomatoes to greens. The talk will also discuss leaves as well as the flowers in unique ways with fabulous
the enhanced value of organic vegetables and the benefits results. Erik Croonquist is the manager of Swenson and
of companion planting and crop rotation. Marcia Smullen Silacci Flowers, Inc., a well-known Monterey flower mer-
has studied heirloom and historic vegetable gardening for chant.
many years, and holds a U.S. patent on an organic method
of pest control (soil solarization). Pruning Trees and Shrubs – Peter Quintanilla
Learn the principles and basic techniques for pruning
Worm Composting – Bob McCormick; Larise Baker small trees and shrubs. Good pruning practices revitalize
Why use worms to compost? Explore how to start a mature plants and control and shape larger plants. Peter
worm composting bin: what type and size of bin will suit Quintanilla is a Certified Arborist and Master Gardener.
your family; what worms to buy; what to feed them and He teaches pruning classe for Monterey Bay Green Gar-
what NOT to feed them; what are the pitfalls. Bob deners, Master Gardeners and bilingual pruning work-
McCormick is a local environmental science/biology shops for landscape crews.
teacher and a worm afficianado. Larise Baker has been a
vermiculturist for over 10 years. Wildlife Gardening – Speaker TBA
For many gardeners, attracting a variety of animals
Beekeeping – Richard Carr into the garden is one of the major goals of their efforts.
If you want to know the buzz about the bees, this talk Invite living creatures into the garden, extending their
explores the benefits of bee keeping in an urban environ- range into an urban environment and allowing you to enjoy
ment – the production of honey, pollination for your and observe them.
flowering plants, and the enjoyment of many, many
outdoor pets! It is easy and fun. Richard Carr is an Fire Safe Gardening – Dave Egbert
amateur beekeeper and is active in the local bee commu- September is fire season. Learn how to create a beauti-
nity. ful blooming landscape to help protect your home from
wildfires. Dave Egbert, the Coastal Gardener, is a local
Low-water Gardening – Bob Costa television personality, an avid plantsman and volunteer
If you’d like to learn how to maximize water efficiency firefighter.
in your own gardens, this talk will cover several helpful
techniques, including irrigation, drought-tolerant plant Creating Sacred Spaces – Elizabeth Murray
choices and other useful practices. Bob Costa is a horticul- This talk focuses on gardening for the soul. The gar-
turist, an irrigation specialist, and a consultant to Water den owner shares her personal gardening philosophy and
Awareness Committee of Monterey County. encourages listeners to transform their own private gar-
dens into places that satisfy their need for the sacred, for
Succulents – Stuart Walzer play, for meditation, and for connecting with the earth.
Rock garden lovers will enjoy this talk about cultivat- Elizabeth Murray is an author, an artist and a professional
ing succulents and integrating them into your garden. This gardener who lives locally.
lecture is set in a collector’s garden and will showcase a
wide variety of unusual specimens, highlighting Aeonium
and Echeveria. Stuart Walzer has been growing succulents
And there’s more!
for over forty years, both locally and in southern California; Plant Sale: A wide selection of perennials lovingly propa-
he been a Master Gardener for thirteen years. gated by our very own Monterey Bay Master Gardeners.
Container Gardening – Speaker TBA Art Sale: Wondrous arts and crafts by local artisans.
Even the smallest patio or porch can boast a crop of Book Sale: Choose from Master Gardeners’ favorite new
vegetables or a garden of flowers. The container gardener and lightly-used books.
is limited only by his or her imagination. Come and learn Raffle: Enter for a chance to win one of our fabulous raffle
how to make your own bountiful beds. prizes!
The Pruner’s Corner plums) have done well for me with summer pruning. If I
see a branch growing in a direction I don’t want it to go, I
—Paul McCollum, MG ’04 cut it off.
Some plants need different types of pruning. Shearing
Greetings to all you gardeners! I hope your spring usually means trimming back the outer layer of foliage so
season was as beautiful for you as it has been for me. Well, the foliage grows back denser. Some plants respond well to
here we are at mid-year already and the work and enjoy- this treatment and others do not. Golden aster can be
ment of our gardens continues to keep us busy and hope- sheared with scissors or a weed trimmer. Sage (don’t cut
fully out of harm’s way. There is so much to do this time of into the old wood), wax myrtle, Escallonia, and sugar bush
year that the days just seem to fly by! are other examples.
As for summer pruning, we need to consider at least Another technique is coppicing, which means cutting
five things: the plant down to the ground. Two examples that respond
1. Decide what you are after. Why am I doing this?
well to this method are the Toyon and mock orange.
2. Use proper tools that are sharp and sanitized. Your
Selective pruning is perhaps the most widely used
pruners, shears, loppers and other tools should be
method of pruning and involves the removal of particular
sharp and clean. Also, the blade of your tool should be
branches to achieve a desired shape. Using this technique
wiped with alcohol between each cut.
you can effectively open up the plant and allow more light
3. Begin by removing any dead wood. This is good for
and air to go through; and when done conscientiously it
the health of the plant, and leaves you with a clearer
will show off the plant’s natural beauty.
view of the work left to be done. Sometimes the re-
Besides the plants mentioned above examples of others
moval of the dead wood is all that needs to be done to
that respond well to summer pruning are manzanita,
make a tree or shrub look its best.
Oregon grape, wild lilac, flannelbush, monkeyflower, holly
4. Use your imagination! Try and visualize how the leaf cherry, coffeeberry, and oleander.
plant will look after you remove crossing branches or One last reminder: after you prune your plants add a
take away the top third, etc. little organic fertilizer to the soil, dig it in and top it with
5. Work slowly. Before pruning a branch, bend it out of good compost (homemade if possible) as a mulch to con-
the way if possible and decide if you really want to serve water — and watch your plants show their apprecia-
remove it. tion for all your good efforts.
Summer pruning of roses means deadheading the spent Any questions can be directed to me at pulpit
blooms down to a 5-petaled leaf and usually one with the
paul@razzolink.com. See you in the fall issue.
node facing away from the center of the plant. Climbers
and ramblers that have been trained to have their canes at
45 degrees or parallel to the ground can have the flowering
vertical stems pruned so that two or three nodes are left on
each; they will produce more flowers. One-time bloomers
that have not already been pruned should be cut back now
so that they will be in top condition for next year. Canes
and new growth that are blocking walkways or are other-
wise in the way should be cut out.
Shrubs and plants that flower should be deadheaded to
clean up the plant and rejuvenate them. Flowering peren-
nials like columbine and penstemon will appreciate the
attention. With seed-producing plants, stalks can be just
left in the garden so birds and other wildlife can feast (and
they’ll also get rid of many of the unwanted insects). Those
of you who may want a clean and sanitary garden may not
want to leave this kind of compost laying around and that
is just fine – different strokes! All native perennials should
be deadheaded at the end of their blooming cycle or in the
early fall – keep an eye on the plant and it will tell you
when it is time. Prune most broadleaf shrubs to keep their natural shape by using
As for trees, the time for heavy pruning is past but primarily thinning cuts. Avoid making heading cuts or shearing
light pruning will help shape the tree and keep it in the whole plant. Cut off the largest, oldest branches at or very
bounds. Many people are summer pruning their fruit trees near the ground. Leave the younger, shorter stem.
to keep the size down and the fruit at a reachable height. (http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/filelibrary/5764/26329.pdf)
Trees that put on a lot of summer growth (like many of the
12 summer 2009 MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
Featured Plant:
California Monkey Flowers
—Sue Tarjan, MG06
australis or Mimulus aurantiacus australis, depending on the source you Monkey Business—Kari Olsen, MG06
use. I find the distinction useful myself, as it readily identifies the Learning to propagate from cuttings can be
ecological niche a particular monkey flower belongs in and its likely daunting—all those sterile conditions required,
cultural requirements. rooting hormone, controlled temperature range,
Monkeys range in color from yellow through red with bi- and tri the secret medium mixture. As it turns out, the
-color combinations. Hybrid monkeys, often called Verity hybrids, keys to learning propagation are not any of those
add near white, rose-purple, and bronze to the palette. Blossoms things—they are patience and having a first suc-
have an almost pansy-like appearance, tubular and with two ridges cess.
on the lower throat. Among the natives of our region are Diplacus Mimulus (Monkey Flower) is an incredibly
easy plant to propagate from cuttings, the perfect
aurantiacus, Mimulus cardinales (scarlet monkey flower), and Mimulus “first plant” for beginners.
guttantus. Two years ago, Sue Tarjan and I went on our
Left: Mimulus annual fall shopping spree at a local native plant
bifidus ‘Pumpkin’ nursery. As always, the back of the Prius was
Photo by C Kriedt crammed to bursting point, and as we unloaded
the plants, I found a piece of her new Mimulus
Right: Mimulus had broken off in the crush. Without forethought,
puniceus, red I cut it to just the tip and stuck it in a small pot
monkey flower filled with potting soil. There it sat outside on my
Photo by S Tarjan porch the remainder of the fall, through winter,
and into early spring. Its appearance never
Although monkey flowers tend to be short lived, they’re not too changed during those four months, and while it
fussy and propagate and transplant easily. Herbaceous monkey flow- didn’t look very healthy, it also didn’t look dead,
ers do very well in well draining containers. Water herbaceous mon- so I left it alone and pretty much forgot about it.
Midway through spring, I rediscovered it and
keys once every week or two if it’s hot—less often if woody. Prune
thought it looked a little greener towards the tip.
woody types before growth starts in spring. If you prune after their A week after that, it looked like it might have
first flowering, they will bloom again in fall or more if watered. I grown. I tipped it out of its pot, and to my aston-
leave herbaceous types alone—many die back completely in winter ishment saw the entire pot filled with roots.
to pop up again in spring—I have some monkeys (Mimulus moschatus While there had been no signs of life above the
or musk monkey flower) in a planter that have been returning faith- soil, the cutting had been busy during those
fully for five or six years. months establishing a root system and waiting
You’ll be pleased to see the insect pollinators, hummers, and for the proper season to begin its top growth. I
other birds gravitate to these plants for nectar and seeds. In fact, the repotted it in a larger container, added fresh pot-
leaves are edible to humans, and young leaves can be used in salad or ting soil and a spoonful of balanced fertilizer,
and that sprig took off going from a 2-inch twig
stir fry if you’re adventurous. They tend to be salty, so watch out!
to a blooming one gallon plant in about two
DEER AND GOPHERS LEAVE MONKEY FLOWERS ALONE, months time. By that point, I had long forgotten
ALONE, ALONE! I've never had one incident of either bothering which Mimulus species it was, so the first flower
them. They ARE brittle sometimes, however, particularly the woody to open was a wonderful surprise. It was a Mimu-
species, so don't plant them in heavy traffic areas or where dogs and lus bifidus, a “mock azalea,” named for its large
kids will run through them all the time. blooms that resemble an azalea flower.
Native Revival Nursery in Aptos usually has a great selection of Since then I have propagated many more
monkey flowers. The best time to plant is fall after the first rain, but plants from that first cutting, and those successes
I’ve had good luck planting any time but dead winter at my house led me to experiment with other plants with vary-
(which means strong wind, heavy rain, and even snow). ing results. Some live and some don’t, but some-
where along the way, I realized that propagating
by cuttings isn’t as mysterious or complicated as
I’d thought. True, there is a lot to learn and there
are many tools you can invest in to improve your
odds if you find yourself trying to propagate eve-
rything in sight (I did). But nothing is as impor-
tant as having that first successful cutting; Mimu-
lus can help you make that step.
If you’d like to try propagating by cuttings,
find a fellow gardener who has a Mimulus, break
off a couple of tips, and follow my not-so-
scientific method. Watching a new plant grow
from a piece of broken stem is extraordinary. It
Mimulus propagation — before and after. Photos by Kari Olsen changes the way you see your garden.
14 summer 2009 MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
Mimulus ‘Changeling’
Mimulus auriantiacus
Book Reviews
Garden Your Way To The Complete Compost
Health and Fitness Gardening Guide
Bunny Guinness and Barbara Pleasant and
Jacqueline Knox Deborah L. Martin
Timber Press, 2008 Storey Publishing, 2008
— Sharon Tyler, MG04 — Patricia Nicely, MG03
On the Future of Food, Part 2 says, but the food industry needs more research on sustain-
able agriculture.
—Thomas Karwin, MG99 Re-regionalize the Food System
Pollan notes, “resolarizing the food system means
In the spring issue of Gardening on the Edge, I wrote building the infrastructure for a regional food economy–
about the first part of Michael Pollan’s essay, “Farmer in one that can support diversified farming and, by shorten-
Chief,” which is his critique of America’s food system in ing the food chain, reduce the amount of fossil fuel in the
the form of an open letter to the President. Pollan lists American diet.” This change involves a series of related ac-
problems with the food system and calls for reform guided tions:
by the following three principles Establish four-season farmers’ markets
Provide a healthful diet for all people Establish agricultural enterprise zones
Improve the resilience, safety and security of our food Provide local meat-inspection corps
supply Establish a strategic grain reserve
Reconceive agriculture as part of the solution to envi- Regional federal food procurement
ronmental problems like climate change Create a federal definition of “food”
This article summarizes Pollan’s recommendations for On this last bullet point, Pollan says, “We need to stop
change. flattering nutritionally worthless food-like substances by
Resolarize the American Farm calling them ‘junk food’ —and instead make clear that such
Pollan notes that most of the problems with our food products are not in fact food of any kind.”
system exist because it relies on fossil fuels, and concludes Rebuild Americas Food Culture
that federal policies should support a return to the tradi- Pollan urges the President to use federal policy, public
tional reliance on the energy of the sun. education and his own examples “to promote a new cul-
Pollan recommends using federal policies to drive ture of food that can undergird your sun-food agenda.” Pol-
America’s farmers away from “subsidized commodity crops lan’s ideas for rebuilding America’s food culture include
grown in monoculture” and toward growing “as many dif- the following:
ferent crops—including animals—as possible.” He ob- Require gardens in schools as part of the curriculum
serves, “the greater the diversity of crops on a farms, the
Introduce a School Lunch Corps program to forgive
less the need for both fertilizers and pesticides” both of
federal student loans to culinary-school graduates in
which are made from petrochemicals.
exchange for two yeas of service in the public-school
Currently, federal farm policy provides subsidies to
lunch program
farmers who grow corn, soybeans, wheat and rice
Assign responsibility for food labeling to the surgeon
(“commodity crops”) and prohibits them from growing
general, rather than the Department of Agriculture, to
fruits and vegetables (“specialty crops”). Federal subsidies
avoid having to negotiate regulations with the food
to farmers should instead increase with the number of dif-
industry
ferent crops they grow or the number of days that their
Require that labels on packaged foods show how many
fields are used to grow food, replenish the soil with cover
calories of fossil fuel went into its production
crops, or control erosion.
Post daily menus for the First Family, including at
Related policy changes include:
least one meatless meal each week
Require municipal composting of food and yard waste
Replace five acres of the White House lawn with an
and free distribution of the compost to area farmers.
organic fruit and vegetable garden
Promote continual use of farmland (rather than leaving
Pollan concludes his open letter to the President by
it fallow) and conduct research to develop varieties of
noting, “cheap food is only cheap because of government
grains than can be grown “like prairie grass.”
handouts and regulatory indulgence…not to mention the
Encourage farmers to move animals off of feedlots and
exploitation of workers, animals and the environment on
back onto farms: “sunlight nourishes the grasses and
which its putative ‘economies’ depend. Cheap food is
grains, the plants nourish the animals, the animals
food dishonestly priced—it is in fact unconscionably
then nourish the soil, which in turn nourishes the next
expensive.”
season’s grasses and grains.” This change involves end-
Michael Pollan is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley,
ing federal subsidies of grains, ending the use of antibi-
and the author of several well-researched and provocative books and articles
otics in feed, and requiring feedlots to clean up their
on food, gardening and agriculture.
wastes like any other industry or municipality.
To read “Farmer in Chief,” browse to the New York Times Magazine’
Pollan acknowledges that these changes could increase
October 12, 2008 issue on food. Use the following link, and scroll down to find
the cost of food, but argues that complex, sun-based agri- Pollan’s piece. http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2008/10/12/magazine/
cultural systems could produce more and better food than index.html
today’s high-yield commodity crop systems, and also gen- To learn of Pollan’s other writings, visit his personal website: http://
erate multiple social benefits. These are realistic goals, he www.michaelpollan.com/
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS summer 2009 17
Peppers
Onions, peppers, garlic and tomatoes, sounds like the
beginning of a salsa recipe, doesn’t it? Those are the crops I
have growing in my garden this spring.
Just about every article I’ve read about peppers men-
tions how easy they are to grow from seed. I used a seed- Candy’s Chicken Soup with Chilies
ling mat for bottom heat and a grow box to start my seed- Shredded, cooked chicken, amount to taste
lings and it took almost 3 weeks for them to sprout. I did 32 oz. container of chicken broth or more to taste
soak the seeds in water as suggested on the seed packet, 1 large sweet red onion, chopped medium
but I might just as easily have used a hydrogen peroxide 1 large avocado
solution or weak chamomile tea to help break the seed coat 2 ears corn, grilled and shucked from cob
down and speed germination – ah, research! 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded, if desired
Once the seeds sprouted, my plants languished with 2 – 3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped
two leaves for a couple of weeks and I decided to put them Fresh lime juice, to taste
outside once their second set of leaves emerged and the Cilantro, chopped, to taste
weather grew warmer. When our recent weekend heat Corn tortilla strips, baked until crispy
wave hit they sprang to life! With any luck, I’ll be harvest- Queso fresco, to taste
ing jalapenos, Thai hot chilies, pepperoncini Greek, Corno
di Toro, Jimmy Nardello’s Italian and cayenne blend pep- Combine cooked chicken, broth, onion, tomatoes and
pers this summer. cilantro. Simmer on medium heat for 30 minutes. Mean-
Capsicum, a member of the family Solanaceae, has been while, slice jalapenos into thin strips and remove seeds if
cultivated in the Americas for over 5,000 years with evi- desired. Grill, along with corn, in a cast iron pan over me-
dence of their utilization by native peoples since 7500 BC. dium-high heat until lightly browned, stirring often. Re-
move from heat and shuck/scrape corn from the cob. Add
The five domesticated species consist of C. annuum, C. bacca-
the corn and jalapenos to the chicken, broth and veggies
tum, C. chinense, C. frutescens, and C. pubescens. Members of this
and simmer for 5 minutes over medium heat. Just before
genus are now grown world-wide.
serving, add chopped avocado, lime juice and a handful of
Peppers like it hot, about 80 degrees for germination
chopped cilantro. Stir. Garnish with baked tortilla chips
and below 90 degrees for growing and developing fruit.
and a sprinkling of queso fresco or other crumbly cheese.
Plant seedlings outside, once the danger of frost has
passed, in soil rich in compost and well-rotted manure; Above: Cayenne pepper
peppers do not like wet conditions but do require consis- Below: Thai peppers, Wikipedia
tently moist soil so take care to avoid over-watering. Plants
should be spaced about 18 – 24 inches apart in rows 24 –
36 inches apart in a sunny location. To conserve moisture
and keep weeds at bay, be sure to mulch around your
plants.
Critters most likely to visit your pepper plants are
aphids and spider mites. Blast them with a stream of water
from the hose being sure to hit the undersides of the leaves.
You might also try an insecticidal soap or oil for heavy in-
festations.
Peppers may be harvested in their green, immature
stage or left to ripen to a red, yellow or orange color, de- Sources
pending on variety. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/proceedings1996/V3-479.html
My sister, Candy, is an excellent cook. She gave me her http://www.calantilles.com/capsicum_peppers.htm#General%
recipe for Chicken Soup with Chilies in 2002 and I’ve been 20History
making it ever since. This is an excellent use of peppers http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/pepper.htm
and corn so abundant during the summer months. Enjoy! http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html
20 summer 2009 MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
How Master Gardeners Do It no phosphorus be used when fertilizing New Zealand na-
tive plants. According to what she told the class, it will
—Compiled by Sharon Ettinger, MG00 eventually lead to the plants demise since phosphorus is
not naturally occurring in the New Zealand soil.
What Australian or New Zealand plants do
you grow? Do you have any tips about care, etc? Tammy Tahara, MG06
I have two Adenanthos sericeus (woollybush) - one in a
Candice McLaren, MG01 big pot and one still in its 1-gallon nursery can, mostly be-
Years ago when I designed and planted my front yard, I cause I haven't had that much luck growing them well.
selected some vertical, sword-like plants that produced Clearly I'm not doing something right because it's growing
flowers. I liked them as they clump and don't need a lot of taller but not bushier, even after I gave it a little pruning.
care after they get established. Once in a while I will clean When I mentioned this to a nurseryperson they were sur-
out the dead leaves and after the flowers are spent, cut the prised, saying they had never heard of having to prune this
stem down. They’re very easy care plants in spite of being particular plant. I love the plant and would like to plant it
in the salty winter winds and the summer fog. in the ground and will once I do more research on the best
growing conditions.
Kangaroo paw plants (Anigozanthos, Haemodoraceae Red kangaroo paw on left and yellow on right.
family) are perennials and native to open eucalyptus Photos by Candice McLaren.
forests in western Australia. I started out with a variety
‘Pink Joey’ that only grows to about three feet and has red/ Which Hydrangeas do you grow? Please share any
pink flowers. Since it did so well along side my dry creek tips you may have on care and watering?
bed, I added a taller one, Anigozanthos flavidus that is about
four feet tall and has yellow-green flowers. The flower Claudia Boulton, MG99
stems can get to five feet tall. They make good cut flowers Hydrangeas are not doing wonderfully in my shady Rio
for unique arrangements. They like moderate water. Del Mar garden and I haven't quite figured out why. The
best is the Oak leaf - Hydrangea quercifolia - which blooms
Debra Van Bruggen, MG06 well and has nice fall color if I don't prune it. The H. macro-
I am growing New Zealand flax (Phormium) also phyllas do the worst. One, a lacecap which I think might be
Westringia. The only tip I can offer is one I received from a 'Blue Wave,' had only two blooms last year that never fully
teacher at Cabrillo, Lisa McAndrews. She suggested that
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS summer 2009 21
developed. The other one which does well is H. serrata 'Beni Christina Kriedt, MG06
Gaku'. I'm working on enriching the soil, but some of them I don’t grow a lot of strawberries, but have always had
may come out next year to make room for some other a few plants around for my grandchildren; I have had these
shrubs that might be happier here. plants for 12 years now and I have no idea how old they
were when I inherited them. They are not prolific produc-
Barbara Gordon, MG98 ers, but do squeeze out just enough luscious fruits every
I grow regular ones. They bloom red when the soil is year. When I recently transplanted them, I created a tower
acid and blue when the soil is basic. I don't water them of three clay pots in graduated sizes and planted into each
frequently. I have lacecap hydrangeas and 2 other types. level. I drove a bamboo stick through the drainage holes of
the top two pots to keep the whole thing relatively stable.
What methods have you used to successfully grow
The plants are very happy and watering is easy.
strawberries?
Candice McLaren, MG01 Left: From the ground to
This year I went out and bought some strawberries the rim of the topmost pot the
for a large plastic container that I had. Since I don't have a stack measures 21”
lot of garden space, I figured I could move the pot around Below: Tower of pots from
to keep the plants in the sun. One can see from the photos above; on top is a 6” pot
that these plants don't have a lot of room to grow but
hopefully enough to produce a good crop. As my winter
backyard is very shady, I probably won't keep them over
the winter but will treat them as an annual.