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I’m happy to introduce you to Nikki Striefler. She is a mother of twins and an entrepreneur who recently launched Glad.is, a website focused on helping people curate their spiritual life. Interested in learning about meditation or Hinduism or shamanism or something else? Glad.is has a directory that explains these terms and then leads you to the places and the teachers where you can explore each. Check it out!
If you’re interested in planting your own healing herb garden, Nikki tells you what to plant and how.
NUMBER OF YEARS URBAN GARDENING:
I wish it was more ‘on’ than ‘off’, but life happens, then I get re-inspired and start again.
FAVORITE THINGS TO GROW:
Herbs, Succulents, Sunflowers, and easy table food that’s fun for the kids like tomatoes, strawberries, etc.
URBAN FARMING LOCATION:
Venice, CA
GARDENING ADVICE:
Don’t over-plant, it’s too hard to maintain, just plant a few things each year.
YOUR OWN GARDENING TIPS AND TRICKS:
We plant around perimeters, along fences where the “garden” isn’t the focus of our (tiny) yard.
WHY DID YOU FIRST START GROWING YOUR OWN ORGANIC FOOD?
We did the healing garden for the first time this year. We moved to Venice from Brooklyn, where we had a fantastic roof garden, which we did for several years.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO PREPARE OUT OF THE GARDEN?
Herbal tonics. (Click here for recipes)
WHO TAUGHT YOU HOW TO GARDEN (OR HOW DID YOU LEARN)?
I grew up in rural North Dakota, planting gardens was purposeful!
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR BEGINNER GARDENERS?
Just a little at a time.
HOW MANY HOURS PER WEEK DO YOU SPEND IN THE GARDEN?
Really just 30 minutes a week.
HOW MANY MINUTES PER DAY?
5 minutes just to water.
HOW MUCH SPACE ARE YOU USING TO GROW YOUR OWN FOOD (IN SQUARE FEET)?
The Healing Garden takes up our Blvd which is about 10 feet long by 4 feet wide.
DO YOU USE RAISED BEDS, CONTAINERS, THE GROUND OR A COMBINATION OF SOME?
Yes, we used a raise bed for most herbs – anything not in a box died because the land didn’t hold water.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE GARDEN?
Getting water to it.
WHAT ARE YOU GROWING RIGHT NOW?
Chamomile, Aloe Vera, Echinacea, Poppy, Sage, Lavender, etc.
HOW HAS GROWING YOUR OWN ORGANIC FOOD AFFECTED OR CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
Planting the Healing Garden on the Blvd was a neighborhood project for all the kids to learn about the healing properties of plants — and people stop me all the time to say ‘thank you’ for making their day.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT´S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE GROW THEIR OWN FOOD?
Connect to nature!
WHAT IS YOUR MOST FAVORITE THING ABOUT GARDENING?
Connecting to my mama earth.
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