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Blogs for January, 2015

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Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial is Here!

Budweiser Super Bowl Commercial is Here!

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I was extremely fortunate to be invited by Studio Animal Services to train the puppies again for the 2015 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.  We trained the puppies for about three weeks, they were approximately 8 weeks old when we started, and then in the middle of December we headed up to central California to shoot the commercial on location.

Once again (and as always in past commercials) the amazing team of Budweiser Clydesdales were involved and being trained by Robin and Kate Wiltshire of Turtle Ranch in Wyoming, assisted by the ever present Budweiser ‘handlers’ – a team of great guys who make sure these horses want for nothing – who also assist Robin in the training.

I tried to take as many photos as I could, but my days were slammed with 8-10 hours of puppy training, 7 days a week right up until the shoot.  Luckily we had many people around who took some great photos as you can see in this post.

We had 8 puppies – all of which were trained to do various things that were needed for the commercial.  I was joined again by best friend and fellow trainer at SAS Deborah Dellosso – there’s nothing we enjoy more than training puppies!!

The Gang

Taking of the hill

All together

Myself and David getting the puppy muddy!Photo credit: Dianna Radermacher

Comic relief

Don Jeanes!!

Making friends

Oustanding in a field!

I LOVE these guys!!Photo credit: Dianna Radermacher

Gardening Winter To-Do List: Growing Onions From Seed

Gardening Winter To-Do List: Growing Onions From Seed

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Onions get such a bad rap, those tear-jerking balls of smelly-breath-makers.  But what would a veggie pizza or tasty omelet be without them?  Though it is hard to trace to their origin due to the fact that their tissues leave very little trace, it is known, according to The National Onion Association (that is a REAL thing that I did not make up) that onions were found in Chinese gardens 5000 years ago, and that there is evidence “that the Sumerians were growing onions as early as 2500 B.C.  And even though, at my family gatherings, we paper-rock-scissors the lucky chef who gets to cry while dicing the onions for the risotto, in ancient Egypt, the vegetable was considered an object to be worshiped, symbolizing eternity in its circular layers.Want to grow your own eternity onion?  According to Urban Farmer, if you live in a warmer climate (zones 6-10), late January is a great time to start your onion seeds indoors. For those of you in zones 1-5 start your onion seeds in mid-late February.

  • Use fresh, first-year onion seeds, which, according to GrowVeg.com, germinate better than their older counterparts, which can, technically, be stored up for two years in a cool, dry space.
  • VegetableGardner.com reminds us that varieties differ in the length of daylight and the temperature required to make a bulb. Short-day types are ideal for the South, where they grow through cool southern fall and winter months. They’re triggered to bulb by the 12 hours of sunlight that come with the return of warm, early summer weather, while long-day onions are best grown in the North, where the summer daylight period is longer.
  • Using a fresh seed-starting mix, plant your seeds in flats, and choose a warm spot to encourage the seeds to germinate, such as the top of your refrigerator.  The seeds love a balmy 68 – 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • When the seedling has three leaves, transfer to a pot at least 4 inches deep.
  • After germination, Barbara over at GrowVeg notes that a bright supplemental light is needed, such as a two-bulb florescent fixture, for 12 hours a day.  Every day, using scissors, she trims the onions back to around 3 inches.
  • When you’re ready to move your onions outdoors, after the temperatures are consistently above 46F, GrowVeg recommends creating deep planting trenches lined with rich compost and/or composted organic fertilizer.

Do you plan to grow your own onions?  Tell us over on Facebook or Twitter @TheCityFarm!

(Photo Credit: The New York Botanical Garden)

Oregano Dreams & How to Grow Your Own

Oregano Dreams & How to Grow Your Own

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I’ve used this blog to confess a few of my odd habits and/or stories, my coffee cravings and how the grounds help my garden grow, my sage-smudging blunders, my jonesing for fresh-squeezed-lemon in hot water before I can greet Facebook or the sun.

And now I confess my proclivity to all things odd as I admit, though I don’t remember any of my actions, I am a night-time-showering/sweater-sorting/caller-of-911/tennis-racket-swinging sleep “walker.”  But even as … strange as my many roommates will tell you my night-time personality may be, I am stating here, I will NOT wear oregano on my head to induce psychic dreams.  At least, not tonight. Because I must also confess, after researching the folklore of the herb, I’m dying to know if oregano placed on or near the head brings about visions and prophetic dreams.  

It was also thought to be an antidote to poison, and protect one from evil.  So there’s that.

Even if you don’t ward away evil by planting oregano near your home or dream the winning Lotto digits, the herb has been linked to good lung health, due to its carvacrol and rosmarinic acid content. According to Organic Health’s Website, “both compounds are natural decongestants and histamine reducers that have direct, positive benefits on the respiratory tract and nasal passage airflow.”  And it’s a great flavorful seasoning for Italian dishes.

How to grow your own oregano:

  • Native to the Mediterranean region, oregano loves the sun, so choose a spot with full-sun to place your pot, or to plant in your garden.
  • Most oregano can tolerate a moderate freeze, but if you live in a colder climate, consider planting in a container that can be moved indoors during the worst winter cold.
  • Plant your seeds or cuttings 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost.
  • Oregano loves loamy, gravelly soil, and moderate water, so be sure your container drains well if planting in a pot, and water when the soil feels dry.
  • When the plant is about 8 inches tall, you can begin to harvest.  The flavor is most intense just before the plant blooms.
  • Many prefer using dried oregano in cooking, which also allows you to preserve your harvest and trim back the plant to grow more densely.  To dry, hang the harvested leaves in a bunch, upside down, and when the leaves are crisp, remove from the stems, and store in a glass container.

And check out The City Farm’s handy garden tote, to keep all your growing tools on hand!

Will you be growing your own oregano?  Tell us here, or over on Facebook or Twitter!

(Photo credit:  Todd’s BBI)
Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

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Whether you are feeling under the weather or just want to warm up, this easy & delicious recipe is great for the whole family. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 chicken, cut in pieces

1 onion, cut into quarters

3 carrots, cut into two-inch lengths

3 celery stalks, cut into two-inch lengths

1 small parsnip

Generous amount of parsley sprigs

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Put ingredients into a large pot. Add enough cold water to cover by 1″.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.

Occasionally skim off the foam that rises to the top. Cook about 1 hour.

Discard parsley, and cool until fat rises to the surface. Skim off fat. Heat, and serve with noodles or matzo balls in these fun bowls!

(Photo Credit: Pinterest)

How To Grow Your Own Celery

How To Grow Your Own Celery

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I have been living a lie. I don’t remember when I heard that celery was a “negative calorie” food, that munching on the crunchy green stalk burned more calories than it provided as food.  Looking up the history of celery on Wikipedia, I learned that is a lie. But celery is part of weight-loss diets, as it provides low-calorie dietary fiber.  And, not only great for weight loss, added crunch in your stir-fry, or as a vehicle for peanut butter, the seeds of celery plants are also often used as an oil in the perfume and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in spices (have you tried celery salt?).

Last week I wrote about greening your new year with a garden space inside.  Kick off your indoor garden by growing your own celery!  It’s quite easy, and after reading about it on RealFarmacy, the boyfriend and I decided to give it a go.  I can’t wait to cut a stalk of celery off my own plant.

  •     Simply buy a stalk of organic celery from your local farmer’s market or grocer, cut off the base, rinse it off and place it in a small saucer or bowl of warm water on or near a well-lit window — with the base side down and cut stalks facing upright.
  •     RealFarmacy notes that while leaving the celery in the water for approximately one week, the stalks begin to dry out, but “the tiny little yellow leaves from the center of the base began thickening, growing up and out from the center, and turned a dark green.”
  •     Change the water in the saucer every 2 – 3 days, and use a spray bottle to spritz the new growth directly.
  •     After 5 – 7 days, transfer the celery base into soil (I love how RealFarmacy used an oatmeal container!) covering the whole base with soil, allowing just the leaf tips to show through the dirt. If you live in a temperate climate, plant outside.
  •     Water generously, and watch your celery grow!

We (okay, *I*) named our new celery plant Cecil.  It’s day 3 in the potting soil, and he’s already growing like mad, helped along by a weekend of rain in L.A. Have you set green-growing intentions for 2015?  Will you try growing your own celery?  Tell us here in the comments, or over on Twitter @TheCityFarm.

(Photo Credits: Stoop celery: Rebecca Snavely; Celery in oatmeal tins: RealFarmacy)

How To Green Your New Year

How To Green Your New Year

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How To Green Your New YearResolutions are SO 2014. So this year, instead of making new year’s resolutions, I set intentions.   It’s probably no different, but I’m hoping that by embracing a different term I might make these intentions realities, ways of life.

The dark winter days paired with the feeling of a fresh start and new intentions make this month a perfect time to create a garden nook inside, to add some green and growth to a corner of your life.  Take a look around — is there a space that is stocked with unused tchotchkes? A stack of sweaters you might take to your local shelter, or that collection of CDs you can transfer to the cloud, and create room to grow green things?  Look for a spot with natural light, or where you can connect and hide a cord to plug in some plant lights.

Search your cupboards for favorite jars or cups to create a collection of unique planters – and take a look at our City Farm collection to add a few new pieces for variety: a gum ball jar or wire bottle tote to display cut flowers? A votive cup to house a succulent?  A ceramic bowl?  Choose different shapes and heights to create an eclectic space that is uniquely you.

600_8141Creating a work station is part of the fun of making the most of small spaces – is there a spot to store your potting soil, a small trowel, a watering can?

With weak winter light, if you plan to start seedlings, and you’re feeling extra crafty, check out this how-to guide to transform an old bookshelf into an indoor grow light / plant stand!

 

Next week, kick off your indoor garden by growing your own celery! Until then, keep up with us on Facebook & Twitter. Happy New Year!