The Chef’s Garden by HGEL will support the growing food revolution by promoting HGEL’s approach to hyper-locavorism. At our first location, the HGEL urban growers at the Chef’s Garden will work with the best and brightest chefs and mixologists on the hot Abbot Kinney restaurant row in the heart of Venice, custom growing the rare culinary ingredients their craft demands…. all with a minimal carbon footprint and sustainable organic practice.

May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

There are so many ways you can help…with your time or donation. Just knowing that there are good people doing great things in your community can help inspire you.

So set your fears aside, seek your bliss, embrace and give thanks for what’s truly important in your life and take that first step… or shovel-full. We’re all starting over in some way. This is an opportunity to re-examine the way we live, the path we’re on and do something better.
Live a bit simpler…closer…greener… getting back to basics.

“It’s a no-brainer for organic sustainability gardeners but this graphic makes it so simple and clear for non-gardening folks. Treating the soil, soil food web, air, oceans and animals as one living being to be cared for and nourished is an idea that our agronomy forebearers had practiced for centuries.”

While enjoying this holiday, please take a moment to remember and honor our veterans’ sacrifice and prepare to help those returning vets through what may be their most difficult mission yet…coming home. Here’s one organization that holds special meaning for me… Farmers Veteran Coalition

Did you know….

– Fossil records show that the human use of plants as medicine dates back 60,000 years ago (solecki et al., 1975)
– Plants and their derivatives represent of 50% of all drugs in clinical use
– 3.5 – 4 BILLION of the global population rely on plants for drugs (Farnsworth, 1988)
– Nearly 95% of plants used in traditional medicines are collected from forests and other natural sources.
– Almost half of the 25 top selling pharmaceuticals were either natural product or their derivatives (O’Neill, 1993)

Happy Anniversary to the mar’sel edible garden! This is Part Four in this blog series on “The Rebirth of a Garden”. Be sure to read Part 1, 2 and 3 for a great community story as well as great tips and resources on soil management, edible planting strategies and design tips.

It was a beautiful day to be playing in the dirt! A beautiful surrounding landscape, gorgeous views, great mild weather….gardening perfection at Terranea!

This landscape was speaking to me…..and then I saw the raised beds outside of mar’sel restaurant… What message could a successful and productive commercial edible garden send to the public strolling by to the beach or on their way to dinner? “Here we are….we’re growing our own food just like you!” the garden could shout out! “Come see what we’re doing and be inspired!” the garden could scream! I couldn’t just walk away.