We are a 1.68 acre food forest and wildlife habitat, using only permaculture methods of natural soil Solutions come with a little patience and elbow grease.
In February, 2011, our property began its permaculture make-over, converting it from an erosion-rich palm tree and w**d lot into a functioning, sculpted water-catching and food-growing landscape and habitat by fall. Diane Kennedy, P.D.C., is owner and idea-woman behind the property and the Finch Frolic Garden business. Home of the Kennedy family since 1999, this 1.68 acre watershed property had gr
eat potential -- it's what sold Diane on it. The beauty of the wild natural streambed at the bottom of the property was part of the inspiration for a garden that brought together the needs and passions central in Diane's life: habitat, food, and beauty. An intersection of permaculture discovery, the need to make something of the place, and the chance moment in which the doing was possible (time, funds, connections, etc.), brought Finch Frolic into existence. The garden is a dynamic place of work, wonder, bounty, and beauty. We are always fixing and making something, but the garden is always giving. For information about booking tours or consultations, please visit http://www.vegetariat.com/ .
[UNDER CONSTRUCTION :) ]
Operating as usual
Upcoming Event – Fallbrook Climate Action Team
Upcoming Event Register here for the November 29th, 2022 presentation on Equity and Climate Change.https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcO2orzwtH91-mrSNsUCqvnHCvR-1EMQk HISTORY OF PREVIOUS EVENTS #74 Equity & Climate Change Watch Video Here: You Tube Recording #73 Managing Water in the...
The last Open Tour of Finch Frolic Garden Permaculture will be this Sunday Nov. 20th from 10 to noon. We also have for sale our jars of homegrown and homemade plum jam, guava jam, plum BBQ sauce, dill pickles, and more. We will open the gates at 9:30. Quantity is limited, but all are fresh, yummy, and make excellent additions to Thanksgiving or for Christmas gifts. We also will have frozen fruit from our garden so that you can make your own pies and smoothies. The garden will reopen March 1. Thanks so much for your support!
Why you should cut down or get rid of your tropical milkw**d, if you love Monarchs!
Monarchs are battling Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE), a parasite that creates sticky spots on the developing butterfly's abdomen and ruins their beautiful ...
We're on a mission to deepen our connection to the seed that sustains us.
Our dear friend, Don Tipping of Siskiyou Seeds is leading us in an immersive workshop, "The Source of Seeds", on October 29th and 30th.
We utilize these workshops to train our staff on seed selection, seed culture and various other nuances of building a bioregional seed bank. We would love for you to join us for this epic experience. Click the link below to save your spot today!
https://www.theecologycenter.org/event/source-of-seeds/2022-10-29/
We will be at the Fall Garden Festival on Sat. Nov. 5th! We will speak at 12 on stopping erosion, but there are great workshops all day. The Water Conservation Garden
12122 Cuyamaca College Dr West
El Cajon, CA 92019https://thegarden.org/fall-garden-festival/
Fall Garden Festival
Come join me at Murrieta Library this Saturday at 1.
Fall Garden Advice - https://mailchi.mp/cdfb69f06fc5/spring-garden-advice-11821873
Planting in compost builds soil and produces very tasty, long-lasting, and often insect-free vegetables.
We are cancelling the Sunday, August 21st Open Tour due to heat concerns. We plan on resuming our monthly tours on Sunday, September18th. Stay hydrated, safe, and be sure to care for your pets and wildlife! Thanks, Diane
Its not about honeybees: Stop spraying pesticides! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYgDssQUtA&ab_channel=DWPlanetA
Think honey bees are disappearing? Or that the more hives we have the better? Think again. Here's why they're the bad boys of the bee world, and what we shou...
This is what we need to do. These are water catchment basins planted with native grasses. The water is caught, sinks, irrigates grasses, and spreads between to water native trees. The trees are protected from grazing animals. Soon it will be a forest, there will be water in the water table, stable soil, rich habitat and plenty of water for people to use responsibly. This doesn't mean lawns and thirsty ornamental landscapes. Here is the link to this video. Many more are posted on our Water Management playlist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPJ9T4yAEGs&ab_channel=DWNews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1Vt8oPCZiE&ab_channel=DownToEarth
In arid and dry landscape of Rajasthan this village stands out like a green oasis. Lapodiya, with little over 300...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpozw1CAxmU&ab_channel=AndrewMillison
Permaculture instructor Andrew Millison reveals his picks for the 5 most epic Earth healing projects in the world. And......Offset your carbon footprint on W...
![Spring Garden Advice - *|https://mailchi.mp/[######]/spring-garden-advice|*](https://img5.foodbevg.com/081/760/1993538120817608.jpg)
Spring Garden Advice - *|https://mailchi.mp/[######]/spring-garden-advice|*
Parasites have been kept in check until 2000 when more people got involved: "From my view of the world, I see three anthropogenic practices that have all arisen during the save-the-monarchs movement, and each of these probably has some influence on this, because of what we know about its influence on OE numbers. They are, in no particular order: 1) commercial monarch breeding operations, where thousands of monarchs are raised, sold, and shipped around the country for release. These monarchs are often infected with OE (we've checked). And, these operations are always touting that their monarchs are helping to boost the population 2) homeowner rearing of monarchs for release. If people rear more than just a few monarchs, their kitchen-rearing operations have the potential to result in major OE spread. 3) planting of tropical milkw**d. In places where it doesn't freeze, this milkw**d has been proven to enhance local OE spread."
So plant native milkw**d, or cut down your tropical milkw**d every Fall, and don't take caterpillars into the house to raise!
Hello everyone, This might be the most sobering blog post I've ever written about monarchs, and so I hope you pay close attention. I also hope that after reading this, you share it with every single person you know who cares a whit about monarchs, because this information should be shouted from the....
Come see us speak about what native plants are best for birds! The San Diego Bird Festival: five days of great information! Miranda and I speak Friday at 3. https://web.cvent.com/event/aae82c07-5ab4-4fd5-8d61-71f4365814aa/summary
Spring Garden Tips and What We Are Up To - https://mailchi.mp/5d7d9bd9f6d5/spring-garden-tips-and-what-we-are-up-to
Next to Nature Certification Program - San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy
SDRVC's Next to Nature Program encourages creation of wildlife habitats in yards that border preserves, canyons, parks and other open spaces.
Get a glimpse into Finch Frolic Garden via Everything Fallbrook: https://everythingfallbrook.org/2021/05/22/take-a-virtual-tour-of-a-local-treasure-finch-frolic-garden/
Take a virtual tour of a local treasure: Finch Frolic Garden May 22, 2021 Meet Diane Kennedy of Finch Frolic Garden. She is amazing at landscaping any space into a permaculture dreamscape!! One visit to her Finch Frolic Garden paradise and you’ll be hooked on having an organic natural self sustain...
https://www.meetup.com/homesteaders-50/events/277890347/ A free cob building workshop in Lemon Grove!
Sat, May 8, 2021, 10:00 AM: This May, Autumn Randolph will be hosting this natural building workshop series, focused around the pallet-cob method, in which walls are built with reclaimed shipping pall
Finch Frolic Garden's monthly tours are on the third Sundays of the month at 10. Come learn about how you can use permaculture in your yard. RSVP to [email protected]. More information is at www.vegetariat.com.
Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 10:00 AM: We are open with restrictions: All attendees MUST wear masks and keep appropriately distant from others. Miranda and I are taking the virus very seriously and still want t
Happy Tenth Anniversary! - *|www.vegetariat.com|*
Pruning: the basics
Pruning: the basics Posted on February 25, 2021 by Diane A young peach tree volunteer, pruned its first year for height and health. Pruning is a point of contention with me. If you plant a plant in the right place, meaning that it has room enough to grow to its full potential without having to be co...
Habits I’ll Keep Post COVID-19
Habits I’ll Keep Post COVID-19 Posted on February 2, 2021 by Diane At our house we already repurpose and recycle, and mend as much as we can. The COVID-19 pandemic made us wonder about supply availability, food security, and even more about our footprint on this planet. As we live in a fire zone, ...
So sorry to lose Farmer Bill. If you don't know about City Farmer's Nursery, or of its origins, read about Bill's guts and determination to change policy.
We wish we were able to share this news personally with each of you, the way Bill would have: across the nursery's front counter - the place he was happiest - where you approach as a customer and leave as a friend.
On Tuesday, after a six year, extraordinary and uphill battle against cancer and liver failure, our founder, Bill Tall, passed away. He was at home, surrounded by the ever-present sounds of the nursery; the background music of a life well lived.
A true Individual - there was, and will only ever be, one Farmer Bill.
In 1972, at the age of 16, Bill came down to an undeveloped bit of land at the corner of Home & Euclid, putting in long days for nearly fifty years - days that he said never felt like work at all because he loved it so - Bill built a place unlike any other.
The youngest son of Nathan and Bertha Tall, from an early age Bill has been a tireless advocate for school and community gardens, children's access to nature, farm animals, and hands-on learning.
Bill was a multi-year president of CAN, the California of Nurserymen. He was a community business advocate, a small business proponent, and the founder of Nate's Deli (now Nate's Garden Grill). He did all this, and so much more, from his little bit of the country in the heart of the city.
Thank you for being with Bill and us through his journey. Our journey now, together, continues.
The nursery will pause business this week, reopening Thursday, February 4th, allowing our family and staff time together. Sunday curbside pickup will remain open. We thank you for your patience and grace as we mourn, gather ourselves, and prepare for a future guided by our founder's brilliance, heart, humor, and love for plants and people.
Services will be held on Friday, January 29th, at 1pm PST. Because of Covid precautions, we will be streaming the service - the link will be available at cityfarmersnursery.com
If you'd like to read more about Bill's journey and the folks who made it possible, please go to cityfarmersnursery.com/farmerbill
Visit CityFarmersNursery.com to view service recording and learn more about Bill's memorial scholarship.
Warmly,
The Tall & City Farmers Nursery family
Fire and Heat Tips - https://mailchi.mp/5e5a7725e920/fire-and-heat-tips
Heat-proof your animals!
We are excited to have scheduled an additional August Open tour, on Saturday August 15 at 10, because our regular Sunday tour is full. Please RSVP to [email protected], and wear a mask. See more information at www.vegetariat.com. Thanks!
August Permaculture Tips - *www.vegetariat.com*
Finch Frolic Garden Permaculture has reopened for tours as of July, 2020. Our monthly tour will be held on the third Sunday of the month, and private tours can be arranged. We are capping our attendance to 10 people. ALL VISITORS MUST WEAR MASKS, and social distancing will be observed. Please respect the health of those around you; the COVID-19 virus is NOT gone, and we here at FFG Permaculture are taking all precautions to insure your health safety and our own. If you show up for a tour without a mask, you may not attend the tour. Please see our website at www.vegetariat.com for more information and directions. RSVP at [email protected]. Thanks, and be safe!
Slime molds identified at Finch Frolic Garden. ***WORK IN PROGRESS*** Not all species have been uploaded yet. :) Kingdom (or unranked grouping) Protista
Protista is not a natural grouping like Animalia, Plantae and Fungi are, but instead is the mystery box of living things that don't fit into those other three kingdoms. There is debate even about whether Protista is a kingdom or not. But it's where we put the very diverse organisms we loosely refer to as "slime molds" for convenience.
(Some slime mold are in the unranked classification Amoebozoa, too, but it's all still very undecided, so we call them protists to save time).
Happy Earth Day!
The ecological repercussions of our global lock-downs are one of the few and consistent bright spots in this difficult time -- if you're not seeing some of those types of posts in your feeds, definitely seek them out as a great way to boost your mood.
Also remember that citizen science is a vital resource for expanding our understanding of our universe. There are *tons* of citizen science projects out there, and many you can participate in from inside your home or within your own property. Even submitting photos you have from past adventures (as well as current at-home observations) to projects that will identify your organism is significant, as you're adding data points to the bank: each submission is a record that shows that organism is present at a particular time in a particular place and had a certain morphology (physical characteristics which can be different within the same species). The raw data that allows us to discover trends and make tailored management decisions!
Maybe check out eBird, BugGuide.Net (https://bugguide.net/node/view/6/bgimage), INaturalist, Butterflies and Moths of North America (https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/get-involved), Project Pond Watch (http://www.migratorydragonflypartnership.org/index/welcome?execution=e1s4), or Bumble Bee Watch (https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/). There are also plenty of projects that look into our galaxy or examine inorganic things on Earth. Take a peek at all the options at https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/ and simply web search "citizen science project" + a key term for something you're interested in. It will be out there, and it's an extremely useful use of your time and effort -- and just totally cool!
Stay safe, keep heart, find whatever you can to enjoy and keep yourself and your friends and family engaged!
Grow what you like to eat, plant mindfully, and don't be afraid to experiment. It's amazing what you can be chowing down on after growing it yourself -- and you had complete control over what went into that part of your nutrition!
In the photo -- the day's harvest: Chinese white and pink celery, navel oranges, lettuce mix including the scrumptious Little Gem, and fabulously decorative and functional King Tut purple-podded peas squeaking together with all-green Wandos.
Miranda and I send the wish of best of health to all of you. As this pandemic rolls over the world it is pulling us out of bad habits and making us focus on necessity. Gardening, working and talking with family, eating meals together, learning together, and especially, patience, are the other side of the coin from the fear. The biggest lesson is that we must plant food. Whether you have pots, a bright window, access to a community garden, or an acre, we must plant food. Ask how over the Internet. Read online books and blogs. Read the packet instructions. Look for perennial plants and fruit trees. Our lives will depend upon the availability and quality of our food, and now while we are home we can practice and learn. Let's make Victory Gardens again, for our own survival. Please do not use commercial fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, or any 'cide'. Ask questions... we are here to help!
Come visit our food forest Nov. 17th, for our last tour of the year.
Instead of neat rows of monoculture, forest gardens combine fruit and nut trees, shrubs, herbs, vines and perennial vegetables together in one seemingly wild...
BIRD ALERT: Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
A new species for the property and a first ever sighting of the species for me -- what a fall treat!
This devilishly handsome squeaker has been camping out around the little front pond we look out on from our bay window for three days in a row, now. The smaller size and grayer tone of this towhee compared to the big, brassy California Towhees twigged me to a potential unfamiliar face. Its lime-brushed wings and tail, rusty cap and neat, creamy throat patch I could easily make out in my zoom confirmed what I hoped -- our upgrade to three towhee species!
The Green-tailed Towhee has a call that's as noticeable and distinct as the Spotted Towhee's, although simpler and much more squeaky. It's wonderful to be busy doing other things in the house and hear those silly "merwee!" sounds filtering through the windows and know our new friend's still about.
'Tis the season for bird movement, and some welcome strangers are passing through all the time: keep checking in to try and make their acquaintances before they go!
Corn Stalks as Pea Stakes
Corn Stalks as Pea Stakes Published October 24, 2019 by Diane Our corn grew to a ginormous 10′ height this year in our raised pallet beds. The roots of corn are very sturdy; we usually cut the stalks above the roots, and allow the roots to stay in the ground to decompose. Often they are there a ye...
October at Finch Frolic - https://mailchi.mp/797f3e5a9411/october-at-finch-frolic
Its over 100F today, with very high humidity, yet most of our plants are barely wilted,including delicate squash leaves. Its all because of the organics in and on the soil. Several inches of mulch protect the soil and plant roots from heat extremes and accelerated evapotranspiraton. Burying sticks and wood under and around plants helps hold moisture and build microbial life. I've seen some scorched, stressed and dried-out plants at other properties, and they've all had all the leaves raked out and bare exposed soil. Keeping the plants hydrated will prevent them from catching fire quickly. Please mulch your leaves!
New Wildlife Camera Angle
New Wildlife Camera Angle Published July 10, 2019 by Miranda POND FROLICS …A resounding success. This entry was posted in Permaculture and Edible Forest Gardening Adventures and tagged Animals, Ducks, Game Camera, Pond plants, Ponds. Bookmark the permalink.
Puppy Time
Puppy Time Published July 3, 2019 by Miranda POND FROLICS Four silly yappi-yotes!We viewed the latest batch of wildlife camera photos the other day and were treated to a stop-motion movie of young coyote antics in the back of the little pond. Every year, we’ve only had the evidence of crepuscular ...
390 Vista Del Indio
Fallbrook, CA
92028
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