The Fink Farm Dirt

The first time I ever saw a bug hotel was in the yard of my nephew's house.  His wife, Kay, is one of the best urban homesteaders I've ever met. Her bug hotel was about the size of a Victorian doll house, had a moss roof and was work of art. I was enchanted. A bug house (or hotel) provides winter habitat for beneficial insects who, in turn, swarm awake in the spring, lay eggs and sweep your organic garden clear of aphids and mites. That's the theory anyway. "I first learned about bug/pollinator houses when taking a hike at a preserve, " Kay said. "They had a huge bug house on display.  It was really like a functional piece of artwork." Although she always wanted to create one, it wasn't until some neighbors started complaining about carpenter bees and discussing sprays to kill them that she decided to get to work. Other neighbors, who were advocates for pollinators and native plants and had made their farm a pollinator haven, served as inspiration. W...

Every time I go to Fink Farms, I pause at the lavender bush by the garden gate. First, I take a deep breath to inhale the scent. Then I take a good look at all the activity in and around the bush. The scent pushes the world back six feet, sets me back on my feet, centered and ready to go again.  The sights – gold and black bees hovering over purple blossoms, the winking of white butterfly wings in the sage branches, and even humming birds pausing overhead -- remind me this isn’t just a plant, it’s a universe. A good match California’s climate matches lavender’s native Mediterranean roots. The bright sun and dry summers make lavender a natural for California gardens. There are more than 45 species of lavender with more than 450 varieties, so it’s easy to find one that suits your garden’s specific characteristics. Colors range from white to pink to all variations of purple. The scent and the flowers draw in bees and butterflies. But it repels many pests such as fleas, mosquitos and...