JUNE 13:  Orange County Food Not Lawns is arranging for a casual meetup at the new Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano.  We’ll mingle, have a swap table, (bring your extras), hear a talk by permaculturist Evan Marks on organic soil building, hear about CSAs from South Coast Farms, and more.  Earthroots Field School will host a seed-ball workshop for kids during the talk (so bring the kids!).  It will be held at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano that occupies a renovated historic farm house.  We hope to meet you and your family!  Please RSVP to jd.jdla@verizon.net if you can come.  This is not a commercial, vendor event.  It’s for those interested in:  local food, stronger neighborhoods, healthy eating, great tasting homegrown produce, kids, building soil, preserving heirloom vegetables, and in responsible and sustainable communities. 

Location:  The Ecology Center  32701 Alipaz, San Juan Capistrano

www.theecologycenter.org

The first step in a journey is the most important one! 

1. •Start small if you need to...some containers set in landscape could hold Lettuces, Rainbow Chard, Chives, Strawberries, Citrus, or any number of yummy, good-looking edibles.  Get your feet wet.
   

2. •Ask your local nursery for help thinking about design, amendments, quantities, etc
   

3. •Ask your neighbors and friends about how they’ve developed their gardens
   

4. •Tons of books, like Sunset’s, are available new, borrowed, or used
   

5. •For ideas, visit your local community garden or the Centennial Garden at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
   

6. •Ask your family for ideas.  Kids, especially, may have some thoughts that form the basis of a garden plan (sunflowers, bean pole teepee, weird gourds, etc)
   

7. •Enlist physical help if needed...family, neighbors, friends would probably love to pitch in for a day in exchange for lemonade or BBQ
   

8. •Start composting your yard waste and kitchen scraps.  Worm bins are becoming more popular and produce terrific product.