Welcome Rod to the Olle Family! Send him questions you have about gardening or even cooking!
Rod Dodd
Senior Garden Consultant | Celebrity Chef
about.
Rod Dodd is the owner/Chef of Organic Harvest Gardens Farm which is located in North Long Beach California.
UC Certified Master Gardener
Certified Animal Technologist
Culinary School Graduate
Private Estate and noted Celebrity Chef
UC Certified Master Gardener
Certified Animal Technologist
Culinary School Graduate
Private Estate and noted Celebrity Chef
Rod is a retired Staff Research associate and Animal resource Manager for USC, UCLA, and the Veterans Administration.
contributions.
Chef Rod uses his farm, to teach economically disadvantaged youth, conventional gardening and hydroponics, through a course he developed " From Seed to Harvest to Table."
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rod and his team, delivered over 300 fresh organic produce boxes, per week, to seniors throughout the Long Beach area, where seniors were housebound as a result of the pandemic. This earned him the title "California Hero" by many News outlets.Rod continues to expand the Gardens to serve Veterans and seniors. Teaching them, gardening and healthy food choices, as a mechanism to reduce the effects of stress, PTSD and most common symptoms, that plague the urban community.
gallery.
Organic Harvest Gardens, Long Beach
Organic Harvest Gardens, Long Beach
purple
mustard.
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q&a.
Celia
Incidentally, our figs (for the first time) really produced this year. One is brown turkey but the other one tastes a lot like a watermelon. I wish I knew what type it is because I really love it. Can you recommend some types of hardy, big producers of figs?
The fig tree you are referring to is the watermelon wine fig. It really has a distinctive taste the resembles a ripe, sweet and juicy watermelon. The black mission fig and brown turkey fig are both delicious and very prolific producers. I would give these varieties a try.
Courtney
What's the best layering of materials for a vegetable garden bed? We have the 17 inch high beds on the way and want to make sure we're ready to fill with the best material/soil combo. Thanks!
Hi Courtney! So glad you are ready to get your vegetable garden started!
Start with a layer of cardboard, (use the Box your olle garden bed came in).
Secondly, a good garden compost or wooden branches or logs.
Next a layer of Raised Bed potting mix @Kellogg garden.
Finally top it off with a rich potting mix.
Add a good vegetable fertilizer.
Thank you for your submission!
Happy Growing!
Chef Rod
Heather
I plan to plant bell peppers (red, yellow, orange) , a variety of lettuces, basil, parsley, marigold, and celery.
I have two 8x2 17” tall raised beds.
What should I plant in each planter?
Hello Heather, plant Lettuce, parsley and celery in one bed. Plant Bell peppers basil and marigolds together.
Jeff
Hello, I’m in zone 9, Fairfield, CA.
Are coffee grounds suitable for the compost layer?
Absolutely perfect for composting in zone 9. Happy Growing!
Rod
Kwai
What are the advantages of the 32" over the 17" raised garden beds? How many bed do need to start?
thank you for your time, Kwai
Hi Kwai, The 32" raised bed is much easier on the back while gardening and it provides you with more growing area.
Starting with two beds, should get you off to a good start!
Thank you for your submission! Happy growing!
Celia
Incidentally, our figs (for the first time) really produced this year. One is brown turkey but the other one tastes a lot like a watermelon. I wish I knew what type it is because I really love it. Can you recommend some types of hardy, big producers of figs?
The fig tree you are referring to is the watermelon wine fig. It really has a distinctive taste the resembles a ripe, sweet and juicy watermelon. The black mission fig and brown turkey fig are both delicious and very prolific producers. I would give these varieties a try.
John
Incidentally, our figs (for the first time) really produced this year. One is brown turkey but the other one tastes a lot like a watermelon. I wish I knew what type it is because I really love it. Can you recommend some types of hardy, big producers of figs?
The fig tree you are referring to is the watermelon wine fig. It really has a distinctive taste the resembles a ripe, sweet and juicy watermelon. The black mission fig and brown turkey fig are both delicious and very prolific producers. I would give these varieties a try.
have a question? ask rod.
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