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contents

ECO-LIVING Making your home more environmentally sound has never been easier with these helpful tips from Santa Cruz Green Builders.

INTO THE WOODS

Reclaimed wood is all the rage in home furnishings. Find out why, and where to buy.

HERBAL REMEDIES Local herbalist Darren Huckle tells us how to harvest good health in our own backyard.

DUELING DESIRES One local interior design professional shares the secret to designing a space that marries the different tastes of cohabiting partners.

UP ON THE ROOF Ever thought about going solar? Find out why so many locals are making the switch.

g Publisher Ron Slack Editor Jenna Brogan

HOME & GARDEN

Contributors Joel Hersch Jenny Simeone Aric Sleeper Josie Cowden Proofreader Josie Cowden

HELPING HANDS Get kids outside and engaged in the garden with a fun and educational activity courtesy of Life Lab.

Art Director Joshua Becker Designers Ian Webb Carly Gunther Julie Rovegno Photographer Keana Parker

editor’s note

ave goodbye to winter and say hello to spring with Good Times’ Home & Garden issue—the ultimate resource guide for designing, maintaining, and reinvigorating your living space, both inside and out. The first half of the magazine, starting on page 6, focuses entirely on the home—covering topics as diverse as eco-friendly improvement projects, interior design, decorating, and organization. Ever wondered why so many locals are seeking out alternative sources of electricity for their homes? Allterra Solar weighs in. Do you want to design a shared living space that makes both you and your partner happy? One local interior design professional shares her secrets. Are you looking for a way to introduce some fashionable, yet environmentally conscious furnishings into your home? You’ll find all that and more. Then, in the second half, beginning on page 18, dive into all things garden. First learn about the many benefits of homegrown herbs. Spoiler alert: They’re not just useful in the kitchen. Then, take note of a number of design techniques for creating the perfect vegetable garden. Got kids? Try out a hands-on gardening activity from Life Lab, which will not only get them out of the house, but having fun too. Plus: find out the best way to water your plants during a drought, and how to put together a unique floral arrangment for spring, using California native plants. But wait—that’s not all. Take note of five local home and garden experts who have made a splash in the scene. And lastly, find tons of related events and workshops in our calendar.

Jenna Brogan, Entertainment Editor, —J GOOD TIMES

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On the cover: Design by Joshua Becker

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ECO-FRIENDLY FIXES

Living Green Make your home more environmentally conscious with help from Santa Cruz Green Builders BY JOEL HERSCH

HOME & GARDEN

id you know that having the walls and ceiling of your house packed full of cellulose—recycled cloth and paper fibers—can do wonders for the heating bill? Or that the ability to select how much water you flush down the toilet is an excellent way to conserve water? Or that choosing the right interior wall paint—a product without volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—can help reduce your chances of getting sick? Well, it’s all true. Eco-friendly home upgrades fall into three main categories, according to Taylor Darling, co-owner of Santa Cruz Green Builders, a local company that designs and builds environmentally sensitive

dwellings. Those areas of improvement, he says, are energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor air quality. With many Santa Cruz residents living in older homes, there are often several ways to improve functionality and resource-conservation. Darling’s suggestions can help reduce a house’s ecological impact, increase its overall value, make breathing safer for inhabitants, and save money on home expenses over time. “These are things that any homeowner can put their money and effort toward upgrading their house to be more sustainable,” he says. “Each has great value and pay-off.” FIXES 8>

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ECO-FRIENDLY FIXES

This list is ordered by most substantial eco-friendly upgrades—“in terms of biggest bang for your buck”—down to more low-level upgrades, though every little bit helps, says Darling. <PAGE 6

3. LED Lighting LED light bulbs last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, making them a great home investment. An incandescent bulb, which uses filament wire, lasts about 2,000 hours, while the life of a LED bulb can run up to 50,000 hours and use just 1/6 the energy of an incandescent one, Darling says. Plus: LED bulbs do not flicker or take any time to warm up.

WATER CONSERVATION

4. Heating

7. Shower Head Aerator

Upgrading the home heating system, while costly, is a great way to reduce energy consumption. Natural gas-forced air heaters are a good option, since they operate at 96 percent efficiency, meaning they consume minimal energy when they warm a space to the desired temperature.

An aerator shower head can reduce the water flow of a shower down from approximately 2.5 gallons per minute to about 1.5 gallons, Darling says. But by mixing in more air and increasing the pressure flow, it feels like an even stronger shower.

8. Dual Flush Toilet 5. Solar Water

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 1. Insulation The older the house, the more likely it is to be lacking in insulation, which should fill the walls, ceiling and floor to retain heat. In that case, damp cellulose—made of shredded newspapers and fire-retardant materials—can be sprayed into the walls, floors or ceiling. When it dries, cellulose will insulate the house just as well as the fiberglass alternative. Darling advises that homeowners opt to insulate the ceiling first, as that is where the most heat is lost.

2. Air Sealing You could have the most well-insulated house on the block, but if heat is being lost through opened pipes, old rattling windows, or the space under a door, then insulation is not going to do the job. This can be fixed with a combination of multi-purpose insulating foam and caulking application to the places that leak warm air, laying down weather stripping, and in some cases, replacing old windows.

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A solar water-heating system is a black panel with glass over it that sits on the roof, generating energy to heat water before it goes into a traditional home water heater. It’s pricey, but it’s also a great long-term investment, if you can afford it, according to Darling.

A traditional single-flush toilet system, common to old houses, can use between three and six gallons of water with every flush. A dual flush toilet, which uses two valves, can bring the amount of water being used down to 1.28 gallons per flush, creating huge water savings.

9. Native Landscaping

INDOOR AIR QUALITY 6. Nontoxic Paint The interior of many older homes are painted with products containing VOCs. Over time, that paint slowly evaporates into the air we breathe, which has been shown in some cases to cause cancer. When selecting a new paint for the inside of a house, Darling advises choosing a product with zero VOCs. For families with young children, Darling adds that choosing a safe paint that will not pose such a risk is a particularly smart idea.

Native landscaping is an eco-friendly technique that involves growing plants that are accustomed to the local environment, develop well through dry summers and rainy winters, and are generally not overly dependent on being watered. Darling adds that, considering the current status of emergency drought in California, opting for more hardscape, such as patios, rocks, or bark, can be a smart decision.

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g n i k Shac Up

ssionals— fe o r p n ig s e d r io Inter ships, n o ti la e r d n a r o saving déc time one house at a By Jenny Simeone

“Oftentimes couples will have conflicting ideas, conflicting sensibilities, and even conflicting needs.”

oving in together is a huge milestone for many couples. But attempting to design the look and feel of a shared space can open up a huge can of worms. “Hire a designer so you don't have to pay a therapist,” jokes Lorri Kershner, owner and interior designer of L. Kershner Design (LKD). While she’s mostly teasing, Kershner has found some truth in the saying. “Oftentimes couples will have conflicting ideas, conflicting sensibilities, and even conflicting needs,” explains Kershner. “And often times, a good designer can qualify a solution that’s acceptable to both parties.” Kershner advises couples to thoughtfully outline the kind of space they are

aspiring to create with a designer. She notes that disagreements between partners often spring from unvoiced expectations. Couples should consider things like how much they plan to entertain, or how highly they value private spaces. “I am there to give clients good design intelligence to find the solutions when they don't agree,” says Kershner. “Once they have a cohesive idea of what they want, any good designer will be able to say what is the most cost effective, functional, and what will look better at the end of the day.” Before couples start picking out lighting and paint, Kershner advises setting a feasible budget together ahead of time to avoid a future headache. She says residential clients are often in “sticker shock” SHACKING UP 12> GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN

<PAGE 11

“There’s always aesthetic and utility versus budget. A design professional can project how your budget will play out for your desires, and guide clients who are going through this process for the first time.”

HOME & GARDEN

because they don’t know the true costs of construction, materials, or furnishings. “There’s always aesthetic and utility versus budget,” explains Kershner. “A design professional can project how your budget will play out for your desires, and guide clients who are going through this process for the first time.” Interviewing multiple professionals, and seeking referrals from friends and family is a good place to start when looking to hire a design professional. Kershner suggests bringing prospective designers to the space for an onsite walk through to gauge their design values and knowledge. “Make sure they know their stuff and are established in the community,” notes Kershner. “In California especially, we have a separate energy code, and we have more strident building codes than the rest of the country in terms of sustain-

ability. You want to work with a designer who is really aware of those things.” While there are a number of qualified interior designers in Santa Cruz County, couples should make the hiring decision together, Kershner says. Redesigning a couple’s residential space is an intimate process that she likens to creating a sanctuary. For her, designing an aesthetic that blends two people’s tastes and needs is as much an inspiration as it is an honor. “Homes are so special for that reason, they are not a show piece,” says Kershner. “They are an expression of the people that inhabit them, and any good design will reflect that.” L. Kershner Design is located at 911 Center St., Suite D, Santa Cruz, 426-0177. For more information, visit lkershnerdesign.com. Photo on page 11: Courtesy of L. Kershner Design.

home

HOME ORGANIZATION TIPS

T I ME TO

Tidy 1. Sort your book, video and music collections, and either donate or sell whatever you no longer need

2. Match up all plastic storage containers, and recycle those you no longer need or use

pringtime is all about feeling relaxed, refreshed and renewed. But how can you experience that state of mind with a cluttered living space? Shannon McGinnis, a Santa Cruz-based author and Certified Professional Organizer has numerous solutions to that dilemma within her home organizing book, “The 10-Minute Tidy: 108 Ways to Organize Your Home Quickly.” It may seem like a daunting task, but if you start by tackling some small projects, you’ll be on your way. To help get you started, here are six of McGinnis’ recommendations. BY JENNA BROGAN

4. Sort the mail and recycle all the junk

5. De-clutter the top of each dresser in your home to bring more beauty, order and calm energy into each room

6. Sort one box in your garage, and donate or recycle whatever you no longer need 3. Clear the floor of your bedroom closet and consider utilizing shelves or a small dresser for extra storage space

For more organization tips and services, visit organized4success.com or 10minutetidy.com.

GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN

home

REASONS TO GO SOLAR

These days, more and more people are getting solar panels installed on their homes. To find out why, we asked the local experts at Allterra Solar—winner of Best Solar Contractor in Good Times’ 2013 Best of Santa Cruz Readers’ Poll—to explain what the buzz is all about. Here’s what they had to say. BY JENNA BROGAN

zero 1

Homeowners can own a solar system for $0 out of pocket, utilize generous federal tax credits, and save thousands on electric bills in the first year alone.

CO2 REDUCTION EQUAL TO PLANTING 30 TREES

HOME & GARDEN

Homeowners paying more than $75 per month for electricity should go solar because it will be cheaper than PG&E. Your electricity has to come from somewhere—why not pay less for solar energy from your very own rooftop power plant?

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5 3

REASONS TO GO SOLAR

Feasibility evaluations and financial analyses are free, making solar something everyone should at least consider.

One kilowatt of solar (three to four panels) saves 100-plus gallons of water, keeps more than a ton of Co2 out of the atmosphere, and is equivalent to planting 30 trees each year.

Going solar creates jobs locally because solar installations cannot be outsourced.

To find out more about going solar, visit allterrasolar.com, or call 425-2608.

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against the grain

BY JENNY SIMEONE

Both eco-friendly and attractive, reclaimed wood furniture is one trend that’s here to stay

tarley Bullard-Moore has taken the phrase “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” to heart. As a custom furniture designer specializing in reclaimed wood, she has a unique talent for turning outdated or seemingly useless items—from an old park bench to the foundation of an abandoned home—into swoon-worthy home furnishings. “It’s almost like a treasure hunt,” laughs Bullard-Moore, owner and designer at Charley & Co. in Capitola. “I’m never looking for any particular species of wood, but most of the materials we find are primed to make the most unique designs.” The process typically begins with Bullard-Moore drawing the design for a piece of furniture and then sending it to one of her trusted builders, the majority of whom are local. He or she will then salvage the wood from an old barn or another source, create the piece, and bring it back to Charley & Co. to sell. For a recent piece, she and her team refashioned the foundation of a redwood picnic table into a modern butcher block. “Reclaimed wood comes with a history and romance,” explains Bullard-Moore. “Imagine for example, finding an old barn beam with the initials of young lovers carved into it. It could be the defining feature in a tabletop. Every dent or ding in a piece of old wood merely adds more character to the piece.” Reclaimed wood has more benefits beyond the personality it adds to furniture. Strong and easily maintained, wood furnishings keep their value for generations and stand up in high-traffic households. Structurally speaking, salvaged wood is even stronger than newly

harvested wood because it has dried and set over time. Pieces made from reclaimed wood are also not susceptible to expansion, contraction, and warping like new wood furniture. Sturdy as it may be, reclaimed wood is very flexible when it comes to design styles. From mid-century modern, to traditional rustic, to contemporary, it can be fitted to any aesthetic. In her own work, BullardMoore uses neat lines and prairiestyle inspirations, but always adapts to the needs of her customers. “I work with clients to design something that they can’t find in any other furniture store, that fits the needs of their space,” she explains. “We work collaboratively to create something that reflects their lifestyle.” Often, clients are interested in using reclaimed wood because they value environmentally sustainable products. Salvaging older wood for new products removes the need for freshly cut trees. It also reduces the need for new manufacturing and the use of additional resources, electricity, and fossil fuels. Between the individuality of each wooden piece, and its structural and environmental benefits, BullardMoore sees reclaimed wood as more than just a fad. “The whole movement is becoming more and more popular, but I think it’s something we’ll have to stick with if we want to preserve the resources we have,” says Bullard-Moore. “It might be trendy now, but you’re not going to see it going away any time soon.”

“The whole movement is becoming more and more popular, but I think it’s something we’ll have to stick with if we want to preserve the resources we have.”

“I’m never looking for any particular species of wood, but most of the materials we find are primed to make the most unique designs.”

Charley & Co. is located at 515 Capitola Ave., Capitola, (925) 395-3054. For more information, visit charleynco.com.

GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN

garden Lemon balm used by herbalists as a calming tea to promote healthy digestion

HERBALISM

Homegrown Medicine BY JENNY SIMEONE

Harvesting good health with local herbalist Darren Huckle

or insomnia or indigestion, small wounds or anxiety, a trip to your own backyard could be a better option than a doctor’s visit. “There’s a bounty of self-care potential in every garden,” says local herbalist Darren

Huckle. “So many gardens already have medicines growing in them, but their owners don't know how to use them.” This is where garden herbalism comes in handy. It is the practice of learning how to identify and use plants that grow locally, in order to maintain wellness

and heal minor ailments. Garden herbalism has been used to treat everything from stress to muscular/ skeletal-related conditions. “I would say 90 percent of medical conditions can be treated really effectively with herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle,” says Huckle. “People come in with a

EASY EIGHT

Rosemary Stimulates the brain, improves energy level, supports circulation, antioxidant

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Mint Increases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, settles the stomach

Oregano

Sage

Immunity-enhancing, settles digestion, prevents bloating

Prevents loss of mental function, increases oxygen to the brain, improves concentration

garden HERBALISM medical diagnosis or problems that pharmaceutical drugs haven’t been able to help.” Plant medicines tend to be milder and more like foods than typical over-the-counter medications. While herbalism can be very effective, Huckle warns that every person’s body has slightly different needs—herbs that help one person, might not be appropriate for another. “If you’re dealing with a major medical condition, it’s not the best thing to go into your backyard and just start eating a bunch of different herbs,” laughs Huckle. “But you could get some support from someone who knows the plants and can recommend which ones could be helpful for your specific needs.” Huckle works with more than 300 herbs when consulting with clients through his clinical practice, Roots of Wellness, and students. He has taught classes at Five Branches University, Esalen, and his alma mater, UC Santa Cruz. Of all the delights that come with teaching, Huckle particularly enjoys helping students understand what he calls “the green wall.” “We are so divorced from the plants around us in this day and age that we’ll go on a hike and to us, it’s just a green mass all around,” he explains.

“Maybe we know one or two plants here and there, but we don’t know our way into the world of plants and how to use them for our wellness.” Students in Huckle’s garden herbalism classes are taught everything from how to identify and grow healing plants, to harvesting and storing them. Huckle also helps clients point out herbal medicines already found within their home gardens, and offers recommendations of other healing herbs to plant. In his holistic practice, Huckle works to abate a client’s symptoms by strengthening his or her entire body. He observes their lifestyle and body system patterns, and then proposes treatments that will interrupt the problem-causing trends. “Symptoms are messages from the body calling for better health practices,” says Huckle. “If I do my job well as a practitioner, every system operates to a higher level, not just the chief complaint.” Making recommendations is easy, but Huckle says that it can be challenging to inspire clients to change their habits in favor of herbalist-friendly ones. He advises that wellness comes to those who create time for it. “The terrain for healing is a place where we’re not feeling rushed and have a sense of

“I would say 90 percent of medical conditions can be treated really effectively with herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle.” peace in our lives,” says Huckle. “It’s challenging to work in a fast-paced culture where people are pulled in so many directions, with less and less time for self care.” For those with time, but without access to a backyard, garden herbalism is still an option. Huckle recommends growing potted herbs, which can be harvested repeatedly, indoors. One such herb is lemon balm, used by herbalists as a calming tea to promote healthy digestion. “A good exercise is to choose a plant that has a long history of culinary use and explore its other applications,” says Huckle. “For instance, everyone has used rosemary, but many don’t know that it’s a fantastic antioxidant and supports healthy circulation.” He’s also used California poppies to induce sleep, and yarrow for healing scrapes.

As Huckle sees it, people are constantly surrounded by medicines to uplift their bodies and spirits. He believes that everyone has an innate connection to the plant world, and that herbalism is an ideal avenue to rediscover that relationship. “It’s in our history as humans to use plants as medicine, and we’ve always known them well, except for these last few generations,” explains Huckle. “That’s the take-home message—with this practice, you will never look at a field or garden in the same way, and [will] have a deeper understanding of it.” Darren Huckle will teach a garden herbalism workshop on May 16-18 at Esalen. To register, visit esalen.org/learn. Roots of Wellness is located at 343 Frederick St., Santa Cruz, 334-5177. Visit rootsofwellness.net.

Chives

Basil

Cilantro

Parsley

Clears stuffy noses, prevents bad breath, eases stomach aches, strengthens lower back, improves poor circulation

Improves energy level, protects cell DNA from radiation

Boosts immune system, smoothes out digestion

Cools the liver, helps protect the eyes from UV radiation damage and glycation

GTWEEKLY.COM | HOME & GARDEN

garden WATER CONSERVATION

Water Wise LOCAL EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON GARDENING DURING A DROUGHT BY ARIC SLEEPER

With the declaration of a statewide drought emergency by Gov. Jerry Brown at the onset of 2014, California residents are looking to the skies in hopes that a rain cloud or two might bring the boon of precipitation. Until the rain falls, experts on water conservation such as Aerin Martin, environmental projects analyst for water conservation at the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, urge local gardeners to be conscious of their watering practices.

“This is such an unusual year,” says Martin. “It’s not business as usual. People are going to have to be mindful and make water conservation a priority.” When building a watersmart garden, it’s best to think from the ground up, according to Christof Bernau, garden manager and instructor of the apprenticeship program at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems at UC Santa Cruz. “It starts with the soil, first and foremost” says Bernau, “and building soil quality that has high organic matter content

that is going to do a good job of retaining moisture.” Although developing soil rich in organic material is a long-term process, Bernau says it’s never too late to start. Raising the organic matter content of soil can be achieved by growing cover crops in a garden’s open spaces, which eventually break down over time and incorporate their biomass back into the soil, or applying compost and manure. After soil is amended with organic material, another simple way to boost moisture retention at the ground level is to blanket the soil with mulch, such as wood chips. 22>

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Central Coast Wilds

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garden WATER CONSERVATION <PAGE 20

“Mulching is easy,” says Martin. “It makes the landscape look great and it keeps weeds down.” Because of this season’s drought conditions, and because water restrictions are in place, watering should be done only before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m., and automatic irrigation timers should be turned off. Gardeners should check hoses and sprinklers for breaks or damage, and make sure water is making its way to the root systems of plants and not running off onto sidewalks and driveways. Drip irrigation is one of the more ideal forms of watering, according to both Martin and Bernau, but in order to stay aware of a garden’s needs, it is best to water plants by hand. “Studies have shown time and time again, people that hand water—when

you go out there yourself and do it— you water much less,” says Martin. When determining the frequency and amount to water, gardeners should keep in mind the plant species, where plants are in their life cycle, the microclimate the garden is located in, and the soil’s moisture retention level. “When we’re in a real drought stress situation like this,” says Bernau, “we should try to be as conservative as possible without pushing the plants too far.” For more information on water restrictions, the watering needs of plant species, additional gardening tips, or to schedule a water audit, visit the Water Department’s website at cityofsantacruz.com.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

QUICK TIPS: 1. Check soil mosture

before watering with a trowel or screwdriver. “Don’t assume a plant needs water because it may look dry on the top or you think it needs water,” says Martin.

2. Being mindful

of a garden’s specific needs is the most important tip for growing plants in drought conditions. Be aware of the soil, the types of plants grown, and the specific weather conditions in an area before watering.

3. Mulching

is an easy way to increase the water retention in soil and help to raise the aesthetic value of a garden. 22

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THE ROOT OF THE MATTER

VEGGIE TA L E S BY JOSIE COWDEN

CYNTHIA SANDBERG OF LOVE APPLE FARMS OFFERS TRICKS TO DESIGNING THE PERFECT VEGETABLE GARDEN etting up a plot of land to raise vegetables need not be that difficult, and the satisfaction of watching your garden grow and reaping the benefits is enormous. You soon could be nurturing your very own seedlings of lettuce, kale, carrots and more.

Here are some tips from gardening expert Cynthia Sandberg of Love Apple Farms to help you get started:

TIPS

GOOD TIMES: How can you site your vegetable beds for maximum efficacy? CYNTHIA SANDBERG: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best to site your vegetable beds running north to south so that the sun is able to shine on both sides of the bed. What are the best methods of bed design? And how important is bed size? Bed size is important because of watering some vegetables more, according to their individual needs. This applies also to fertilizing, shading and pest control. A good bed size is 4 ft. by 12 ft. so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier to water and weed. Love Apple Farms prefers garden beds with hard sides, such as lumber or stone, because it keeps things together and also forms a barrier so that the veggies are not stepped on. But for budget reasons, outlining the beds with stakes and twine works, too. PAGE 26>

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garden THE ROOT OF THE MATTER

LOVE APPLE FARMS offers numerous classes in vegetable gardening.

PHOTO BY SAL INGRAM

<PAGE 24

What is the best type of soil to use when gardening? Use good topsoil rather than regular garden “dirt.” Topsoil blend has been specially formulated to contain a balance of clay, silt and loam for maximum growing potential. But you will still have to amend your soil with fertilizers, preferably organic. How can you make a cost-effective vegetable garden? Check the Craigslist Farm and Garden forum for folks giving away lumber, rocks, bricks or concrete in order to build

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or form your beds. Picking up free horse manure from local stables will enable you to pile it in a corner of your garden, keep it wet, and, within six months, a great compost/soil additive will result. What type of surface is best for installing a vegetable garden? You can install a vegetable garden on an existing lawn by either taking up the sod or by laying down cardboard to kill the lawn, and then putting a vegetable bed right on top of the cardboard. On a hard surface, build up with a bed that is 24 inches high.

What can you do with limited sun exposure? Grow veggies that don’t need to flower to produce the edible part of the plant, such as lettuce, spinach, kale and herbs. Or plant root veggies such as carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, and potatoes.

Love Apple Farms offers several classes related to vegetable gardening. For a full class schedule and more information, visit growbetterveggies.com, or email loveapplefarm@gmail.com.

expires 3-23-14

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Helping Hands BY JENNA BROGAN

garden KIDS ACTIVITY

GET IT

DOWN & DIRTY Getting children excited about the environment and contributing to the health of the planet is easy with the help of “The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun.” Written by Whitney Cohen and John Fisher of Life Lab—a Santa Cruz-based nonprofit which has emerged as a national leader in the garden-based learning movement—the book is teeming with fun ways to teach young people about the wonders waiting right outside the front door. One such activity (found on page 82) involves crafting Planet-Friendly Paper Pots, and teaches kids how to reuse a common piece of household trash. Try it at home!

“The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun” Available for $19.95 at Bookshop Santa Cruz

FUN IN THE SUN

Planet-Friendly Paper Pots What you’ll need:

What you’ll do:

• Scissors

1. Cut newspaper into strips 3 x 10 inches wide.

• Old newspaper

2. Place a newspaper strip on a flat surface, with the short end close to you.

• A pot maker (a full, unopened 5.5-ounce juice can will work) • Seed-starting mix • Seeds • An empty nursery tray or milk carton cut in half lengthwise

3. Place the pot maker on this same end of the newspaper strip, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of newspaper hanging over the bottom. 4. Roll the pot maker over the table, away from you, to wrap it in newspaper. 5. Fold in the part hanging over the bottom. 6. Turn the pot maker upright and press down on the table.

Note: 7. Gently remove the pot maker. You should have a newspaper pot. 8. Make pots for all the seeds you want to plant, and enough to fill a nursery tray or half milk carton. 9. Fill your new pots with seed-starting mix, then place your pots in a nursery tray or milk carton side by side so they are held upright. 10. Plant and label your seeds. Keep them watered and watch them grow.

When your seedlings are ready to transplant, you can remove them from the newspaper pots by peeling the newspaper away. You can also plant each seedling in its pot and let the newspaper decompose in the ground. In this case, make sure to bury all of the newspaper completely, so that it does not wick water away from your plant’s roots.

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garden NATIVE PLANTS

FUN WITH

FLORAL Arranging a spring bouquet with Native Revival Nursery BY JENNA BROGAN

f you were to ask the experts at Native Revival Nursery in Aptos, there is a lot more to putting together a spring floral arrangement than simply picking out brightly colored flowers. The nursery, which has been growing California native plants for the past 20 years, recently began offering native and foraged floral arrangements in response to customers’ requests for a more sustainable, less environmentally damaging alternative to traditional floral options. “Floral is becoming one of the biggest problems with imported plant material because there are so many different diseases,” says owner Erin O’Doherty, who adds that reducing the carbon footprint is also critical. “The floral business is increasing exponentially in

imports, so you have the shipping costs of floral coming in from Asia and from the Central American countries, and you have the chemicals that they use there that we can’t use here for good reasons— they’re really toxic and detrimental to the environment.” That’s why Native Revival uses only locally grown flowers and other native plants when crafting its unique arrangements. Rather than using “big showy flowers” that have been hybridized and cultivated, the nursery’s lead floral arranger, Heide Schwartz, incorporates nonculitvated plants, including buckwheat flowers, California flannel bush, California grasses, monkey flowers, yarrow, and penstemon, into her bouquets, living arrangements, wreaths and more. “A lot of people don’t realize how beautiful the California native plants can be,” says O’Doherty. With that in mind, your challenge this spring? Go native.

“A lot of people don’t realize how beautiful the California native plants can be.”

Fore more information, visit nativerevival.com, or call 684-1811.

PHOTO BY KEANA PARKER.

calendar

3/15

Orchids 101 A hands-on demonstration workshop on how to care for and re-pot orchids. 2 p.m. DIG Gardens

3/15,22 & 29

Garden Cruz: Organic Matters, a three-Saturday Organic Gardening Workshop Learn the skills you need to create and maintain a thriving organic garden, including understanding and improving soil fertility, direct seeding and transplanting, preparing garden beds, irrigating, and more. Alan Chadwick Garden, UCSC

3/20,21

The Growing Classroom Workshop: 2-Day Intensive on Garden-Based Learning Using Life Lab’s Growing Classroom activity guide for grades 2-6, participants in this hands-on workshop experience garden-based lessons linked to Common Core Language Arts and Math and Next Generation Science Standards; practice basic gardening techniques; and develop management strategies for a school garden program. Life Lab’s Garden Classroom, UCSC

4/6

Growing Herbs Learn the basics of growing herb plants from seed. Noon-4 p.m. Love Apple Farms

3/29

DIY Hypertufa Containers Hypertufa is a man-made stone made from various aggregates bonded together with cement. It’s perfect for making long-lasting garden containers. Learn how at this workshop. 2 p.m. DIG Gardens

4/5

Vertical Succulent Pictures Owner and garden designer Cara Meyers leads a workshop on vertical gardening, using succulents. 2 p.m. DIG Gardens

4/12

Arboretum Spring Plant Sale (and California Native Plant Society Sale) Large plant sale, open to the general public. 10 a.m.-Noon (members), Noon-4 p.m. (public). UCSC Arboretum

4/20

Reskilling Expo A day-long symposium of workshops designed to impart skills that increase food security, conserve water and build local resilience. Museum of Art & History

3/16

Summer Vegetable Gardening An all-day intensive seminar on starting and tending a summer vegetable garden. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Love Apple Farms

3/20,4/2

The Ray Collett Rare & Extraordinary Plants Lecture Series Talks about the “Conifers over Space and Time: Insights into Plant and Water Relations” and “The Australian Garden, Cranbourne, Australia.” UCSC Arboretum

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4/19

Earth Day Santa Cruz A community event offering educational information, activities for kids, live music and a focus on green businesses. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. San Lorenzo Park

calendar

4/26

6/21

Citrus Selection, Planting and Care In this lecture and hands-on workshop, participants will learn about the best varieties of citrus for the Monterey Bay region; how to select and prepare a planting site; how to plant; and how to irrigate, fertilize, prune, and control pests and diseases. 1-5 p.m. UCSC Farm

The Garden Faire A free-admission, educational event focusing on benefits of organic gardening and sustainable, healthy living. Sky Park

6/21

2014 Monterey Bay Greenhouse Growers Open House Kitayama Brothers will participate in this annual Open House with tours, gardening and plant demonstrations, plus gerbera daisies will be available for sale to benefit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. Kitayama Brothers Watsonville

4/29

Plant It, Grow It, Eat it! Workshop: Garden-enhanced Nutrition Education Workshop For anyone interested in or involved in using gardening and cooking to encourage healthy eating for students in grades K-8. Life Labâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden Classroom, UCSC

5/3,4

UCSC Farm and Garden Spring Plant Sale 10 a.m.-3 p.m., May 3 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m., May 4. The corner of Bay and High Street, UCSC

5/17

Garden Bed Preparation Learn how to prepare and maintain a garden bed with the help of the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems Alan Chadwick Garden, UCSC

Find more home and garden events at gtweekly.com Also, visit these resourceful websites for events throughout the year:

5/11

Jam Making Learn how to make several kinds of jam, utilizing a few different methods. 1-5 p.m. Love Apple Farms

casfs.ucsc.edu growbetterveggies.com lifelab.org diggardensnursery.com reskillingexpo.org arboretum.ucsc.edu

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Owen Commons’ recycled metal table

TO WATCH

THESE LOCAL EXPERTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS ARE GREAT RESOURCES FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN NEEDS BY JENNA BROGAN

RENEE SHEPHERD Widely regarded as a pioneering innovator in introducing international vegetables, MEGAN flowers and herbs to home gardeners and gourmet restaurants, Renee Shepherd is the driving force at MONTERO the helm of Renee’s Garden Seeds. Through her Megan Montero procompany, based in Felton, Shepherd searches for vides feng shui consulthe best seeds from around the world, tests tations to the community. them in her own gardens, cooks and Her feng shui home consultadevelops recipes around their unique characteristics, and tions can bring peace and relaxshares them with other gardeners. To order seeds ation, prosperity and joy, deep and lasting life change, balanced and find suggestions for success with growing and harmonious relationships, a successful career and more to her from seed, visit reneesgarden.com, or clients. She also offers feng shui consultation for a workspace and space call (888) 880-7228. clearing. For more information, visit windandwaterblessings.com, or call 588-5424.

CLAUDINE DÉSIRÉE Claudine Désirée has quickly made a name for herself locally for her expertise in building cob structures. Cob is an ancient building material consisting of soil, sand and straw. Désirée sees these structures as an important step toward an eco-friendly world. And, after a year of effort, the permit for her cob structure—which willl be the first structure of its kind to be permitted in Santa Cruz—was approved in December 2013. Visit cruzincob.com, or call 419-8017.

STEVE SCHNAAR Part scavenger hunt and part sustainability educator and community builder, The Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project, founded by Steve Schnaar, is a volunteer-run effort to find untended fruit trees in local neighborhoods and help to collect unused fruit. Once the group has collected the fruit, they host events that involve processing the harvest in some way, whether it’s by pickling, preserving, pressing, or otherwise. A leader in the local urban gleaning effort, the project is dedicated to reducing the amount of waste in Santa Cruz and promoting sustainability. Visit fruitcruz.org, or call 425-0667.

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OWEN COMMONS Owen Commons of Commons&Burt Builders reverses your expectations of what furniture is and can be with his futuristic-looking creations. Using discarded metal, found objects and recycled redwood, the gifted Santa Cruz sculptor crafts one-of-a-kind lamps, plant stands, tables and more. Check out his edgy and functional art in person at Many Hands Gallery in Capitola. Visit owencommons.com, or call 325-3992.