This past Fourth of July weekend (Happy Birthday America!) my darling and I visited one of our favorite places in the world, OJAI! Ojai is a quaint, friendly town nestled in a fertile valley in the hills above Ventura, California. The first people to settle here were the Chumash, who named it Ojai, which translates to “Valley of the Moon.” You’ll know why when you go on an evening stroll during a full moon!

Ojai is well known for their arts community and especially for the farms and gardens that grow so readily here. The climate, geography and soil make for a perfect environment to grow almost anything. From the moment we arrived, we were dining on locally grown Ojai produce, including the best strawberry shortcake ever from Boccali’s Pizza!

Throughout the weekend, we hiked in the hills and took strolls around town, but most importantly, we relaxed poolside at the Herb Garden Pool!

When we weren’t busy being lazy in the sun, we continued eating great meals around town, including an Italian themed lunch at Osteria Monte Grappa of Rosé, Stuffed Artichoke & Calamari and Polenta Salad!

The food was as wonderful as the setting:

We saw fruit nearly ready to be picked off the tree!

The highlight of the trip was a visit to New Oak Ranch‘s Lavender Farm where we picked bunches of lavender in their field.

The smell was simply heavenly, and the bees were so happy to share the blossoms with us!

A horse named Pal came over to see how we were faring with the lavender picking!

Heading back home we had to stop at this fruit stand for the tastiest plums ever, organic and just $1.00 per bag!

Let us know how you’re enjoying this wonderful summer and the fruits of the season! Drop us a line on Facebook or on Twitter!

Stay Woolly!
-Alex
The Engaged Observer

In my corner of Echo Park, the neighbors are all packed in tight. I live in a back house, with enough room for a small walkway and a strip of dirt about a foot wide. If I lean out my bedroom window, I can touch the fence that separates me from my neighbor. It’s not much space, and when I tried growing carrots they were chomped by a bunny that roams the neighborhood at midnight (see?). But I’ve got some beets and lettuce and tomatoes that are happy here.

And I’m happy here, too. I get to work from home a lot – I write the LA Times book blog, and while I do go into the office, it’s also kind of my job to sit at home and read and write. My little back house is perfect for that – except for my neighbor, and next Friday.

It would be more accurate, I suppose, to say my neighbor and “El Proximo Viernes.” If you know “El Proximo Viernes” (“Next Friday,” in English), you probably know the contemporary version by Espinoza Paz. It’s a Mexican ballad, and my neighbor plays a version that was recorded, I’m guessing, before Paz was born – all big analog horns and sweeping ranchera waltz beat. It’s a pretty good song, actually, or that’s what I thought the first time my neighbor played it at top volume. But then he played it again. And again and again and again, hours at a time. While singing along. At the top of his lungs.

So when my friend Stephanie told me about Woolly Pocket, where she now works, I thought YES! I could plant carrots out of the reach of the midnight bunny, and simultaneously create a sound barrier between me and Mr. Next Friday. Instead, I planted pretty things that will drape.

I think I’ll need a higher fence – and a few more pockets – to completely banish “El Proximo Viernes,” but I’ll wait until next Friday to worry about that.

Carolyn Kellogg

http://www.carolynkellogg.com

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/

New York Times

Office for Word and Image

Miguel de Guzman

KRE House

Altro Studio

Elok House

Now, I know that most of us aren’t fortunate enough to have skyscraper ceilings, trees growing through our homes (please don’t cut a hole in your roof unless you really know what you’re doing!), or grassy tents from outer space, but indoor gardening can be accessible to almost everyone.

Head Over Heels

Dezeen

Vertical gardening takes front and center stage in these sweet rooms. Just think — you could snag a few Woolly Pockets and turn your own home into paradise.

Jean Paul Gaultier for Elle Decoration Suite

If I may offer a word to the wise, though: indoor gardening can be addictive, but don’t let your green thumb totally take over.

Well, kids, that’s it for my guest stint at WP headquarters. Thanks so much for having me — I had a blast!

Now I hope you’ll scoot on over to Design Crisis, where we’re giving away a free Woolly Pocket. Our lucky winner can get started on their own special indoor garden pronto, thanks to the nice people at Woolly Pockets. Hooray!

After chatting with Aurora about this Woolly Pocket follow up- she asked if I would like a Woolly for myself. I was thrilled to try it out since I didn’t join the Daily Grommet team until 2010 (after Woolly was originally featured). Here are some snapshots of my first hands-on experience with the Woolly.

The Woolly Pocket ended up being the perfect solution for this bare wall I had in my kitchen. Hanging perfectly across from my prep counter- I now have a living piece of art. A little “green” surprise every time I walk around the corner- love it!