Aislin Suparak Gibson

For gardeners, poring over the pages of a seed catalog can be a feast for the eyes. Whether it’s heirloom crookneck squash or ‘Green Zebra’ tomatoes, the seed varieties available to home gardeners rival any farmers market. Similarly, going to a nursery and seeing row upon row of baby tomato, lettuce and kale plants can make it hard to decide where to start. What’s a backyard food grower to do?

Fall is the time to clear the garden and plant for the coming seasons. How can we do this in a sustainable way that honors the land’s need for restoration, as well as ours? During this season, break down the daunting task of fall garden prep into smaller chunks. By doing so, you’ll reduce your environmental impact by recycling nutrients back into your soil while maintaining what you have.

@Jill, the watering advice on fruit trees in interesting. It depends on your soil and your climate, though. And that advice is only for mature trees (fruit trees need regular watering for their first few years in the ground). Springtime is rainy and mild for much of California. In southern California you can easily get away with withholding water between budding and fruit set because the deep soil is moist (unless it’s a drought year) even if it isn’t raining.