Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots: Lessons from Great Dixter
The Mar Vista
Sun, Feb 23, 2020
6:00 PM
“Much has been said and written of late about the importance of understanding where our food comes from, of shifting the focus of our meals to include more vegetables, and reducing food waste,” says Aaron Bertelsen, vegetable gardener at the United Kingdom’s Great Dixter, and author of The Great Dixter Cookbook and the forthcoming Grow Fruits and Vegetables in Pots: Planting Advice and Recipes from Great Dixter. “I believe that growing your own – or at least some of your own – is one of the most effective ways of changing your attitude to what, and how, you cook and eat,” he adds. In his illustrated talk, Bertelsen will discuss his philosophy that no matter how small the space, there exists tremendous opportunity to take an active role in your own food system.
Join us for a special learning and dining experience at the Mar Vista restaurant, where celebrated chef/owner Jill Davie will serve an exquisite dinner, locally sourced and inspired by the recipes of Great Dixter, during Mr. Bertelsen’s illustrated talk.
Following his talk, Aaron will be available to sign copies of this new book. Beautifully illustrated, Grow Fruit & Vegetables in Pots provides clear, practical information on growing fruit and vegetables in containers, whether in a window box or in a terracotta pot on a balcony. Aaron guides the reader through what to grow and which pots to use, while offering personal tips on which varieties to choose, along with advice on cultivation and care. Featuring more than 50 delicious recipes, the book shows that lack of space is no barrier to growing what you want to eat, with dishes that showcase a few perfectly chosen – and personally grown – ingredients.
DATE AND TIME
Sunday, February 23
6 p.m., with dinner served during Aaron's illustrated talk
LOCATION
The Mar Vista
12249 Venice Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90066
REGISTRATION - includes dinner
$90 Garden Conservancy members
$110 General admission
PLEASE NOTE: Online registration for this program has ended and space is limited; to register, please call Kyle Beach at the Garden Conservancy, M - F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, at 845.424.6500.
About the speaker
Aaron Bertelsen’s love of gardening dates back to his childhood in New Zealand, where he worked with his grandfather in his vegetable garden. In 1996, he went to England to volunteer in the garden at Great Dixter. Located on the border of Kent and Sussex, Great Dixter was the family home of celebrated gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd (1921-2006), whose vision and dedication established its extensive gardens as a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from around the world. Today, under Bertelsen’s stewardship, the Great Dixter kitchen garden continues to flourish. Bertelsen subsequently studied for a diploma in Horticulture at Kew Gardens, England, and spent two years at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Israel, where he is still a trustee. In 2005, Bertelsen returned to Great Dixter and, in 2007, became the vegetable gardener and cook. He is regularly invited to speak about gardening at events worldwide. His first book, The Great Dixter Cookbook: Recipes from an English Garden was published in 2017.
About the chef
Jill Davie is an award-winning chef and owner of the Mar Vista in Los Angeles—a chef-driven, food-first experience featuring farmers market ingredients. Jill has worked at many outstanding restaurants during her career, most notably Josie’s in Santa Monica, Lulu in San Francisco, and Rockenwagner, also in Santa Monica. She is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, where she was named a top ten student of the year. She was presented with the Food and Wine Baby Chef award by Julia Child just out of school. Jill has extensive experience as a television personality, having been featured on Recipe T.V., Food Network’s “Ultimate Restaurants,” “Date Plate," “Next Iron Chef," and other programs.
The 2020 Speaker Series is made possible in part by the Coleman and Susan Burke Distinguished Lecture Fund and the Lenhardt Education Fund, with additional support from the Celia Hegyi Challenge Grant and Ritchie Battle.
Great Dixter and Aaron Bertelsen photographs by Andrew Montgomery
Jill Davie courtesy of Jill Davie