Anyone interested in a gardening club in El Centenario/Comitan?? It's so much fun to watch this video and it makes me super excited for gardening season again in November!
I am also a huge gardener (small scale farming) in Oregon...every year I bring seeds down with me to Mexico and garden while we stay there for 4 months. I love it. Keeping compost/mulch in place was maddening especially because we rent so I started 'composting in place" which is basically burying my compost in the outter area of the garden beds. I kept putting mulch on top and was constantly talking with the gardeners...but I lost that battle since we rent in places that have HOA's and we arent owners...however THIS year we are renting from a gentleman in Pescadero who said I'm welcome to do whatever I want in the gardening space...I'm also a seed saver so I hope some of the seeds will work down there...my potato/ garlic/onion and tomatoes have made the trip down south with success....so much fun. I'd love to see more Kat. Stay cool ☮
I loved reading your post! you are a kindred spirit from Oregon :) I love planting things... So if you travel around in Mexico.... the gardens of ATLIXCO, Puebla, MX are to die for!! I loved being there so much! The garden stores/greenhouses/Botanical gardens were so amazing with butterflies and hummingbirds, bees and bright colors... You really must go if you love gardening!
Love This! Kat you are a pro! Meaning... I was interested from the start to finish. And would love to hear more of this part of your life in Mexico! And maybe how you both use them in your nice kitchen :) Thanks for posting! Love watching as always!
Neem trees seem to grow best. Ficus. Olive. Mexican fan palm. We’ve grown these with a small amount of water. Native trees are Palo Verde and Palo de Arco. These will grow without water.
WOW!! What a terrific video on gardening and a beautiful lady to explain the methods! I really like when things in my garden do the self-seeding also... when I am in Oregon the Cilantro does a great job of self-seeding! So far I have only done the garden plants in Pots when I am in Mexico, but I hope that one day I can have a nice plot of land to garden on. Very close to my in-laws in Puebla a neighbor has a huge lot that is simply loaded with every imaginable tree! Oranges, LImes, avocado, pomegranate and even raspberries and strawberries. It's strange to see so many things ripe nearly year around in Puebla... Just have to add water in Dry season. Thanks for sharing this great gardening video!
Thank you!! 🥰 Self-seeding is the awesome way to go - super healthy plants and no labor! Puebla sounds fantastic and I hope you get your plot of land soon. I'll want to see photos!
It's so different across Mexico. I'm jealous of the growth rates in PV. My friend has turned his yard into a jungle in a couple years and meanwhile our palm trees have grown a couple inches :-(
Great idea! I have one started with all our food scraps but it's certainly been an adventure. The climate is so dry that the compost doesn't break down quickly like I'm used to! It slowly breaks down and so I'm hoping to use some this year after starting it 2 years ago.
Composting is a great idea. We collect our compost and also our recycling (which isn't picked up curbside) to reduce our trash (and composting helps with the soil!)
Love your garden! Have you tried peppers? I would think they would grow into trees there! 😁 my other recommended addition would be tomatillos! I’d love to see more garden content. Great work!!🎉🎉🎉
Hi Stephanie - thank you!! yes, the peppers grow like weeds (altho I had a problem with blight one year) and super great idea about tomatillos. I need to find a source for seed or bring some down with me in November. 🌱
@@katwest6505 you can even just save seeds from a tomatillo that you buy down there! They are super prolific here in Northern California. I get volunteers all over the place. I would smash a few and pour them in the dirt. They will grow.
Hi Brighton, We are arriving La Paz today for a few days. Wondering if you are still doing your Sunday meet ups that I saw you post about a while back? I would like to meet you and Kat since you have been such a great reference for me and I would like to hear more about gardening challenges from Kat😊 Let me know if we could buy you a drink! Beth and Mike
Welcome to La Paz! Sorry we aren't yet there. We had planned to arrive last weekend, but we are currently in Oregon at our vet's office getting clearance for our dog to go south - she's been sick. I hope you'll be back to La Paz when we are in town.
Oh cool, l have been coming down to La Paz since 2009. Coming back down again this winter and thinking how l can grow vegetables, herbs without resorting to hydroponics
Interesting that you mention hydroponics because I visited a large experimental aquaponics set up at the Biological Research Center (CIBNOR) last year in El Centenario (outside of La Paz centro) and it was super impressive. I may try a very small hydroponics experiment this year just to have fun. But I love nurturing the soil so it will always be my first love - and it's just a matter of being very water wise in most parts of Mexico.
Yes. El Cactus Nursery. It’s in a strange little spot but Google Maps has it right. It’s way more than cactus. But not a spot for veggies. Kat brings seeds south with her.
Wow lots of work rewarded. How many tomatoes has Brighton eaten ? I think I know the answer, I once asked him about Bloody Margaritas. His answer was most definite. lol. Here in Nova Scotia our biggest challenges are the often damp weather and Deer. Deer like anything green and apparently bird seed. Most nights we have 8 deer grazing and trying to get past the chicken wire to get into Pam's tomatoes. But it's worth it to keep them here where it is safe. Good Show Mrs and Mr B. P n D
Thanks Dave!! Brighton is NOT a tomato fan outside of ketchup and spaghetti sauce, but that's ok - more for me. :) At least we don't have deer problems here! That sounds like a huge challenge. But it must be amazing to see them. I love the critters.
I'm with Mr B in the Tomato category. And yes you can not have a garden around here without a fence. For us it's a no brainer, We'd rather see the deer with their fawns any day rather then fencing it off from them. @@katwest6505
Yes but also Hosta's, Lawn, Certain flowers. But they seem to hate and I mean hate Marigolds. So we plant them around anything we really want to be untouched.
Great info. Thank you! What's your favorite place to get seeds in La Paz? Also, we had birds just chomp up all of our radishes we planted a week ago. Any tips? :)
What did you do with all the beautiful dill? I’m thinking dill baths? Kidding not kidding 😊 Fun to see your progress. I imagine you are heading down soon. We hope to get there in a couple months
How did you get your seeds down there? Ive got a *huge* heirloom seed collection (wide, wide variety of seeds) that I'm trying to figure out how to get into the country. Of course, I won't be bringing every last seed - I'll probably give the bulk of them to friends. But I'd like to have as many with me as possible. Any tips? Edit: Also wondering which water you use? Do you water with drinking water or tap? 🤔 Now that I've typed that question it sounds stupid, but I'm going to leave it here anyway. 😄
Shhh - we *may* have brought seeds across the border in our car... We water with tap water. But I've been wondering if everything would grow better with filtered water. Mostly I'm worried about how hard the water is in La Paz. I'm going to do a test this winter (or I'll have Kat do that test.) Last time I tried to water two plants with tap and filtered water on my own without Kat's help, I killed both plants!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I *might* have to do that, too. 🤫 It's just that I have such an extensive collection. I'm talking probably around 50-60 varieties of tomatoes, 40+ peppers, and tons of different beans, peas - all of it, really. I'd hate to have to leave them all behind. Once I get even a couple of each variety there, I'm golden; they're heirlooms, so as long as the plants grow, I can save more seed. I've been looking for a Mexican source for heirloom seeds. Or even a Canadian or American company that will ship to Mexico, but none of the usual suspects provide the documentation for crossing the border. 😕 I'm not very good at growing, either. I tend to kill things from time to time. But I dream of having a garden with a healthy variety of food available, whether I'm in Canada or Mexico. I'd love to know how the water experiment goes. Mostly I was curious about whether the non-drinkable bacteria in the water negatively affected the plants. But I'd be curious to see if they grow better or worse with filtered. Thanks for the reply! Kind regards to Kat, the animals and yourself! 😊
Lovely garden. But be careful planting non native plants, as it affects climate change and some could be invasive. You could also attract non native bugs into the country.
Micro climates are actually awesome! In Hawaii "Big Island" I believe they said there are 13 micro climates... it is fabulous! Mexico grows so many vegetables for north American grocery stores, it would be difficult to bring ANYTHING in that they do not already have.
Thank you, Rosa! And yes, I agree 100% about not introducing invasive plants and bugs! I'm very careful and only grow vegetables and fruits that are already grown in surrounding areas. I got the passionfruit seeds from Todos Santos about 1 hour away and many of the tomato plants locally. It's a good reminder though!
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Anyone interested in a gardening club in El Centenario/Comitan?? It's so much fun to watch this video and it makes me super excited for gardening season again in November!
You know I’m in.
@@GaagiiLammers Yay! I was counting on you! ❤
Lovely. Very informative ❤❤❤❤
I am also a huge gardener (small scale farming) in Oregon...every year I bring seeds down with me to Mexico and garden while we stay there for 4 months. I love it. Keeping compost/mulch in place was maddening especially because we rent so I started 'composting in place" which is basically burying my compost in the outter area of the garden beds. I kept putting mulch on top and was constantly talking with the gardeners...but I lost that battle since we rent in places that have HOA's and we arent owners...however THIS year we are renting from a gentleman in Pescadero who said I'm welcome to do whatever I want in the gardening space...I'm also a seed saver so I hope some of the seeds will work down there...my potato/ garlic/onion and tomatoes have made the trip down south with success....so much fun. I'd love to see more Kat. Stay cool ☮
I loved reading your post! you are a kindred spirit from Oregon :) I love planting things... So if you travel around in Mexico.... the gardens of ATLIXCO, Puebla, MX are to die for!! I loved being there so much! The garden stores/greenhouses/Botanical gardens were so amazing with butterflies and hummingbirds, bees and bright colors... You really must go if you love gardening!
Thank you❤
You're welcome 😊
💞
Blowing up the internet with Kat!
🥰🥰🥰
I am in La Ventana for the winter and good to know a gardener in this part of Baja. Brought my own seeds from home in Nanaimo BC Canada.
Love This! Kat you are a pro! Meaning... I was interested from the start to finish. And would love to hear more of this part of your life in Mexico! And maybe how you both use them in your nice kitchen :) Thanks for posting! Love watching as always!
Thank you!! Yes, we use so much in the kitchen and we give some away too. My favorite are the tomatoes and papaya!
Great idea on the cooking videos! Thanks for the suggestion.
Nice, Kat, thanks! Looking forward to seeing you soon 😊
You too! Can't wait to start our gardening club!
¡Baja California!
You are right!
Thank you so much for your garden ing tips I would love to have a great garden In Baja
Happy to share! It's possible to garden in the Baja - just a little tricky!
Do it! It just depends on your microclimate and your patience! I've killed more plants than I can count. 😆
This is very good!
Thanks Howard!
Fantastic information, Kat! I love how you solved your gardening problems. Ugh, Brighton, don't steal Kat's hat! LOL
Right?!? That was originally my hat...but I think it looks better on him so I guess it's his now! 😆
That hat is totally mine now. Kat has lots (and lots) of additional hats.
What type of trees can you grow, ie redwood, cedars?
Neem trees seem to grow best. Ficus. Olive. Mexican fan palm. We’ve grown these with a small amount of water.
Native trees are Palo Verde and Palo de Arco. These will grow without water.
Love your garden.
Thank you! It's my happy place.
What a Kool Kat.
🥰
WOW!! What a terrific video on gardening and a beautiful lady to explain the methods! I really like when things in my garden do the self-seeding also... when I am in Oregon the Cilantro does a great job of self-seeding! So far I have only done the garden plants in Pots when I am in Mexico, but I hope that one day I can have a nice plot of land to garden on. Very close to my in-laws in Puebla a neighbor has a huge lot that is simply loaded with every imaginable tree! Oranges, LImes, avocado, pomegranate and even raspberries and strawberries. It's strange to see so many things ripe nearly year around in Puebla... Just have to add water in Dry season. Thanks for sharing this great gardening video!
Thank you!! 🥰 Self-seeding is the awesome way to go - super healthy plants and no labor! Puebla sounds fantastic and I hope you get your plot of land soon. I'll want to see photos!
It's so different across Mexico. I'm jealous of the growth rates in PV. My friend has turned his yard into a jungle in a couple years and meanwhile our palm trees have grown a couple inches :-(
You need a compost pile to create topsoil. I did this in China.
Great idea! I have one started with all our food scraps but it's certainly been an adventure. The climate is so dry that the compost doesn't break down quickly like I'm used to! It slowly breaks down and so I'm hoping to use some this year after starting it 2 years ago.
Composting is a great idea. We collect our compost and also our recycling (which isn't picked up curbside) to reduce our trash (and composting helps with the soil!)
At 64 years old, I have become avid gardner.
That's wonderful! It's never too late to garden.
Passion fruit is my favorite fruit Kat, as well as Mango's and Figs!💌Tamarindo margaritas are amazing! Luv Arugula and Dill also!
Love your garden! Have you tried peppers? I would think they would grow into trees there! 😁 my other recommended addition would be tomatillos! I’d love to see more garden content. Great work!!🎉🎉🎉
Hi Stephanie - thank you!! yes, the peppers grow like weeds (altho I had a problem with blight one year) and super great idea about tomatillos. I need to find a source for seed or bring some down with me in November. 🌱
@@katwest6505 you can even just save seeds from a tomatillo that you buy down there! They are super prolific here in Northern California. I get volunteers all over the place. I would smash a few and pour them in the dirt. They will grow.
@@stephanievalencia7329 Very cool! I'll try that for sure!
Hi Brighton,
We are arriving La Paz today for a few days.
Wondering if you are still doing your Sunday meet ups that I saw you post about a while back? I would like to meet you and Kat since you have been such a great reference for me and I would like to hear more about gardening challenges from Kat😊
Let me know if we could buy you a drink!
Beth and Mike
Welcome to La Paz! Sorry we aren't yet there. We had planned to arrive last weekend, but we are currently in Oregon at our vet's office getting clearance for our dog to go south - she's been sick.
I hope you'll be back to La Paz when we are in town.
Oh cool, l have been coming down to La Paz since 2009. Coming back down again this winter and thinking how l can grow vegetables, herbs without resorting to hydroponics
Interesting that you mention hydroponics because I visited a large experimental aquaponics set up at the Biological Research Center (CIBNOR) last year in El Centenario (outside of La Paz centro) and it was super impressive. I may try a very small hydroponics experiment this year just to have fun. But I love nurturing the soil so it will always be my first love - and it's just a matter of being very water wise in most parts of Mexico.
Love this. So we can bring seeds from the US to Mexico?
I've since learned that we are not supposed to bring seeds across the border...
Great video!
I am arriving the first of December and l am excited to start landscaping right away. Kat, do you have a favorite nursery in La Paz?
Yes. El Cactus Nursery. It’s in a strange little spot but Google Maps has it right. It’s way more than cactus. But not a spot for veggies. Kat brings seeds south with her.
Seeds…? I thought it was illegal to bring seeds into Mexico?
@@kayperkayful Oops - I just looked it up and you are correct. Seeds cannot come across the border.
Wow lots of work rewarded. How many tomatoes has Brighton eaten ? I think I know the answer, I once asked him about Bloody Margaritas. His answer was most definite. lol. Here in Nova Scotia our biggest challenges are the often damp weather and Deer. Deer like anything green and apparently bird seed. Most nights we have 8 deer grazing and trying to get past the chicken wire to get into Pam's tomatoes. But it's worth it to keep them here where it is safe. Good Show Mrs and Mr B. P n D
Thanks Dave!! Brighton is NOT a tomato fan outside of ketchup and spaghetti sauce, but that's ok - more for me. :) At least we don't have deer problems here! That sounds like a huge challenge. But it must be amazing to see them. I love the critters.
I'm with Mr B in the Tomato category. And yes you can not have a garden around here without a fence. For us it's a no brainer, We'd rather see the deer with their fawns any day rather then fencing it off from them. @@katwest6505
Bird seed and tomatoes sounds like the worst diet in the world!
Yes but also Hosta's, Lawn, Certain flowers. But they seem to hate and I mean hate Marigolds. So we plant them around anything we really want to be untouched.
@@davebaker489 do you rip up the marigolds around Pam’s tomatoes when she’s not looking?
Very helpful thank you. Wondering why you are not growing mangoes?
I asked Kat. She said it's really easy to get mangoes at the store and the fruit ripens in the summer when we are up in Oregon.
Great info. Thank you! What's your favorite place to get seeds in La Paz? Also, we had birds just chomp up all of our radishes we planted a week ago. Any tips? :)
Hi, Kat! I'm receiving different info on what the gardening zone is for La Paz. Is it 9, 10, 11? Thanks for the great video!
Is your foster dog a Carolina dog? Pretty!
What's a Carolina dog? Lizzie is a Mexican street dog ;-) Probably a mix of everything, heavy on the Chihuahua!
She does look like a Carolina dog! It's certainly possible - these Mexican street dogs are a mixture of everything possible. 🤗
What did you do with all the beautiful dill? I’m thinking dill baths? Kidding not kidding 😊 Fun to see your progress. I imagine you are heading down soon. We hope to get there in a couple months
It's for cooking. More dill than we need ;-) Maybe we need to start pickling. See you soon!
How did you get your seeds down there? Ive got a *huge* heirloom seed collection (wide, wide variety of seeds) that I'm trying to figure out how to get into the country. Of course, I won't be bringing every last seed - I'll probably give the bulk of them to friends. But I'd like to have as many with me as possible. Any tips?
Edit: Also wondering which water you use? Do you water with drinking water or tap? 🤔 Now that I've typed that question it sounds stupid, but I'm going to leave it here anyway. 😄
Shhh - we *may* have brought seeds across the border in our car...
We water with tap water. But I've been wondering if everything would grow better with filtered water. Mostly I'm worried about how hard the water is in La Paz.
I'm going to do a test this winter (or I'll have Kat do that test.) Last time I tried to water two plants with tap and filtered water on my own without Kat's help, I killed both plants!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I *might* have to do that, too. 🤫
It's just that I have such an extensive collection. I'm talking probably around 50-60 varieties of tomatoes, 40+ peppers, and tons of different beans, peas - all of it, really. I'd hate to have to leave them all behind. Once I get even a couple of each variety there, I'm golden; they're heirlooms, so as long as the plants grow, I can save more seed.
I've been looking for a Mexican source for heirloom seeds. Or even a Canadian or American company that will ship to Mexico, but none of the usual suspects provide the documentation for crossing the border. 😕
I'm not very good at growing, either. I tend to kill things from time to time. But I dream of having a garden with a healthy variety of food available, whether I'm in Canada or Mexico.
I'd love to know how the water experiment goes. Mostly I was curious about whether the non-drinkable bacteria in the water negatively affected the plants. But I'd be curious to see if they grow better or worse with filtered.
Thanks for the reply! Kind regards to Kat, the animals and yourself! 😊
Get a cat .
We have those little ground moles all over the yard - including the parts where our cats roam freely.
Lovely garden. But be careful planting non native plants, as it affects climate change and some could be invasive. You could also attract non native bugs into the country.
Micro climates are actually awesome! In Hawaii "Big Island" I believe they said there are 13 micro climates... it is fabulous! Mexico grows so many vegetables for north American grocery stores, it would be difficult to bring ANYTHING in that they do not already have.
@@dianaj3139 So true! Everything we grow in our little finca is already being grown here. And I adore Hawai'i by the way!
Thank you, Rosa! And yes, I agree 100% about not introducing invasive plants and bugs! I'm very careful and only grow vegetables and fruits that are already grown in surrounding areas. I got the passionfruit seeds from Todos Santos about 1 hour away and many of the tomato plants locally. It's a good reminder though!