COMMUNITY CORNER
We love where we LIVE and we LOVE showcasing what the Greater Pasadena area has to offer.
We have created this corner to highlight local organizations, businesses, and groups that we feel are an enhancement -and an asset- to our communities. We share their stories with our 50,000+ readers in the belief that a vibrant and happy communities are a direct result of events and experiences shared by many in the neighborhoods.
We thrive when we better our lives, one community at a time.
> Today’s experience comes from the Crescent Farm at the Arboretum.
Sedge Hedge at Crescent Farm (Photo – Jean Sudbury)
California is in the fourth year of a serious drought. No immediate resolution is in sight, even if the mysterious El Nino decides to make some lasting appearances. Across Southern California, many people are using diverse means of preserving water. Brown lawns do not seem to solve the problem. The dried greenery robs the air of what little moisture might be left. Replacing turf with gravel causes similar problems.
By Jean Sudbury
As a demonstration for solving the brown lawn and gravel problem, organic lawn substitutes are being planted at The Crescent Farm. They should spread and cover their designated areas by late winter or springtime, along with the self-seeded wildflowers. The lawn-substitutes which have been freshly planted include Kurapia “Turkey Tangle Frog Fruit”, Yarrow, Sedge Hedge, and Silver Carpet. Each of these plants requires very little water once established, and they are known to proliferate smoothly and beautifully.
Organic food forest
Fig tree at Crescent Farm (Photo – Jean Sudbury)
Alongside the lawn substitutes, an organic, drought-tolerant Mediterranean food forest has been planted with fruit trees which thrive in the low-water conditions. Pomegranates, figs, jujubes, and other Mediterranean climate fruit trees are finding happy new homes at the Crescent Farm. In an area which soaked up water and chemicals for approximately 75 years, traditional agriculture techniques are being used to reclaim the soil and make it useful and fertile again.
Saturdays at Crescent Farm
Crescent Farm (Photo – Facebook)
To learn more about these plants and the gardening techniques used, come to the Crescent Farm on Saturdays from 10-1 and learn from these creative individuals how to make a low-water garden of your own. Learn about Hugelkulture, bioswales, berms, and how to find the natural water directional flow through your space. Learn how to recycle cardboard, logs, and green cuttings to build a self-sustaining garden. Create nutritious mulch instead of throwing away dried leaves and other garden trimmings.
From expert organic gardeners, learn about water conservation and sustainable horticulture. Located in the midst of the Arboretum, west of Baldwin Lake, The Crescent Farm is a reclaimed landscape where ancient gardening techniques for water conservation and food production are currently being used. This educational training series helps to bring back agriculture traditions of the fertile area it once was. In this process, the richness of the loam is rebuilt. For hands-on gardening experience and education, please bring gloves, drinking water; wear close-toed shoes and a hat.
Crescent Farm Staff
Crescent Farm Staff (Photo – arboretum.org)
A team of experienced staff and volunteers help to make this project fruitful and the harvest bounteous:
Horticultural Supervisor- Jill Morganelli, Leigh Adams- Artist in Residence, John Latsko, and Yara Herrarte.
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> Crescent Farm Garden free Informative events take place Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The next informative event: “Drought Tolerant Plants” takes place on November 21.
> Free for non-members (with arboretum admission.) No registration required.
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