From the South Lawn, a Sweet smell of Honey

First just a small White House Vegetable Garden.
Now the White House Garden is beginning to expand
into an even better example of sustainable urban gardening.
A key to a sustainable garden is an emphasis on diversity.


This is a fun Multimedia Audio Slide Show by the New York Times.
Click on the photo to jump to the New York Times page so you can play this show.

At the end of the show click on your browser's back arrow button twice
to return to this blog page. Enjoy!

by Viktor Koen
Multimedia
Audio Slide Show

Pale Blue Dot

Wow! My words cannot do this justice.
Listen to Carl Sagan's words.




Pale Blue Dot
Source: www.youtube.com

This is taken from the book. Having him read to you is something else. Enough said. Take a listen and share this video. It is your moral duty.

Making a Strong Case for the Environment - The Future of this Planet

The Girl Who Silenced The World For 5 Minutes

She addressed a UN Meeting on the issue of the environment.
I was so moved the first time I heard her speech and everytime since.



We need more than ever to learn and be inspired by the bravery and emotional maturity of this girl. She literally moved the world with her speech.

Probably the most representative of all environmental speeches.
Watch it.

Buried Treasures

Our plant friends provide us with the best nutrition!


Energy Times - Health, Vitamins, Supplements and Nutrition

Source: http://www.energytimes.com/

Health Magazine, Vitamins, Supplements and Nutrition


This is just a reminder of all the good things that are so very easy to grow in our own back or front yards. There is no reason that anyone should go hungry if they have a piece of land to provide such wonderful gifts!

It is time to plant that fall garden. I have 5 six-packs of lettuce to plant, bok choy, and broccoli.

I also have a sack each of very healthy large onions and leeks from Peaceful Valley Farm to get into the ground. Oh, they smell sooooooooo good!

It is also time to plant potatoes. I have a lot - and I mean a LOT of sprouted potatoes ready to go.

I had a bunch of sweet potato starts and I planted them almost 2 weeks ago, before our 3" of rain. I know it is late to plant them, but we will see what they do; or if they do.

Well, it is time to steam some veggies for dinner tonight. What I have to steam are: leeks and garlic (of course! - the basis of everything great), broccoli, zucchini squash, carrots, eggplant, bell and anaheim peppers, and maybe one hot pepper, and maybe tomatoes and tomatillas. Over short grain brown rice, and a little pepperjack cheese sauce poured on top - well it makes my mouth water. It will warm your body. So very satisfying on a cold fall evening.

Fall is here!

Today was the first day that has really felt like fall.
What a wonderful day.
Now if I could just clone today's weather!

The garden is still providing overwhelming amounts of tomatoes, zucchini, beans, onions, leeks, eggplant, tomatillos, herbs, and all sorts of peppers!

The grapes are still hanging thick from their trellis and the blackberries are still turning black. The raspberries are between crops now and the figs are just finishing up. The black elderberries are still hanging from their limbs and the rosehips are turning orange and red on many different plants.

Yet, with all this bounty, it is weighing on my mind that I have not started fall veggie seeds yet.

What should I grow this fall?
Well, of course, lettuce, spinach, green onions, swiss chard, potatoes and broccoli. Oh, and I must not forget peas. In fact I have one plant that volunteered about 2-3 weeks ago. Fresh raw peas from the garden are a delicacy that everyone should experience.

It is late I know, but I have a lot of sweet potato starts with a nice set of roots which will go into the garden this week. Yes, it is late, but if they don't develop fully in a few months, then they will be ready in early spring.

Then I am thinking about growing brussels sprouts again.
Oh, the choices are many!

In the ornamental arena, I am including more native plants into my landscape. Native plants strengthen and build diverse beneficials in the garden.

This is all part of sustainable gardening.