Roasted Acorn Squash with Hummus, Kale and Quinoa
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.
Orange County August Planting Guide
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!
Lemon Basil Quinoa Salad with Tomatoes + Cucumber
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.
Orange County July Planting Guide
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.
Orange County June 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.
Simple Swiss Chard Salad
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.
First Look at Poppy & Seed in the Voice of OC
Many thanks to Anne Marie Panoringan from Voice of OC for letting Ashley talk about gardens and the emergence of more chef's gardens at home and at restaurants. "Featuring a collection of garden beds coordinated by Santa Ana-based culinary gardening consultant Ashley Irene, Poppy's offerings are naturally guided by the current season's produce."
Green Thumb Feature in Riviera Magazine
Many thanks to Claire Harper and Allison Mitchell from Riviera Orange County for talking gardening with Ashley for the May 2021 issue. "Environmental stewardship is at the very heart of our gardening philosophy at Heirloom Potager. From organic seed selections to understanding what goes into soil mixes, our goal is to nurture confidence in our clients that they ca grow delicious, healthy food without the need for synthetic intervention."
Benefit Corporation: Why Heirloom Potager is Working to Become a Certified B Corp
It takes a conscious effort and a bit of work to make a better tomorrow. As consumers, we have the opportunity to vote every day with our dollars. We can choose to support small business owners and makers; buy from companies that do more than pad their bottom lines; and we can find ways to shorten supply chains. Learn more about the steps Heirloom Potager is taking to earn our B Corp certification.
Heirloom Potager Designs Culinary Gardens for O.C. Residents and Restaurants
"Owner Ashley Irene's showcase garden is on the property of a 1920s French Tudor home in Santa Ana's historic Floral Park. Ashley's advice: Grow things that you really love and want to eat, and write down your experience as you go. We give all of our clients a garden journal and encourage them to take meticulous notes. This month, I recommend planting avocado, carrots, melons, summer squash, watermelon, arugula, lavender, sage, and tomatoes."
Poppy & Seed OC in Anaheim gathers inspiration from its garden
Chef Michael Reed and his wife and co-owner, Kwini, brought on Ashley Irene, founder of Heirloom Potager in Santa Ana, to create and maintain a culinary garden. During a recent visit, she showed off planter boxes filled with herbs, edible flowers and vegetables: Hatch chilies, calendula, cherry tomatoes, French beans, summer squash, sorrel, black basil and a lot more including Mexican lime, Meyer Lemon and kumquat trees.
Orange County May Planting Guide
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.