The Real Dirt

Flowers blooming

The Real Dirt blog covers regional gardening issues from soil health to planting for pollinators; from fire resistant landscaping to attracting wildlife. Read all about it!

Primary Image
Eva Case coffeeberry berries (Frangula californica), J. Alosi

No Fail Natives

October 23, 2020
One approach to dealing with drought conditions in the garden is to turn to native plants that are well-acclimated to our local environment. Some gardeners new to planting natives may be concerned that these plants might require special care, but in general they need not worry.
View Article
Primary Image
Appearance of water droplets "balled up" on water repellent soil (USFS, Wildland Fire in Ecosystems, Photo by DeBano, 1981)

Hold Your Ground: Mitigating the Effects of Fire on Your Soil

October 16, 2020
I first heard the term hydrophobic soils on the local news after the Camp Fire ravaged the Ridge and Butte Creek Canyon. This potentially catastrophic natural phenomenon seems counterintuitive: soils which are damaged by the intense heat of fire become water repellent.
View Article
Primary Image
Garlic drying, J .Alosi

Growing Garlic

October 9, 2020
Garlic is a species in the onion genus Allium, and therefore related to onions, shallots, leeks, and chives. It is flavorful, nutritious, and easy to grow. There are two types of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic is the easiest to grow.
View Article
Primary Image
Mulched fava bean start, J. Alosi

Meeting Nature Halfway

October 2, 2020
Imagine a healthy garden that grows, blooms, and produces food for you, your family and your neighbors, a garden that costs you very little money because everything it needs is already provided.
View Article