Coachella Valley Handmade- Patio Gardens

I'm excited about a new endeavor called Coachella Valley Handmade with my friend Anndee Laskoe of Baby Orange.  Our aim is to cover all things handmade, organic, and sustainable in and around the Coachella Valley.  Here is this week's post on gardening in small spaces...

Drying Herbs

All of the herbs in my garden are in their prime with the mild spring temperatures and recent rain.  Every morning I collect a bunch of herbs to dry and preserve them...my form of therapy. Like the oregano in the photo below which looks like a miniature rainforest.I want to be able to use the dried oregano throughout the summer, especially in our staple food...empanadas.  Other herbs I'm drying this time of year include mint, chamomile, marjoram, lavender and sage.

I dry my herbs under our patio cover in the garden.  If you are drying herbs outside, you just want to make sure to hang them upside down in a warm, dry, airy place out of the sun.  Here is a great resource for harvesting and preserving herbs...

Harvesting and Preserving Herbs for the Home Gardener

90% chance of rain!

I love stormy days in the desert.  It's almost mandatory to stay in bed an extra hour and catch up on my reading with a big mug of coffee on my hand-painted lemon leaf coaster, upcycled from corduroy pants and a cotton tablecloth. 

And I get to turn off the water in our garden for a few days...it's always my goal to get an 'Excellent' rating on our water bill, since water bills are tiered these days. It's nice to get rewarded with a lower bill for conserving water.

Phoebe Tops

This time of year in the Coachella Valley is the perfect weather for Phoebe tops ...

Guess where these two popular spots are?**

**In order to remain anonymous,

the models requested that I crop their faces.

Composting fabric

I'm finishing up making SmokeTree Totes for a garden party tomorrow.  They are made out of organic cotton and hemp fabric.  Very little fabric is wasted since I'm using the same material for my new collection of SmokeTree napkins and dishtowels.  The waste that I do have can be composted since any type of natural fiber (cotton, hemp, linen, wool)  will safely decompose and turn into nutrient rich soil.


After tomorrow's event, I will be back in my shipping container, working on converting it into my studio.  I also plan on making short video tutorials on how simple it is to compost...one of the easiest ways to decrease your everyday waste....Stay Tuned!