DECEMBER 20, 2017

Dear Friends,

Here is the 234th issue of our weekly gardening newsletter for Houston, the Gulf Coast and beyond. We really appreciate all of our readers hanging in there with us, sharing stories and inspiring us in so many ways. 
 
Thanks so much!
 
This newsletter is a project of The Lazy Gardener, Brenda Beust Smith, John Ferguson and Mark Bowen (John and Mark are with Nature's Way Resources). We also have a great supporting cast of contributing writers and technical specialists who will chime in and tweak away regularly. We would love to keep receiving your input on this newsletter . . . . comments . . . . suggestions . . . . questions. . . .E mail your thoughts to: lazygardenerandfriends@gmail.com. Thanks so much for your interest.
 
Please    or sign yourself up to receive this newsletter by clicking the "Join Our Mailing List" link just below. We will never sell or share our mailing list to protect the privacy of our subscribers.

Enjoy!

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Beauty Leno, left, and the garden that bears her name and her legacy  

BEAUTIFUL LADY LEAVES A FITTING LEGACY

"Everyone must leave something behind when he dies . . . Something your hand touched  
some way  . . . It doesn't matter what you do, so long as you change something from the way
it was before you touched it int o something that's like you after you take your hand away." 
                                                                                                                                                                      -- "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury 
 
By BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
Houston's multiple community gardens are each a testimony to the dedication and determination of legions of volunteers committed to growing and sharing healthy food and helping to educate others to do the same.
 
But in the historic area of Independence Heights, one Community Garden has an even greater commitment. There volunteers are also carrying on the can-do legacy of Beauty Leno. And a big January event will be a great place to not only help out, but to see the garden and reap some of the rewards from volunteers' plantings.
 
Beauty was born in 1898, the daughter of landowners in Richmond, TX. She was christened Diana Liza, but an aunt declared the babe was too pretty for that name. She named her Beauty. In the 1920s, Beauty moved to the newly established city of Independence Heights, the first African American municipality in Texas, taking her farming know-how and love of growing with her.
 
Now a part of Houston, Independence Heights is roughly bordered by W. Tidwell on the north, I-45 on the east, 610/N. Loop Freeway on the South and N. Shepherd on the West. Beauty's Community Garden sits on the corner of 3201 Airline Dr. at East 32nd, a street Beauty, a well-known civic activist, successfully campaigned to get paved many decades ago. The community garden sits on the very land where Beauty grew her own garden.
 

Volunteers welcome visitors at Beauty's Garden, 3201 Airline, Mondays & Saturdays, 9:30-11:30am

Somewhere Beauty is looking down, smiling at this grassroots project that focuses on delivering fresh farm-to-table produce to neighbors and beyond. Gardening education and demos will hopefully include a free Pollinator Class in February, in conjuction with one of their biggest supporters, Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital. Statistics record the Greater Heights area to lead in chronic illnesses that can be related to diet.  
 
Beauty's Garden has teamed with Memorial Hermann and PEACE through P.I.E. to help provide the vegetable gardening know-how and nutrition education to this "Food Desert" community. In Houston's multiple "Food Deserts" fresh fruits and vegetables are not readily available because so many of our
grocery stores prefer to locate only where incomes are higher. ( For more, google "Houston Food Deserts.")
Beauty's Garden volunteers can be find working, and meeting guests, Mondays and Saturdays 9:30-11:30am. Children accompanied by parents or guardians are welcome.  More volunteers are always needed and should register at memorialhermann.org/heights-community-garden.  More information is available at Facebook.com/beautys-community-garden.
 
 
Looking for a holiday donation idea? Look no further. Beauty's grandaughter Yvette has posted a great YouTube overview at youtube.com/watch?v=ihV_zenkQws&t=125s.    Email her at beautysgarden1@gmail.com. 

Even better, be a visitor or participant at their big upcoming fundraiser event:
  • Saturday, Jan. 13: BEAUTY'S COMMUNITY GARDEN PEACE THROUGH P.I.E. CONTEST, 10:30am-1pm, St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 4300 Shepherd. beautysgarden1@gmail.com; 832-910-8261. Free, but they would like a headcount so please register at peacethroughpie
Additional information:
TIP O' TROWEL TO HOUSTON BOTANIC GARDEN & TREES FOR HOUSTON on their new collaboration. Trees for Houston, a nonprofit organization, has already planted over half a million trees in the Greater Houston area. Now they have agreed to operate a tree farm for all HBG's reforestations, starting with over 1,000 trees on a 2-acre site. The farm will be installed once HBG takes possession of the site. HBG plans to host events at the farm to help educate visitors about trees that do well in this area.  (treesforhouston.org)

Speaking of Houston Botanic Garden, before signing off, I need to clear up any misinformation I've shared about the exact location of the new Houston Botanic Garden. Thanks to Mark Fox & HBG Executive Director & General Counsel Claudia Gee Vassar for pointing this out.

The new Houston Botanic Garden will be on the EAST side (not west) of I45 south, adjacent to the Sims Bayou Nature Center on the Glenbrook Golf Course. Hope this HBG map makes the site clear.

 
 
Is based on her 40+ years as the Houston Chronicle's Lazy Gardener.  To sign up for this free,  
weekly Greater Houston area gardening report or to read past issues, go to www.natureswayresources .com.





 
JOHN'S CORNER

A BOOK REVIEW

As a scientist, I am constantly reading new research about the connection between the soil, the environment, and our health.

This book is the best summary I have seen in one place of why our children and families are having so many health problems AND how to correct them.
Dr. Maya is an excellent writer and explains all the relations between soil, food, and health in an easy to understand manner.
 
"Dr. Shetreat- Klein, MD trained as a pediatric neurologist encountered the limits of conventional medicine when her son suffered a severe episode of hives and asthma on his first birthday and began a terrifying backward slide in his development. Conventional treatment failed to reverse his condition, so she embarked on her own scientific investigation. In the process, she discovered that the root of her son's illness was his food, which was grown and processed in ways that harm children's developing gut microbiome, immune systems, and brains and contribute to lifelong chronic illness." 
 
This book is about the solution to her son's illness which was unexpectedly simple: Heal the food, heal the gut, heal the brain, ... heal the child.

"In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Mark Hyman, and Andrew Weil, pioneering integrative pediatric neurologist Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, reveals the shocking contents of children's food, how it's seriously harming their bodies and brains, and what we can do about it.

Chronic illness has become the new normal for children. Yet much of what is being done to children-medications they receive like Tylenol and antibiotics, the bleach and Purell we use to sanitize, processed foods they eat in school cafeterias and their own homes, even time they spend trapped in a classroom or doing homework instead of playing outdoors-play a very significant role in this epidemic of chronic illness.
Dr. Maya believes that children's bodies naturally have the capacity to be healthy and heal when they have the tools to do so. Her plan starts with the soil, using fresh foods and nature to heal children from the inside out and the outside in. Revealing the profound connections between food, nature, and children's health, Dr. Maya explains how food is constantly changing kids' bodies, brains, and even genes-for better or for worse. She also shares success stories from her practice and tips as a working mother of three on stocking healing foods (from veggies to chocolate!), reading labels, and getting even picky eaters into the new menu. This paradigm-shifting book empowers you to transform your child's health through food and ensure the long-term wellbeing of your kids and the entire family."

I highly recommend this book to anyone whom wants to improve the health of his or her children and families.

The DIRT CURE-Growing Healthy Kids with Food Straight from the Soil , Maya Shetreat-Klein, MD, Atria Books, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-4767-9697-0
 


 







 



 *   *   *
LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLEASE READ BEFORE
SUBMITTING AN EVENT TO THIS CALENDAR.       
NO EVENTS ARE PICKED UP FROM NEWSLETTERS! SUBMIT WITH REQUEST FOR CALENDAR PUBLICATION 
Events NOT submitted in EXACT written calendar format below may take 2+ weeks to be posted.
After that point, if your event does not appear, please email us. Adult gardening/plants events only 

Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 
 
IF WE INSPIRE YOU TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE TELL SPONSORS YOU HEARD ABOUT IT IN  
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER! 

   

SAT., DEC 23: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232

WED., DEC. 27: KATY PRAIRIE CONSERVANCY INDIANGRASS PRESERVE GUIDED TOUR, 10-11:30am, in Waller. Free. katyprairie.org/directions
WED., JAN. 3: PINCH POTS FOR ACCENT PLANTS by ANDY SANKOWSKI, 7pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1556 Hermann Drive. Free. Houston Bonsai Society event. houstonbonsaisociety.com

THURS., JAN. 4: BEGINNINGS OF ENCHANTED GARDENS & THE LENDERMAN FAMILY by DENISE LOPEZ, 10 am, MUD Building, 805 Hidden Canyon Dr, Katy. Free, Nottingham Country Garden Club event. ncgctx.org

SAT., JAN 6: PECKERWOOD GARDEN NORTH DRY GARDEN & ADJACENT PLANTINGS TOUR, 10am, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $15. REGISTER: eventregistration@peckerwoodgarden.org; peckerwoodgarden.org,  979-826-3232
 
SAT. JAN 6:  GROWING AVOCADO & PAPAYA by JERRY HURLBERT, 9-11am; GROWING PEACHES IN GALVESTON COUNTY by HERMAN AUER, 1-3:30 pm, AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston Count y Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

SAT., JAN. 06: KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL HOME FRUIT PRODUCTION, 9-11am, Bud O'Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. Fort Bend Master Gardener event. fbmg.org; 281-341-7068; FortBendmg@ag.tamu.edu  
 
MON., JAN 8: GETTING YOUR BEDS READY FOR BULBS by FLORA TIELDT, 9:30am, Amegy Bank Community Room, 28201 State Hwy 249, Tomball. Free. Tomball Garden Club event. tomballgardenclub@gmail.com

Wed. Jan. 10: Trees of Houston: How to prepare for spring, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens West Side Arboretum Pavilion, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register: 713-274-4160

THURS,.JAN. 11: MODERN ROSES FOR A TROUBLED EARTH by LOTHAR BEHNKE, 7pm, Cherie Flores Garden Pavillon,1500 Hermann Dr. Houston Rose Society event. Free. houstonrose.org

THU. JAN 11:  COLLECTION & STORAGE OF BUD WOOD FOR GRAFTING by SUE JEFFCO, 9-10 am; Galveston County Master Gardeners' Discovery Garden, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

THURS., JAN. 11: PROTECTING AMERICA'S TREASURES by JOE WIEGAND, 10am, Museum of Fine Arts, 1001 Bissonnet. Free. 28th Annual Sadie Gwin Blackburn Environmental Seminar. River Oaks Garden Club event. riveroaksgc.org

FRI., JAN. 12: A CAMELIA COLLECTION - RESTORING IMA HOGG'S CAMELIA COLLECTION AT BAYOU BEND by BART BRECHTER. 10 am. White Oak Convention Center, 7603 Antoine, Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org
 
SAT., JAN. 13: BEAUTY'S COMMUNITY GARDEN PEACE THROUGH P.I.E. CONTEST, 10:30am-1pm, St. Matthews United Methodist Church, 4300 N. Shepherd. Free. peace-throughpie.eventbrite.com; beautysgarden1@gmail.com; 832-910-8261

SAT. JAN 13:  GROWING GREAT TOMATOES, PART 2 OF 3, by IRA GERVAIS, 9-11am; KITCHEN GARDENING by MARY DEMENY, 1-3pm; AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
 
SAT., JAN. 13: FRUIT & CITRUS TREE SALE, 9am-noon, Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, 1402 Band Rd, Rosenberg. Fort Bend Master Gardener event. fbmg.org; 281-341-7068; FortBendmg@ag.tamu.edu

SAT.-SUN., JAN. 13-14: CONROE CAMELLIA SHOW AND PLANT SALE. 1-4 pm, First Christian Church, n. Loop 336 West, Conroe. Free. Bloom entry Sat. 7:30-10am. 713-865-6482; coushattacamelliasociety.com

TUE. JAN 16:  SQUARE-FOOT GARDENING, by JOHN JONS, 6:30-8:30pm; AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
 
THU. JAN 18:  WEDGE GRAFTING, by SUE JEFFCO, 9-10am; Galveston County Master Gardeners' Discovery Garden in Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

SAT., JAN 20: PECKERWOOD GARDEN EVENING AT PECKERWOOD LECTURE TOPIC TBA, 7pm, Peckerwood Garden, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. REGISTER: eventregistration@peckerwoodgarden.org. peckerwoodgarden.org,  979-826-3232
 
SAT. JAN 20:  SUCCESSFUL SPRING VEGETABLES, by HERMAN AUER, GCMG Vegetable Specialist, 9-11:30am; SMALL TREES, SMALL YARDS by SANDRA DEVALL, 1-3:30pm; AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html
 
TUE. JAN 23:  GARDEN TOOL TALK, by HENRY HARRISON, III, AND TIM JAHNKE, 6:30-8:30pm; AgriLife Extension Bldg, Carbide Park, 4102 Main (Hwy 519), La Marque. Galveston County Master Gardener event. Free. Register: galvcountymgs@gmail.com, 281-309-5065, aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.html

TUES., JAN. 23: "THE DIRT CURE by MAYA KLEIN, M.D., 5:30-8pm, United Way-Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr. $20. Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance (OHBA) event. Register: eventbrite.com/e/dr-maya-klein-md-tickets-39961950269; ohbaonline.org

WED., JAN.24: FUN HARDY PLANTS & PRECISION PRUNING by LINDA B. GAY, 7pm, Height's Firehouse, 107 W. 12th. Free. Houston Height's Association. houstonheights.org 

SAT., JAN 27: PECKERWOOD GARDEN OPEN DAY, 10am-2pm tours, 20559 FM 359 Road, Hempstead. $10. peckerwoodgarden.org, 979-826-3232; eventregistration@peckerwoodgarden.org

SUN., JAN. 28: AVOID ST ARVATION: DEVELOPING THE RIGHT FEEDING PROGRAM FOR PLANTS AND FACTORS THAT MAKE FERTILIZERS INEFFECTIVE by GAYE HAMMOND, 2-3pm. Klein United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, 5920 FM 2920, Spring. Free. Cypress Creek Daylily Club event. cypresscreekdaylilyclub.simplesite.com

WED., JAN. 31: BROOKWOOD GIFT & GARDEN CENTER TOUR, 8am-4:30pm, Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. $1. Register: 713-274-4160
 
WED., JAN. 31: BOTANICAL SIDE OF BEVERAGES - KATZ COFFEE AND KARBACH BREWING COMPANY, 9:45am - 4:30pm,Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. $4. Register: 713-274-416
THURS., FEB. 1: HISTORY OF BAYOU BEND AND IMA HOGG by DINAH WEEMS, 10am, MUD Building, 805 Hidden Canyon Dr, Katy. Free. Nottingham Country Garden Club event. 
ncgctx.org  
SAT., FEB. 4: NATURE EXPLORE EDUCATOR WORKSHOP, 9am-noon, a Mercer Botanic Gardens event at Big Stone Lodge, 709 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring. $40. Register: natureexplore.org/workshops/educator-workshops
 
WED., FEB. 14: HISTORIC TEXAS TREES, noon-2pm,  Mercer Botanic Gardens West Side Arboretum Pavilion, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register: 713-274-4160.
 
FEB 17, 2018:  SPRING PLANT SALE PRE-SALE PRESENTATION, 8-8:50am; SPRING PLANT SALE, 9am-1 pm, Location:  Galveston County Fairgrounds, Jack Brooks Park-Rodeo Arena, Hwy 6 and Jack Brooks Rd, Hitchcock.281-309-5065

SAT., FEB. 24: NATURE EXPLORER EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS (2), 9am-noon and 1-4pm; Mercer Botanic Garden event at Big Stone Lodge 709 Riley Fuzzel Rd, Spring. $40 each. Register: natureexplore.org/workshops/educator-workshops

­
SUN., FEB. 25: DAYLILY BLOOM DESCRIPTION by JEANNIE MALLICK, 2pm-3pm. Klein United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, Room #C112, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388. Free. Cypress Creek Daylily Club event. www.cypresscreekdaylilyclub.simplesite.com
 
MO N., FEB. 26: SOIL FOOD WEB & COMPOST AND MULCHES, 9am-noon, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble. Texas Gulf Coast Gardener program. Register: Jennifer L. Garrison, 713-274-4160

FRI., MAR.9: THOSE ADDORABLE HUMMERS by SUE HEATH. 10 am. White Oak Convention Center., 7603 Antoine. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org

SAT., MAR. 10:  VEGETABLE & HERB PLANT SALE, 9am-noon, Fort Bend County AgriLife Extension Office, 1402 Band Rd, Rosenberg. Fort Bend Master Gardener event. fbmg.org; 281-341-7068; FortBendmg@ag.tamu.edu

WED., MAR. 21: SNAKE IDENTIFICATION, noon-2pm, Mercer Botanic Gardens West Side Arboretum Pavilion, 22306 Aldine-Westfield, Humble. Free. Register: 713-274-4160   
SUN., MAR. 25: STEWARDSHIP OF THE SOIL by JOHN FERGUSON, 6pm, Sunday Evening Conversations on Creation Webinar, Lisa Brenskelle, brenskelle@aol.com

SUN., MAR. 25: HIBISCUS CARE by MARTI GRAVES, 2pm-3pm. Klein United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, Room #C112, 5920 FM 2920, Spring, TX 77388. Free. Cypress Creek Daylily Club event. www.cypresscreekdaylilyclub.simplesite.com

WED., MAR. 28: NATURE'S WAY RESOURCES HORTICULTURAL TOUR, 10:15am-4:30pm, Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield. $1. Register: 713-274-4160

FRI., APRIL 13: THE WORLD OF SEED by ANGELA CHANDLER. 10am., White Oak Convention Center, 7603 Antoine, Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardenclubs.org

SAT,. APR. 21: HOUSTON ROSE SOCIETY ANNUAL SPRING SHOW, Noon-4pm, Memorial City Mall, 303 Memorial City Way. Houston Rose Society event.  Free.  houstonrose.org

WED., APR. 25: PECKERWOOD GARDENS TOUR, 8:15am - 4:30pm, Senior Adult Botanic Bus Trip, Mercer Botanic Gardens, 22306 Aldine-Westfield. $1. Register: 713-274-4160

MON., MAY 14: INTRODUCTION TO THE SOIL FOOD WEB by JOHN FERGUSON, 6:30pm, University of Houston at Clear Lake, Forest Room on East of Bayou Building. Native Plant Society of Texas at Clear Lake Martha Richeson, 713-962-7747

FRI. MAY 11: HONEY BEES - JAMES AND CHARI OF BLUEBONNET BEEKEEPERS. 10am. White Oak Convention Center, 7603 Antoine. Free. Houston Federation of Garden Clubs event. houstonfederationgardencllubs.org
 


If we inspire you to attend any of these, please let them know you heard about it in . . .  
THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS NEWSLETTER! 
& please patronize our Newsletter & Calendar sponsors below! 
 
PLEASE READ BEFORE
SUBMITTING AN EVENT FOR THIS CALENDAR. 
Events NOT submitted in the EXACT written format below may take two weeks or longer
to be reformatted/retyped. After that point, if your event does not appear, please email us.
Sorry, no children's programs. - Submit to: lazygardener@sbcglobal.net 
 
IF WE INSPIRE YOU TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE EVENTS, PLEASE TELL SPONSORS YOU HEARD ABOUT IT IN 
T HE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER 
  
 
 
THIS NEWSLETTER IS MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS













                                             


                                                ABOUT US



 
BRENDA BEUST SMITH
 
WE KNOW HER BEST AS THE LAZY GARDENER . . . 

. . . but  Brenda  Beust Smith is also:

   * a national award-winning writer & editor
   * a nationally-published writer &  photographer 
   * a national horticultural speaker
   * a former Houston Chronicle reporter
   
When the Chronicle discontinued  Brenda 's 45-year-old Lazy Gardener" print column a couple of years ago, it ranked as the longest-running, continuously-published local newspaper column in the Greater Houston area.

Brenda 's gradual sideways step from Chronicle reporter into gardening writing led first to an 18-year series of when-to-do-what Lazy Gardener Calendars, then to her Lazy Gardener's Guide book and now to her Lazy Gardener's Guide on CD (which retails for $20. However, $5 of every sale is returned to the sponsoring group at her speaking engagements).

A Harris County Master Gardener,  Brenda  has served on the boards of many Greater Houston area horticulture organizations and has hosted local radio and TV shows, most notably a 10+-year Lazy Gardener run on HoustonPBS (Ch. 8) and her call-in "EcoGardening" show on KPFT-FM. 

Brenda recently ended her decades-long stint as Production Manager of the Garden Club of America's BULLETIN magazine. Although still an active horticulture lecturer and broad-based freelance writer,  Brenda's main focus now is   THE LAZY GARDENER & FRIENDS HOUSTON GARDEN NEWSLETTER with John Ferguson and Mark Bowen of Nature's Way Resources.

A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Agnes Academy and the University of Houston,  Brenda  lives in Aldine and is married to the now retired Aldine High School Coach Bill Smith. They have one son, Blake.

Regarding this newsletter, Brenda is the lead writer, originator of it and the daily inspiration for it. We so appreciate the way she has made gardening such a fun way to celebrate life together for such a long time.
 
 
JOHN FERGUSON
 
John is a native Houstonian and has over 27 years of business experience. He owns Nature's Way Resources, a composting company that specializes in high quality compost, mulch, and soil mixes. He holds a MS degree in Physics and Geology and is a licensed Soil Scientist in Texas. 
 
John has won many awards in horticulture and environmental issues. He represents the composting industry on the Houston-Galveston Area Council for solid waste. His personal garden has been featured in several horticultural books and "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. His business has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal for the quality and value of their products. He is a member of the Physics Honor Society and many other professional societies.   John is is the co-author of the book Organic Management for the Professional. 
 
For this newsletter, John contributes articles regularly and is responsible for publishing it.
 
 
MARK BOWEN
 
Mark is a native Houstonian, a horticulturist, certified permaculturist and organic specialist with a background in garden design, land restoration and organic project management. He is currently the general manager of Nature's Way Resources. Mark is also the co-author of the book Habitat Gardening for Houston and Southeast Texas, the author of the book Naturalistic Landscaping for the Gulf Coast, co-author of the Bayou Planting Guide and contributing landscape designer for the book Landscaping Homes: Texas. 
 
With respect to this newsletter, Mark serves as a co-editor and periodic article contributor.
 
 
 
PABLO HERNANDEZ
 
Pablo Hernandez is the special projects coordinator for Nature's Way Resources. His realm of responsibilities include: serving as a webmaster, IT support, technical problem solving/troubleshooting, metrics management, quality control, and he is a certified compost facility operator.
 
Pablo helps this newsletter happen from a technical support standpoint. 
 

 
 
 
 
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