Move at the Pace That's Sustainable
Welcome to Issue 27. We're keeping it simple this week — but don't skip this one, because field trips start this week, and everything you need to know is inside.
If you still haven't signed up for a field trip, here's the link: sign up here. Below you'll find important details for every trip — including meeting spots, parking notes, what to bring, and what to expect at each location. Please read through before your trip.
Let's get into it.
For Students
A Quick Class Update
Good news first: none of our classes have been canceled, and I don't expect any will be. That said, the Tuesday class at Palomares is still running low on students. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining us — friends, family, neighbors with a garden and some curiosity — please send them my way.
In fact, I'm thinking about running another contest in the fall, like I've done in the past, to help get more students into our classes — with a special focus on the ones with low enrollment. It's worked before, and I'd love to keep every class open. More on that as fall gets closer.
Field Trips Are This Week!
Here we go — five trips, five locations, and something different at each one. Read the details for your trip carefully, especially the parking and meeting notes.
First, so you can find me: I drive a blue 2020 Ford Ranger. At most of these locations, spotting my truck is the easiest way to find where the group is starting. Keep an eye out for it when you park.
A few things that apply to every trip:
The times listed are when we head out — not when to arrive. Please arrive early. Once we start, I'll be talking with the group and may not notice my phone if you call. It's up to each of you to check your route, plan for traffic, and get there on time. I can't hold up the group for late arrivals — though I'll always do my best.
Sign up if you haven't: Sign-up link is here. A few trips are running low, but I won’t be cancelling any of the trips.
Plan on roughly an hour per trip, give or take. Some may run shorter (the smaller markets), and Claremont could stretch closer to two hours because there's so much to see. If you need to leave early or want to explore at your own pace, that's completely fine.
Come prepared for the outdoors: water, sun protection, a hat, and comfortable shoes. We'll be outside at every location. Temperatures may reach the 80s or even 90s — the good news is all of these trips are early in the day, so we should beat the worst of the heat. Still, keep an eye on the weather and come prepared.
The Schedule
Tuesday, July 7th, 2026 — 10:00 AM
Villa Parke Farmers' Market 363 East Villa Street, Pasadena, CA
Traffic heading toward Pasadena can get heavy, so leave early and use GPS to map your route ahead of time. Street parking anywhere near the market is fine.
This is the smallest market we'll visit — usually just eight or nine stands — but the quality is very high. We'll walk the market together and talk about what we see. Two stands are especially worth your attention: a honey vendor whose honey is genuinely my favorite, and a dried fruit stand that's a personal staple of mine. Since the market is so small, just wait at one end or the other — if you don't see me at 10:00, I'm at the opposite end. We won't spend more than an hour here.
Wednesday, July 8th, 2026 — 10:00 AM
Lopez Urban Farm 1034 W Mission Blvd, Pomona, CA
The parking lot here is very small. Honestly, I recommend parking on the street instead — it's easier to get out. If you do use the lot, turn right when you leave. It's a busy street, and turning left across traffic can be dangerous.
This is one of my favorite places to visit. We'll walk the grounds together. One neat thing: while the food grown here isn't for sale, they keep a refrigerator area where you can take food and leave a donation for whatever you think it's worth.
One important note: this location has the most uneven ground of any of our trips. Wear sturdy shoes and long pants.
Thursday, July 9th, 2026 — 10:00 AM
Cal Poly Pomona Farm Store 4102 S University Dr, Pomona, CA 91768
Easiest parking of the week — a nice lot right there.
The store itself is small, so we won't spend much time inside. The real draw is the nursery, where we'll spend most of our visit. I'll be talking through different kinds of plants depending on what they have in stock, and I'll stick around afterward for anyone with questions. We're meeting at 10:00 AM specifically to beat the heat — the forecast is calling for the mid 90s, and our normal class time (1–3) would put us right in the hottest part of the day.
Saturday, July 11th, 2026 — 9:00 AM
Mt. SAC Farmers' Market 1100 N Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789 (Parking Lot B)
Parking is completely free in Lot B, where the market is hosted. I'll do my best to park in an emptier part of the lot so my blue truck is easy to spot — head toward it when you arrive.
This market has a bit of everything — food, gift stands, and all kinds of interesting finds. I haven't been in a while, so honestly, we'll discover what's there together.
Sunday, July 12th, 2026 — 9:00 AM
Claremont Farmers' Market Meet at the parking lot on the corner of 4th and Yale (near 339 N Yale Ave, Claremont, CA 91711)
This one is important: there are several parking lots around this market, so make sure you head to the exact address above and park in that specific lot. This is a large market — if you miss the meetup spot, you may not find us.
This is easily the biggest market of the week, and it's my favorite farmers' market in the area. We'll walk through together and I'll point out some of my favorite things — and if you have questions about anything, I'm happy to help you navigate. If you're planning to shop, you might even walk the market once on your own before we start. And if you want to make a day of it: there are some amazing breakfast spots and coffee shops nearby. Ask me at the trip and I'll share my favorites.
About the Live Stream
No Garden Hangout live stream this week. Live streams will return once the HSR program wraps up on July 23rd, when I get back to my regular schedule. Thanks for your patience — I'm looking forward to being back.
Thought of the Week
This week I want to share a poem I first shared with you a couple of years ago. I was introduced to it back in 2014, during a tough stretch of my own, and it's been with me ever since. It's been on my mind again lately, and it felt like the right week to bring it back.
Don't Quit (attributed to Edgar A. Guest)
When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and debts are high,
And you want to Smile but have to sigh.
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he'd stuck it out,
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown,
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar,
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
Right now is a very busy season for me, and when I'm carrying a lot, this is the poem I come back to. It reminds me of harder times, and of the thing I've had to tell myself over and over: don’t you quit.
Sometimes you have to slow down. I've slowed down on my YouTube videos lately, and that's okay. Slowing down isn't stopping. Whatever you're working toward, keep working toward it — even if it's millimeter by millimeter. You don't quit. You just move at the pace that's sustainable.
See you in class — and hopefully at a farmers' market this week.
