Jordan Laio

Jordan Laio

Jordan Laio is an organic gardener in Southern California. He is the founder of the fermented living foods company Brassica & Brine. http://www.brassicaandbrine.com/

Photo: Victor.ramos/Flickr.

9 Awesome Uses for Junk Mail

Posted by Jordan Laio | Feb 08, 2011

Most people don't give a second thought to tossing junk mail in the recycling bin. But with over 100 billion pieces delivered annually, some savvy recipients are seeing it differently....

Photo: Maxwell Hamilton/Flickr.

5 Plants That Will Take Over Your Yard

Posted by Jordan Laio | Feb 08, 2011

We gardeners have the best intentions with the plants we choose, and yet sometimes our decisions come back to haunt us. It's like buying a pet—sure, that little puppy is so cute,...

A greywater garden by Jeremy Levine Design via Flickr

Greywater: From Washing Machine to Garden

Posted by Jordan Laio | Jan 19, 2011

Like most American households, the average Southern California family uses about 500 gallons of water per day, according to the Los Angeles County Waterworks District. A significant...

Photo: Steakpinball on Flickr

If It's Yellow Let It Mellow: The Great Debate

Posted by Jordan Laio | Jan 11, 2011

The topic of letting urine sit in the toilet until a number two comes along (known widely by the euphonic expression, “If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down...”)...

Ficus by ndrwfgg via Flickr

Top 10 Air Purifying House Plants

Posted by Jordan Laio | Dec 22, 2010

Most people spend a majority of their time indoors in increasingly well-sealed buildings surrounded by paints and other synthetic materials which off-gas noxious chemicals. These conditions...

DIY Kitchen: Live Culture Pickle Recipe from a Pro Fermenter

Posted by Jordan Laio | Nov 18, 2010

Home pickle-making is quite the rage right now. I use the term "pickle" in the broader sense, not to refer strictly to cucumber pickles, but as in vegetables preserved in brine. However,...

Growing Herbs Indoors

Posted by Jordan Laio | Nov 18, 2010

It's cold outside, but don't give up on growing fresh greens at home. There are a variety of plants that you can bring indoors to keep your inner gardener happy and keep you supplied...

10 Questions to Ask a Gardener Before Hiring

Posted by Jordan Laio | Nov 02, 2010

If, like my parents, you have a simple, cookie-cutter front yard which mainly requires lawn mowing, leaf blowing, and occasional tree trimming, then as my father says, all you need...

Building the Perfect Cold Frame

Posted by Jordan Laio | Nov 01, 2010

If you live in a region with a short summer growing season, cold frames allow you to plant earlier in the spring and to extend the harvest season. But remember: for a cold frame to...

10 Tips for Growing Roses

Posted by Jordan Laio | Oct 19, 2010

I know everyone appreciates the aesthetic beauty and the sweet fragrance of a rose. But I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that most people don't know that rose petals, which can...