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David King
  • 57, Male
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • United States
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A Gardener's Home on the Web - but where's the dirt?

Latest Activity

Mare Cromwell and David King are now friends
May 7
David King and Oz Gardener are now friends
May 6
For all interested in the Sacred aspects of gardening, regardless of your beliefs or religion or spirituality.. come join us to share thoughts on how gardening helps heal and connect us with spirit and our inner spirit truth...
May 6
Fresh water reserve levels for Southern California have dropped significantly over the last few years. If you go to http://www.Bewaterwise.com, you’ll see how far our water reserve levels have gone down. They have a gauge on the site that looks li...
March 26
Joy - Country Gentleman is a good heirloom white corn. Sometimes called 'Shoepeg' - it's a neat corn because the kernels aren't in straight rows! And it tastes good - the kernel in a white corn isn't as big as yellow, but I think they are sweeter....
February 23
Kimberly, What do you want to plant - what kinds of veggies? I've been a Seed Saver member for over five years, I love their work and their focus. I think it's very important. david
February 23
David King joined LisaLu's group
February 23

Comment Wall (23 comments)

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At 11:00pm on January 23, 2009, mary said…
say David - what was the name of that women-owned edible landscaping company you were teling me about?
At 10:02am on January 20, 2009, prabhat choudhary said…
can you send me method of rose grafting ? I saw your beautiful pictures in one picture i think you are some creating with rose plant.With REGARDS
At 2:13pm on December 25, 2008, Katherine Turcotte said…
Hi David - What an interesting man you are! I loved your pictures and your little dog is adorable! A writer, a gardener, a bibliophile, a teacher, an animal lover, what more could a gal want! Hehehe, where did you get that lovely greenhouse I see in one of your photos?
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood
Contributing Writer Herb Quarterly Magazine
At 6:27pm on June 28, 2008, Barbara Ann said…
Here's the recipe I used for the carrots: (From: http://mexicanfood.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/spicycarrots.htm)
These spicy pickled carrots are not exactly a side dish, they are very strongly flavored so they are usually eaten in small amounts along with the main dish. Spicy pickled carrots add a wonderful zing of flavor to any meal.
Ingredients:
2 lbs large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces
5 cloves garlic peeled and diced
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
10 bay leaves, whole
8 peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt
6 oz. pickled jalapenos
Preparation:
Heat oil in a large saucepan and saute the garlic. Add in carrots and saute for 2-3 minutes. Carefully add in vinegar, peppercorns, salt, and and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes and then add water and jalapenos and bring to a simmer again for another 10 mintues.
Let it cool completely and then transfer the carrots and cooking liquid into a covered container and refrigerate overnight. Store the carrots in the liquid and use a slotted spoon to serve them. You may leave the bay leaves in the liquid to add to the flavor, but do not eat them. Always remove the bay leaves before you eat the carrots.

I changed it a little based on ingredients I had and because it's just a refrigerator pickle there's less "pressure" to follow a precise recipe :-) Enjoy!
At 1:28am on June 27, 2008, Gussy Dog said…
Yes he is ! He is the one puppy that we kept from the mom and Dad. Not really a puppy anymore, since he is now 9, but this lil' guy is a true treasure. He cries when you leave him in the house alone, esp. when he sees those garden tools coming out! What is your scottie's name and is it a boy or a girl?
Nancy
At 2:00pm on June 4, 2008, heidi_rusina said…
Hi David...right you are sir -the id photo is was not taken in LA -just a photo I like. Your page is great and I highly recommend your classes to anyone considering them. -You were the instructor for the soil section of the master gardener training I participated in several years ago -very informative and edu-taining. A book you recommended: Daniel Hillel's Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil has gone on to be one of my favorites. Thanks for the welcome. -Heidi
At 11:04am on June 4, 2008, Cooking Up A Story said…
Thanks, David, for dropping by again! My, you've been busy too! And I agree with you wholeheartedly...so many books, so little time =) I just started to read In Defense of Food myself. I definitely like Pollan's writing style, and the subject matter is always interesting to me. I love your photo stream.
How's your gardening been going? I've been busy putting in new beds. They may not be as productive this year, but next year, watch out!
Looking forward to your reviews, too.
Rebecca
At 9:56am on June 4, 2008, Morgan McDow said…
BTW - I am in ChiCo, not ChiNo. I get that a lot.Different ends of the state !
Chico is about three hours north of Sacramento in the Ag capitol of CA .
At 9:52am on June 4, 2008, Morgan McDow said…
Hi David !
I have just started gardening, so thanks for the good words.
I grew up in the LA area, and fled to the pastoral splendor of Far Northern CA when I got out of school.Many years ago !!
Your garden pictures are sooo impressive ! I work woth only 50 sq. feet now, but will put in more beds as time, energy and $$ permit.
Thanks for being a friend ! I know who to go to for gardening advice now.
Regards,
Morgan McDow
At 10:37pm on March 20, 2008, Bea Kunz said…
Hi David,

Interesting life you are living!

Really enjoyed the blog.

My hubby is an avid Civil War era historian.
I have learned much, and always looking to learn more.

Lovely to meet you...a man of many talents indeed.

Bea Kunz
http://www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com

Profile Information

Where do you live and garden?
Los Angeles, CA
How long have you been growing food?
forever!
Dream garden travel destination:
England/Italy/Southern France/Spain
Favorite foods:
fresh tomatos on a BLT

David King's Photos

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David King's Blog

David King

Gardening 101 Field Trip

Just a reminder that today, Sunday, we are meeting at 2:00 at The Learning Garden for our first field trip. Call me if you are unsure of how to get there - phone number is on your handouts from class. I won't be reliably at a computer for the rest of the day. david

Posted on June 1, 2008 at 10:57am —

David King

Water Saving Plants Bibliography

California Native Plants for the Garden, Bornstein, Carol et al ©2005 Cachuma Press, Of all the books here, this is the one that illustrates a drought tolerant beautiful garden. Not only does it show the plants in their glory, but there are suggestions on how to use them with authority. The lists at the back of the book are worth the price of admission alone.

California Native Trees and Shrubs, Lenz, Lee W. et al ©1981 Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden (out of print, but can be fo… Continue

Posted on June 1, 2008 at 10:54am — 1 Comment

David King

Notes on Drought Tolerant Plants


NOTE: No plant is drought tolerant when young!


Areas (Generally) From Which We Get Drought Tolerant Plants
Parts of Australia’s west and south coast
California Natives and the American Southwest
Other desert species
Parts of coastal Chile
Mediterranean Areas
Part of South Africa

Characteristics of Leaves for Drought Tolerance:
Hirsute (somewhat hairy)
Whiteness or grayness
Thickness
Leathery
Waxy
High oil content
Small size
Needle-like leaves
Water storing leaves (succule… Continue

Posted on June 1, 2008 at 10:50am —

David King

More Books for Edible Gardening

Edible Flowers, From Garden to Palate, Barash, Cathy Wilkinson, © 1995 Fulcrum Publishing, This is the only really comprehensive book on growing edible flowers – it’s a fascinating cuisine we have largely lost through neglect. Have an adventure and a nasturtium for dinner!

Heirloom Vegetables, Stickland, Sue, © 1998 Fireside Books, A wonderful introduction to heirloom vegetables and how and why to grow them! A fabulous read for all prospective vegetable gardeners.

Sunset WesteContinue

Posted on June 1, 2008 at 10:35am —

David King

Edible Gardens Bibliography I

Designing and Maintaining your Edible Landscape Naturally, Kourick, Robert © 1986, Metamorphic Press, Santa Rosa, CA Probably the bible for this kind of garden. I own a first printing and a quick check shows that Amazon has it new for $33.46 (Permanent Publications; March 30, 2005), so it’s still a winner, after all these years.

Designing the New Kitchen Garden,
Bartley, Jennifer © 2006, Timber Press, Portland, OR Lots of wonderful ideas and source material for a good many daydrea… Continue

Posted on June 1, 2008 at 10:32am —

 
 

KGI's book of the month

Latest Activity

laurent barbier, Helen Pereira, Sara Lim and 4 more joined Kitchen Gardeners
1 hour ago
5 hours ago
Hi Maggie I hope you are well. I see most of the people on a Friday afternoon, when i do not have to go to work. Most of the other plot holders are retired so they go on weekdays when i am at work. It can be quite solitary, which i find quite plea...
5 hours ago
15 hours ago
Thank you for the email addy !! I am always looking for variations on the food I preserve !! Let us know how yours turns out !! You can`t have too many recipes you know !! I don`t think that I would add sugar till after the brining process !! It c...
15 hours ago
Congrats on your new venture !!! Hope it does well !! Will be looking for you back in the future when you have things under way !!
16 hours ago
You are forgetting one thing !! The person who will be eating the food you prepare !! Yourself !!! If it pleases you,,,I wouldn`t worry about anything else !! Cooking should be an adventure !! I wouldn`t make a comparison unless you have tasted th...
16 hours ago
hi jeff, as i suppose you live in crete, do know anything more about the phrase "strafela", is this a usual word in greek?? or is it used just in certain parts of crete?? would be great if you could give me any info about it, thanks, georg
17 hours ago
18 hours ago
Wow, they are good sized plots. I wish we had allotment areas here in Adelaide. Do you get to know the other allotment gardeners?. We have almost finished our composting, pruning back, seed saving and planting out of our seedlings. With a small ga...
18 hours ago
Hi Kathryn This image is a screenshot from Google Earth. The only drawback with Google Earth is that you cannot zoom in as close as you would like. I have a greenhouse in the bottom right and a shed and covered compost bin at top right. A lot of t...
20 hours ago
Hi Salma I am lucky in that my allotment is only a short bicycle ride from my house. Some people in larger cities like London have to travel to theirs in a car. It is interesting to find out from you just how things are in your country. I think as...
20 hours ago
Thanks for sharing Roger, I sent my info and will let you know what transpires. Have a Joyful day~ Bea Kunz
21 hours ago
How times have changed. There was time when there was no food shortage and agriculture was not a profitable business. The poor farmer was having a hard time. After toiling in the field from dawn to dusk he failed to generate enough money to suppor...
23 hours ago
Glenn!British allotment system is quite interesting. It should be initiated here in Pakistan. Is this alloted land close to your home? I mean you have to travel to your home kitchen garden to fetch your vegetables ??
23 hours ago
I also recommend Seed Savers Exchange. Not only does Heritage Farm offer seeds they've grown, but you can become a member and exchange thousands of seeds with other gardeners. The beauty of seed savers is you can use heirloom seeds that you have g...
yesterday
Amanda Williams and Georg Strafella joined Kitchen Gardeners
yesterday
........So the story is that this land is under the unlawful use of big wigs.No body dares to touch them.As they are usually in govt.or are the relatives of those in power.That is why I was telling Salma,problem is not simple.It is so intricate,it...
yesterday
Glenn! we also have the same allotment system.In which about 550 square feet ,(if I am not mistaken) or so is alloted to a family to grow fuel wood on it .Govt. only plants the trees and then the family looks it aftern grow what everthey want alon...
yesterday
Mussarat Nadeem is now friends with Kathryn and amna mufti
yesterday

Notes

HOW TO - ADD A LINK

Several people have experienced difficulty putting working links into comments and blogs etc and I know it is clumsy.... so here is how you do it.....

First type the text you want to appear....  ie  IAN'S PAGE

Then go back and highlight the link text.

Then hit the hyperlink button...a pictogram of a chain link.

Your browser may intervene and request permission to allow temporary scripting or some similar message.   Allow it and go back and highlight the text again

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Created by Ian Jun 7, 2009 at 7:28pm. Last updated by Ian Jun 8.

Forum Policy

Hi, I'm starting to put together a few guidlines on using the discussion forum on here.

I would be happy to hear any comments you may have.  This is very much a work in progress so plese feel free to ask me to add anything you think is needed.

I don't want to make our community hide bound by rules and regulations but I think that, as the community has grown, some explanation of what is expected is needed.

Administration

You can refer any que

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Created by Ian May 23, 2009 at 1:55am. Last updated by Ian May 25.

Climate maps

Hi following recent discussion I have put climate maps of the USA, Australia and Europe on here for reference..

 Climate map of the USA

Climate map of Australia

Climate map of Europe

 

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Created by Ian Sep 12, 2008 at 6:20pm. Last updated by Ian Apr 14.

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes

Hi Everyone,  I've started to collect together recipes from various posts on the site and put them all together here.

If you have a recipe you want to add on here, just post it on the site and leave a comment on my page telling me where it is and I'll go and fetch it back here.

They are organised in Contributor Order but I'm open to better suggestions!

BEVA'S RECIPES

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Created by Ian Jun 2, 2008 at 9:54am. Last updated by Ian Apr 13.

US STATES ABBREVIATIONS

 

US STATE ABBREVIATIONS

AK - Alaska               AL - Alabama              AR - Arkansas
AZ - Arizona              CA - California           CO - Colorado
CT - Connecticut          DC - Dist of Columbia *   DE - Delaware
FL - Florida              GA - Georgia              GU

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Created by Ian Jan 27, 2009 at 4:27pm. Last updated by Ian Jan 27.

HOW TO - MAKE COMPOST

Recently there was an excellent discussion about composting. I’ve pulled together all the various comments here. You can also watch KGI's video on composting here.

 

 

KATE’S ADVICE

I used to have a tumbler that we made from a wine-barrel but

1 you have to fill it up all at once

2. it seemed mostly

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Created by Ian May 30, 2008 at 5:29am. Last updated by Roger Jan 15.

Notes Home

Welcome to Notes.

To view notes that are in the system hit the "all notes" button above.

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Created by Ian May 28, 2008 at 12:10pm. Last updated by Ian May. 30, 2008.

A Note about Notes

I have just written this note so that I can see what we can achieve by using this new feature.

If you read this and have any suggestions then please leave a comment on my page or email me.

Ian

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Created by Ian May 28, 2008 at 6:19pm. Last updated by Ian May. 28, 2008.

 

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