News from the Edible Demo Garden

Its often the desire to avoid pesticides that makes organically grown produce especially appealing. Pesticides can be a health risk not only for consumers, but also for those who grow, harvest, and distribute food crops...

All the annual edibles in the Demo Garden, with a few exceptions such as potatoes and garlic, started as seeds. Planting seeds is a year around activity for garden volunteers...

Visitors to the Edible Demo Garden often dont recognize the large attractive plants with the big, bright green leaves growing in a corner garden bed...

Last month volunteers worked on building permanent trellises for several garden beds. Constructed of metal stakes and heavy wire, the trellises will provide strong support for beans, peas, cucumbers, and other climbing edible plants...

Despite the cool wet start to spring, it was time to plant summer veggies. The straw bales were fully seasoned and waiting for plants and the seedlings in the greenhouse were ready for planting...

A primary purpose for the Edible Demonstration Garden is to show how many ways fruits and vegetables can successfully be grown in Marin. Deciding what and where to plant is an ongoing endeavor requiring a combination of knowledge, experience and a lets try it attitude...

Finding earthworms when turning over soil in the Edible Demo Garden beds is a cause for celebration. Earthworms gravitate to improved soil, so their appearance is an indication that the soil is healthy and is providing the food and moisture that the worms like.

Several years ago, raised beds were built to provide garden space for growing spice plants. These were plants such as ginger, turmeric, and horseradish, plants not commonly found in backyard gardens...

Fall is an active time in the Edible Demo Garden. Volunteers have been busy harvesting summer produce and, simultaneously, planning and preparing for winter crops.

Herbs are among the most reliable plants in the Edible Demonstration Garden. Some garden spaces are dedicated to growing perennial herbs and other established beds accommodate annual herbs on a rotation schedule. Culinary herbs belong in an edible garden for many reasons...