A SECRET GARDEN OF SORTS: GROW NATIVE NURSERY

Today I went to a "secret" garden. Grow Native is actually a nursery, but it is definitely a new development in West LA in association with Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens and Veteran's Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Being, so new these links are the only real information on the nursery. I accredit this great find to my friend Carolyn, whose savvy seeks out many a treasure in Los Angeles.

In addition to great plants and a very informative staff, (one of whom came from the Rancho Santa Ana botanic Garden) this treasure is also home to a beautiful exotic bird sanctuary. After being greeted by the caws and hellos of these lovely creatures themselves, we met Christopher, an avid bird lover who is also turning his passions into a business. Featherpeutic teaches about birds and their eco-systems, the proper care and right handling of birds, all while showing off their dazzling natural talents.

LOMO PHOTOS

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: MESHING CULTURES & TRADITION LA STYLE

Saturday my husband and I went to the 12th Annual Dia de los Muertos at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. It was our first time. This fun event brought a modern LA take to a long standing Mexican tradition, popularizing and bringing together people from many cultures as our LA community uniquely does. Traditionally, the Day of the Dead takes place on November 1st coinciding with All Saints Day, but holding it on a Saturday allowed for more festivities and more people to be able to attend. As a photographer, it was a sensory overload of colorful visual stimuli, from the painted faces and costumes of people to, flowers and memorabilia of exhibits; all quite amazing and inspiring.

My only criticism of the event is that they did not allow for bicycle parking, which in LA these days is a bit behind the times. All events should promote if not sponsor more clean & efficient transportation, such as biking, which is in itself becoming a large community in LA. There was however an exhibit at the event that called some awareness to the biking community and bike safety. I have a small photo below. For Cinespia movie nights at the cemetery they do allow bikers to come in, so I don't understand why this event couldn't find a way to do the same. Otherwise, the whole day was full of fun activities for all which included face painting, interactive exhibitions, music and traditional dance, and delicious food! Below are just some of the photos I took of LA's Dia de los Muertos.

GREEN GROUNDS: AN LA GARDEN PROJECT

Last Sunday I built a garden in South Central Los Angeles with a friend and the nonprofit group LA Green Grounds. I found out about this group via a Master Gardner Workshop at The Natural History Museum, taught by Florence Nishida. A huge advocate of sustainability through our community and gardening, Florence believes that hands on participation is as important as the information she teaches. The Green Grounds project is about building edible and sustainable gardens in an area where healthy, affordable food options are hard to come by. This was a great experience as a gardener in training and also in building and understanding our communities in Los Angeles. We often feel very disconnected as Angelenos as we are blessed and cursed living in a sprawling urban city of diverse communities. Events like this help to remind me that we can always do something and be involved in our own local communities and even the community at large. In an era of global politics and economics through technology, it can be hard to stay connected to one another on a basic level even though we are virtually "connected" all the time. Sometimes it is about getting down and dirty with fellow citizens, putting our hands in the soil and actually sowing the seeds for hope and change together. We then come to realize how much we really can accomplish as a collective community and as human beings. I feel so grateful for this experience and all the inspiring people I have met along the way. I hope to translate the practical knowledge I have gained into starting my own garden with my neighbors. Now I know that staying involved in my community and really participating is the only way to really promote growth and change for a better future. LA Green Grounds is a real grass roots program and anyone can join. So check out their website and maybe I'll see you at the next dig in! Below are some photos from our exhilarating day!

The family plants a fruit tree.

Emily (left) one of the host's family members & Vanessa (right) from LA Green Grounds

WOAD BLUE: A FRENCH GENERAL WORKSHOP

This past weekend I tried out a Woad workshop through French General. I was turned onto this amazing dye workshop by my ever inspiring friend and floral designer, My Linh.

The day started with donuts and coffee at French General where we shopped around and chatted. French General is a crafter's dream. Located between Silverlake and Atwater Village, it is only open Mondays 11am-4pm and workshop days, but you can peruse and shop online anytime. The store offers unique design inspirations such as beads, fabrics, pins, and other small crafts mostly coming from France. The owner, Kaari Meng also has a blog: The Warp and The Weft, where she shares her latest inspirations. Below are images from inside her store.

Thirty minutes later we made our way to Elysian Park where we were greeted by the woad expert and enthusiast, Denise Lambert (pictured below). Denise travels yearly from France just to teach and share her love of woad with eager Angelenos. You can also visit her studio in France: Bleu de Lectoure where she and her husband grow and cultivate the plants which they eventually extract the pigment from to make woad dye. At Bleu de Lectoure you can buy the dye, take workshops, or buy clothing dyed woad blue. There is also an Academy of Arts and Sciences of Woad in Toulouse, France where the woad trade was very prosperous in the early to mid 15th Century. It was used to dye the uniforms of Napoleon Bonaparte and garments of royalty throughout Europe until Indigo and other synthetic dyes took over. Woad is 100% natural and produces some breathtaking and unique varieties of pastel and occasionally darker blues.

The effects of the blues vary based on fabrics but also on how many times you dip your article into the dye. Whatever you are dying must be fully submerged in order to hold the dye. When first pulled out it is almost a pastel green/turquoise, but as the fabric oxidizes it turns the desired bluish color. Then you can dip again to achieve darker blues. The more natural the fabric the better the dye holds, and should not fade over time. The chemical process of achieving woad dye is a bit complicated and fickle, but the results are stunning!

DOCUMENTARY RECOMMENDATIONS

Recently I've watched two really great documentaries.

1. Bill Cunningham New York

This is a look at a long time street photographer who has worked for The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, and Details. Bill Cunningham, an avid street fashion follower since the 1950s spends hours and hours photographing street fashion and in essence observing the trends. Bill is a modest man, how knows what he wants out of life, not allowing anything superfluous to interfere with his main love, photographing fashion. He doesn't dress up for any situation or put on heirs when rubbing shoulders with the rich and social elite. Up until recently he lived in a modest studio above Carnegie Hall with no kitchen and still is found riding his bike around the city with his camera. He is known to refuse money which could increase his wealth, but in turn chooses to forgo the financial obligation that comes with payment, continuing to do what he wants how he wants. He is not interested in fame or fortune, not even status, yet has gained much respect and infamy in the fashion world, world wide. He is always a welcome guest at the most exclusive events. His keen eye and taste inspire fashionistas to dress in hopes of being captured by him. Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour states dressing for Bill and being devastated when he doesn't photograph her. This documentary is fun for people who like fashion, inspiring for photographers and art lovers, and also a refreshing portrait of a man who lives a modest but invigorating life. It shows that one can stay down to earth and true to his values and still achieve great success.

2. Herb and Dorothy

This is another peak into the art world via two collectors, Herbert and Dorothy Vogel. Unlike most collectors exposed in films and magazines, this couple is also very modest and uninterested in status. They live their lives on a shoestring budget of a postal worker and librarian, spending all their extra money on art. Like Bill Cunningham, the Vogels are inevitibly part of high society with no real interest in the fame or fortune of it. They just love art, collecting it, and supporting the art community. In the film they are shown in their one bedroom apartment that seems more like a storage facility, full of works from lesser known artists to the more famed Sol Lewitt, Donald Judd, and Chuck Close. Many of their pieces were acquired in the 1960s when these artists were selling work for cheap. The Vogels even got a few pieces on trade. Instead of selling works and choosing to become millionaires, Herb and Dorothy have now donated their collection to The National Gallery in Washington DC and are in the process of distributing what else they have to other states because they just had too many works. This is a different kind of philanthropy that is less shown today in the art world or in many circles. They refer to their art collection as their child that has been raised well and put out into the world for others to know and enjoy. You can view their collection here. I highly recommend this documentary for art lovers as well as for the story about two generous, modest people who wanted to share their passion for art with the world.

Both of these films show what can be achieved when passion overcomes greed and modesty and dedication overcome desire for fame and fortune. Both films are inspiring, and hopefully not the exceptions, but rather are just two of the many examples of how we can all have a passion filled meaningful existence through our own hard work, dedication, and involvement in our respective communities.

OREGON TRIP PART II: MY FARM FAMILY

Two weeks is not really enough time to get to know people well, but in a short amount of time I felt I shared a meaningful time with the people I met on Riverside Farm. So I would like to introduce my "farm family".

Jackie, the farm's owner, was a kind spirited woman full of interesting tales from teaching Science in southern California to meeting a mysterious medicine man in the desert. She was open to our stories too and could almost be called a spiritual or at least philosophical guide. Her farm definitely has brought together an interesting mix of people from all over the world, whose stories seemed to interweave together in an uncanny way.

In addition to teaching us all a bit more about herbs and farming, she taught us to listen to our hearts (or that "inner voice"); and not to always make assumptions of people or situations at face value, yet use that inner voice to guide us.

Tom is a long time friend of Jackie's, and much needed handyman who passes by yearly to help on the farm. In addition to doing some of the more complicated work that Jackie and her wwoofers are unable to do, Tom is a kind spirit who also had many interesting tales. When he's not on the road, the unmistakable Bostonian makes his homestead between Laguna Beach and Belize, where he has a flourishing ecotourism business.

Charlie, a mostly inward young girl who recently moved from China to Wisconsin for studies, was a bit harder to know. Clearly smart, philosophical, and adventuresome with an admittedly darker humor and an eye for photography herself. She was funny and full of energy and definitely brought an interesting perspective to our group.

Emily, an American born English girl, was a fast friend. After day one it was as if we were almost inseparable. I felt we could speak openly about anything, laugh, and console one another without judgment or discomfort. She was also the savior I spoke of when it came to my fear of spiders. Emily came to the farm as her first step at hopefully making America her home. Spending time with her in the magical town of McMinville gave me a refreshed appreciation and perspective on a country I often have many grievances with. Sometimes you feel people are just great souls and mates, and I believe I found one in Emily.

Andrei, a Utahan, by way of Austin, Texas was a refreshing mix to our group of gals. I connected with him initially over our ties to Texas. I feel I did not give him enough credit though for his kindness and openness. This was mainly due to my obsession with his dog, Barkley (photo below). Andrei another spirit on a quest, trying to find a life a bit more suited to his passions while also keeping the bank, decided to revisit the state where he graduated college and join us in a wwoofing adventure. He was kind and hard working, taking the hard jobs that most of us girls were in no hurry to volunteer for: swimming in a rank river to dislodge a broken water pump, carrying a half decayed sheep to burial, and working in a pen with a surly and somewhat dangerous goat. His keen sense to buy face masks while we cleaned a dusty chicken coop caked in poo, was an astute and much appreciated idea. Taking interest in all of us and seeing his blog, I think he could find his success in writing for sure. Check it out here: http://travelswithbarkley.wordpress.com/.

Now for the animals. While Barkley was not an official animal of Riverside Farms, I think he should receive an honorary recognition. He was so well behaved, always with a smile on his face, and really brought out the love that only man's best friend can. He was not only popular with us but everyone he met in town and I'm sure wherever he goes. While Andrei, probably hopes to use him as lady bait, I think he should be weary that some lady doesn't just want to snatch him up. It's like finding the right parent for your child I would think.

MacBeth, the Chinese rooster who crowed morning and afternoon & Hundertwasser, the peacock named after an Austrian artist. Hudert, as Jackie called him for short, liked to stare at himself in a mirror, jump on the roof, or hide in the bushes. He also liked fig newtons.

This is Buckey, the calm yet distant alpaca. These shots were the closest I could get to him before he quickly backed away. Gotta love the haircut!

Unfortunately I don't remember the mom's name, but Lila, the the lamb on the left was pretty much Jackie's equivalent of a dog. Every evening and many mornings she would come baaing for her bottle of milk, which Jackie was weening her from. Very persistent and seemingly loyal, she followed Jackie around almost constantly, but she really hated to be pet.

Eyore and Jenny were the farm's donkeys. They were sweet and friendly, and would smile when you fed them apples. I'm so glad I got to capture this! Thanks again to Emily for feeding and telling them "smiles" in her charming British accent. They wouldn't always do it for me.

Bam Bam was the miniature horse who is also the symbol of the McMinville Public Market. He loved to be pet and would watch us chopping wood or feeding the donkeys in hopes we would feed him again.

I don't remember all the goats names either, except Narusse, the surly one off in the distance below. The one with the green collar liked me a lot because I once saved some food in the feeding bucket and gave it to her. She seemed to think I would do it every day, but I wasn't playing favorites.

Some more photos of activity on the farm. Tom & Jackie discussing how to calm Narusse, by moving his wife back in with him. She did not like it one bit! Poor thing.

Veggies and fruits from Jackie's garden.

Andrei was well experienced with chickens, and had raised some of his own prior to this trip. He taught me how to pick one up. I wish someone had gotten a photo of that!

Charlie loved the trampoline!

Here's one of me, taken by Charlie. She really did have a good eye for photos too. I hope she can pursue it.