About
Milo Mitchel Landscaping(MML) is based in Sonoma County. It places heavy emphasis on native plants, edibles and herbs. MML is guided by the principles of organic gardening and permaculture.Links
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Recent Posts
Signs of Spring
The plum trees and flowering quince are starting to bloom, coastal wildflowers are popping up, and lots of lambs have appeared. While the mushrooms have suffered, our recent spell of dry, warm weather is ushering in an early spring. I wrote a blog back in march of 2010 about some of the wildflowers you find [...]
Preserving the Winter Harvest
I’ve been busy making holiday gifts using what I have growing as much as possible. One of my favorites is pickled beets. To make them you start by roasting the beets. You could just coat them in olive oil and roast them in a foil packet, but I like to add some orange juice, bay [...]
Cider, Syrup and other Apple Delights
Over the fast few weeks we’ve been harvesting, pressing and processessing Gravensteins, the sweet and tart apple that made Sebastopol famous. I’ve teamed up with local cider brewer Isaac Alexander to develop several styles of Gravenstein hard cider. Together we have started the Sebastopol Apple Project (SAP), which is dedicated to preserving hertitage apples and [...]
Zazu on the River
Zazu on the River is our new demonstration farm and lunch destination. A partnership between Davis Family Vineyards and Zazu Restaurant and Farm. There is Bocce Ball, picnic tables, and a large shaded deck surrounded by our raised vegetable beds. Over by the Wine Goddess you’ll find troughs with tricolor amaranth and purple sweet potatoes.
Progress on the School Lunch Front
Our Farm to Institution Committee hosted a Farm to School workshop at Santa Rosa City Schools last October. With over 70 food service staff and farmers in attendance the event was a huge success. I harvested kale and winter squash especially for some of the demonstration recipes, which were served for lunch. After a series [...]
Harvesting Potatoes
Analy’s Eco Action class came out to work on the farm today. I was amazed by how much 30 high school studens could get done in an hour. The potatoes we harvested will be served mashed in the cafeteria next week. Students dug about 5 boxes of potatoes and hoed about 1/8th of an acre [...]
The Magic of Manure
I’ve been experimenting with using fresh chicken manure on veggies, and the results have been remarkable. In the past I have only used composted manure, but I am now convinced that fresh manure is just as useful, if not more so. Providing enough nitrogen to veggies is difficult when farming organically. Fresh manure is full [...]
Wildflowers: From Pomo Canyon to the Coast
One of the most beautiful hikes in Sonoma County runs from Pomo Canyon Campground to the ocean just south of Goat Rock. About 6 miles, this hike makes a steep climb through a majestic redwood grove before meandering into open meadows and chapparal to the coast. Last weekend we were treated to a phenomenal wildflower [...]
Building a Bio Swale at Ragle Park
We built a bio swale in Ragle Park today. This dry creek bed will filter runoff from the nearby gazebo, recharging the aquifer, and providing habitat for native plants and animals. The project was a collaboration between the Sonoma County Parks Department (spearheaded by Jenny and Eliza) and Three Leaf Farms (my sisters and I). [...]
Hacking the Scraper
Over the past week Robert Kelly and I have been converting (hacking) an old box scraper into a raised bed former. We’ve been making modifications, and then doing field testing to see how our design ideas work and might be improved. The idea is to build a tool that will be specifically suited for our [...]