Gardener to speak on success in growing own produce

Growing his own vegetables and fruit was not in the cards for George Hlavacek.

"I had heard of so many failures, I decided not to grow one. I settled with my xeriscape and besides, I was working two jobs and didn't have time to spare. I was proud of it and it was low maintenance."

However, his urge to grow his own food was always on his mind. On Nov. 2, 2008, Hlavacek read my article titled "Growing your own produce offers feeling of satisfaction." It was about Ray Talarico telling how his backyard became a food factory.

"Talarico asks us to envision walking out our back door and seeing nothing but vegetables, herbs and fruit trees," Hlavacek said. "That fired me up, only I wanted my entire yard in plants that had to produce food to live there."

Now, two years later, Hlavacek is going to share his successful approach to edible landscaping at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. To register for this class, call 822-7786.

Here's why Hlavacek likes his edible landscape:

1. There's nothing but organic produce to eat.

2. He has a steady supply of produce coming in.

3. He can harvest when his produce is at peak quality.

4. He can freeze any excess to enjoy later.

5. He uses no pesticides.

6. It is a form of exercise.

7. He can get attuned with nature.

8. It provides an environment for meditation

9. He has complete control of his food.

10. Edible landscaping is a wise use of water.

Just like Talarico, Hlavacek started with a design.

"It's easier to correct mistakes on paper than tearing out beds," he said. "I yanked out my xeriscape and the neighbors thought I was crazy. I brought in topsoil to level out the yard to build my raised beds; they need to be level for the irrigation system to work properly."

He lined his fence walls and along the sides of his house with raised beds made out of white modular blocks.

"They are easy to install," he said. "You simply put one block on top of another until your bed is about 18 inches high. "I made the beds three feet wide for ease of working."

In his front yard where he had more space, he made curving walls to add interest for viewers. "I let the width of my wheelbarrow determine how wide the paths were to be."

Hlavacek filled his beds with a high-quality, locally manufactured organic soil and installed his Netafim irrigation system.

"Netafim is tubing with laser-punched holes that evenly distribute water across the garden," he said.

Finally, his dream came true: He planted his own vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. Hlavacek didn't let any space go to waste. He planted peaches, apricots, persimmons, nectarines, plums, jujubes, pears, apples, lemons, pomegranates, strawberries, figs, almonds and grapes in his pathways and along his fence and house walls. He trellises and espaliers his fruit trees to keep them in bounds and open so light reaches his vegetables below. The sun never sets on the ground under his plants because the soil is so well covered.

It is amazing the amount of produce he has harvested. Right now he's finishing off his summer vegetables and in October, will plant wintergreens (kale, chard, lettuce, etc.).

Finally, Hlavacek puts about everything he grows in one form or another in his smoothies, and they are so good. He grows concord grapes and strawberries -- not for the berries but for the essential oils and laetrile within the seeds. He's finding vegetables and fruits, when eaten raw, help control many of our serious diseases.

His garden touched all my senses: I saw produce to taste, herbs releasing their fragrance, birds singing in the trees waiting for their next meal and felt a softening fig ready for harvest.

FALL, LAS VEGAS' REAL SPRING

Our Las Vegas "spring" has finally arrived. Step outside this evening and notice how cool it is. That is my signal to plant cool-season vegetables, herbs, perennials, bulbs, flowers, trees and shrubs. These plants have a better chance to anchor themselves for next year's blistering summer. It is also time to care for your roses and lawns for the winter ahead.

I will be speaking on why we should garden more in the fall at the Sunset Garden Club at noon Tuesday at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. There'll be a light lunch at noon and the talk after.

Linn Mills writes a garden column each Sunday. You can reach him at linn.mills@ springspreserve.org or call him at 822-7754.