1. using efficient irrigation, techniques, and more with Christy Wilhelmi

2. Lowest rainfall in years Only 52% of regular rainfall for the year “Only 1 year of water left” according to NASA New Mandate to reduce water usage by 25%

5. Use Biointensive Methods Use Rain Barrels & BioSwales to Capture Water Use Drip Irrigation & Mulch Locally Adapted Seed

6. Soil Food Web – coined by Dr. Elaine Ingham

7. Bio-Intensive Biodynamic, French Intensive, Grow BioIntensive, Square Foot Gardening

8. Rudolph Steiner – 1920s-30s Treats the farm/garden as an organism Integration of crops and livestock Recycling of nutrients – compost holds water! Uses lunar calendar as guide for when to plant

9. Conditions the soil to 24 inches – compost holds water Double Digging Uses Raised Beds – mounds Plant Closely together in hexagonal pattern – wide rows Succession planting

10. Alan Chadwick brought the two together Jon Jeavons – Ecology Action How to Grow More Vegetables 60/30/10 Focus on compost crops

11. Mel Bartholomew – PBS series in 70s Uses 4x4 square foot beds Uses grids instead of rows Grow vines up trellises Once set up, no large tools needed Can be adapted to containers, patios, elevated for disabled

12. Capture hundreds to thousands of gallons 1 in. of rainfall = 600 gallons from a 1,000 sq. ft. roof. Use downspouts / rain chains November-April

13. Contouring land to Slow it, Spread it, Sink it! Disperses water under ground for plants to pull up later

14. Drip tubing puts water where plants need it most Little to no loss to evaporation Like Legos – piece together as needed.

15. Mulch keep water where you put it Keeps roots cool Living mulches work too!

16. Carbon – food for microbes Retains nutrients Increases water retention

17. Save seeds, grow them out, save them again! More resilient to our climate, water, soil conditions Join a Seed Library

18. BeWaterWise.com – plant database for native & drought tolerant plants SLOLA.org – Seed Library of Los Angeles Theodore Payne Foundation – CA native plants for sale Rainbarrels International – local rain barrels sales (rebates offered through SoCalWaterSmart.com)

19. Visit gardenerd.com for more tips and tidbits Classes, consulting and food garden design Buy Christy’s new book, Gardening for Geeks, today or online at www.GardeningForGeeksBook.com