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Your Seed Starting Soil Should Not Have Twigs

Isn’t it mad frustrating and annoying when you start your seeds and they don’t sprout? Generally seeds will take somewhere between 7-14 days to sprout, depending on the seed. Once it hits that 14 day mark with no sprouts, start getting concerned.

About six-weeks ago, I started some lemon balm seeds on my balcony garden. They were planted in four parts of the container. I planned on thinning them out when they grew their true leaves so only the strongest stood. Six-weeks later and still nothing.

I shouldn’t say nothing, but very little. There are some small sprouts that appear to be attempting to forcing their way through. Not much though.

They have been watered regularly and get at least four hours of direct sunlight a day. I am going to say that the problem is with the soil that I’m using. It’s something that I’ve been suspect of for a while, but this solidifies it for me.

When taking a closer look at the soil, it has lots of twigs and bigger pieces. That’s not a great growing medium for containers. I’m going to toss the soil into the compost and get some new soil. Unfortunately, I don’t have the space to make my own potting soil like I did in Brooklyn. Damned soil.

What are some other reasons that seeds won’t sprout?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRJc05CmoSU

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From Seed to Table: Food Brings People Together

I’ve said it before that we are humans, therefore we grow food. If you look back at societies, civilizations and communities, you will see that the common factor was growing food.

Over the past 100 or so years, that skill has been lost to chemical agriculture and the ability to transport food long distances. There is so much that goes into food that we don’t get to partake in anymore. We just see it as congregating around a table and eating it. Some of the time it’s not even that, it’s something that’s done en route from one task to another.

Everything about food can bring families, couples, partners, neighbors, whoever it may be together. There is camaraderie and a relationship that is built when going through the process.

Each of the steps in the process are chances to forge deeper relationships with each other and with the food. From the decision of what to grow to planting and tending to, then there is harvesting, preparing and sharing.

You know damned well that if you were to grow some parsley and put it in a dish, you are certainly going to stick your chest out and tell everyone you grew that parsley. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with growing your own food.

It’s not just about the eating part, which is mad fun, but it goes much deeper than that. You’ll start to get a better appreciation of food that you buy because you know what goes into it. You certainly are less likely to waste food when you grow your own.

This is why I think we should all start to grow some of our own food or source it locally. It helps to bring us together.

What stories do you have to share about growing food and bringing people together?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SZYNckCvS4

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Zucchini Strips Baked With Thyme and Basil

    Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 3-4 small zucchini or 2 large
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme or tablespoon of dried
  • 3-4 leaves of basil or tablespoon of dried
  • Tablespoon of olive oil
  • Dash of sea salt and pepper
    How to make:

  • Chop up garlic put into a small jar or dish.
  • Squeeze lemon over garlic. Let sit for a few minutes.
  • Cut up zucchini into rounds or strips.
  • Add thyme, chopped up basil, olive oil, salt and pepper to lemon garlic mixture.
  • Pour it over the zucchini to cover and toss it.
  • Put in oven at 400 for 15 minutes.
  • Flip strips and bake for another 15 minutes.
  • Remove and serve..
  • You can put this over pasta, rice, a salad or eat it on its own.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muUIzmLjZjc

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USDA’s My Plate = Waste of My Money

It’s been a few weeks since the USDA unveiled My Plate along with the help of First Lady Michelle Obama. This replaces the old food pyramid.

My only commentary on how it’s divided is – when did protein become a food group? Wonder if this could have anything to do from the meat lobbying industry. I won’t get into that discussion because Michele does a wonderful job of that on Appetite for Profit with Why we need more policy instead of My Plate.

I would like to address the $2 million of our money that went into creating the kindergarten sketch. This is what our tax dollars are going towards?!?! It doesn’t even come close to addressing the issue of what’s wrong with our food.

For the most part, the plate would likely be more nutritious than the foods that are actually being put onto it.

If Michelle Obama really cared about health and what people are putting on their plate, then why doesn’t she take the time to talk to her husband about deregulating GMO crops.

That would be time better spent then posing for another photo-op like she does with the White House garden. That might mean that she would actually have to dedicate the time and show that she really cares. It would take away from the flashing cameras.

The head of the USDA might want to spend some time cleaning up the food industry that is putting out arsenic laced chicken, but that would mean confronting his friends and those that put him in the position he is in.

The creation of this plate took something like two years and $2 million, talk about a complete and total waste. You can put all the protein, vegetables and fruit you want on a plate, but if it’s causing sickness and disease, who cares?

This is why I’m not into counting calories and why I grow my own food.

Why not allocate the time and resources into addressing the real issue and not just masking it some more?

Better yet, stop wasting my f’n money on this crap. I want a refund.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njken2E4gcw

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Where Does Your Food Come From?

One of the reasons that I started my fire escape garden in 2009 is because I learned that on average our food travels 1,500 miles from farm to plate. That’s about the distance from one coast of the United States to the center of the country.

The next time you are at the grocery store or supermarket (aren’t they the same thing?), pick up some produce and look at the label to see where it’s from. I started to do this when I was living in NYC and saw Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Peru and other far off countries. There wasn’t even anything from my country, nonetheless my state.

It got me thinking about all of the variables that go into getting that food to the store and what it means for me to purchase.

  • Oil is used to transport the food, which has an environmental impact. It also effects the rising food prices.
  • Nutrients are likely lost because it’s been harvested 3-4 weeks before it even made it to the shelf of the store.
  • Local farmers are affected because we are shipping it in from elsewhere instead of a local source.

These are what got me started apartment gardening in New York and why I keep doing it with my balcony garden in LA. When I was in NYC, I got a lot of my produce from a CSA. Now that I’m in LA, I go to the farmers market a few times a week. So I’m fortunate that most of my food is grown pretty close to me.

1,500 miles is a pretty long distance for food to be traveling and it’s not completely necessary. You can start growing some of your own and support your local farmers.

What’s your thoughts on food traveling so far? Were you aware of this?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-3FLLidFDI

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The WTF Food News for June 2011

I am gonna start to write a new monthly post and call it the “WTF Food News.” In the post I’ll highlight some food stories from the previous weeks that make you tilt your head, curl your brow, lift your shoulders and make that face like you thought you had to fart, but something else came out.

So here is the first installment:

Care2: Is China Manufacturing Plastic Rice?
This article is citing a source that was in Korean, but the sad part is that it isn’t out of the realm of being completely viable. If it’s cheaper to produce and people will buy it, why not produce it? It’s only available in one small town or village, but that doesn’t mean it won’t spread beyond that.

What is up with China and producing toxic stuff, there was the toys that had toxic lead in them, now plastic rice. What could possibly be next?

Business Insider: China Genetically Modifies Cows To Produce Human Breast Milk
Pretty smooth segue, huh? Not sure the point of, who would consume and why one would even do this, but some Chinese farmers think it’s a good idea.

Grist.org: FDA admits supermarket chickens test positive for arsenic
I don’t know of anyone that would willingly ingest arsenic. If the FDA is admitting to there being some levels in supermarket chicken, then the problem must be bad.

Huffington Post: Roundup Birth Defects: Regulators Knew World’s Best-Selling Herbicide Causes Problems, New Report Finds
Sadly enough this story doesn’t surprise me too much – the fact that Round-Up causes birth defects and the fact that regulators knew.

These stories have definitely made me think WTF is going on with our food? These are the reasons that you should start to grow some of your own food and source it locally from farmers markets or CSAs.

What WTF food stories have you seen lately?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD0S1oYTTT0

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Simple Kale Salad

    Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 head of kale
  • 1 lemon
  • Few slices of onion
  • Clove of garlic
  • Tablespoon of olive oil
  • Teaspoon of raw honey
  • Dash of sea salt
    How to make:

  • Chop up garlic and onion and put into a small jar or dish.
  • Squeeze lemon over garlic and onion and let sit for a few minutes.
  • Cut up kale and put into bowl.
  • Sprinkle sea salt over kale.
  • Massage the sea salt into the kale until it starts to wilt down. It might take 2-3 minutes.
  • Pour olive oil and raw honey into lemon, garlic and onion mixture.
  • Shake it up and pour over kale.
  • Massage the dressing into the salad as well.
  • The longer it sits, the softer it will get.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll3XvbvGGa0

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What are the Effects of Chemical Gardening and Agriculture?

When people ask why they should grow their own food, one of the top reasons I give is because of the chemicals and pesticides that are used to treat our food.

Just because you are growing your own, doesn’t mean that you aren’t using chemicals and the toxic crap like Miracle Grow, but it means that you have more control over it.

Yes the pesticides might be getting rid of the pests and insects, but what else are they doing?

You don’t rinse off chemicals
It’s not as simple as using some water and washing the item off. My grandmother used to (and still does) tell me to do that. Ok, Gram I’m just going to wash off the chemicals that have been sprayed with a quick rinse under the water?!??

Chemicals don’t make sense
Using chemicals and pesticides to treat the produce just doesn’t make sense to me on any level. I don’t want that stuff on my food and getting into my body. Would you take a bottle of chemicals and just chug them? So why would you eat them?

If you look at our society and the health problems that we are facing, then look at the increase use of these toxins over the years, there is a heavy correlation. Just sayin.

Organic Manifesto
I’ve started to read the book Organic Manifesto by Maria Rodale and here are some interesting things I’ve learned:

  • More than 80,000 new chemical compounds have been introduced since World War II. Many of which are now used in agriculture.
  • To feed our demand for cheap food, we’ve put ourselves and our children’s lives at risk.
  • In the animal world, alligator’s penises are shrinking. This can be tied to increased pesticide usage.

Those are just a few things that I’ve pulled from the book early on and it’s some serious shit to be thinking about. The food that we are eating and the way that it’s being grown is having a serious effect on us and the animal kingdom.

In the past 100 or so years, we have bombarded our bodies with all these new toxins and it’s not sure how to react.

There is an alligator waddling around somewhere right now with a small penis because of you. New abnormalities in humans are emerging as well.

You have the control
By growing your own or sourcing your food from farmers markets, you can control of or can ask the grower directly how the food is treated.

If you are using a product, find out what the ingredients are and don’t just read the marketing hype on the label. It’s your health that’s at stake.

Step away from the chemical gardening and chemically produced foods.

What’s your thoughts on chemical use in gardening and agriculture?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVo5khcV2yU

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What are True Leaves?

When you read information on seed packets and other garden related materials, you might come across the term “true leaves.”

Screenshot 2014-04-14 17.25.26If you are anything like me, you might be wondering what they hell that means and if there are fake leaves.

When seedlings sprout, often there are two-sets of leaves that form first. They look almost four-leaf clover like. A few days later a third single leaf will emerge that doesn’t look like the first two. That’s the first true leaf.

When the first true leaves emerge that is usually when you can start fertilizing, transplanting, thinning or doing whatever else you are going to do.

So that’s what true leaves mean figuratively and literally. Now can we come up with a better name for them – maybe third-leaf?! What would a better name be?

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Decorating Your Recycled Container Garden

People (haters) often bust my balls about how ugly my balcony garden is. They say that it’s beaten up and used 5-gallon containers and not very pretty.

I’ve decided to take the challenge of the haters and decorate my self-watering containers. One of my containers was decorated by my girlfriend, Anita, who did a much better job than I could ever do. Since I’m not nearly that artistic I got some inspiration from Life on the Balcony. Her finished containers are more stylish than mine, but I’m working on it.

This would be a great project to do with your kids and get them involved.

I removed the reservoir containers and painted them a solid color for now. I’ve been contemplating creating stencils for them, but am undecided at this point.

What do you think of the new look containers? Should I leave them solid colors or decorate them a bit more? If so, what should I put on them?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whJeTiFjHRY

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Four-Herb Salad Dressing

    Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 lemon
  • Handful of dill
  • Handful of cilantro
  • Handful of parsley
  • Handful of basil
  • Tablespoon of olive oil
  • Few slices of onion
  • Half handful of nuts or seeds of your choice (I used sunflower seeds)
  • Clove of garlic
    How to make:

  • Squeeze lemon into blender or food processor
  • Add rest of the ingredients
  • Splash in some water to get it movin
  • Blend up until nice and smooth adding more water as necessary.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by-Hfv2vWhg

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We are Humans. We Grow Food.

When people ask why they should grow their own food, I don’t break out all kinds of reports and studies that tell how it’s better for you and the environment. I break it down even simpler and tell them it’s because we are human. It’s what we do.

It’s not until the last 100 or so years that we’ve stopped growing our own and put that responsibility in the hands of others. Think about it. Humans have grown their own food for hundreds and thousands of years.

Civilizations and societies were built around fertile land and access to water. Communities were built around food. There is so much that goes into it from the planning to the planting, tending to the harvesting and most importantly the preparing and sharing of it. It’s what brings people together on so many levels.

We now just skip right to the eating, which is often done on the run too.

These days we’ve come to sit at a desk in front a computer all day or in a large SUV traveling through space. That’s not what we are designed to do. That’s all relatively new to us.

This is why I keep it simple and say that the reason we should grow our own food is because we are humans. I’m not saying an entire garden, but growing just one thing will make a difference.

What’s your thoughts?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erPJ0oRAvls

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Update: Is a Balcony Garden Against Building Code?

So last week I mentioned that a building inspector from the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) came to inspect our building and said that the balcony garden was against code.

He was vague and didn’t cite a code at the time, but said fire code. The local fire department didn’t seem to think so though.

Screenshot 2014-04-10 17.31.36A week later, there was a memo from LAHD posted in a common area saying that all citations needed to be addressed by sometime the end of June. I followed up and called them to get the exact citation.

The inspector couldn’t provide one and just kept saying he was “doing his job.” I appreciate him doing his job. If he is going to do his job and cite me doing something wrong, I’d like to know what it is and was not provided with that.

He told me that if it wasn’t taken care of by that date that a higher authority (I forget the name) would come out to assess the situation.

Screenshot 2014-04-10 17.32.48The fire department were followed up with again and they didn’t see it as against fire code. They even called up the inspector and he gave them the same run around.

Heck if it’s against a code and they can cite me on it, I’ll gladly comply. I’m not going to comply with, “I’m just doing my job.” I knew the fire escape garden was against code, but was never cited on it.

I’ll keep you updated, but what’s your thoughts on this whole situation?

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Asian Style Steamed Vegetable Bowl

    Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Bok choy
  • Mustard greens
  • 2-3 Carrots
  • 2-3 broccoli florets
    How to make:

  • Cut up bok choy, mustard greens, carrots and broccoli florets and layer in your steamer.
  • Steam for 10-12 minutes
  • Add to serving bowl.
  • Top with sauce of your choice or with olive oil, lemon and sea salt.
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Food Waste in America Shows Lack of Appreciation

We all know that food is wasted in our country, but there was a post on Planet Green “1/3 of Global Food Production Goes to Waste” written by Sara Novak that caught my eye.

Think about that. Over 30% of the food in this country that is grown for human consumption is wasted. To me that shows a lack of appreciation for food.

It’s not too much of a surprise that the richer nations in North America and Europe are the ones that waste more food than the less developed countries.

As a society we have become so far removed and disconnected from food that we waste so much of it. It’s so readily available and easy for us to get.

When I was living in New York, I went “dumpster diving” a few times and that really opened up my eyes to how much usable food was wasted because it wasn’t “perfect.”

There are ways that Sara mentions that we can cut back on food waste, but I think it starts with the way that we think about food.

If we were to all start getting our hands dirty and growing some of our own food, even just one thing, it would make a difference. It would make a difference in how you eat and how you think about food as well.

What’s your thoughts on the amount of food waste in America?

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Is a Balcony Garden Against the Fire Code?

When I had my fire escape garden in NYC, I knew that it was technically against the fire code (but J-walking is illegal too and no one ever gets busted). Now that I’ve been in LA for over a year, I’ve been told that a balcony garden is against the fire code too.

Last week a building inspector came by and said that it was a fire code to have anything on the balcony. I asked what the name of the code was, so I could research it. He didn’t know, but just said it was an “open zoning” thing.

I find it hard to believe considering people in LA have everything from bikes to barbecues on their balconies. Instead of just saying ok and taking everything down, I called the local fire department to inquire. If it really was a fire hazard, I’d want to remove it.

Some of the local firemen were kind enough to come by my apartment to check out the balcony to see if it was indeed a hazard. After inspecting, they said that it wasn’t

My only other guess is that it could be a building safety code violation, but the inspector said fire code.

Does anyone know anything about this?

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Is My Integrity Tarnished Because I Have Sponsors?

In the beginning of the year I started to partner up with some sponsors. I wanted to discuss with you whether you think that I’m still maintaining my integrity and remaining true to this site with that addition.

My reasoning for starting this site in 2009 was to inspire and empower people to start growing their own food. At the current time, I’m pretty much dedicating myself to to this full-time.

Since I’ve partnered up with these sponsors, I’ve been mindful not to turn the site into an infomercial. That’s not why I started this and it’s not what I’m going to turn it into. Doing that would totally turn me off and I would think turn you off as well.

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m pretty much a DIY kinda guy – making self-watering containers and hanging soda bottle planters. The DIY thing ain’t for everyone. I understand that.

Often times people will ask me about products or what they can buy instead of making. So I’ll turn them on to one of my sponsors or put them in touch and be fully transparent about it.

While seeking and speaking with potential sponsors, I do my due diligence in regards to checking their relationships with companies such as Monsanto and Scotts (Miracle Gro). I’ve actually turned down a few companies that were about to write a check out to me because of their relationships with those companies.

I’m not sacrificing what I’m doing and stand for because someone breaks out George Washington.

Moving forward I’m going to be integrating my sponsors more into the site and what I’m doing, but I’ll by no means become Billy Mays. My goal is to do it in a way that helps to expand the scope of what’s already being done.

I’ll still keep doing what I do and this site will not become an infomercial.

Ultimately this site is about you, so I want to hear from you. Do you think my integrity is tarnished because I have sponsors?

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Roasted Cauliflower and Thyme

    Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 head of cauliflower
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 red onion
  • 3-4 sprigs of thyme
  • 1/2 lemon
  • tablespoon of olive oil
  • Dash of sea salt and black pepper
    How to make:

  • Cut up cauliflower into bite sized chunks and add to bowl.
  • Bust up cloves of garlic, mince and add to cauliflower..
  • Cut up red onion and add to bowl.
  • Pull thyme leaves off and add to mixture.
  • Sprinkle on olive oil, sea salt and black pepper.
  • Toss to coat.
  • Add to oven at 400 degrees.
  • Check after 20 minutes and mix up.
  • Put back into oven for another 10-15 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and place back into bowl.
  • Squeeze lemon on mixture.
  • Serve on it’s own or over rice or in a salad.
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Organic Isn’t a Trend. It’s the Way It’s Been.

There was a post on Serious Eats titled Food Trend you wish would fade away?

Of the 160+ comments left, there were a handful that stood out to me. Those were left from the people who were hatin on the “organic” and “local” food trends.

These comments reiterated to me how disconnected from food we have become. I’m pretty sure, but organic and local aren’t necessarily food trends. It’s not until the last 100-200 years that we have had non-local and conventionally grown foods available to us.

Organic and local were your only options. You didn’t have the luxury of living in New York and being able to buy pineapples or mangos.

The trend that has developed is having these overly processed foodlike products available to us. It’s having unseasonal foods imported to us from thousands of miles away.

We don’t realize or appreciate how lucky and fortunate we are to have these options available to us. Instead, we take them for granted.

It’s more difficult these days for people to get local and organic food than to get the imported stuff.

One commenter said, “I have to agree with Organic. I know people who won’t eat anything that’s not organic and they pay out the wazoo! Ridiculous in my opinion.”

This is likely the same person who pays ridiculous amounts for prescription drugs, a large screen TV and SUV.

We have become so far disconnected from food that we see it as that…an expense that’s not warranted.

So eating local and organic isn’t a food trend. It’s our history.

The food trends that I’d like to see fade away are the overly processed, boxed and packaged garbage that’s being sold to us to disappear. I’d also like to see conventionally grown and GMOd crops to fade away.

What food trends would you like to see fade away?

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How to Harvest Swiss Chard

It’s been about 3-months since I planted the swiss chard seeds when I started my garden from scratch. The two containers are now bursting with some nice greenage and are ready to be harvested and picked.

They could very well be left to grow larger, but I wanna eat.

When taking a closer look at the container, the chard is growing clumps and doing pretty well.

To harvest the the leaves all you have to do is locate the outermost leaves of the bunch and pick them about 2-3 inches from the soil line. You can do this by hand or with a gardening tool. I just do this by hand.

By selecting the outermost leaves, you will help to promote more growth. That’s it. Pretty simple.

I am going to use them in a green smoothie. What’s your favorite way to use swiss chard leaves?