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Annie Spiegelman
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Raised in the asphalt jungle of New York City, with a can of Raid in her hand, Annie Spiegelman moved to the Bay Area over ten years ago and became a passionate environmentalist and Master Gardener. She is the author of two previous books on gardening (and life). Annie’s Garden Journal: Some Thoughts on Roses, Life, Weeds, and Men (Carol Publishing, 1996) was a selected Borders Books title by promising new writers and her second, Growing Seasons: Half-baked Garden Tips, Cheap Advice on Marriage and Questionable Theories on Motherhood was published in 2003 by Avalon Publishing Group. As Booklist wrote in their review, “Readers will find the refreshingly zany writing to be compelling as Spiegelman muses on becoming a master gardener, and rides the turbulent yet joyful waves of first-time motherhood. Curl up and enjoy copious doses of humor . . . Spiegelman is a writer to watch.”

Her third book entitled Talking Dirt: The Dirt Diva’s Down to Earth Guide to Organic Gardening (Penguin Group, March 2010), an organic gardening how-to guide for the home gardener, is now available in bookstores nationally. Talking Dirt was a finalist in the 2010 'Books for a Better Life Awards' in the Green Category. (Visit www.dirtdiva.com)

Spiegelman writes a popular garden column called Dirt Diva in the Bay Area's Pacific Sun newspaper while also working in the film business as a First Assistant Director.

She claims she spends her days dodging bullets from the cutthroat publishing business, the maniacal movie industry and her teenage son. And rarely uses medication.

Become a fan on facebook at 'Talking Dirt'

Entries by Annie Spiegelman

Beekeepers Wanted

(0) Comments | Posted June 10, 2013 | 10:39 AM

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Photo courtesy Peaceful Valley Farm/www.groworganic.com

You may have recently heard the buzz about the world's bees disappearing but you're not quite sure what the big deal is all about. "What's up with the bees?" you ask your country bumpkin friends. Oh, you...

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The Dirt Diva's Holiday Guide: Gifts for Gardeners

(0) Comments | Posted December 11, 2012 | 12:10 PM

A few years ago, I replaced my cranky, rusty front lawn with native and drought tolerant plants. I felt so empowered by ending that co-dependent relationship with my thirsty lawn and I've never looked back. My neighbors were curious when they saw me in the bed of my pick-up truck...

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Prop 37: California Soil Scientist Says Label Up!

(117) Comments | Posted October 6, 2012 | 11:08 AM

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Photo Courtesy of www.Rareseeds.com where you can still find non-hybrid, non-GMO, non-treated and non-patented seeds. Mother Nature approved.


This November, Californians will vote on a historic proposal that would require genetically modified foods in supermarkets to be labeled. For some reason,

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Bee Deviled: Scientists No Longer Bumbling Over Cause Of Colony Collapse Disorder

(41) Comments | Posted September 19, 2012 | 12:14 PM

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Photo courtesy of Kyle Anderson Photography

Though worldwide bee health has been on the decline since the 1990s, it wasn't until the fall of 2006 that beekeepers nationwide began noticing millions of bees vanishing from their hives. This syndrome, named colony collapse disorder, or CCD,...

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Filmmaker Deborah Koons Garcia Wants to Cure Your Soil-Blindness

(4) Comments | Posted September 12, 2012 | 6:50 PM

This was previously published in the Pacific Sun newspaper, September 6, 2012. Used with permission by author.

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Photo courtesy of Lily Films

Okay, soil sommeliers, compost queens, Earth science professors (nerds!), organic gardeners and worm-worshipping tree huggers: this is your moment to shine. Documentary...

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Grassroots Sustainability: A Guide to Organizing a Thriving Community

(2) Comments | Posted August 8, 2012 | 10:55 AM

Wondering how to create a city-wide plastic bag ban or a green building ordinance, or how to stop a government planned aerial pesticide spraying of your own 'hood? Two dynamic sustainability experts and community organizers were recently involved in all of the above changes in their own communities. And now...

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The Approximate Parent: Author Michael Simon Discusses his New Book on Parenting Teenagers

(2) Comments | Posted June 8, 2012 | 10:53 AM

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When my son was a hell-on-wheels toddler I attended a parenting workshop on disciplining strong-willed children, led by Michael Simon, founder of www.PracticalHelpForParents.com. As Simon waved goodbye on the last day of class, he gave us our final pep talk and said...

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The 2012 Project: Women Wanted

(8) Comments | Posted May 18, 2012 | 4:00 PM

Last week, I interviewed Laurie Syms, co-director of Rachel's Network, an advocacy group that promotes women's leadership, both in the environmental community and government. I learned that women, overall and regardless of party, consistently vote more in favor of environmental protections and policies than their male counterparts in...

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This Mother's Day, Mother Earth Wants You

(3) Comments | Posted May 10, 2012 | 4:24 PM

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Photo Credit: Big Stock Photo

How did a girl raised and hardened on the streets of New York City become a passionate environmentalist, geeky master gardener and full-fledged compost queen? I read Rachel Carson's bestseller, Silent Spring. Carson, a marine biologist, wrote about...

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Queen Bees Are Demanding some R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Fool!

(4) Comments | Posted May 2, 2012 | 9:20 AM

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Photo Courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Though worldwide bee health has been on the decline since the 1990s, it wasn't until the fall of 2006 that beekeepers nationwide began noticing millions of bees vanishing from their hives. This syndrome,...

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Ten Ways to Occupy Your Garden

(0) Comments | Posted March 21, 2012 | 12:41 PM

2011-12-29-JEH_WP_Garden.jpgPhoto courtesy of www.Woollypockets.com. Grow a garden anywhere with these fabric squares made from recycled plastic bottles!


1.Grow Your Own

I grew up in NYC in an apartment building, yet somehow I can now grow organic fruits and vegetables. And so...

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Starwood Hotels and Resorts Donates 2300 Organic Apple Trees to Bay Area Schools

(3) Comments | Posted March 6, 2012 | 10:50 AM

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Photo Courtesy of Marin Organic (www.MarinOrganic.org)

Last month, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide held its 2012 annual sales conference in San Francisco, California. Over 2000 general managers and sales personnel from over 500 Starwood Hotels (Westin, St. Regis, Sheraton, Le Meredien, W...

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The Spark Behind the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act of 2012

(64) Comments | Posted February 17, 2012 | 11:56 AM

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Photo courtesy of Lyndsay Stradtner at www.LifeinMotionPhotography.com

What, all run by gigantic corporations? Is that really the answer? I think not. That would be the absolute destruction of everything and the classic way of ensuring that there is no food in the future. Millions...

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Labels Matter! What's in Your Compost & Your Food?

(4) Comments | Posted December 20, 2011 | 4:03 PM

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Photo courtesy of Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma, California where compost is king and pasture raised animals smile.

On January 1, 2012 labeling of organic fertilizers also known as Organic Input Materials (OIMs), as defined under AB 856, takes effect in California. What...
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12 Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

(2) Comments | Posted December 16, 2011 | 4:15 PM

It's wintertime, but that doesn't stop us hortiholics from daydreaming about next spring's garden and everything flowery. This is the time we start planning on what we'll do different next year in our backyards to create a naturally sustaining and flourishing ecosystem. In other words; impress our neighbors. Here are...

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Botanists Up!

(3) Comments | Posted July 13, 2011 | 4:03 PM

One of the latest trends in gardening is to grow ornamental or edible plants vertically up a wall of a building or a backyard fence. Horizontal, low gardening on the ground, is so 20 minutes ago! If you want to be with the horticultural trendsetters you gotta get high.

Patrick...

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Pollan on Pollen

(0) Comments | Posted March 22, 2011 | 8:46 AM

2011-03-22-DSC_0010.jpg Photo:Annie Spiegelman

Cheap food is great, and we have to acknowledge that achievement, but we also have to acknowledge the cost of it. If you understand what it takes to make food cheap, you lose your appetite. -Michael Pollan, speaking last month on the...
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A Recovering (Sort of) Rose Addict Explains How to Prune your Rosebushes

(2) Comments | Posted February 9, 2011 | 10:30 AM

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Annie, Pickles and the organically grown, man-eating, fence-bending white Lady Banksai climbing rose. (Courtesy Bill Buzbuzian)

Excerpted from Talking Dirt: The Dirt Diva's Down-to-Earth Guide to Organic Gardening (Penguin Group) Author: Annie Spiegelman

Here in California, I usually prune my...

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Composting in California: Come Get your Bag O' Crap!

(1) Comments | Posted February 9, 2011 | 10:20 AM

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Photo courtesy of prcompostco.com


Well, now I can add "interviewed a crap farmer" to my esteemed resume, while checking it off my bucket list. My parents will be so proud. My parents will be so proud. This so totally surpasses...

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Send an Organic Bouquet This Valentine's Day

(6) Comments | Posted January 31, 2011 | 10:20 AM

2011-01-19-OrganicBouquet3708000002.jpgAmericans will purchase roughly 110 million roses for Valentine's Day gifts. Purchasing fresh flowers for our sweethearts while poisoning farmers and their families is so yesterday. Come on already! Today it's about purchasing flowers from a floral company that cares about environmental,...

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