Spring and Summer Gardening Along the Southern California Coast

While most of the U.S. has experienced extremes in temperatures throughout the spring and summer, our Southern California coastal weather has been mild. During June and most of July our temperatures ranged in the 60s and 70s, often with overcast skies. It makes growing heat-loving crops a frustration, but since predictable weather may be a thing of the past, I have worked to consider such variability a challenge to overcome through creative strategies. Some these actually include long-known interventions including planting squash, peppers, and tomatoes along the southern-exposed walls of my home (that are also protected from the cool breezes of the Pacific). And, I've embraced the idea that I will be growing more cool-weather crops throughout the year and needing to buy heat-loving veggies from the Farmer's Market on occasion (though I really resist this since my personal goal is to grow ALL of my own veggies). In addition, I have expanded the range of plants I grow that are non-traditional for the area in order to ensure sufficient crops for the season. Last, I am in continual search of new varieties of traditional warm weather plants that tolerate cooler climates. I have had a bit of success with this combined approach and the freezers and the pantry are filling.

Greenhouse Gardening in the Winter

There are three sources of fresh produce in my winter along the Pacific. This is the time I grow lettuce in my greenhouse. I also have plenty of Chayote to pick and mix with other frozen summer veggies, and broccoli and cabbage do well throughout the winter (my biggest challenge is keeping all of the critters away from them. See chicken wire cover on my veggie box to resolve this).

In our climate, I do not have to heat the greenhouse. I only supply sufficient light and I'm eating salad for months to come. I toss sprouted seeds and nuts into the salad bowl for extra nutrition.

January Shredding and Composting

All of the wonderful fall leaves are terrific compost material. Winter work in my garden includes hours of collecting compost ingredients, such as fallen leaves, trimmings from Chayote vines, fruit tree prunings, hedge clippings, the neighbors' lawn, and the blackberry vines. At this point, I'm shredding all of this and rototilling it directly into the vegetable boxes. The mix is a combination of dry and green material, so along with the nice occasional rain we've had, the soil is being enriched nicely.

Many seed catalogs have arrived (almost exactly on January 2), so I'm in heaven planning this coming spring's plantings.

Lower Cholesterol Naturally?

There are many herbal products that claim to reduce cholesterol. For a reality check on some of these go to:
http://cholesterol.about.com/lw/Health-Medicine/Alternative-treatments/Can-Supplements-Improve-Cholesterol-Levels-.htm. The news based on actual research findings is limited. Currently, I would bet on fish oil and a high fiber diet as the most effective natural options. Correlational studies, particularly when comparing Japan to other developed countries, suggest green tea may contribute to lowering cholesterol. The traditional Japanese diet, however, is overall much healthier than the average American diet, so the causal link to green tea and lower cholesterol is not apparent, though certainly suggestive of a positive relationship.

There currently seems to be no entirely side effect-free quick fixes. I lowered my cholesterol gradually by significantly increasing exercise and natural fiber into my diet (I make a super-healthy quick breakfast bread that is packed with generous quantities of wheat germ, wheat bran, and flaxseed meal), and reducing red meat consumption. Eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits daily is, of course, an important part of any health regime.

Protect Produce from Evening Diners

Lost a lovely cabbage to this guy last night. Today in L.A. you can find raccoons almost anywhere. I've heard they're traveling in storm drains and turning up all over the city.

The best deterrant for my garden so far is netting and floating row covers, secured carefully and thoroughly with clothes pins. What they can't see or access, they won't eat. All else is fair game and once they've discovered your food source, they'll likely come back, as will skunks, squirrels, and all other suburbanized and urbanized critters.

Alternatives for High Blood Pressure

No medical claims made here, but simply a report on what happened to me. After several side effect-laden tries at my doctor's prescriptions for high blood pressure several years ago, I searched for natural alternatives and found two that worked: Pycnogenol (made from French Maritime Bark; only grown in France, though widely available) and fresh olive tree leaf tea, long a Mediterranean solution.

Pycnogenol really worked me (for more on it, go to http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-pycnogenol.html). Along with exercise, a healthy diet, modest weight loss, and stress reduction, I now have perfect blood pressure. Today, I only use olive leaf tea, which is rich in additional benefits, such as antioxidants, immune system support, and caffeine-free energy. One interesting website to read about olive leaf tea is: http://www.olivus.com/yahoo.htm (there are many others, so do the research).

Grow your own olive tree in a corner of your garden! Prune regularly to keep size in check. Consider growing frutiing varieties if you want to preserve your own olives. Or, a non-bearing tree will work just as well for the tea. I keep mine to semi-darf size, as I do with all of my fruit trees so that I still have enough sun for the vegetable in my boxes.

Take your blood pressure regularly to monitor whether these alternatives work for you and do not go off prescription medications suddenly or without telling your doctor. Everyone responds differently to both prescriptions and natural alternatives. I'm just sharing these to suggest there are possible options IF you can also change your lifestyle.

A Fall Reflection

As winter comes and the pace of gardening slows, I allow my mind to reminisce; to reflect upon all of the beautiful places and the dearly loved people--young, old, since passed--that have become a part of my life. Thanks to heaven for them.

I treasure all of the good times shared outdoors and when I'm a little lonely I silently say: See you in the mountains where the fresh wind blows, the green flow of river soothes, and the carpeted path along the brook lifts the soul back to endless childhood. See you there!