Little Red Riding Hood Nursery

Chitalpa Tree

Aric — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:04:35 +0000

Portfolio-3 Pot Cluster

Aric — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:37:35 +0000

TestDriftwood

Aric — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:01:06 +0000

[table id=1 /]

Defining Our Legacy

Jessie — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:36:39 +0000

There is a steady flow of various media that kindles our fascination with the past. Ours is not the first generation to harbor this obsession. Each generation strengthens the pyramid of humanity with its unique contributions. Unfortunately, each generation suffers its own unique failure. The presentation of these events through historical books, movies, and television shows forms very definite opinions in the minds of each individual. There are unyielding parameters by which we judge our ancestors’ decisions. We praise the earnestness of our Founding Fathers, and condemn the parties responsible for slavery. Interestingly,we do not forsake the blemishes on our history in favor of highlighting only the success. There are as many books affronting the treatment of urban industrial workers during the turn of the century as there are praises to our wonderful accomplishments during the same period. So, if it stands to reason that we will be held to the same standard, how will future media portray our generation, and how will our descendants view our decisions?

Possibly the most dynamic part of our generation’s culture is the evolution of our ingenuity. Particularly in gardening, our abilities to engineer new and more efficient methods is possibly closely related to the necessity of producing more with less. An ever-expanding population is growing closer together at all times. With more people filling an unchanging amount of space, our revolution surely springs from necessity as well as pure inspiration. Growing for sustenance and pleasure in small spaces has become an exciting field of discovery. Vertical gardens make the most of your wall’s zero space and window farming brings the satisfaction of individual food production to the scale even an apartment-dweller can manage. We’ve also made strides in removing harmful chemicals from the production of our food. Perhaps, our generation has the most concrete understanding yet of the permanent effects that these chemicals can present. Out of necessity also comes our ideas for sustaining water. Aside from implementing basic conservation efforts, the installation of porous clay capsule systems create a zero-waste irrigation method that is also much lower maintenance than watering plants each day individually. Harvesting and repurposing rainwater is just another noteworthy advancement we may be remembered for. Extracting the full potential of each ounce of water is an undeniably powerful use of our ingenuity that will have a sure impact on the lives of those after us.

Ours is a generation compelled by beauty. We doubt it will be said that our generation lacked an understanding of art, and we have plenty of notable creative accomplishments to justify this belief. Our inspiration, as was many of our forerunners’, is nature. Nature is interwoven into our lives though designs infused by its subtle elements, artwork reflecting its timeless poise, and photography precisely documenting its grace. It’s possible this inspiration comes from our instinctive desire to conserve. As the natural world is besieged by industry and pollution, our existence as a part of it is threatened. Our appreciation for nature drives us to conserve and preserve its purity through one of the most profound ways possible: art. We create inspired by nature out of respect and fear that it may be lost to us eventually. Many of our designs have detoured from the shocking and striking character of the past and now seem to blend and complement nature harmoniously. This same appreciation seems to be the driving force behind so many of our actions, that it will likely be one of the defining characteristics of our entire generation.

Globally, the human race is a force of reckoning. The impact of our choices and behavior amassed by each individual is undeniable. We see these effects more clearly than ever before. Our astounding progress and growth has made us even aware of our potential to change our surroundings intentionally or unintentionally. This increased understanding could stem from the rapid speed at which information is shared today. Technology has made us possible to look our choices in the mirror almost instantaneously. Our incredible technology is in some ways itself responsible for the changes we have observed in our world. Ultimately, our heightened sensitivity to the consequences of our actions is probably the result of our growing population. A group of people thinking alike and behaving in a similar way will find the results of their actions on a larger scale and more immediately than the smaller population of people did a generation before them. Whatever the reason for our recent consciousness of our consequences, it is likely one of the most defining characteristics of our generations. Being more sensitive to our social, political, and environmental impact will possibly change the way we behave. However, it is comforting to know that our positive actions hold equal power over the world. The kindness we show, the beauty we protect and the help we give will hopefully amend the hurt we will inevitably cause.

It may be that we try to foresee our permanent impact in vain. Perhaps the things that daily go unnoticed are the most important of all. The small choices we make on a daily basis could easily pay into a much larger impact than we could possibly imagine. Though, maybe it can serve to shape our character if we regularly evaluate our goals and decisions. There will surely be at least one that we are remembered for, and with some consideration for the future generations, perhaps it will be a positive one.

Gardening’s Last Frontier

Aric — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:46:21 +0000

You probably would not be surprised to know that there is a great disparity between American people living in densely populated urban areas, and those dwelling in more rural conditions. It is hard to say when the American dream of ancestral immigrants building a little farm in a vast, unpopulated, wild area was absorbed by the fast-paced lifestyle of business, apartment-dwelling or even long commutes to the city from the suburbs. Regardless of when this transition took place, it left most people with much less land and space to envelope themselves in. In fact, according to the 2000 census, nearly eighty percent of all U.S. residents live in urban areas. For most of these city-folk, their home, whether it be a small apartment, neighborly townhouse, or a tidy two-story home in the mid-west, is the only space they have to themselves. Though many neighborhoods and communities sponsor outreach projects such as parks and community gardens, the importance of natural elements in one’s immediate space is often overlooked. Because your home is your only place you can ever make truly your own and be comfortable, adapting it to reflect nature and inspire you is essential.

Many of the products in your home probably hold a claim to nature. Your cleaning products probably picture a serene, smiling consumer cradling a small child, surrounded by lush plants. Many products are supposedly scented like a rain forest or an orange grove. The manufacturers of these products have even recognized the recent focus on organic and natural home treatments. What these corporations have discovered is that consumers have an instinctive desire to select the safest, most natural, and purest products to use in their homes and in the presence of their families. Capitalizing on this basic and obvious trend has been very profitable for many of the giants in the industry. However, rather than settle for a rain forest depicted on your laundry detergent, you may decide to incorporate a variety of live tropical houseplants into your home. One of the incredible advantages to an urban lifestyle is the vast accumulation of resources available. Having experts available to help you care for your houseplants and a wide inventory to choose from dramatically increases your success. The novice can expand and grow through personal research, community discussion, and by taking advantage of seminars and other opportunities to create, learn, and share their experience with others. When you choose a plant to enliven your living space you reflect your personal style, as well as appeal to the unchanging essential needs of all humanity.

Now more than ever, the focus of home furnishings and accessories have been influenced by the patterns in nature. Simple designs accented by the bright colors that you would expect to see in your favorite blooming plants intrigue and inspire. These styles create a warm, cozy, and inviting atmosphere. The peace and harmony of the space is magnified by an equal application of light and dark tones and varying textures. The accessories are as diverse as the natural world they were inspired by. Your personality may be best be represented by the crisp, modern sophistication of a black and white photograph of an orchid framed in a simple chrome frame. Or perhaps you are drawn to a splintered wooden mirror or colorful floor mat made of recycled plastic. Some accessories are alive themselves. Functionality and practicality meet living beauty in vertical gardens and terrariums. Not a new idea, but an ever- evolving one, vertical gardens make the most efficient use of a small space. A wall that held no direct purpose can become the habitat for dozens or even hundreds of plants. There is perhaps no greater impact in your living space. Living things, like ourselves, function best when set with a backdrop that holds the essence of vitality. We cultivate this essence in our home more than anywhere else. By selecting home elements that inspire and fulfill us, nature resumes its place in our daily lives.

If the space in your tangible possession is confined to only the walls of your home, you may be surprised to know that you can effectively substitute the space you don’t have. It is fascinating to oversee your food’s production from coddling the seed to harvesting the fruit. This experience is not out of the reach of the apartment dweller or even the student in a dorm. Space efficiency is at the center of window farming. Growing your food in a single window can be incomparably rewarding. Using a modified hydroponics system attached to an air pump to deliver nutrients to each plant makes window farming overwhelmingly more effective than previous house grow systems. Because the system requires no grow lights or many of the other expensive equipment associated with food production in homes, and can be assembled almost entirely out of re-purposed material, window farming is a practical way for even those on a budget to seize more control over what they eat. Composting can also be exercised on a smaller scale than ever before. Perhaps you were hesitant to commence a project that carries a reputation of intense maintenance with a large space requirement. New developments have been made to former composting techniques that they no longer exclude people with a limited space resource. Equipment is available to keep your entire project under a cabinet. The process in which whole organic material breaks down to form a natural and effective soil amendment is fascinating and relevant to your lifestyle. Serving as a peaceful daily reminder of the the beauty of the unending cycle in nature, and also as an entertaining and resourceful hobby, home composting is a tool to maximize the underestimated potential of nature in your home.

Your home may be the only opportunity you have to be influenced by and positively impact the environment. Our burden and responsibility to protect and appreciate nature is not eliminated by the urban detachment we experience as the result of our city lifestyle. In fact, the burden is intensified. Invest in your home and the your personal well-being by incorporating the lost elements of nature into your immediate surroundings; no matter how smaller they may be.

Gardening Full Circle

Jessie — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:56:53 +0000

The idea that history repeats itself has long been present in the interpretation of the way we behave, dress, and value life as a nation. Our values in gardening have also began to shift in a cyclical way. As humanity grows and progresses, its understanding of nature is also expounded. This increased understanding builds on the ever-expanding technology formed from our unmistakably human ingenuity. However, for all of our technological advancement, more and more people have been reverting back to the roots of gardening.

Take notice of the changes affecting the production of our food. The food industry is a complex network with a machinery skeleton, business muscle, a pumping heart of farmers, and chemicals rushing through its veins. The average person is as disconnected from the production of their food as they are the production of all the other consumer goods they purchase. Just like their car, cell phone or home appliances, their food is the byproduct of some mysterious place they have never seen. Recently though, a great migration of people restless with the weight of mass food production have began growing their own food simply and organically. Once again, families are reclaiming their personal connection with the food they eat. In these gardens, pesticides which made it possible to produce genetically compromised food for the masses can be eliminated to produce food for a family. Nutrients are derived from composting materials that would normally be wasted and pests are controlled by natural additives. For the first time in many years, growing your own food is now widely considered a benefit to one’s quality of life rather than merely a defining characteristic of the developing world.

Aside from the way we eat, the way we expand on the beauty of nature has also began to resemble the past. As if an inherent longing is compelling them, many people are reclaiming the more vertical features of plants. Vertical gardens in homes and green walls as part of large scale commercial and urban development projects seem to replace the more natural and lush landscape compromised by our ever-expanding population. Cities which were grey concrete wastelands have begun to come alive with the added presence of tropical plants gracing every inch of an edifice. Trees which were lost can be substituted by planting beautiful features on the building which stand in their former place. As humans become more aware of their instinctive need for more contact with nature, our equally instinctive ability to create new methods of implementing nature into our urban areas will surely improve. Each project builds on our knowledge and collective experience and makes these projects more practical for each individual.

Furthermore, even our smaller luxuries can benefit from the influence of the past. For instance, terrariums and dish gardens which were incredibly popular in the seventies are making a comeback. Terrariums can be built to include a vast array of plants, many of which would be unsuited for our area without the humidity provided by the closed construction of the glass container. To add even more retrospect, terrariums can be constructed from antique glass containers. Perhaps the recent success of terrariums is their practicality and manageability. Plants which would be impossible to maintain under the dry, unyielding conditions of air-conditioned rooms, can thrive in the warm, moist environment in a jar. Also, our full lives can benefit most from anything compact. Terrariums can be designed to blend peacefully with your style and conveniently add the element of life to your space without imposing on the other aspects of the room.

Upon August

Anna — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 05:40:23 +0000

August always serves as our transition period.The summer is now winding down into what we hope will be a refreshingly crisp fall with a dazzling array of colors on every tree. Soon the hot, slow days will be enveloped by the hustle of school, fall sports and all of the other activities that resume when the air begins to chill. Still, there are plenty of exciting surprises to encounter at Little Red Nursery during the end of summer.

At Little Red, we have long been concerned with effective watering techniques. We are now excited to carry a line of ollas from Growing Awareness Urban Farm. These clay pots are buried and continually filled with water through an opening in the top which is left uncovered. This ancient form of irrigation is highly efficient because it utilizes water that would be wasted due to evaporation when using a standard hose to water. The clay also acts as a type of filter as water seeps through it. By eliminating many of the undesirable additives in the water, the benefits of each watering are greatly increased. Olla irrigation is a simple, cost effective way to save water and protect your plants from the hard minerals and chemicals that can be found in the water in our area.

See our expanding variety of indoor plants. We have your favorites such as peace lilies and ivies, but also some more unique features that are sure to catch your eye. From colorful bromeliads to rare ferns, you will find what you need to brighten your indoor spaces. Accessorize with some of our recently added ceramic pottery and decorative baskets. If it’s a small spaces like a dorm, apartment, or office, consider attending our Big Ideas in Small Spaces workshop on August 13th to gain inspiration for your areas that are limited in size. We will even be offering 10% off with a student ID August 1 through September 11. The first weeks of school are always overwhelming, and we encourage you to add some peace and comfort to your space to help ease the transition.

Little Red is also striving to assist you with the hectic bustle of the coming months. We try to offer products and services that truly suit your lifestyle. An ever-changing inventory guarantees you will discover something new and unique when you visit. If we do not have what you are looking for, we can often conveniently special order what you need. Our goal is offer products and services that satisfy your busy schedule, and luxuriously expand into your relaxation. We also offer delivery within the Lubbock area. Our services include free delivery to any patient in the Covenant Health system. This new service is our way of expressing gratitude and sensitivity to all of our customers during their most stressful times.

Eating (REALLY) Local

Aric — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:20:19 +0000

Peace of mind can be found in knowing where your food comes from. In recent generations, the disconnect between producer and consumer has widened. Throughout human history, people have either lived on the same land that their food source did, or personally knew the entity responsible for the food’s production. For most of us, particularly in more densely populated areas, this is no longer the case. Much of what we eat is a total mystery.

Recently, the focus on reclaiming the connection with our food has intensified. To placate the overwhelming concern, many growers and grocery stores have devised a way to bridge the gap between the farm and table. You may notice various posters displayed throughout the produce section detailing a picture and short biography of the family farm responsible for the produce it is next to. If the smiling faces of the farmers help to ease the apprehension you feel about your food, then growing it yourself may completely eradicate it. The relationship we have with the food that sustains us can once again be an intimate one.

Window Farming is a new and resourceful way to grow your own food. The simple design can be built in a matter of days and is capable of producing a wide variety of herbs and vegetables. From seed to fruit, the Window Farmer knows exactly what conditions the plants were grown under, as well as the nutrients they were given. As this technique grows in popularity, the collaboration of all of the growers involved help to develop more efficient systems. The network is made up of people well-endowed in plant knowledge, others with backgrounds in engineering, or even people with neither who simply want to develop their own food. By creating clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and providing the resource of an entire online coalition dedicated to each other’s mutual success, the Window Farm Organization is changing the way many people eat.

Aside from the simple design that can be found at www.WindowFarming.org, the other aspect of Window Farming that makes it practical for almost anyone to do is the easily attainable materials used to build it. Much of the construction is made from repurposed material such as disposable plastic water bottles. The rest can usually be found at Little Red Nursery. The result is a hydroponics system, modified to grow the healthy, delicious vegetables you love, fed by the purest beneficial nutrients. The experts here at Little Red have become increasingly intrigued by the concept and will continue working to develop the technique to be the most ideal for our area.