Anne Litt and her son Guy
From KCRW DJ Anne Litt:
I’m from the South. Everyone there gardens. It’s something I grew up around. I planted the odd tomato plant and marigold, cut magnolias, smelled gardenias, but I was always a bystander. Then, two things changed.
First, I met Lauri Kranz, singer, songwriter, musician and master organic gardener. Second, I heard a piece on KCRW’s Good Food show, hosted by Evan Kleiman, about a fruit and vegetable coop in Highland Park.
I had always known Lauri and her group Snow & Voices as a local, sometimes rotating ensemble of musicians. I’ve played her records on my show and been a supporter for a long time. Coincidentally, our children go to nursery school together and Lauri teaches the children about gardening – they cultivate an organic garden at the school.
Meanwhile, the piece on Good Food told the story of a woman in Highland Park with an over-zealous lemon tree and a prolific garden who gathered her neighbors into an informal coop. One day a week, the neighbors would leave their excess harvest on the doorstep and she would collect everything and then redistribute it.
Next thing I knew, I “won” Lauri’s teaching and know-how at a school auction and ever since, I’ve been in a haze of gardening, music, and martinis. There is nothing better than going out back, digging in the dirt, planting, watering, harvesting and yes, eating. It’s one of the most relaxing, but vigorous, activities I’ve ever done. Oh yes, the music and martinis. Picture this. End of the day. Out of traffic. It’s getting cooler. Music is on. And yes, a martini is in hand.
Usually I listen to new music under headphones. Now I listen in the garden. Recent sounds: Paul Weller, The Black Keys, Tame Impala, Carmen Rizzo, anything Brazilian, and of course, Snow and Voices!
The harvest: heirloom lettuce, beets, eggplant, squash, peppers, basil, parsley.
Next project: the grape arbor
— DJ Anne Litt
Photos by Cyndi Finkle