Matthew Harr is HP's resident chicken consultant and our go-to plant expert. A retired actor and dancer from Houston, Texas with over 15 years of gardening experience. He studied horticulture at the university level and permaculture in Australia and has been living and gardening in Southern California for the past 6 years.
It's time for soup season! Slowly caramelized fennel and sweet onions create a rich base for this blended soup seasoned with freshly dried herbs. Perfect for chilly nights or weekday lunch. You can easily adapt the recipe to be vegan by omitting the half and half.
Acorn squash are a delicious and versatile source of fiber and potassium and easy to incorporate into your diet - especially when roasted. If you’ve picked some up at the farmers market or have some ready in the garden, you'll want to try this vegan friendly recipe that's perfect for a crowd or an intimate dinner.
With the heat of August upon us, now is the time to begin preparation of our cool season garden. The hot summer sun brings hearty vegetable yields and flowers in full color! Now is a great time to ensure your garden is receiving sufficient water and that no garden pests have made their way to your precious plants. Consider placing an order for your cool season seeds from a local heirloom provider. Hardy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale and radishes thrive in the cool season and the most dazzling varieties tend to sell out quickly!
When the fridge is bare but the garden is full. This simple Swiss Chard salad combines fresh greens with pantry staples to create a hearty and healthy salad perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
With hot summer days (and nights), it's time to succession plant in the garden and create some shade options for young plants. It's also a good time to review your cool season notes to plan for the cool season garden. Consider adding in more hot-season favorites like peppers, sweet potatoes, or okra in the hottest spaces in your garden. Don't forget our suggested flower companion planting guide this month to bring more pollinators to your garden. Check out the Orange County CA July planting guide.
With hot summer days on the horizon, it's time to start planting in the summer garden. Consider adding in hot-season favorites like peppers, sweet potatoes, or okra. Check out our suggested flower companion planting guide this month to bring more pollinators to your garden. Check out the Orange County CA June planting guide.
When the fridge is bare but the garden is full. This simple Swiss Chard salad combines fresh greens with pantry staples to create a hearty and healthy salad perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Spring is officially here which means it's time to plant the summer garden! Evening temperatures are warm enough to move all your seedlings into the garden. With your young warm season plants in the ground, start planning for succession sowing and stocking up on worm castings to make compost tea and feed your soil. Tomatoes, squash, and peppers can be hungry feeders. Check out our suggested flower companion planting guide this month to bring happy pollinators to your garden.
Spring is officially here which means it's time to plant the summer garden! All your summer favorites should be started from seed and transplanted into the garden. Hopefully you've started some tomato seeds already and have hardened off your transplants! If you haven't, stop over to a local nursery to pick up some warm season crops and start planning for succession sowing and amending your garden soil. Check out our suggested flower companion planting guide this month to bring happy pollinators to your garden. Check out the Orange County CA April planting guide.