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In todays blog post, I got to talk to one of my favorite people we met on our 13-part adventure while shooting Alter Eco! Her name is Tara Kolla, Silver Lake Farms. She is a backyard gardener who left the corporate world of Public Relations after 10 years to pursue her passion to be outside in the Earth. The following are my 80-words per minute skills capturing a 15 minute phone conversation the two of us had after July 4th weekend.
Boise Says: Hello again! Great to hear your voice. How have you been since the show aired...? Tara Kolla: Great great, lots going on. Lots of potential in the ground and in the air?
BS: Has the show made a difference in your business, had an impact?
TK: Of course! I rec'd emails and kind words from people all over the country it has been incredible.
BS: With my blog, people are always looking for info, you know... the inside scoop. What could you tell people when it comes to backyard gardening? Lets start from the ground up with your favorite and mine... the Compost heap.
TK: You want to think about where you are going to put it. Once you start it you don't want to move it. Think about ease of access, on the ground (not concrete) not under shade of trees, keep it in sun in open area. Probably be wise to put it away from neighbors. Especially away from those who don't know composting. Get your neighbors involved.
BS: I am with you on that. My neighbors are always adding to our compost because we got them educated. It is one thing to get yourself educated but even more inspiring to educate others and get them involved. What is something people can do to get started on a compost?
TK: Check local city services to see if they give workshops or discounted bins. I recommend the stackable kind with rectangles. That is my favorite. I would get two not one. And have a good size working area.
BS: I have the circular one, my neighbors got a stackable. My next one will be stackable so I get the worm-tea for sure. You have a flower-clipping garden in your backyard. What say you to the people who want to get one started?
TK: know your soil first. Again, contact your local co-op ext. program and get a soil test. Don't do a DIY kit, it doesn't tell you. Get a proper soil report. The foundation is proper soil, well balanced nutrient rich soil. That is your first starting point. Next, amend your soil ...rule of thumb: if you have a clay soil, no peet moss. If you have a loam soil and you want to grow plants that like more acidic (gardenias, ferns...) then grow peet moss.
BS: How would you support someone making the leap from the corporate world to the backyard like you did?
TK: there will be a sort of transition period. For me it was winding down my PR biz and going to school to learn about soil and botany and horticulture. I was winding down one and winding up the other. Common sense approach. Educate, learn or take a master gardener class. It does involve a commitment. In LA it is a 6-week commitment of Saturdays.
BS: But worth it?
TK: oh yeah.
BS: Anything you want to tell the viewers who wish they could be as lucky as I am to talk to you for 15 minutes on the phone?
TK: visit my website, there are great links in the links section of my website. What else could I say? Ummm... the one thing that I have read recently from a biz to biz newsletter is that the large box stores are spending more time and money and effort to market veggies. What is lacking is educating. It is easy to buy to start but takes knowledge to educate yourself to manage it. Research, visit local farmers, go to farmers markets and learn from them.
BS: Field trips! Literally!!!
T: Yeah Yeah. I take two field trips a month with Julia (employee). It is very important.
BS: I love this quote from Wes Jackson I saw recently on farming... "if your life's work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you're not thinking big enough." He founded the Land Institute.
"Do you have a quote or a mentor or an idol in the space of gardening?"
TK: Alice Waters.
BS: My wife has been reading her a lot lately.
TK: I caught an episode of a show (Iconoclasts) and she talked about growing and edible schoolyards it touched my heart and resonated so deeply. You can't just start growing sh*t, you have to shift your mind. What it takes to become a grower and focus on nature you have to lose the immediate gratification. You have to take up patience in the face of all the info that numbs our senses daily. You have to observe the plants, feel the soil. You can't just stick a gloved hand in the soil... you have to get dirty. You have to be able to smell the tomato plants from the aromas. All of your senses. You have to slow down and recognize the patterns and nature of plant life. It is a total mind shift. Someone like me who had journalistic deadlines and I needed info immediately. I am an Aries too... so not terribly patient. Not throwing things away and realizing the consequences of your actions. Can someone else find a home for this that I am about to throw away. I can't do anything with plastic bags... I get horse manure with Tim in Alta Dena b/c he's worthy of my $10. Focus on the big picture. Do it and not talk about it. I don't know if that helps?
BS: yes. We (those of us reading this) are eating this up!!! Thank you!!!!
TK: I don't want to be preachy. These are just lessons I learned. You won't get instantly gratified. You have to wait and monitor and naturally you start to apply those lessons to other part of your life. It has changed the way I deal with people. I understand balance. There are things you will have in the garden that you have no control over. It's like life. Balancing out the negative with the positive. Even in the garden.
BS: It's all Great! Anything else you want to say to the people. Tara?
TK: Support your local farmers markets. Don't take the plastic bags. Have a cart with wheels and lots of small bills... buy from everyone! $1's and $5's and spread the joy.
I would like to thank Tara for taking the time to speak with me today and for being such an amazing example for all of us to follow. You are paving the way and we are thankful for your knowledge. And you are just the coolest! Thanks again. LOVE.
For more information on backyard gardening, visit: www.silverlakefarms.com or contact info@silverlakefarms.com
That's blog #3 from Boise Says. See you soon and if you Dig this, then DIGG THIS!
Be Love,
Boise
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