Worms are busy and garden is happy = Black Gold

Okay, I'm calling this worm tea stuff 'Black Gold!' I have plants blooming in my garden that I had lost all hope for - cymbidiums I've had for over 5 years that have never bloomed again are jumping! Creeping fig on my shady back side wall that was barely hanging in there is now developing bright new growth, and I have tomatoes in a pot surviving the cold on the sunny wall along with Swiss chard that is exploding! The red bell pepper plant I was harvesting mini peppers from a year ago is thriving at about two feet tall and producing good-sized peppers. 

I purchased my worm bin for about $65 after taking a neighborhood class LA County hosted. It came with the worms and coconut coir, which is the bedding for the worms. There are also plenty of options online. My worm bin looks just like this but I don't use the legs as I have it on my gardening table, and I only use two trays instead of three - I may advance to three trays later on. Once you get it started with fruits and veggie scraps and some shredded wet newspaper you can leave it alone for a week or so at a time as long as it doesn't dry out. Make sure to keep it in a shady spot.

This is a great option for those with limited space or who don't have a sunny spot for a compost bin. It is also a great option for parents or teachers who want to share the nutrient cycle with kids.

LA County Worm and Compost Bins

Trees in Pasadena

If you live in or around Pasadena and would like to provide feedback on the tree program? What do you think about having fruit trees on City property?

To participate in the survey, please visit the City of Pasadena website at www.cityofpasadena.net/publicworks/urbanforestsurvey. Residents, businesses, and visitors will also be encouraged to participate in the survey via a media release, Neighborhood Connections, social media, Field Representatives, and direct outreach to key stakeholders including, but not limited to the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and business districts. The survey will be available until February 1, 2015.

Green homes, off the grid!

http://www.dwell.com/green/slideshow/dwell-homes-grid-part-two#2

Check out these off the grid homes - vacation home anyone? Actual home where you live? Or are there adaptations we can make to our current homes so that our current homes can be more green? What have you done to make your home more green? Please reply and let us know.