This season is usually filled with much growth and first harvests, but we experienced a big surprise here in Tumacacori—several frosts in early May (the last of which culminated on May 10^th).  We’ve since replanted and transplanted. Most likely others have too. Keep on planting until your gardens are filled. You can then choose succession plantings. The longest days and most sunshine offer lots of potential. Depending on your location and timing, certain plants love it while others get exhausted and need to be replanted every four to six weeks to have a second or third season.

We have been planting bush and pole beans, summer squash varieties and cucumbers, cantaloupes and watermelons, beets and carrots, determinate and indeterminate tomatoes, and greens of all kinds. Greens are prized treasures in the heat; you can grow them all year round if you help them keep cool by providing them shade underneath the okras, pole beans, sunflowers, amaranth and other tall plants. Plant your greens on the east side so they get the first sun and then the afternoon shade. Give them a cooling with water sometime before noon and, if the days require it, add another little bit in the late afternoon. Greens especially benefit from succession plantings since you can’t predict the heat waves, wind gusts, and moisture. Timing is important, but I suggest that you just keep on planting. Once in while the circumstances of all life forces—seen and unseen—create an array of possibilities that are so special. Expect the unexpected, and even if you haven’t thought much of faith when you garden, you can hope and dream—and some of us even pray.

In recent weeks I have thought about immigration—not just political issues but actual plant immigrations. All cultures have watched and experienced plants adapting to the most amazing climates with great and amazing benefits. Some were planned and very much intended, others were surprises. Did you know that many of the common plants we grow and eat had their origins in another country—especially countries south of the border. Let me share some plant origins with you:

Africa: Watermelon, Okra

Asia: Broad bean, Cress, Lettuce, Muskmelon, Onion, Pea, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Cucumber, Endive

Central & South America: Bush Bean, Cucumber, Kidney Bean, Flint Corn, Eggplant, Potato, Scarlet Runner Bean, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Winter Squash, Pumpkin, Pepper

Europe/Asia: Asparagus, Chinese Cabbage, Water Cress, Dandelion, Horseradish, Cauliflower, Carrot

Europe: Beet, Pole Beans, Celery, Swiss Chard, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Kohl Rabi, Cabbage, Leek, Parsley, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Turnip

North America: Jerusalem Artichoke, Summer Squash

There are, of course, many more familiar vegetables, fruits and flowers that have their origins elsewhere.

When you look at that list you can really appreciate other cultures and their gifts. And, as it is with plant life, so it is within the human race. Some of the migrations have happened for thousands of years. Even with borders or territories there was still trade. And when marriages occur between cultures, there arrives the unforeseen and unexpected. All is part of a magic evolutionary and revelatory plan. Pause for a minute and give thanks for the blessings that a small garden can teach you about humanity.

Come and visit Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm and Ranch. Call (520) 603-9932 and let us know. I hope to see you soon—here on a tour, at our Farm Stand in Tubac on Saturday from 11-1pm, or at one of our Community Supported Deo-Agriculture Program (CSA) delivery locations. We now offer our CSA program year-round from Tubac to Patagonia, Green Valley to Tucson. You can sign up for it online at www.avalongardens.org/csa, or call the phone number above.

With much appreciation for accepting me as your neighbor and friend,

Tarenta Baldeschi (Change Agent),

an immigrated American Citizen , born in Germany to a father who immigrated from Italy and a mother who immigrated from Romania

PLANTS LIVE IN COMMUNITIES
Greetings fellow gardeners!
When you really look at any plant in nature you will notice it is connected with other plants—by giving or receiving shade, warmth, coolness, wind protection, support, color, water, nutrients, and many other intricacies. We call this interdependency and true community living. Plants know this, and humans are still in the discovery of it. Neighborly care and love for one another is what plants do all the time. To be flexible, to adapt to circumstances—whether it be a drought, monsoon storm, a move (transplanting), or a need for healing—is a must for every living thing; and, with the collective help of others, much more can be accomplished than just the sum of the parts.
This philosophy and common sense understanding has been adopted into Permaculture design, Xeroscape landscaping, companion planting, rain- and grey-water harvesting, and Feng Shui. Throughout history it has been called the golden rule and divine pattern. I am suggesting, in the spirit of Easter, that you resurrect some of these age old truths. Every garden is different, and so there are no strict formulas, but there are guidelines. Be creative and ask some good nurseries.
Plant shade: Choose one or more deciduous trees. Some are fast growing (softwoods: willows, cottonwood) ; others grow slower (fruit trees, desert trees). One has to consider water needs too, but keep in mind that once the shade is established those plants that benefit from the shade will then use less water. Plant windbreak: You can choose hedges from native plants like jojoba, yuccas, bamboo, black/raspberries, or rose hedges with edible rosehips (even rose petals). Plant variety: My favorite companion planting is the native three sisters: corn, beans, and squash. They are true companions. Last year we did this and had a great harvest. Some other ideas are amaranth, lettuce, and onions. Another consideration is tomatoes and basil with some marigolds. In the corners of your garden have permanent spots for culinary herb perennials (rosemary, chives, marjoram, oregano, etc.), medicinal (calendula, lavender, comfrey, mints, plantain, stinging nettle, etc.), and edible standards (globe artichokes, rhubarb, asparagus). Plant beauty: Grapevines, roses, and flowers of all kinds including the sunflower. Did you know that there is a native sunflower (misnamed Jerusalem Artichokes) that has edible roots? It’s very beautiful and tall with many small flowers, and the nutritional benefits of its tubers are amazing. Plant density: Fill up your spaces with many kinds of vegetable plants and mulch all heavily with organic compost. It creates a microclimate and a plant community that is sustainable even in the desert.
What is described above is just the beginning, and each season you can add more plants. Envision it first, and then step by step plant your varieties and fill in the spaces. Involve your family, or make a family of friends, and you will find it’s more fun and creative. Ask your neighbors, garden clubs, or community gardens. In this process of learning and discovery, you find a new sense of belonging which fills your heart and soul with purpose. It is truly remarkable how healing gardening can be, no matter how small the beginnings.
We celebrate this time at Avalon Organic Gardens with our Annual Family Easter Celebration on Sunday April 4th, 11 A. M. – 3 P. M. Bring the kids for a hayride, Easter Egg Hunt, music, a children’s play, refreshments, and more. You can find the flyer online at http://globalchangemultimedia.org/events.
On Saturday, April 24, 11 A. M. – 5 P. M. our Annual Earth Sustainability Day is coming to Tubac Plaza. I hope I see you there or at our weekly Farm Stand in Tubac on Saturdays 11 A. M. – 1 P. M. And, don’t forget—its time to sign up for your share in our Community Supported Agriculture Program. You can do this online at http://avalongardens.org/csa or by calling 520-603-9932 (where you can also arrange for a personal tour).
Have fun planting and building your community, Tarenta Baldeschi (Change Agent)

Why is this so important? We live in a Food Desert (scarcity of local, healthy, and naturally-grown foods), especially in rural areas. Even a supermarket with its myriad of choices can be a food desert. We need to realize that healthy food is a Human Right for all, and we need to protect it! We don’t have enough local and healthy food grown in this area, and the education system needs to improve so the children and adults can learn the value of local foods grown in a sustainable way. We also don’t have the surplus needed to keep the market prices reasonable so that local organically and naturally grown foods can be affordable for everyone. There needs to be more farm-stands, farmer’s markets, and grocery stores with local fresh foods. The fewer miles the food travels on the road (most travels an average of 1500 miles), the more fresh and ripe it is. By incorporating growing practices that are more sustainable, we will also have less environmental pollution and better water conservation, and, of course, we can all eat healthier and live better lives.

How can we manifest these gardens to be everywhere? The first step is to commit yourselves for a whole season to do it. You need to find some land—backyard or community garden project—and then to learn as much as you can how to grow food as you do it. Visit your farms and community gardens, talk to each other, and support each other. Find a neighbor, a friend, or even better yet, a group of people to do this together so that the effort, time, and responsibility can be shared. Maybe there is already something in progress in your neighborhood. This is true community building.

Growing food is all about soil, seeds, and water. Soil building is so vital in the desert. By using real compost you enrich the soil so it can feed the plants, absorb the water like a sponge, and become itself a multibillion strong beneficial organism. Work your compost in the soil as soon as possible and then plant any seeds in the ground according to instructions given for timing and depth. Protect the soil from wind and water erosion—mulch with straw, woodchips, or other materials. At the beginning of the season you should also apply water and air permeable floating row covers to give protection from frost, wind, and sun and keep heat in at night.

My favorite plants right now are all the greens—lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, and some root crops including beets, turnips, radishes and carrots as well. The summer-loving plants require warmer temperatures to sprout and grow; you can start some in your window sill or greenhouse to transplant later.

Have you ever tried growing microgreens? Get a mix of seeds of greens you like and plant evenly and very close together; I have often simply broadcasted them with great success. Once they are at least 3” tall, you can regularly cut them down to the first inch above ground level. They will continue growing for quite a while and are a continual source for delicious baby greens salads! Feed the plants every two weeks using a spray bottle full of compost tea, kelp, or fish emulsion.

If you’re not ready to plant a whole garden, how about planting and tending food plants in a container—as you would house plants. All they need is good soil and a good light source. I have seen a lot of people grow food this way. You can start indoors and then bring them outside for the warmer months using walls for shade and wind protection. You can grow tomatoes, basil, cucumbers, squash, and greens this way.

During our conference a wonderful service-oriented Mexican lady and missionary wife from Agua Prieta/Douglas envisioned herself being the seed for her people by starting more gardens and teaching them how to grow and live sustainable. She called it “Somos La Semilla”—“We are the Seed.” The vision was so beautiful that several of our working groups adopted it for different activities. I encourage you all to see yourself as a seed that inspires not just yourself but others to grow. The cosmic energies of this spring season will give you all the support to go forth and multiply.

I look forward to visiting or hearing of your food gardens. Write me at Avalon Organic Gardens, Attn: Tarenta, P.O. Box 4910, Tubac, AZ 85646, or E-mail me at csa@avalongardens.org. Send some pictures as well—we might be able to include you in the open house garden tour in September that we are planning. Of course you are welcome to ask me any questions, too.

May you sprout and be blessed this season, Tarenta Baldeschi (Change Agent)

Our gardens in the winter can be a reflection of how we perceive this season—either dormant or alive. In nature there seems to always be a purpose which leads to the next moment. When we attempt to understand the mysterious workings of divine design we become receptive to new ideas and vision.

Just before Christmas I watched on DVD an original Christmas musical play by the Global Change Theater Company called The God Child Came (you can watch the trailer at globalchangemusic.org/media/videos/1/43). As I was listening intently to the many meanings there came the scene where Mother Mary shared the following about her garden which she was tending in heaven:

You know, it takes a lot of work to maintain this garden. It doesn’t just grow itself, even here in heaven. Over time I have learned its ways. I know when to plant and when to prune, when to harvest and when to replenish the soil. Our souls are like precious flowers in Jesus’ garden. He tends to each one of us with care and the touch of a gentle gardener’s hand. He keeps us watered with truth, and warmed with the love of the Son. He even helps prune away the old debris to make room for new growth. The time and energy I put into this garden make it a special haven to enjoy. The Master gives the same care and attention to each one of us, hoping that we will follow his example, and make his garden a place of beauty, peace, and love.

Realizing that there is so much that needs tending in order to create such a garden, I was encouraged by the blessings of this season. Within its dormancy and the longest nights of the year, there is life that needs to be discovered and nurtured. The truth comes in many ways, and how we love our gardens each step of the way brings peace and manifests beauty.

So let’s prune in order to make room for new growth. Pruning is an art that also has function. Pruning an ornamental bush or tree allows you to direct new growth by keeping the branches that you like and removing the ones that are in the way. Pruning addresses the height and density of the specific plant. There are strengths and limitations of what a plant can offer, so you need to learn about it either by observation or study. Plants are often very forgiving and are flexible enough to allow new experiences. When I think of plants, I think of myself and how I would like to be formed and shaped by unseen hands. It’s as if we can sense our potentials and abilities just as we can sense each plant’s purpose as well.

Let’s look at the rosemary bush. It can grow very large with many branches going in all directions and will shape itself to the natural surroundings. After several years of growth it seems to slow down, apparently having reached its limit. Not much changes unless we take another look. If there is not enough light reaching it or if it has no protection from the elements, one can reduce the amount of branches and some of the length to create lots of air circulation. The energy from its roots will now go in a few directions which will bring lots of new growth. By removing some of its structure you are actually stimulating it to reshape itself in a new way. Feed it with good compost and mulch as well as regular deep watering. The rosemary will begin to stretch and grow, sharing the essence of being alive. When a plant feels that it is taken care of it will shine and bloom even more profusely. Don’t forget to use the fresh and dried leaves for cooking; and, there are many more uses including medicinal, teas and air fresheners.

In a way the rosemary bush is a mirror of us in life. Just think about it, and you will know how to shape this plant and many other plants. Even fruit trees, roses, grape vines and other perennials enjoy the personalized touch. It’s pruning time; and if you approach each plant with true insight, you will be blessed in the seasons to come.

You are always welcome to tour Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm and Ranch in Tumacacori. Call us at (520) 603-9932; email us at csa@avalongardens.org; visit our website at www.avalongardens.org, or come see us at our farm stand Saturdays from 11 a. m. to 1 p. m. in Tubac in the Plaza next to the Out of the Way Galleria. I look forward to meeting you.

Have a wonderful New Year, and may the many blessings seen and unseen help you and your garden. Tarenta Baldeschi

As I write this, I am anticipating Christmas and New Year’s, as well as Hanukkah, Al Hijra (Islamic New Year’s Day), Winter solstice, Kwanzaa (African American Cultural Celebration), Human Rights Day, Forefathers Day, and many more. As I walk in our gardens I recall all the significant moments of the past year while I simultaneously envision the hopeful future. Walk with me for a moment to give thanks and learn together how to approach the coming seasons.

I see the fruit trees go dormant with their changes of colored and frost-burned leaves. We planted dozens of pomegranate, fig, Asian pear, quince, apricot, apple, pear, persimmon, almond, nectarine, paw-paw, peach, plum, Chinese jujube, grapefruit, olive, and others. Some are set up with grey water/rainwater harvesting techniques and are thriving in their new environment. Others are planted to also create shade and windbreaks. In a few years they will all produce. We are planning to plant hundreds more using permaculture designs as part of a food forest.. I encourage you to plant many fruit trees which are so essential to sustainable living.

We gave workshops to the University of Arizona School of Anthropology in partnership with The President’s Good Neighbor Environmental Board, Cochise College Sustainability course, UA Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, and others. Through power point presentations, touring, hands on gardening and building, we showed them how we have developed our eco-village, particularly in relationship to the gardens, food production, and water conservation practices. We are planning to work in alliance with many other schools and organizations to improve and develop all of our towns and neighborhoods. Think about how you can develop some of these techniques in your garden.

I touch the soil and reflect how it responds to loving care. We have applied our own compost, Effective Micro-organisms (EM), woodchips, straw, and other mulches. We used both heavy cultivation and tilling as well as no-till methods and cover cropping. The life force has increased all around and one can feel and touch it. We are planning to intensify our experiences and techniques, and experiment with new ones as well. Beneficial weeds are increasingly becoming a part of the landscape. As the soil improves less land is needed to produce the same harvest. Give your soil the best attention this coming year and the benefits are manifold.

I am harvesting some of the greens and am pleased with the taste—so fresh and power-packed with vitamins and minerals. We have been selecting many seeds in order to test which varieties can adapt to our specific desert climate; and from these saved seeds, we will continue to observe and select. There are thousands of varieties, and by planting and saving seeds, we are ensuring their survival for future generations. One project undertaken was to renew our seed stock of native/indigenous plants. We were blessed with an abundant harvest of Hopi multicolored corn, Hopi lima beans, Mayo Kama/Sonoran segualca winter squash, Tohono O’odham watermelons, sunflower roots (Jerusalem artichokes), amaranths, chiltepin and other hot peppers, and many others. Your closest resource of indigenous seeds is Native Seeds/SEARCH. Get their catalog, choose some seeds for planting, and then experience their great flavors and beauty. They have facilities in Patagonia and a store in Tucson.

Our vegetable harvest was very good, increasing our acreage and developing different techniques to overcome Bermuda grass, insect infestation (grasshoppers), and drought. We expanded our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program into Tucson and Patagonia. For twenty weeks we participated in the Santa Cruz River Farmer’s Market (sponsored by the Community Food Bank) in Tucson. Talking to our CSA members and customers on a weekly basis was a very rewarding experience. We were certified to accept many vouchers for those in financially difficult times: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Woman-Infant-Children (WIC), Senior Assistance, and CashValueVouchers. We also participated in and built many more alliances at the Local and Heritage Foods Market at the Tucson Meet Yourself festival, a pilot Farmer’s Market in Nogales, and the Sabores Sin Fronteras workshops. We have started a Farm Stand at the Tubac Plaza every Saturday from 11am-1pm and hope to keep it going year round. We hope to encourage more individuals and groups to start a garden so more of the freshest food is available in our beloved Santa Cruz River Valley. Plant more than you need and share your abundance with those who need and enjoy it.

We visited many other gardens, farms, nurseries, research facilities, greenhouses, and even aquaculture farms. This brought up many ideas on how we can improve our greenhouses and maybe even develop our own fishponds.

Our non-profit Personality Integration Rehabilitation Program for Teens and young Adults was able to assist many souls find new purpose and hope. Your many contributions—financial and material donations as well as buying our vegetables—made this possible and all participants thank you.

As you can see we were blessed this year, and I hope I was able to share some of our excitement and experiences so you in turn can begin or continue to practice sustainable ways of living. Check out our website at www.avalongardens.org or call (520) 603-9932 to arrange a visit with us.

Thank you again for making this year very special. All of us at Avalon Gardens are very grateful to have you as our neighbors and friends. If you have any new ideas, would like to participate, volunteer your time, or form alliances, send us an email at csa@avalongardens.org or write to Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm and Ranch, P.O. Box 4910, Tubac, AZ 85646.

Have many blessed Holy-Days and an inspiring New Year to come, Tarenta Baldeschi

The main growing season is ending, and the last big harvest is always amazingly beautiful. Once the nights fall below 50 degrees most flowering plants start shutting down and start focusing on maturing their seeds. Don’t forget to save some seeds—collect them, let them dry out, then label them carefully and store them in a dark and dry environment. When the temperature drops below 40 most of the flowering vegetables are ready to call it quits unless the “Indian Summer” shows its surprising magic like we had this year. However, once the frost and colder temperatures truly arrive, everything changes drastically, creating new spaces in your garden that can be filled up.

Many gardeners decide to give the garden a well deserved rest, letting everything go after a little cleanup and allowing the natural cycle of rest take its course. But if you have some inspiration and want to put some extra love into your garden, you could start building your soil again and plant some to harvest as well.

Compost piles can be made with all that was in the garden—and more—having different layers piled upon each other like a sandwich. Start out with stalks, then vines, leaves, kitchen scraps, weeds and grass clippings and then start again. The organic matter should heat up and break down to be ready by spring time. If you know about the benefits of applying EM (effective micro organisms), the process will be accelerated. I love to feed the soil with the last bit of compost and mulch that has accumulated over the last few months. It’s like covering the earth with an edible blanket.

An optimum expression of love and care for your garden this time of year would be planting a cover crop. Cover crops are grown to protect and improve the soil, not to harvest. Cover crops have the potential to improve soil tilth, control erosion and weeds, and maintain organic matter in the soil. They can reduce compaction and increase water infiltration which decreases the leaching of nutrients. Cover crops retain and recycle plant nutrients (especially nitrogen) between crops, provide habitat for beneficial microorganisms, and increase plant diversity. The most commonly used cover crops are annual grasses and legumes, but some perennials and biennials can also be used—annual ryegrass, Austrian winter pea, crimson clover, hairy vetch, spring oats, winter rye, winter wheat and barley are some examples.

Besides compost, mulch, and cover crops, there should be still some space for planting greens which take little out of the soil. They are also called quick turnaround plants (45-60 days) and include lettuce, arugula, Asian greens, beet greens, mustards, radishes, and many other micro-greens. Make sure that you apply some compost and till or dig it under before planting. You can also apply it after the plants emerge by surrounding them. And it’s never too late here in the south to plant some garlic and overwintering onions.

If you’re thinking about resting yourself after a busy and extended summer season, just rake up the debris, apply some compost, and rake it in. Then throw out some wildflower seeds in a designated area. Rake it in slightly, and cover it with a little bit of straw. Some wildflowers emerge as early as February and March. Most will come later. You can also purchase some flower bulbs in your local nursery to plant in the fall. They are so easy to stick in the ground and by next spring they should emerge and bring color back into the dormant desert landscape.

If you have already established a year-round vegetable, herb, and flower garden, then you’ll find your rhythm in each season by observing the rhythm of your landscape. I also benefit greatly by visiting friends’ backyards and talking with other gardeners to learn from their experiences, exchange ideas, and form new friendships.

I hope this November brings you some serenity in a very busy world. Enjoy the changes of the season and especially the anticipation of so many wonderful celebrations of the heart and soul. Thanksgiving Day should be a reminder of how truly blessed we are. If you can share your smile with somebody, they too will feel blessed.

As always I invite you to visit us at Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm and Ranch in Tumacacori. We are open year round. We have also started a Farm Stand and are currently selling our vegetables every Thursday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Gazebo next to the Out of the Way Galleria at 26 Tubac Plaza in Tubac. Call us first (520) 603-9932 to confirm since we might change our days as the season changes.

Many blessings, Tarenta Baldeschi

It has already been one full year describing the seasons and giving you suggestions on how to improve your gardens. When it comes around “Full Circle” it’s always a surprise to realize how quickly we pass through one year and its four seasons. Have you noticed how the garden can envelop (or swallow) you, and the time we spend gardening changes how we perceive life, time, and space?

Back to basics. This month of October provides an opportunity to reflect on the previous year and what you’d like to change. Last October I described the difference between frost hardy, frost tolerant, and frost sensitive plants; and how row covers of Remay, hoops and plastic , and a greenhouse can extend your seasons. What I have learned since last year is that the frost can come earlier—and harder than expected (it was 20 degrees in Tumacacori during the early morning hours last October 13th)—and that I need to take care of the plants much better. I’ll list some important steps you can take to care for your garden; note which ones you have already taken and which ones you can improve on:

Your soil is the key. It needs to be loose and rich in humus, which means a thick compost layer either worked in or used as the top layer. It is the food for the roots of your plants for the next six months.

Your plants need to be healthy and vigorous. Try to avoid any insect damage and stress from the elements in the early stations of growth or it will slow them down—and with the cold snaps they might just shut down completely. Take good care of them, from the start of seeding to transplanting.

Your water application needs to be in balance. Just enough moisture might not be enough and too much will drown them. To keep your topsoil, you will need to protect it with a good layer of mulch. Wood chips and straw are great blankets for the skin of the earth. It holds the moisture for days and doesn’t let the cold and heat in so easily.
Sunlight is a life force that is essential to keep plants growing in the next two seasons. If possible, don’t plant in the shade. Recognize your deciduous bushes and trees. How many hours does the sun reach your garden in the winter when the sun is the lowest? Try to have 4-6 hours minimum.

Row covers—Remay, plastic covered hoops, or a Greenhouse: the ultimate improvements. They don’t have to be expensive to be very effective, and I highly recommend them.

I love this season of change. There is a special sacredness that surrounds all of us. Our planet earth is talking to us, and when you start observing the elements and all life forms you will be enriched—you actually become part of the change and the rhythm of the seasons. Stand in the middle of your garden and reflect on the past, present and the future; experience the presence of a gift that keeps on changing.

As always I encourage you to have fun, joy, laughter, and lots of love in your heart. These are the best growing tools for your plants, yourself, and those around you—seen and unseen.

Of course I encourage you to arrange a tour or attend an event at Avalon Organic Gardens, Farm and Ranch. This month there will be a 3-day Global Sacred CosmoPop Concert & EcoFest at the Garden Friday October 23 through Sunday October 25. Enjoy camping if you like, vendors, an independent film, much music, and of course garden tours.  Contact us at (520) 603-9932. I look forward to meeting you there.