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Organic Gardening with Brandon, North Coast, San Diego California



Organic Gardening with Brandon
North Coast San Diego California

Pacific Kelp is one of the best kept gardening secrets. Rinsed and chopped, they are a magnificent addition to the compost pile. Micronutrient rich.
Pacific Kelp is one of the best kept gardening secrets. Rinsed and chopped, they are a magnificent addition to the compost pile. Micronutrient rich.

The sea has magical gardening secrets… and here, Brandon the Organic Gardener holds one in his right hand.

He rinses off the kelp, soaks it, chops it up, then adds it to his compost.

We wash our kelp, chop it up, then feed it to our little worms in their bins. They love it… but not quite as much as fresh mango pits.

We took a walk together in the late afternoon so that Brandon could teach us about how he manages his organic garden in front of his little house near North Coast, San Diego.

Brandon's Garden in Leucadia. Bessie and Lulu wander in the soil looking for grubs, mealworms, potato bugs and other critters. This small patch produces a tremendous amount of vegetables.
Brandon’s Garden in North Coast . Bessie and Lulu wander in the soil looking for grubs, mealworms, potato bugs and other critters. This small patch produces a tremendous amount of vegetables.

He has taught us a great deal about his style of patch gardening. Brandon loves nothing more than sharing his knowledge with his neighbors, friends and anyone who has an earand penchant to grow their own garden.

He believes gardening is one of the best ways to obtain the highest quality, most delicious and nutritionally dense food at virtually no cost.

In his estimation, the number one most important element of organic gardening is great soil. Great soil equals great crops.

His fisherman friends bring fresh raw fish parts and left over bait. Brandon buries them a foot deep in the garden, layering them with straw, kelp and compost.

The soil naturally composts during winter. In the spring, he adds rabbit “pellets” from neighbors, and he turns over the soil and prepares it for seeding.

By this time, the soil has become a rich, chocolate brown and has a fresh, clean, moist smell. Earthworms abound, and the soil is alive with useful flora.

Lulu the chicken scours the garden for delicious crawly treats. She is the number one pest control for the garden. She also provides delicious, beautiful little eggs.
Lulu the chicken scours the garden for delicious crawly treats. She is the number one pest control for the garden. She also provides delicious, beautiful little eggs.

Brandon has two little chickens, Bessie and Lulu. Each has their own individual sweet  personalities. When he arrives home every afternoon, he looses them from their pen and they eagerly run into the garden to search out bugs and treats.

They help keep pests to a minimum. They also have a penchant for broccoli shoots… so, even when Brandon is present, working in the garden with chickens, the broccoli shoots inevitably disappear, as if by magic. Here today, gone today!

The truth is, the chickens astutely wait for Brandon to turn his back before taking swift pecks at the tender shoots. Brandon will have to create a little wire barrier for the broccoli.

We have eaten from Brandon’s garden. We call it Brandon’s garden of Eden, as the vegetables produced are heavnely with flavor and sweetness.

He is a captain of Yummy Deliciousness in the world of home grown goodness.

Brandon happily teaches gardening secrets to anyone who wants to learn. So, if you have any questions, comment to us and we’ll be happy to have Brandon answer.

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