How Conversational Blogging Helps Authors Market Books

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Angie

 

High Desert Bloggers group

High Desert Bloggers Meetup

“I don’t know what to blog about.” Have you ever heard those words before? You may have  said or thought  them yourself. If you have, you are not alone.

Authors sometimes get confused about blogging and wonder what to blog about. I am a member of a writers club that is honored with many members who are talented published authors. Joining this group was one of the best decisions I ever made. There is never a time that I attend a meeting that I don’t learn something. We have speakers come that talk to us about their genres. Once a professional blogger spoke to the group. He pays his mortgage by blogging – Bill Belew.

One of the pluses of my writers club is that there are several critique groups. There is almost a critique group for every kind of genre – except blogging. Blogging is not always a top priority of a writing group. So I did what Bill Belew advised. I started my own blogging meetup group. That was the best blogging advice I could have received. Do you know the best way to learn? Teach. I found that out years ago when I started teaching Bible studies. I learned more about the Bible than I had ever known – and I grew up in a preacher’s home (a wonderful and inspiring preacher to boot).

Blogging is writing. If you are a blogger, you are a writer. Just saying.

What to blog about

Blog about the books you write and what made you write them. Give your readers insight into who you are as a person. They want to know about you and what inspires you to write like you do. Include pictures of places that inspired you to use a particular setting. Talk about the real you. That’s what readers are looking for in a blog.

How to blog

What gives you ideas for the settings and the characters in your books? Think about how you introduce your characters. You use conversations. Dialogue is now often preferred over a long expose. If you write more than a couple of descriptive paragraphs without including a conversation between your characters, you’ve already lost this generation’s reader. Blog as though you’re talking to your reader. Conversational blogging is preferred because it includes the readers. Just a note here – join a blogging group if you haven’t already. Blog networking with other bloggers will motivate and inspire you.

Feedback

Writers like to receive feedback. Bloggers refer to feedback as comments. A comment section is added at the end of a blog post. By the end of the post, the blogger may ask the readers a question and invite their comments. I’m sure you’ve heard or read the Bible verse, Acts 20:35, that says it’s more blessed to give than to receive. Apostle Paul said, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Paul continued sharing the Gospel everywhere he went. He went through many hardships but never stopped giving in spite of much suffering. You can apply the same principle in whatever you are trying to accomplish in life. Think of that verse when you want to receive comments about your blog posts. You write to entertain, inspire, encourage, motivate, or to make people laugh. It’s always good to receive feedback from readers that they agree or like what you are blogging about. It’s rewarding when you have learned that somehow through your blog posts, you helped or inspired a reader. On the other hand, give feedback to others. Leave relatable comments on blogs that you like to read. You should often visit other blogs that you like and comment about what you like that the other bloggers are blogging about.

Make time to blog

Most writers would rather be writing their novels, memoirs, scripts or whatever genre they write than blogging. Blogging takes time. An author mentioned to me recently that she doesn’t have time to blog. Crafting a book makes one of the top priorities on an author’s things-to-do list. Bringing in cash flow to pay the bills also rates pretty high on that list. I’m a member of a writers’ group and understand well that writers would rather be writing their books than marketing them. However, writing without the money doesn’t pay the bills. Like Zig Ziglar said, “Money isn’t everything; but it ranks right up there with oxygen.”

Market your books on your blog

You can add pages to a blog. One of those pages can be where you market your books. Offer specials, discounts, an excerpt of your new book, news of your book signings, etc. Add a PayPal button that says “Buy Now” to make it convenient for readers to purchase your books on your blog. Give away something, an eBook or an autographed book. , .

Blog often. How much is often? Once a week, three times a week, every day. Blogging often can mean any of those. Opinions on this matter differ. If you don’t have time to blog every day or a few times a week, schedule your blog posts. You can also invite guest bloggers to blog for you. You want people to continue reading your blog, so give them something to read – often.

Categories: Bloggers and Writers in the High Desert, Blogging, High Desert Writers | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

High Desert Small Businesses Rely on Buy Local Shop Local Marketing with RelyLocal

Posted on May 18, 2013 by A Flair For Words

RelyLocal First Mondays at Oasis BookstoreWhether you’re a new small business owner just getting started or an established entrepreneur struggling for a stable market, your marketing power is networking with the local community. RelyLocal can offer wider exposure and more marketing power in your sphere of shoppers than some larger online businesses that cater to major companies with larger pocketbooks.

Why would that be beneficial?

The focus of RelyLocal and its growing cadre of business owners is to bring local buyers to local sellers without the large overhead.

“We work specifically with independent, small businesses who want marketing clout,” said Alyssa Penman, speaking to a group of bloggers at a recent meet up in High Desert Oasis Bookstore. “Small businesses find it hard to compete with Big Box stores and long-developed franchises. A small company, family-owned and operated can invest in a proven plan through RelyLocal.”

RelyLocal pumps up exposure

Still having the advantage of online marketing while gaining recognition through a close-working network, RelyLocal pumps up the exposure. High Desert entrepreneurs can enjoy a broader reach in their local region. Small businesses often have to stretch their advertising dollar too far to do much good. It’s pick and choose; sink or swim; either way, it can be expensive.

And yet with the downturn of printed advertising in magazines and newspapers, and increase of online businesses diluting the market shares, local business owners must look for other ways to compete. RelyLocal seems to be a great option to consider.

Alyssa Penman brought RelyLocal to the High Desert about three years ago. It now is expanding to Hesperia, Oak Hills, Phelan, Adelanto, Helendale, Summit Valley, and soon Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley.

With a nominal fee of $300 a year, much less than any start-up franchise, High Desert businesses see the benefits of this grassroots plan. “We use grassroots marketing strategy, ‘First Mondays’ where shop owners can meet and mingle, networking, linking online with a staff of marketers who know the High Desert, special events and even a free ap for cell phone access,” Alyssa explained.

RelyLocal Alyssa at Oasis Bookstore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working eye-to-eye

RelyLocal can be considered similar to other SAASs (software as a service) like HubSpot, SalesForce and varied designer companies with online marketing strategies. The one big difference is its local focus. Can it be? Working eye-to-eye at a local level? The concept of getting back to basics in sales and marketing is being accepted as “refreshingly honest.”

Most small businesses sign up with their cities’ Chambers of Commerce. However, with RelyLocal, the focus is on networking and having an active staff of marketers can enhance the entire positioning package. According to some of the company’s objectives, it is to promote regularly, bring shoppers to their local stores to preserve the High Desert economy, and open new techno strategies to the business climate.

What does that mean to small business?

“Small business entrepreneurs have so many options to them beyond printed ads, flyers, and mixers. They can add online business tools with SEO (search engine optimization), linking, web page content focused for them, online coupons and specials, blogging or finding a business blogger for them … the list keeps growing.” Although the parent company is in Oregon, the ability to laser focus on local marketing makes the growth potential of RelyLocal expanding across the entire High Desert, a perfect example.

“High Desert Business Expo” at Fairgrounds; Meet the Bloggers, May 25, 26, 27

Alyssa is also happy to announce that the High Desert Business Expo will be featured at the Fairgrounds during its regular schedule. “Look for our special event tables. You’ll find our RelyLocal member businesses, self-published authors, bloggers from High Desert Bloggers Meetup, Oasis Bookstore, networking ideas, and more,” she said.

The Fairgrounds will open

  • Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27, 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm
  • Tuesday, May 28 -Thursday, May 29, 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm
  • Friday, May 31 – Sunday, June 2, 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm

The High Desert Bloggers Meetup group will be at the Expo May 25, 26 and 27 blogging live about the fair and its marketing potential for all small business owners.

 

Rusty LaGrange

If you like what you see here please visit my other blogs:
http://www.aFlairForTheOldWest.blogspot.com
 http://www.aFlairForWords.com
 http://www.BizBloggerNation.blogsot.com
 http://www.aFlairForBooks.blogspot.com
  and my continuing Guest Posts at:
http://www.HighDesertBlogging.com

 

 

Categories: Bloggers and Writers in the High Desert, High Desert Businesses | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

There’s a reason why traditional works

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Just a HD Mom
Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day weekend and all over the high desert you can see vendors selling their wares for those who haven’t already purchased a gift for that special person. As for myself, I go with the standard gift, flowers. They’re a traditional way to say I love and appreciate you.

There are quite a few locally owned florists, such as Allen’s Flowers & Plants and Fairy Tales Flowers & Gifts (both have been serving the High Desert for many years) with a variety of bouquets and plants to choose from and helpful staff members ready to assist in finding the right gift.

Another couple of options for fresh flowers would be going to local Farmers Markets or reating a bundle of posies from your own garden.

Simple Bouquet

Simple Bouquet

We have Farmers Markets during the week (Hesperia – Wed, Victorville – Thurs, and Apple Valley- Fri). Unfortunately, I missed them all and quite frankly, I was worried about the flowers not staying fresh till Sunday.

Yes, flowers have become the stand-by gift for Mother’s Day but there’s a reason why.

They’re a handful of joy, a rainbow of colors, and nature’s own perfumes being bestowed upon someone as a token of affection.

Should an arrangement of flowers be considered a trite gift?

I think not.

For more information or to get to know Just a HD Mom you can follow me on Twitter @MGEdwardsWrites and/or join my blog www.mgedwardsblogs.wordpress.com.

Categories: Garden Decor, High Desert, High Desert Businesses, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

10 Easy Tricks for High Desert Home Security

Posted on May 10, 2013 by A Flair For Words

Living in the High Desert has its benefits when considering some ways to deter burglars and trespassers. Many homeowners purchase home security but did you know that you can enhance your security strategy by using the desert to work with you?

1. The first thing and the easiest is to keep your newspapers and other sales flyers off the yard. It’s a sure sign to a thief casing your neighborhood that no one has been home. We have high winds so debris can cluster around your doors, fences, and walkways. A clear yard is sign of a homeowner who cares and is active on the property.

Source: flickr.com via Margaret on Pinterest

2. It’s also recommended that you plant something in front of your windows that makes them difficult to reach. What better plants than our own native cholla cactus, or Arizona staghorn or a spiky yucca or short palm. Stay away from plants or bushes that may get too big and completely block your view. A clear view is best.

3. Another native item that can be used to keep people from encroaching into your yard is large landscape rocks. Boulders and xeriscape landscaping make it awkward for prowlers to move from yard to yard in a neighborhood.

4. Adding or replacing your outside lights with motion detection deters the prowler, too. Most yards that show movement, lighting, lights that react to movement and rotating Malibu lighting can make the thief more wary of activity. They would rather pass by than confront you.

5. Some thieves will stay away from home security systems that boast their familiar yard signs. Will they know you have a security system if you purchase just the signs and stickers? Probably not. For them, it’s like  playing Russian roulette. Online catalogues offer the look of authentic signs for a nominal price. Even the fake cameras mounted under the eaves is suspicious enough to make a thief think twice.

 

 

(one of my favorites)

6. My neighbor has guinea hens that patrol her yard like feisty Dobermann. Although they are noisy and a bit dirty, they will eat bugs, spiders, scorpions, and pretty much anything on the ground that moves. They are born to be walking alarms; they don’t like change in their territory.

Source: flickr.com via Emily on Pinterest

Be sure to check your residential zoning for livestock and poultry. They’re not for everyone.

7. So what about those recorded canine intruder alarms? They still work to deter prowlers. The downside is that you need to stock up on batteries. The noise may stop a prowler but it’s not controllable to false alarms, tremors, and sonic booms. Much like a car alarm, they can be irritating to the neighbors, too.

8. As you consider purchasing a full home security system, check with your neighbors and see if they are pleased with their service provider. Ask about the rate, the response time to an alarm, the need for an extra phone line in some applications, and if they have a high percentage of false alarms. Some companies charge extra for any false alarms over a base call rate.

9. If you want active patrolling, you can pay for a service to cruise by your home while you are on vacation. Some desert cities have Citizens On Patrol  (C.O.P.) units that will cruise by your neighborhood if asked to patrol. Check with your area’s coverage first. Each city is different and may not be active during the time you need them.

10. Buy a medium to large dog. Dogs have always been one of the greatest deterrents to subdue prowlers, make thieves nervous, and take protection to the maximum when you may be threatened. Of course, food, vet bills, vaccines, and yard cleaning could be considered the downside. And when you leave on vacation someone will need to feed and water your dog.

The upside is that this method of security will lick your face and wait patiently by the door for you to come home.

 

BONUS: For extended vacations, the quality home security is a housesitter. Choose a housesitter with recommendations, decide on a written contract to be clear what the parameters of the job include, and pay according to use of your home, stocked food, use of amenities, and then lock up the car keys.

 

From a Desert Rat with a few tricks up her sleeve,

Rusty LaGrange

Categories: High Desert Living, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Priorities for a Home Buyer

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Angie

A construction company has changed the Hesperia, CA real estate market in the High Desert by building the first home in three years. I was reading about this online when I noticed two other news items. One was about more inmates being released, and the other one was about petty theft – all in San Bernardino County. Kudos to the construction company that broke the long hold on the housing market. Hopefully, this will begin a chain reaction for more home building in the High Desert area.

The news about the inmates being released and petty thefts is a reminder that a good home security system is important. A good home builder integrating the latest technology in a home security system will certainly make today’s home buyers feel more confident in purchasing a new home.

Latest Home Security Technology

Home buyers looking for the latest home security technology can now choose home automation that allows them to control their locks, lights, thermostat and camera when they are at home, work, or away. It works through software and wireless sensors through Internet access from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. This can give homeowners more confidence that while they are at work or on vacation, they can actually see inside their home and around its perimeter.

Security Lights

Most homeowners prefer motion sensor home security lights. One friend said she and her husband hold different opinions on whether or not you should leave security lights on or off all night. He says lights on. She says lights off. Most I’ve asked what their preference is on this say lights off and use a motion sensor. I agree with the motion sensor.

Security Dogs

Chihuahua Guard Dog

Home Security

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo above is used by permission from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mk_xena/2352463869/.

Yes! A Chihuahua! They never shut up. Everyone will wake up. Chihuahuas can also be vicious little home security dogs. Let a burglar get in the face of one, and it will tear his face up before he can sneak very far into the house. My friends’ Chihuahua pet tore into the face of their son-in-law’s grandma. Grandma had to be taken to the hospital for stitches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big dogs are loud. It helps to have a couple of them outside. Most neighborhoods have several. Though some homeowners don’t own dogs, there are usually plenty of barking dogs warning their owners and the neighbors of intruders. It’s a plus to keep a big dog inside, too. Doberman Pinschers are known to be loving and are among the best types of security dogs to keep inside your home. As long as the Doberman gets plenty of exercise, it will be fine in an apartment also. So if you’re looking for good choices in security dogs, keep the Chihuahua and Doberman Pinscher in mind. Adding security dogs as part of your home security along with your purchase of a high tech alarm monitoring system will bring you more comfort in knowing your home is protected.

Other Security Measures

Have you ever driven through your neighborhood at night and noticed that it doesn’t look the same as it does during the day? Most houses have security lights, some dim, some that light up the whole street. One thing that puzzles me is the complacence of homeowners in leaving all the curtains open, leaving the garage door up, lights on, letting any who drive by take note. Perhaps they are thinking it’s a wise thing to keep the curtains open and garage door up so that strangers will see that someone is home. Then again, maybe those particular homeowners are always home because they work at home, have the best home security on the market, and take precaution with other security measures like Chihuahuas and Doberman Pinschers. Keep the lights on, but do close the curtains and garage door for good measure.

Other Inexpensive Security Measures

  1. Put up a sign that says your home is protected by a security system.
  2. Leave a radio on.
  3. Get a sensor-activated toy like Philly’s Captain America or the blue Antz toy that shouts: “Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!” and hide a couple of them in strategic locations inside and outside.
  4. Know who your neighbors are, and start a neighborhood watch if you don’t already have one.
  5. Keep the bushes and trees around your house trimmed to deter any hiding places.
  6. Plant tall thorny bushes and trees. The nice thing about high desert landscapes is that thorny cactus plants and roses are easy to grow. Plant cacti and rose bushes under windows.
Recently, I noticed a house with a large rosebush right in front of the front door. It looked a little odd to me, but perhaps it was meant as a simple home security tactic. Use a little ingenuity to come up with your own inexpensive home security ideas. Imagine what one could do with cacti somehow placed around windows. Ouch!
The latest home automation security technology may be more affordable than you think. Install as much home security as you can, including motion lights, dogs, and your own security measures, and keep your family safe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: High Desert Living, High Desert Real Estate | Leave a comment

Why Does a Writer Write? by High Desert Author Jenny Margotta

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Guest Blogger

By Guest Author, Jenny Margotta

Cookbook by Jenny and John Margotta

Some Like It Hot! by Jenny and John Margotta




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am a writer. I have been writing since I could hold a pencil in my small, chubby hand.

As a child, I was fascinated with writing stories about Indians and early American

colonists. Later I added school papers, work-related technical articles, political opinion

pieces and more to my growing stack of fiction efforts. And along the way I added

editing others’ works to writing my own.

Two questions have been posed to me over and over for nearly as long as I have been

writing. Why do I write? What inspired me to begin writing?

I’ll answer the easy one: reading inspired me to write. I don’t think you can truly call

yourself a writer if you do not also read. I have been reading voraciously since the age

of 3. One particular book remains in my mind, although I read it well over 50 years ago.

The Day Must Dawn by Agnes Sligh Turnbull. It was the first book I read in the adult

section of our public library. I was in 4th grade and I remember the librarian making a

huge fuss that I wasn’t old enough to check out adult books. My mother, never one to

accept ‘no’ from anyone, proceeded to tell her I’d read everything of any interest in the

children’s section and I would most certainly be moving to the adult section.

The book had a fairly standard colonial-pioneers-on-the-frontier-facing-hostile-Indians

plot, which is why I initially wanted to read it. But as I read, I became enthralled with

the author’s descriptive phrases. One about the sun shining in the overcast sky like a

polished pewter plate has stayed with me all these years. When I read that phrase as a

9-year-old, I thought, I want to write like that. I wanted to be able to describe the world in

ways that people would remember for years and years to come.

I don’t know whether I’ve reached my goal yet, but I keep trying. And I keep reading. I

read for the stories, themselves, of course but, also, always hoping to discover another

author who will delight me with imaginative, innovative words to add to my store of

unique and memorable descriptions.

I recently reread The Day Must Dawn, by the way. I had long remembered that book

as a huge, weighty thing – on a par with Michener’s ‘let’s-start-with-the-beginning-of-time’ massive

efforts. The paperback edition I picked up was just 304 pages. Maybe

the hardcover was bigger. Or maybe I just remember things as they should have been.

Whatever the truth of the memory, I know one thing. A part of me these many years

later is still that 9-year-old delighting in discovering a huge, untapped store of books to

explore.

I continue to write. And I continue to read.

Jenny Margotta

April, 2013

 

Jenny is a member of the High Desert Branch California Writers Club.

Jenny Margotta and the late John Margotta authored the Some Like It Hot! cookbook. 




Categories: Bloggers and Writers in the High Desert, High Desert Writers | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

Creating a painting with words

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Just a HD Mom
Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean

The written word, in my humble opinion is a form of escape. How
many times have you read a book and battled pirates, traveled back in time, or flown on an alien spaceship? Writing is creating a painting, an artistic masterpiece with words. The writer is a guide to new experiences, invoking emotions, and often gaining knowledge.

Emotions

Emotions/Letting Go

For the writer, putting pen to paper is baring hidden parts of your soul for the world to see, judge, and possibly reject or embrace.

Terrifying? Yes, without a doubt.

Whenever someone asks why I want to write, I’ll say something along the lines of ‘Oh I’ve always wanted to’. The truth is, I’m an avid reader and I’m addicted to books. I love the idea of a happy ending or a strong female protagonist saving the day.

Books

Piles of Books

As a writer, it’s my goal to take my readers away from reality for a little while. Let them escape their world and step into mine. To allow themselves to fall under my spell for a bit and at the end, perhaps have been impacted by my story.

The feeling is indescribable when someone reads your work and is moved by your words.

Yes, writing is terrifying but the thought of never being able to write another word is unfathomable. It’s become a part of who I am. And that is why writing has become my escape, my own artistic masterpiece.

An excerpt from my novel Innocent Labor:

Elena pulled up to the Childer’s home and glanced around as she got out of the car. Toys were tossed carelessly amidst the overgrown grass and weeds, memories of a playdate long since over. The pretty flowers someone planted near the porch
swayed in the breeze and the metal wind chimes decorated with fairies and frogs danced in the afternoon sunshine. Whimsical gnomes placed in the planter guarded the front porch, armed with shovels, wheelbarrows, and bright smiles.

Although there were a few signs of disarray, this appeared to be a home that was shared
by a family filled with love and laughter.

As she walked to the front door, the uninhibited war cries and laughter of the neighborhood children floated along the evening breeze. Peals of laughter rang out as harmless insults hurled back
and forth. She looked across the street and watched the children chase each other, intent only on themselves and their games.

Such innocence should be protected and treasured for as long as
possible, the world could be an ugly and cruel place.

For more information or to get to know Just a HD Mom you can follow me on Twitter @MGEdwardsWrites and/or join my blog www.mgedwardsblogs.wordpress.com.

Categories: Art, High Desert Writers, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: , , | 3 Comments

Looking for Live Red Worms For Your High Desert Garden?

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Laura M. Sands

I had the pleasure of meeting Greg Anderson of WorldWideWorm Farms in Apple Valley, California recently and I must say that I was extremely impressed with his breadth of knowledge with all things pertaining to high desert gardening. We’d only intended to pick up a pound of worms for composting, but we ended up getting an awesome tour of Greg’s farm in the process. To say that I was fascinated by Greg’s use of space, land and recycled materials is an understatement of the highest degree.

No Master Gardener Here…Yet!

Now, I’m just going to be honest with you– I’m no gardener. Having never been successful in cultivating anything green, I’ve always fancied the talents of others who can. And if you can literally grow your own food, you’re nothing short of a rockstar in my mind. I bow down to the master gardeners of the world, which is why meeting Greg was such a delight.

At this point, I’m sure you’re all wondering why on earth I’d be at a live red worm farm if I can’t grow so much as a dandelion, right? Well, since moving to the desert, my husband’s been learning quite a bit about green living from Neville Slade of the Sustainable Learning Center (in fact, it was Professor Slade who originally introduced my husband to Greg Anderson). Anywho, I’ve always been sorta interested in greener lifestyles, too, and as a freelancer I’ve learned a little here and there about things like composting, repurposing old things and the like. So, I may not be a high desert gardener yet, but I think I’m heading in that direction and am happy to learn from people like Greg Anderson as I go. Just don’t be too surprised when the day comes that I blog about my own square foot garden or cabbage patch or something really cool like that, ok?

WorldWideWorm Farms

But back to the WorldWideWorm Farms in Apple Valley. When we arrived, Greg took us around back to show us his worms in action. While en route to his composting areas, however, we got to tour his property where we saw a bunch of cool things like the greenhouse he built with his bare hands and a few recycled materials.

Homemade greenhouse at worldwide worm farms in Apple Valley, Ca

The entrance to Greg Anderson's handmade greenhouse.

 

The following are a couple of shots from the rear as well as the interior of the greenhouse:

 

Plenty of shelving and room for Greg's plants

 

Greg also has a full on garden filled with fruits and veggies. He jokes that the only thing he ever needs to go to the grocery store for are his favorite candies, since he can’t grow them, lol.

Here are some of the grape vines, which we can see are edging towards producing delicious edible grapes very soon– check it out:

One of the things that I loved about Greg's garden is how organized everything is. High desert gardening takes a bit of planning, which this guy makes look oh so easy.

 

Tiny grapes are beginning to bud at the WorldWideWorm Farms in Apple Valley, Ca.

 

Just beyond the greenhouse area, Greg showcases a square-foot garden. Here, you can see what I mean about being organized. Each square features its own vegetable like kale, cauliflower,  onions, garlic, etc.

Square-foot garden filled with a variety of veggies and fresh herbs.

 

Notice the worm tube Greg uses to insert live red worms into his square-foot garden. The worms create vermicompost, which fertilize his vegetables.

 

Greg also sells worm tubes and vermicompost at his WorldWideWorm Farms. Above is a photo of one of the tubes he uses in his garden. Here’s a photo of what they look like brand new just to give you an idea of their size and how deeply they’re inserted while providing many of the nutrients a garden needs:

Brand new live red worm tubes for sale at WWWFarms in Apple Valley, Ca

 

Greg’s chickens love fresh vegetables from his garden. While we were there, they followed him around like crazy begging for a bit of kale, collards and other greens that they regularly feed on. His chickens all have names, they are never slaughtered for food and they’ve pretty much got the run of the yard (with the exception of the areas he’s had to fence away to keep them from eating the live red worms and fresh veggies. We were the ones fenced in on this photo, not the lady birds).

These girls love kale! The grey striped one is named Zebra (pronounced like Debra, lol). I don't recall the white one's name, but she's a Leghorn and the other one produces beautiful blue eggs.

 

No dye for these eggs. Featured in blue, tan, brown and white, each chicken produces a different colored egg.

 

She's happy to dine on her veggies all alone while the others are preoccupied with their kale feeding.

 

Once again proving that High Desert gardening doesn’t require a lot of space (even though he’s got plenty), Greg crafted ths “salad pyramid”. Even if you’ve got little more than a patio, there’s no excuse not to grow your own fresh vegetables if you’re so inclined to do so.

This salad pyramid is one of my favorites. Lettuce, radishes and anything you need for a delicious salad are right here for the picking.

 

Greg was kind enough to send us home with a few fresh-picked radishes. They were soooooo delicious, too!

 

No real ick factor like I would have expected at a live red worm farm. I mean, really, besides a little bit of an earthy scent (which I rather like), Greg’s worms and compost are very well maintained. Here are a few photos of his worms and vermicompost areas:

 

Just what we came for...live red worms!

 

Live red worm beds at WorldWideWorm Farms in Apple Valley, Ca

 

And lest you think that it’s all worms, chickens and veggies at Greg’s place, he’s pretty handy with recycled items, too. You’ve already seen the greenhouse featured in his High Desert garden, but take a look at what else he’s built with using items that most others would consider trash:

Bat shelter

 

BTW, did you know that bat poop is an excellent fertilizer, too? Greg’s been studying this stuff– first as a hobby, then as a business– for years. His passion for High Desert gardening has led him to build a bat shelter, which is positioned just above his square-foot garden. The plan here is to regularly attract bats, which will eat gnats and other insects that hang around the garden, and, in return, Greg hopes the bats will leave him a little “something” for his garden.

Greg keeps track of the climate in his High Desert garden with this handmade weather vane.

 

Zebra, Dog (these are actual chicken names, folks) and about 7 other feathery residents of the WorldWideWorm Farms rest here when the sun sets.

 

Greg says he makes the best homemade bread in the world inside of his handmade outdoor brick oven.

 

Greg admitted to being most proud of his latest creation, a windmill that he made using discarded pipe, metal, a treadmill engine and other materials that were going to end up in a landfill.

 

Handmade windmill

 

Pretty nifty, huh? And this windmill doesn’t just get points for its cool factor or for being a good conversation piece…it actually works! Greg’s hard work will more than pay for itself in the form of electricity powered by this incredible device.

A close-up of the windmill's handcrafted blades.

 

Last, but not least, a few snapshots of the gourds that Greg grew. Note all of the interesting shapes and sizes:

 

Gourds Galore!

 

 

 

 

To purchase live red worms or to learn more about high desert gardening, give Greg of WorldWideWorm Farms a call at 760-792-9660. And for more photos and information on vermicomposting, visit Greg’s blog at WorldWideWormFarms.WordPress.com. And be sure to tell my friend that Laura from the High Desert Blogging network says hello!

Let’s Hear It

Have you interested in High Desert gardening? Are you already well on your way to being a master gardener? What are your thoughts on live red worms, vermicomposting and all that jazz? Your comments are more than welcome in the space provided below.

Categories: High Desert Gardens, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How to Grow a Penny-Pinching Flower Garden

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Angie
Miniature rose plant

From $1 sale rack to a mini full rose bush

Shopping for flowers in the spring brings pleasure to a gardener, especially if one has a plentiful flower and plant budget. But the gardener who has to penny-pinch must use resourcefulness when planning a flower garden.

Penny-Pinching Ideas for Finding Flower and Plant Deals

Nurseries and home and garden venues might offer good sales, and they have much to choose from. Be sure to check their fifty-percent-off sales rack. Two of my miniature rose plants came from a $1-sale rack at a home and garden store. When I purchased them a couple of years ago, they were both little plants. They’ve made it through the winters, have grown a few sizes larger, and are about to flower again.

Ask a gardener friend if you can have some flower and plants cuttings to start a garden. Put them in jars with water, change the water often, and watch until you see roots growing. Then you can start planting. I have a friend who is an avid gardener. Her front and back yards are magnificent with lavender, yarrow, roses, lantana flowers, various evergreen plants and much more. She offered to give me some cuttings recently, and I’m going to take her up on it.

Another idea is to check with your community garden club. You might find garden enthusiast who are club members who would be happy to share some seeds or cuttings. One garden club member told me awhile back about large bushes in her yard that someone was giving away a few years back. It’s like having and going to yard sales. One person’s trash becomes another person’s treasures.

Check seed packets that you have left over from last year. Also look for flowers and plants at yard sales.

Online Gardening Penny-Pinching Information

If you want to learn how to garden, I recommend a new gardening website I discovered, About Flower-Gardening-Made-Easy.com, a delightful  website full of gardening how-to information. I like this website because its owner, Yvonne Cunnington, shares her experiences of learning flowers and plants. She gives penny-pinching ideas that gardeners can glean from while growing a garden with a lean pocketbook.

Do you have plants with bulbs – irises or tulips? Hyacinth and daffodil bulbs in containers also add pretty color to a spring garden. Iris bulbs that were all together in a mini garden when my husband and I purchased our place. They were all pulled up and replanted in separate garden areas of part shade and part sun and have done well – and they were all free!

Purple Iris

Purple Iris from My Spring Garden

Gold Iris

My Gold Iris with Raindrops from Last Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I invite you to leave a comment below. What are your own penny-pinching gardening ideas?

 

 

 

Categories: Gardening | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Make Steps towards a Greener Life

Posted on April 21, 2013 by jadegreen

There are many ways you can make your life more sustainable and ecologically sound. Here we’ve collated some of the top tips around to show you how you can make small changes to hugely improve your green credentials. Read more »

Categories: Garden Decor | Tags: , , | 1 Comment