Orin Martin of the Alan Chadwick Garden on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus is widely admired for his incredible knowledge and skills as a master orchardist, horticulturalist and teacher. I was lucky when, a couple of years ago, he visited a group of fellow designers and brought his favorite russet apples. Another time, he brought a dozen different kinds of potatoes that we roasted, critiqued and thoroughly enjoyed.

I've always been fascinated by child prodigies. And 16-year-old Joshua Moncino, of Scotts Valley, is no exception. Last May he did something that many musicians probably dream about, but few actually do: he played at Carnegie Hall.

Carving a pumpkin is a traditional Halloween decoration. However, once hollowed-out and cut into, every pumpkin begins to rot and mold, shortening the life-span of these wonderful fall decorations. Keep the pumpkins and gourds you don’t cut until its time to dust off the Christmas lights and put up a tree with these simple, yet delightful methods of decorating for fall.

Every drop of rain that hits bare soil is destructive. More than 3,000 years ago the Chinese knew how to protect their soil from erosion and increase fertility by planting cover crops. Early Nile Valley inhabitants 3,500 years ago also practiced this method of agriculture as did first century Romans. Lupines were planted in poor soil when no animal manure was to be had. I learned this and also how to protect and improve my soil from Orin Martin, manager of the Alan Chadwick Garden at a cover crop workshop recently on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.