A thought for living in the New Year:

The Roman philosopher Tacitus rightly observed that “the desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” If uncertainty is unacceptable to you, it turns into fear. If it is perfectly acceptable, it turns into increased aliveness, alertness, and creativity.-Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution via Flickr

After 9/11, a white supremacist in Texas wanted revenge. He took his gun and shot three people he believed were Arab. One of the men he shot survived. That man, Rais Bhuiyan, worked to understand and forgive his shooter and then took a surprising step to prevent the man from being executed.-The Story

After completing a Muslim pilgrimage and talking with Dr. Rick Halprin, Director of the Human Rights Education Program at the Southern Methodist University, Rais Bhuiyan decided to do three things: try to save his shooter’s life, help the families of the deceased victims in the same shooting spree–both financially and emotionally, and help the daughter of his shooter.

Please listen to this poignant story that is so pertinent to the Christmas season.

Hate is going on in this world, and it has to stop. Hate causes a lifetime of pain.-statement by Mark Stroman, the shooter, while on death row

Photo “The Children’s Memorial at Lidice, Czech Republic commemorating the 82 children murdered by the Nazis in vans adapted to kill with exhaust gas and buried at Chelmno”–SMU Human Rights Education Program

Some background on Dr. Rick Halprin:

Since 1996, I have been visiting, photographing, and videotaping Holocaust and other World War II sites across Europe.  I am also conducting oral history interviews with Holocaust survivors, World War II participants, and the descendants of both groups. I bring this research and documentation into my classrooms as part of my on-going efforts to humanize, personalize, and raise awareness of that tragic era.”–Dr. Rick Halprin

Abundance--Southern California style

Here is what I seek this Thanksgiving Day and all days:

Empower me
To be a bold participant,
Rather than a timid saint in waiting,
In the difficult ordinariness of now;
To exercise the authority of honesty,
Rather than to defer to power,
Or deceive to get it;
To influence someone for justice,
Rather than impress anyone for gain;
And, by grace, to find treasures
Of joy, friendship, of peace
Hidden in the fields of the daily
You give me to plow.–Ted Loder

Photo courtesy Weekend Sherpa

According to one of the ads for the Phytopod:

Your can have 20 square feet of planting area on a 2′ x 2′ footprint! Plant lettuce, basil, tomatoes, radishes, spinach, herbs, flowers–anything you would want in a garden patch…!

The example in the picture seems to be planted with some greens–great for a fall garden.

I like it! Renters, apartment dwellers, all who have limited space, rise up. Start your own garden.

Click here to see a video of how it works. (I suggest that you ignore the big bug at the beginning of the video, but that’s just me.)

Photo courtesy Vertical Home Gardens

To educate the world about the power of gourmet living foods!–118 Degrees Mission Statement

Here is an update to yesterday’s post: At noon, (after the Salad Bowl gardening lecture), you can watch a salad-making demonstration called Salad-Making 101 at the Great Park. Executive chef and owner of the Costa Mesa restaurant 118 Degrees, Jenni Ross, will give the presentation.

Here is more information as provided on the Great Park website:

Check out Chef Jenny Ross, owner of restaurant 118 Degrees, as she demonstrates a dressing recipe and talks about ways that you can use greens to create fresh, homemade salads. The demonstration will begin at noon at the Farm + Food Lab, immediately after the Salad Bowl Garden workshop.

Photo courtesy 118 Degrees

The Orange County Great Park is hosting a fall garden lecture series. The lectures, which are held at the Great Park Farm and Food Lab, are now though November 5. All lectures are free. The next lecture is on Saturday, October 15 at 10 am.

Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:

Master Gardener Kay Havens will demonstrate how to make beautiful salad blends. Her seminar will include Asian greens as well as how to make garden additions for flavor and color.

Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices (The 2009 APA award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this.) but recently accepted a donation from a company that is associated with Monsanto. This company will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”

If you follow these matters, you will know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change

Here is a description of the upcoming free talk that is straight from the Great Park’s website:

Author Amy Stewart (Wicked Bugs) will discuss bugs gone wild. It’s an A - Z of insect enemies, interspersed with stories that explore bugs’ sometimes odd behavior and our sometimes irrational responses to bugs.

Note: The Great Park uses sustainable practices. The 2009 American Planning Award given to the Great Park and comments from The Sustainable Sites Initiative are examples of this. However, the Great Park board accepted a donation from ScottsMiracle-Gro, a company that is associated with Monsanto, and ScottsMiracle-Gro will be the “exclusive lawn and garden products sponsor of the Orange County Great Park Farm + Food Lab and Community Gardens Program.”

If you follow these matters, you know that Monsanto receives a lot of criticism from the sustainable-practices community. I am not sure what to think of this partnership right now, but maybe that is a discussion for another time.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, an organic gardening and food company

When you scan down the list, you will see that according to the guide if you live in Orange County (at least most O.C. locations) and haven’t already planted, you missed most direct-sow and start-in-tray dates. However, these things are not written in stone, so you can always give it a try anyway. Or tuck the information away for next year and plant from seedlings that you buy locally or online. I like the list because it gives you an idea of what is possible for a fall produce garden.

• Beets-direct sow in the beginning of September
  varieties: Chioggia, Cylindra, Detroit Dark Red, Early Wonder Tall, Golden, Bull’s Blood, Green Top Bunching
• Broccoli-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Di Ciccio, Calabrese, Rapinni
• Cabbage-start in tray in late August or early September then transplant a few weeks later, some varieties direct sow in early September
  varieties: Napa, Express Red, Pak Choi
• Carrot-direct sow in late July to mid-August
  varieties: Danvers, Kuroda, Little Finger, Scarlet Nantes, Chantenay
• Cauliflower-start in trays in late August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Snowball
• Chard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Red Ruby, Fordhook Giant, Rainbow Beet, Yellow
• Endive-direct sow in August
  varieties: Batavian, PV Org Endive Tres Fine
• ArugulaGreens-direct sow in September
  
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Giant Red
• Mizuna-direct sow in September
  varieties: Mizuna
• Tatsoi-direct sow in September
  varieties: Tatsoi
• Mesclun-direct sow in September
  varieties: Spicy Mix
• Spinach-direct sow in September
  varieties: Bloomsdale
• Dandelion Greens-direct sow in June
  varieties: Catalogna
• Mustard-direct sow in September
  varieties: Southern Giant Curled
• Mesclun Mix-direct sow in September
  varieties: Organic Mesclun Mix
• Kale-start in trays in August and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: LacinatoKale, Red Russian
• Lettuce-direct sow in August to mid-September
  varieties: Royal, Sunset, Tango, Flame, Freckles, Little, Red Deer Tongue, Speckles, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Gourmet Mix, Merveille Des 4 Saisons, Parris Island Cos, Rouge D’Hiver, Green Salad Bowl, Red Salad Bowl, Dark Lolla Rosa, Red Oakleaf, Rubin   Organic Lettuce, Silvia Red Romaine, Summer Bibb, Iceberg Superior
• Onion-start in trays in June and early to mid-July and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Valencia, Rossa Di Milano, Torpedo Red Bottle, Walla Walla, Evergreen Bunching,
• Leek-start in trays in late June and transplant a few weeks later
  varieties: Varna
• Pea-direct sow in August
  varieties: Mammoth Melting, Oregon Sugar Pod, Progress #9, Sugar Snap
• Radish-direct sow late September to mid-October
  varieties: White BeautyRadish, Cherry Belle, China Rose, French Breakfast, White Icicle, German Giant, Pink Beauty, Sparkler, Easter Egg Mix
• Turnip-direct sow in late August to early September
  varieties: Purple Top, Seven Top, Golden Globe
• Kohlrabi-direct sow in early September
  varieties: Purple Vienna
• Rutabaga-direct sow in July

For more detailed information on the planting dates, the various plant varieties, and growing conditions for each plant, click on the Peaceful Valley Fall Planting Guide Calculator. Also, if you don’t live in Orange County, you can find the planting guide that is suitable for your area by entering the anticipated first-frost date for your location.

Graphic courtesy Peaceful Valley

Summer is over and summer garden produce is mostly a thing of the past. For many, fall is a time to let the garden go fallow. Not a bad idea, but a fall garden is entirely possible.

Look forward to peak flavor and performance of many crops that do not prosper in summer heat. Lower temperatures are ideal for producing crisp lettuces, without the bitterness or bolting that can occur in hot weather. Frost-kissed kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage have a special sweetness. Carrots, beets and turnips also thrive in the fall garden and, after harvest, can be kept in a pantry or root cellar so you can enjoy their goodness well into winter. Collards, mustard and other greens also like cool weather.–Vicki Mattern, “Top Tips for Great Fall Gardens,” Mother Earth News

Note: In a few days, I will post some fall planting guide information that is specific to Orange County. Also, the Orange County Great Park is currently offering free fall gardening workshops, now through November 5.

Photo courtesy Seeds of Change, a company that specializes in many things organic

Fed and Be Feed–the motto for St. Paul’s Sunday Supper program

Sunday Supper is an outgrowth of the AngelFood ministry. It now provides a free meal to anyone who wants one [as well as take-home provisions for the coming week], every Sunday evening at 5:30 pm in our Parish Hall. This ministry started in July 2010 and now is both ecumenical and inter-faith with support from our neighbors, Aldersgate Methodist Church and Congregation B’nai Israel [as well as Trinity Episcopal Church and Tree of Life].–St. Paul’s Episcopal Church website

In my last post, I wrote about AmpleHarvest.org’s attempt to help gardeners share their surplus produce. I could not leave the subject without mentioning one of my favorite programs, St. Paul’s Sunday Supper in Tustin. The video tells the story. (Click here to view the video by Jeremy Stebens on Vimeo.)

Currently, St. Paul’s, located at 1221 Wass Street in Tustin, can accept your produce on Fridays and Sundays. For any questions on donating your surplus garden fruits and vegetables (or other supplies) to the Sunday Supper program, send an email to lesiriani@gmail.com, or call  Wayne Kemp at 714-544-3141.

Additional information: “Church groups gather to serve Sunday dinners: Five congregations come together to provide free weekly dinners at a church in Tustin.”–Elysse James, The Orange County Register

Photo courtesy The Orange County Register