Sometimes, life's (c)hard...

If you've been following this blog for any amount of time then you know that I have a great fondness for this town. I grew up here, I'm growing up here and when I return from an any length trip, it feels like putting on my favorite, worn so many times you can see the fibers in it, t-shirt. There is no other place in this world that receives my laughter as frequently or with the deep sincerity and gratitude that Los Angeles does.

As much as I hope to break the stereotypes that so easily attach themselves to the natives, newbies and squatters alike here, I can confirm that everything you've heard about the freeways and traffic are not myth, rumor or hyperbole. Traffic in this town defies convenience and refuses to be a team player. I believe "fashionably late" is the result of swimming upstream on the 101, or the 10, or the 405 or any surface you find your car idling on. So how does a city add insult to injury? Carmageddon.

Carmageddon started this past Friday and is still happening. Nothing is coming to an end. All it really means is that we should stay in our neighborhoods and meet our neighbors. For me, this means that I can't wander north or east of my home. Sadly, no Urban Farm Mom visit this weekend but I'm easily consoled by the beach and a breakfast cocktail <--silver lining.

A quick guide through LA:
The freeways in LA are thoroughfares, but they also serve to separate and distinguish neighborhoods, and LA is basically a patchwork of neighborhoods that make up a non sequitur, oddly shaped, slightly irregular quilt. Ah, home...

LA does indeed have different climates and while I spent my formative years in the San Fernando Valley, littering my speech with the ubiquitous "like" and the dated "rad", I picked up an unfortunate Valley accent along with a high tolerance for dry heat. I have memories of my dad (the first urban gardener I would encounter) growing tomatoes, corn and sunflowers in the backyard while myself, the grade school gardener, had great success growing giant zucchini. Never once did we try chard, kale or lettuce.

As I grew up and moved out, I found myself less than 20 miles away from the valley home that produced youthful days of Slurpee stained summers and 105 degree, nose bleed inducing heat. I was now "just over the hill" as locals say or if you've been watching the popular SNL sketch, The Californians, west of the 405 and north of Marina del Rey. The difference is this, being closer to the ocean means that temperatures are reliably cooler and the further inland you garden the more pronounced hot and cold weather is. The weather also fluctuates more the further inland you are. The ocean matters, it's almost given me seasons. So...I started growing chard, kale and lettuce for the first time! Below are pictures of my first crop of chard.

Lastly, every bit the hippie enabler I passed along some tomato plants that were in the red solo cups in a previous post. Two plants went to a co-worker (who is never seen except during lunch outings) and his girlfriend. The Lunch Bunch Editor returned one of the plants back to the soil (it died/he killed it) but the other one is about to produce fruit. His before and after pictures are also below. Friends give friends plants. Send me a message if you'd like some seeds and the Urban Farm Girl will send some your way!

Chard Progression

July 21 - Newly planted chard seeds

August 14 - Chard sprouts

September 16 - Almost ready for the table

September 30 - Chard, it's what's for dinner











Lunch Bunch Editor's Tomatoes

The Hero Boyfriend has harvested some basil seeds, send a note if you'd like some. Basil grows well almost anytime of the year and you can always take it inside!