March 12, 2012

I’ve just returned from an evening with Jimmy Williams and Susan Heeger at San Diego Hort Society. Settled in my writing corner, I’m savoring bits of garden wisdom, shared in a conversational way. These are folks who have their hands in the dirt, love worms and relish Goose Creek tomatoes.

Jimmy, like his grandmother before him, is an intuitive gardener. He took to gardening of necessity as one of twelve children. After a first career in New York, he returned to working the earth, growing food and then designing edible gardens in Los Angeles.

I am fond of saying “that gardening is about experimentation.”  Jimmy is also an experimentalist, bold and confident to set aside convention to find a better way. Do you know anyone who transplants carrots and beets? He asserts that transplanting is easier than thinning.

Susan Heeger is one of a handful of distinctively southern California garden writers who have shaped my garden sensibilities and style. (Thanks also go to Robert Smaus, Lili Singer, Nancy Goslee Power and Emily Green). It was a pleasure to thank Susan personally this evening for words and images woven together seamlessly in garden articles over the years. Tonight, In a casual way, with images from the book, she coaxed stories and garden tips from Jimmy.

It was a delightful evening with Susan Heeger and Jimmy Williams. I encourage you to read their book, From Seed to Skillet, A Guide to Growing, Tending, Harvesting, and Cooking Up Fresh, Healthful Food to Share with People You Love.

More information about From Seed to Skillet in my March 8 post.