Gamay Noir is one of Europe's great red wine grapes, but it hasn't made the same inroads in North America that its cousins, such as Merlot, have enjoyed – yet. One place it's breaking ground is in Oregon's Willamette Valley, which isn't as famous as Napa or Sonoma – yet. We ...read more
As we enter fall and prepare for the winter ahead, some gardeners may give up on the edible part of their gardens. But along with colorful winter flowers and shrubs, there are a surprising number of vegetables that do especially well in the winter: plant them now and have fresh, ...read more
Succulents are hot-weather plants in their native habitats, but they're shockingly easy to grow indoors in any climate. They're easy to find at any plant nursery, but if you're gardening on a budget, they grow beautifully from cuttings. When taking them from cuttings, let the ...read more
Osteria Mamma may be located in Hollywood, California, but nothing about it fits the glitzy neighborhood's stereotype amongst Italian restaurants in Los Angeles. The restaurant is quiet, cozy, and at press time doesn't even have a wine license. And the food doesn't aim for ...read more
Robert Sinskey Vineyards doesn't have the storied history that some other California wineries have - it's only been around for about 20 years. Still it has become one the most-respected biodynamic growers in the business in that time (they switched to biodynamic and organic ...read more
If the gardening bug has bitten you hard, it can be difficult to let your garden go fallow over the winter. On the other hand, in colder climates, it can be difficult to motivate yourself into heading out into the frosty air. But as it happens, there are a ton of low-maintenance ...read more
For $5 a bottle, you're not going to find a better wine made with organic grapes than Sterling Vineyard's Cabernet Sauvignon. And this is no Two Buck Chuck of organic wine: it's genuinely delicious. They could get away with charging more, so stockpile it before they figure that ...read more
Labor Day 2010 has come and gone, marking the end of summer of many people. But for the home gardener, there is still plenty of planting and circulating to be done, whether it's starting your first winter squashes or rotating out one herb for another. To help you find supplies, ...read more
Charlie Barra is the 83-year-old proprietor of Barra of Mendocino, a winery producing organic grapes in Northern California's Redwood Valley. He purchased the land in 1954, and planted new vines the next year. As a California winemaker for over 60 years, he's a legend just for ...read more
For those of us without outdoor space, it might seem like having your own garden is an impossible notion. But while it's true that most vegetable plants can only thrive outside, there are actually a number of veggies that are perfectly happy growing inside – and some of them are ...read more
Many herbs (and vegetables, and fruits, and even some decorative plants) that are commonly grown in kitchen gardens have useful medicinal properties. They can cure stomachaches and stress and everything in between, and you've probably got them growing already. 1.Make tea from ...read more
Tony's Darts Away, in Burbank, California, was first founded in 1978, aspiring to nothing more than a place for locals to come grab a beer and play some darts. This year it came under new ownership and though the layout stayed the same, there are quite a few subtle, ...read more
Those plants you've got growing on the balcony or in your backyard have an unlimited number of uses. And we're not just talking ways to cook them: your skin and hair are just waiting to be pampered by these easy, DIY (do-it-yourself) home beauty recipes. They'll save you money - ...read more
Undoubtedly, the greatest joy of growing your own garden is eating all the fresh food it produces. But there's a catch: if you're lucky enough to get a huge harvest, you might not be able to eat it all. After two weeks straight of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, your mouth ...read more
California is generally seen as a place full of good food: after all, just about anything can be grown successfully somewhere in this huge state. However, excellent restaurants tend to congregate in specific areas like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Napa. In the past, Orange ...read more
Crystallized flowers are a lovely addition to homemade desserts, and they’re fun to make at home, especially with your own home-grown edible flowers. They add color and a sweet crunch to cake, crème brulee, ice cream, pudding, tarts…anywhere you want to add some interest. Our ...read more
There are plenty of products available at garden stores that claim to rid plants of pests or mold and other diseases. But these products are of dubious origin: even the organic sprays have unintelligible ingredients. Plus, they can get pretty expensive for the avid home ...read more
Some home gardeners may struggle with choosing between edible plants or ornamental plants, but as it turns out, there is a fair amount of overlap between the two varieties. Many flowers can be incorporated into recipes or used to seriously spruce up items like drinks, salads, ...read more
One of the most difficult parts of being an informed eater is deciding which culinary paths to follow. Do you shop only at farmers’ markets, or are organic supermarket products acceptable? What makes more sense, pescetarian or flexitarian? The answers to these questions might be ...read more
Most home gardeners are working with confined spaces, be they tiny dirt plots or a simple, yet beautiful row of pots on a balcony. But limited garden space doesn’t have to mean tiny plants. One tomato container has enough room for five happy, prolific plants, and two rows of ...read more
Kitchen gardens can be anything you have the time and space for: big or small, indoors or out, decorative or edible. Whatever style you choose, there’s one thing your container garden doesn’t have to be: expensive. In fact, there are so many materials found materials out there ...read more