This is my first year growing Florence Fennel (the bulbing kind). Fennel grows wild around here so I figured it would do well in our yard. Boy has it! This will definitely be something we’ll continue to grow. In addition to the fennel we harvest some of our first potatoes from our potato bins! They…
Spring is well under way. The greens and cole crops are coming in and with them come pests. Swiss chard, spinach and beets can see some of the worst problems from the dreaded leafminers. What were once beautiful dark green leaves are now brown and decaying. I remember the first time I saw this I…
If you were following us last year you probably remember me lamenting about not having any fruit. Of the 2 dozen or so fruit trees we only got a pathetic 95lbs. You’re probably thinking that’s plenty. The only problem is that nearly 20lbs of that was olives (which weren’t even edible until this year after…
“Last year it rained into late June and the year before that it rained in July.” Around here it generally never rains past mid May. Most people that I say this to give me a funny look. They don’t believe me and then wonder how I even remember that. To them the weather is a…
If you just got a bunch of outdated posts to your email I have to say I’m really sorry about that and just ignore them. Apparently transferring the blog from Blogger to WordPress isn’t as smooth as some will have you believe. The posts that showed up this morning were old posts from the Blogger…
Oh how I love the three day weekend. With the days getting longer all I can think about is hanging out in the yard and playing with the critters. But this weekend, this three day weekend I’ve got some big and not-so-big plans. And I have a lot of them. Fava beans need to get…
Even though we can’t give tours doesn’t mean you can’t go check out some other amazing urban farms! Farms on the tour include: Indigoat Farm Shattuck Farm Tiny Berkeley Garden Pluck & Feather Farm Beegrrl Gardens The Algarden & DaTerra Food Forest Pineheaven Farm
I make my own cold process soap. I have a tub full of it in my garage. I no longer buy shampoo or conditioner. I no longer buy body wash. I use apple cider vinegar on my hair instead of conditioner. I wash my face with coconut oil – organic hexane-free extra virgin coconut oil….
Not what you thought, huh? Whenever someone asks why we have pantyhose on our apples and pears Tom responds with “They’re getting ready for a night out on the town.” Yes, it looks a bit odd to have pantyhose covered fruit hanging off of a tree, but I’m telling you it really helps keep the…
Unless you’re talking about licking your own elbow “I can’t” is one of those phrases that is such a downer. I like to help people. I like to help them solve problems or move out of their comfort zone. I like to help people get more power over their lives. Maybe that’s kind of obvious….
Dog Island Farm is a small urban farm in the San Francisco Bay Area.
