Pumpkin Farming

What better vegetable to highlight at the end of October than the pumpkin? Sadly, pumpkins are usually forgotten about until its time to break out the carving tools for Halloween. Switching up your yearly pumpkin patch visits for a trip to a local farm can give way to lots of information, and possibly even shine some light on unrecognized tradition.

Pumpkins are members of the curcubit family, which not only includes pumpkins but squash, cucumbers, luffas, watermelons and melons as well. Because these orange veggies usually sprawl out over a large area as they grow, a significant amount of space is needed and Tanaka Farms had plenty of it.

Nestled in Orange County just off the 405 is a farm that has been owned and operated by three generations of the Tanaka family since 1940. Each generation prides themselves in providing all families with "quality products and educational experiences."

While this tucked away countryside field opens up for a pumpkin patch every year in the fall, they also provide strawberry tours in the spring and watermelon tours in the summer. One of the best experiences with visiting an actual farm is being able to physically pick your own vegetables, and specifically in this case - pumpkins, fresh from the vine.

[Photo by Danielle Scharer]
A few pumpkins engulfed in their vine habitat at Tanaka Farms

When choosing the perfect pumpkin, a helpful Tanaka employee noted that you can tell when the vegetable is ripe for picking when the skin on the outside is tough, and the color is deep orange. Keep in mind that the vine will be thick, but you'll want to leave enough to use as a handle to carry the pumpkin if it's on the heavy side.

[Photo by Danielle Scharer]
Part of Tanaka farm field filled with people looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Getting to find out more about these vegetables (that we inevitably end up carving into) is a fascinating experience that is right at our fingertips. When you're looking for a pumpkin patch this year, think about paying a visit to a pumpkin farm. The freshness doesn't compare. After all, pumpkins are vegetables first and jack-o-lanterns second!

Autumn Harvesting

When most people think of vegetable gardening they think of sunny, bright days shining down on vibrant, ripe edibles. While the most ideal time of the year to start your garden is in the spring, according to bhg.com, there are actually a handful of vegetation that thrive, and do considerably better, in the fall season as well.

Many Brassica plants are perfect for starting up cooler-themed greens in your yard. Below are a few popular items to plant in your autumn-themed garden:

Cabbage

[hgtvgardens.com]
Cabbage is perfect for eating fresh right after harvesting, or mixing into dishes.

Broccoli

[hgtvgardens.com]
Broccoli is a must-have in gardens because of its high nutrient content.

Cauliflower

[hgtvgardens.com]
Cauliflower can be grown year-round, but does best in the cooler months.

Other vegetables in the Brassica family that will also flourish in the fall and winter months are: arugula, kale, lettuce and spinach.

Keeping in mind that our winter days are shorter than in the summer, the time until full maturity will take a little longer than believed. Planting these crops early into the fall season, or before the cool air starts taking over (which can sometimes be fairly late into the fall season for Southern Californians), will be beneficially for the long maturity period.

Whether you’re starting a vegetable garden for a hobby or to save a little extra cash at the grocery store, you don’t need to wait until warmer weather comes around to get out there and start planting!

Gardening for a Cause

One of the best gardening experiences is being able to use your skills and plants to better the environment. This past week I took the opportunity to volunteer with the Disney VolunteEARS, alongside The Bay Foundation, to help restore the UCLA Stone Creek Canyon. 

The last remaining uncovered section of the creek is located just outside the UCLA Lab School and serves as a living classroom for the children. The goal is to slowly restore the creek-side to its natural, animal-habitating state. 

Contributing three hours on a Saturday resulted in turning a creek-side hill covered with invasive plant life into a progressing area for birds and other wild animals. We spent the morning and early part of the afternoon in the first phase of the process: digging up the harmful plants. 

While this step may seem as simple as pulling weeds, we had to endure a much more intricate process that involved large roots. 

[Photo by: Danielle Scharer]
Some roots, such as above, were as wide as 10 inches and required special tools to break through.

Although we weren't able to completely remove every harmful plant in one day, we cleared out an impressive, sizable amount.

After contributing to the Stone Creek Canyon, it's important to note that not every plant is beneficially to its surroundings. In fact, some do more harm than good. Just because it's green or possess flowers does not mean it's meant for your garden. 

Below are a few frequently spotted invasive plants to look out for:

English Ivy

[Photo: landscaping.about.com]
English Ivy grows vigorously covering all plants.

Sweet Autumn Clematis

[Photo: landscaping.about.com]
Sweet Autumn Clematis is on the top list due to its pleasant view but fast growing nature.

Oriental Bittersweet Vines

[Photo: landscaping.about.com]
These vines engulf vegetation and actually kill other plants.

Being able to bring life to the ground and eventually the wildlife is something we can all take the time to do. A few hours of the day can add years to the environment. 

More information on Disney VoluntEARS found here.

More information on The Bay Foundation found here.

Serenity Centered in College Chaos

One of our most over-looked local amenities is situated right in our own backyards! Well, technically it's in Long Beach State's backyard, but the public is always welcome.

The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University, Long Beach has been a local monument since it's opening in 1981. After a donation from Loraine Miller Collins, the 1.3 acre garden was constructed and opened in honor of her late husband, Earl Burns Miller. According to Long Beach State's website, "Earl and Loraine Miller shared a passion for the outdoors, and gardening in particular." 

The garden is a mixed art form that combines typical elements of Japanese garden design but with a Southern California twist. One element of the traditional Japanese garden is the evergreen foliage, meaning it keeps its green color year-round. This element is true in the garden at Long Beach State. The grounds are overwhelmingly filled with life and color.

                                                   [Photo By Danielle Scharer]

From one of the overlooks, visitors can get up-close with Koi Fish and the lush greenery.

Another element that carried over from the traditional Japanese style is the inclusion of a Karesansui, or "desert landscape" garden. These rock gardens are also called zen gardens because they are generally used for a quiet place away to reflect and meditate. While most of the entire garden was peaceful and noise kept to a very minimum, the sectioned-off zen garden was exceptionally kept to a hush due to it's far corner location. 

                                                   [Photo By Danielle Scharer]

Symmetrically raked sand surrounding tree in the Zen Garden away from main pond.

The weekday visit didn't offer many participants of this garden's beauty, which is why this makes it such an over-looked amenity for the campus and public. Situated between the student dorms and multiple parking lots, visitors would never guess that just outside these green walls are anything other than Japanese paradise.

Thirsty-Free Garden

If you're not aware of our dry, Southern California drought, then you've been living under a rock. Since February 2014, Long Beach has taken action in restricting and conserving water from public entities to residential households. While shorter showers and scheduled grass-waterings have been the norm for a lot of Long Beach locals, there are many other options available outside of just cutting back. 

When it comes to your yard, the greener the better. The greenest lawn on the neighborhood gets you prettiest grass award, but how do you keep that up during a drought and hot California heatwaves? Below, are 3 alternative plant options from Better Homes and Gardens "The Best Drought-Tollerant Perennials" that require little to no water to stay alive:

Blanket Flowers [Photo by BHG.com]
These flowers provide a long-season bloom and attract butterflies.

Agastache [Photo by BHG.com]
Pictured above, the 'Desert Sunrise' variety lasts through summer and into autumn.

Sedum [Photo by BHG.com]
The Sedum has leaf succulents, which retain water making these flowering-plants ideal for drought weather.

Besides being pretty to look at, these options are very drought-friendly and can even save some money over time.

While saving money, residents could also be making money. The Long Beach Water Department rewards those that switch from traditional grass turf to garden landscape. The Lawn-To-Garden program offers $3,500 to households looking to switch their grass for garden. According to the Long Beach Water Department, “With a drought tolerant landscape, you can save four times the amount of water needed for a grass lawn.”

[Video by Long Beach Water Department YouTube]

Above, Long Beach households that voluntarily changed their yard for this incentives program were featured in this video in 2011. They give insight as to why and how the lawn-to-garden change has worked for them. 

Conserving water doesn’t mean your plants have to suffer. Recognizing the environment and preserving resources is key to getting through this drought for both you, and your plants.