Alicia Funk and Karin Kaufman’s book Living Wild, has recently been released with an expanded selection of native plants.  The eco-friendly book showcases gardening, cooking and medicinial uses for native plants throughout the Sierra Nevadas and California.  I asked the Nevada City authors for some of their favorite local plants.

Alicia wrote that her favorite wild plants in Nevada County are, ”Since I love all of our native landscape, it is hard to pick favorites. But these are a few wild plants that I use regularly as part of trying to live a local, habitat-friendly lifestyle.

California Bay: Wonderful as a spice for winter soups and stews, delicious ice cream made by Treats in Nevada City and as a natural, household cleaner. Make your own cleaner by filling a mason jar with fresh or dried bay leaves and then steep overnight. … Read More »

The Soroptimist Garden Tour will be taking place this coming weekend (May 19th and 20th) throughout Nevada County, for a map click here.  Take a tour of some amazing gardens either Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 4pm and help support the non-profit Soroptimist International organization.  Tickets available at the garden gates or stop by one of the many local vendors and save $5 when you purchase your ticket in advance.  Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply is not only selling tickets, but they have generously donated an amazing giveaway basket for one lucky Outside Inn blog reader.  To be entered in the draw please post a comment on this blog post telling us your favorite thing about gardening.  The prize package is worth just over $90 and includes:

Containers are the Veggie Bed System (produce bags … Read More »

Want to learn how to make cheese?  Prune trees?  Buy a wine making kit?  Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply in Grass Valley offers organic seeds, supplies, classes and more.  Check out their comprehensive website groworganic.com for tutorials and ideas for any number of gardening projects.  Peaceful Valley has been in business since 1976 and is committed to helping Nevada County with their sustainable agriculture, check out their Freshman Farmer blog for an inside look farms, including local farms Four Frog Farm and Willow Springs Farm.

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