August 2012

For those who hate to cook, the August farmers’ market is Xanadu. Any summertime sleuth can leave the market with enough peak-of-the-season, almost-ready-to serve produce to carry them through a week of dinners. These latter-day happy meals can be effortlessly assembled from vine-ripened tomatoes paired with fragrant fresh basil and a drizzle of golden California olive oil; crunchy cucumbers with spicy red onions; and ears of sweet corn briefly blanched or grilled—or scraped off the cob and added raw to salads. Quick-to-cook summer squash abounds, just begging to line up on the grill with fat eggplants and a rainbow of sweet bell peppers. There’s always a selection of crusty artisan breads on hand for sandwiches and bruschetta and such.

And impromptu desserts can be fashioned without difficulty from the abundance of juicy plums, pluots, peaches, nectarines, watermelons, cantaloupes and their various cousins, and bodacious berries galore. Kitchen duty is easy peasy. But for those of us who love to cook, the options are even more irresistible.

I’ll let you in on a closely guarded secret: boysenberries are my hands-down all-time favorite fruit. Even as a kid, I remember first tasting them and thinking, “Oh yeah. This is it,” even when I knew of nothing better than to scatter them over my breakfast cereal. To me, they epitomize the perfect balance of tart-to-sweet; and are just as good eaten fresh as they are baked. The fact they are rarely seen in supermarkets only adds to their mystique.

Lately, each week I have had Big Plans to buy enough boysenberries to whip up a vat of jam I’ll be able to savor throughout the coming year, but my precious bounty is usually depleted way too soon…starting with the ride home from the farmers’ market, when it’s far too easy to just pop these little bad boys into my mouth, one right after another. (sigh)

Boysenberry season is woefully brief —a nd this month signals their swan song at the farmers’ market. So I now conjure up all the fortitude I can muster and bravely force myself to spread the boysenberry gospel to others, in the form of my favorite cobbler.

There are a zillion different types of cobbler toppings, and most of them are divine. (But then, I’ve yet to meet a carbohydrate I didn’t like. But that’s a whole other story.) This particular cobbler is geared toward those of us who crave good pie crust as much as whatever might happen to be inside of it. Filled with boysenberries lightly punctuated with sweet nectarines, this cobbler embodies the flavors of a world-class pie—without any of the angst that often goes along with making one. In this case, conventional beauty plays a secondary role to taste. Think of it as a deep-dish crostata.

The crushed sugar cubes on top — a nod to American cooking legend Edna Lewis — provide a sweet bit of added texture. If you don’t have any sugar cubes hidden away in the pantry, just sprinkle granulated sugar over the top. No one is going to complain.

Boysenberry-Nectarine Cobbler
For the crust:

• 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon softened butter for greasing the dish
• 4 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup ice water

For the filling:

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups fresh boysenberries*
• 2 cups very coarsely chopped (1-inch chunks) pitted nectarines
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cold butter, cut into bits

For the topping:

• 4 sugar cubes, coarsely crushed, or 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

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To make the cobbler crust: Cut the cold butter into 1/2-inch cubes, and divide the shortening into pieces about the same size. Place on a plate and freeze until very firm, about 30 minutes.

In a food processor, combine the flour and salt. Process briefly to combine. Add the frozen butter and shortening and process, pulsing the machine on and off, until the irregularly-sized pieces of fat are coated with flour. With the machine running, gradually pour in the ice water. Process just until the mixture is evenly moistened yet still appears somewhat crumbly, with pea-size pieces of fat visible throughout the dough. (The dough should be just starting to come together—it should NOT form a ball.) Turn out the mixture onto a large piece of plastic wrap and knead a couple of times to form a uniform disk. Cover with the plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Butter the inside of a 9-by-2-inch (deep dish) pie plate or other shallow 2-quart baking dish. Refrigerate the buttered baking dish while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

To make the filling: In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt to blend. Add the berries and nectarines, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Toss gently to coat with the sugar mixture

On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled pastry into a raggedy 14- to 15-inch circle. Then roll the pastry over the rolling pin, window-shade fashion, and ease it into the chilled pie plate, letting the excess pastry drape over the edges of the plate. Scrape the fruit mixture and any accumulated juices into the pastry and dot with butter. Fold the excess pastry up over the filling, pleating if needed. The pastry will not cover the all fruit; if any pieces of pastry have fallen off, just patch them on top. (Don’t go for perfection here; you want to topping to have a rustic appearance.) Sprinkle the crushed sugar cubes over the pastry. Bake until the filling is bubbly-hot and the crust is golden, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. ((This is best served the same day it is made. If made early in the day, it can be reheated, uncovered, in a 325 degree oven.) Serves 6 generously…or possibly more, when served alongside vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt.

Just make sure you stash away enough cobbler for your own breakfast the next morning. You’ll hate yourself if you don’t.

* I find the 3-packs of boysenberries sold by several growers at the farmers’ market usually equal about 4 cups of berries. Substitute blackberries, if you like. That will leave more boysenberries at the market for me. Maybe then I’ll make that jam after all.

The Danville Certified Farmers’ Market, located at Railroad and Prospect, is open every Saturday, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. For specific crop information call the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association at 1-800-949-FARM or visit their web site at www.pcfma.com.

Too many people suffer with a poor night’s sleep because they aren’t breathing properly. As a result, they are miserable and unproductive during the day. This poor breathing can lead to snoring, which can keep your partner awake. And we all can identify with how counterproductive it can be for your relationship to chase your partner out of the bedroom!

The likely cause of this breathing problem and snoring is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Folks with OSA have a blockage somewhere in the airway, between the nose and throat, before the air reaches the trachea. One excellent way to cure the problem is removal of the obstruction. Surgical correction is very expensive and highly invasive, if usually successful.

Another popular and less expensive approach for addressing OSA is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device, or CPAP. This is a unit that forces air, under pressure, through the airway past the obstruction. It features a cumbersome mask that is difficult to get used to and does not do anything to help relations with your partner! I used to suffer from acute OSA and tried the CPAP, but I could not sleep due to the noise and air blowing into my eyes. It turns out that a large percentage of OSA patients won’t use their CPAP due to that difficulty.

Dentistry, my profession, came up with a solution which was quite logical—treat the obstruction. Many types of dental appliances were designed for this purpose, often having painful side effects. One of the problems with early devices was the locking of the jaw in one position which did not allow movement. Another problem stemmed from merely positioning the jaw forward with the appliance, therefore not knowing for sure if the obstruction was corrected.

As with many things in medical science, trials led to advancements. Two such advances solved the dental device problems discussed above; the Acoustic Pharyngometer and the SomnoDent appliance.

The Acoustic Pharyngometer is a sound wave generator, analyzed by a computer, which gives the practitioner a very accurate diagram of the airway. The jaw can then be positioned in three dimensions until the obstruction is gone and at that posture, registrations can be made to fabricate an appliance. The SomnoDent (essentially a small mouthpiece) postures the jaw properly, allows for movement, and affords flexibility if the appliance needs adjustment. Allowing the jaw to move prevents the pain associated with locking a joint.

So instead of a large, not particularly sexy mask and tank blowing air all over your head, we have a small mouth piece scientifically adjusted to remove obstructions from your airway and allow you to breathe, talk and drink.

I have referred many patients back to the sleep study center which has verified that the SomnoDent has effectively treated OSA. There are rare occasions when the obstruction is too great to overcome, but the beauty of the Pharyngometer is that this problem will be identified and an appropriate alternative treatment can be explored. You can read more about this situation by visiting www.aodtc.com.

Now there is no excuse. OSA can and must be treated. To not correct OSA will not only result in increased morbidity (multiple health problems) and regular crappy days as a result of poor sleep, but can also drive your partner into another room. I don’t know about you, but that’s not a side effect I want in my life!

Dr. Brown loves to hear from his readers. You can contact him at 925-837-8048 or at drbobdds@aol.com.

Whether your daughter is just starting high school, going to college or just got a new job in the work force, every girl should learn how to do her make-up correctly at least once. It provides good habits; she will know what colors work for her own skin tone, what best techniques are right for her eyes and what shades of lipstick look appropriate. This builds inner self worth, self-esteem and confidence. The confidence she needs knowing that she is wearing the right make-up style to her full potential. When you feel good about yourself and are confident you can be courageous, excited about life and always feel good about yourself. When you are happy, it is a fact that you engage in life with a positive outlook.

When choosing a make-up style you don’t want to look like you just walked out from a Mac counter with piles of make-up on, you want to look polished, a little trendy and up to date. Fashion trends change every season, so does your make-up. You don’t want to wear a fall lipstick in the spring nor do you want to wear a summer peach color in the winter. Going to make-up a professional that is well informed of trends and many different techniques can assist you in choosing the right style for you. The correct colors of cosmetics are so important to help complement your facial features. You may need subtle colors to enhance your already gorgeous eyes or you may need stronger tones to bring them out. You also need to learn how to shape your eyebrows correctly so they frame your eyes and look natural for your face shape. The right foundation color is also very important; you want it to be the most natural with nice coverage so your skin looks flawless and youthful.

Everything should blend and make sense. I see a lot of teens wearing big bold black eye liner, maybe they saw it in a magazine or on their favorite celebrity but this can distract from the eye and can look very harsh. Sometimes trends don’t work for everyone, but it is important to find out what works for them. When they learn how to apply eyeliner and eye shadows correctly they are amazed at how there true eye shape and eye color are now the focus.

We stress to all our clients that there is no right or wrong in make-up, there are just better techniques. Make-up and taking care of your self is a reflection of the beauty you have within yourself. We use the finest make-up by Fleur Visage and provide the most advanced skin by Ongrien. So make it a point to get the right advice and have fun with it.

Make-up Workshops
Starting August 15th through September 15th we will be having half price make-up workshops available Tuesday through Friday. Please call for an appointment for your very own make-up update and learn what styles are best for you?

Is cardio better at burning calories than strength training?  Not necessarily.  Cardiovascular fitness is critical to your health and longevity, which is why we embrace Koko Cardio. But, a workout regimen that consists of only cardiovascular exercise is lopsided at best.

Circuit training strength regimens have the ability to burn nearly as many calories per workout, build strength and improve aerobic fitness by 7 to 15%. The calorie burning and aerobic improvements from this type of strength workout make it a fair trade-off for a straight cardio workout. However, over the long haul, the calorie burn from circuit strength training easily trumps cardio alone. Here’s why…

In circuit strength training you move through a “circuit” of resistance exercises, alternating muscle groups with little rest between, so your heart rate stays elevated. Sound familiar?

That’s because a Koko Smartraining workout IS circuit training! Besides providing a solid cardiovascular workout, Koko Smartraining develops lean muscle tissue. Lean muscle is a calorie burning machine. When you have a higher percentage of lean muscle in your body, your metabolic rate is higher. So, you burn more calories all the time, not just during exercise.

Speaking of calories burned during exercise, do you know that the Koko Smartrainer is the only strength equipment with the ability to track them? This comes in handy when you want to know how many you’ve expended each workout, but it can be deceptive for the reasons stated above. You may burn more calories during a straight cardio work out, but the 50 to 100 calorie difference will easily be bridged, then surpassed, as your metabolic rate increases through consistent Koko Smartraining.

So, next time you find yourself worried that you aren’t getting enough calorie burn from a Koko Smartraining strength session, remember that the most beneficial, long term calorie burn can’t be captured as a data point in the computer, but it makes all the difference in your health and appearance.

Koko makes it easy, so you don’t have to worry about a thing. Just 3 Koko Smartraining strength sessions per week, plus 3 to 4 Koko Cardio 15-minute sessions is all you need for a balanced, calorie burning, training plan.

Koko FitClub Danville is owned and operated by Val and Mike Rogers, local Danville residents. Koko FitClub is conveniently located in downtown Danville at the Iron Horse Trail Crossing.

A week or so ago I had an opportunity to visit a local zoo. Now, I love animals. One of the blessings of my current residence is that it is populated with a large variety of native wild animals. I wake up and go to sleep with five or more deer staring in my window. Several times I have seen this herd tear off in terror as a coyote approaches. Skunks and raccoons are common visitors. Unfortunately, they devour my garden and eat all the fruit I grow, but nevertheless I enjoy their presence. I love the wide variety of birds who visit, and I swear regularly at the gophers and moles that travel my property under ground. A fox lives next door, and I see him slinking about. Why all this preamble? To set the stage for my most precious of all animal sightings – in Africa.

The Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya is composed of a huge flat plain which covers an area from horizon to horizon. It also goes by the name Serengeti – depends on if you approach it from Kenya or from Tanzania. Higher hills surround it, and it serves as a home for an untold number of animals – both in quantity and in species. It is named for the native inhabitants whose warriors are legendary – the Masaai.

Here in Kenya’s wildlife reserve there is a role reversal. Instead of us homo-sapiens watching animals in a fenced and restricted area on the Masai Mara, we human bipeds are enclosed in vehicles. Our freedom is limited to the mobile cages we travel in. The enclosures may be busses or more often trucks, with rows of seats conveniently spaced on their beds. But nevertheless, these vehicles restrict us. Outside the area of our confines is as dangerous to us as it is for an animal in the zoo to escape into our environs.

(A little sidebar on this restriction. When one of the vehicles breaks down or has a flat tire, the other vehicles in the area are called in and a circle is formed around the inoperable van. This situation always reminds me of the western movies where the covered wagons “circled” when the Indians appeared. I wonder which defense came first – here or there?)

At any rate, on our visits to this magical place, we traveled about, watching giraffes at water holes – a great sight. Their legs were spread wide so they could reach the water with their long necks. Elephants moved from one feeding ground to the next, with the younger, weaker ones in the center, surrounded by the majestic bulls. Wildebeests grazed on the short vegetation, their tails in constant movement swishing the flies away.

At one point during a game drive, our driver became quite excited. He had just heard from another guide who had discovered a most unusual find. We hurried the twenty or so kilometers between us and came upon a wonderful sight.

Lying still on the grass in the shade of an acacia tree, there was a mother cheetah. Near her scampered four of the cuddliest little cubs you could imagine. The babies resembled medium-sized house cats and were playing and rolling about. They clawed away at one another – absorbed in a game of “bash your brother,” which was interrupted periodically by a visit to the local deli where they enjoyed a quick repast. Mom looked on with an expression of pure joy – a smile on her face. She seemed unfazed by the audience she had collected and contentedly licked the playing foursome. Her loud “purring” was the only sound in this magical setting.

I would love to have gotten out of my cage and hold one of these little tykes, but believe me it would have been a disaster. Mom was no pussycat!

We are all proud parents, watching our children grow and play, and we are protective of them. I felt a strong kinship to this relaxing cat. A different species of course, but certainly a shared inner feeling of joy watching over our own breed. Alas, all tiny offspring grow up and become adults, but they still reside in our memory as playful cubs.

The San Jose Sharks are at an interesting crossroads. Over the past decade they have been among the league leaders in playoff wins and regular season points, yet they have failed to make the Stanley Cup Finals. Their core group of players has continued to perform well, but as a group is reaching an age where decline is likely to occur. Their coach has the best regular season record in the NHL since his hiring in 2008, but has consistently underachieved in the playoffs. Their general manager has consistently built high-scoring, exciting teams, but now runs the only NHL franchise in California that has not won the Stanley Cup.

Next month teams and players report to training camp for another nine month campaign. The question the Sharks organization faces is whether or not the current group of players can possibly gel into a championship team, or is it time to cut their losses, begin trading core players, and risk some down years in an effort to rebuild another champion.

Such moves are not free. Sharks fans fill HP Pavilion for every home game. This will end once the team begins struggling to win in the regular season. Revenue will decrease, television ratings will decline, and whatever tenuous hold the NHL has on the mindshare of Bay Area sports fans will slip away if the Sharks become a team that begins losing more than half its games and fails to make the playoffs.

Let’s examine some key elements of the current roster. Top defenseman Dan Boyle is 35 and hasn’t made an All Star team in two years. It is unlikely he will improve and likely, considering his age, that whatever marketability he has left will disappear in the next year or so. Captain Joe Thornton is 32, is probably the Sharks’ best player, but suffers from a reputation of never playing quite as well in the playoffs as he does in the regular season. Losing Thornton would hurt in the short run, but the prospects and players he can probably attract might be worth pursuing.

Veteran forward Patrick Marleau is also 32 and has played his entire career with the Sharks. He holds almost every important team scoring record and is probably the fastest skater on the team. Yet, Marleau has become a symbol of team underachievement for many fans. His performance is very erratic with virtual disappearance often following strong play. His long-term, big money contract might be difficult to move, but it says here that the Sharks will probably never hoist the Cup with Marleau holding a prominent position in the lineup.

The real danger for the Sharks would be to keep the aging core together for one last run. The most likely outcome of that strategy would be for too many of them to perform at a level far below their pay and reputation leading to an internal implosion as the team’s record collapses. Each of the last three regular seasons has been worse than the one preceding it, and as key players enter their mid thirties that trend is not likely to change.

Unless the Sharks change their personnel quickly they are likely in for a lengthy free fall followed by a painful rebuilding. The one undefeated performer in team sports is Father Time, and that is who the Sharks are battling now.

 

Sure is hot! We always think the current summer is the hottest, but finally, I think we are right?

1. What famous husband and wife starred in the movie “The Long Hot Summer?”
2. Who played in the first SF Giant game in 1958 at the “hot corner”, third base?
3. Who wrote the song “We’re Having a Heat Wave?”
4.  What veteran TV actor played the lead in the series “In the Heat of the Night?”
5. What was Gabriel Heatter’s role in radio in the 30’s and 40’s?
6.  When we talk baseball in the winter, what is that referred to?

 July Answers 

1. Sir Sebastian Coe
2. Tower of London
3.  Doritos
4. Jackie Cooper
5.  Jose Feliciano
6.  Eddie Cantor

JULY WINNER:
IRA WEINER OF ALAMO

WIN LUNCH ON BEN!
The first person to email or mail, no calls please, the correct answers to all of the above questions will win a $25 gift certificate for Restaurante Forli in downtown Alamo, compliments of Ben Fernandez! Entries must be received by August 20, 2012. In the event of a tie, the winner will be drawn at random.

Please email your answers to info@aliveeastbay.com, or mail to ALIVE East Bay, 3200 A Danville Blvd., Ste. 204, Alamo, CA 94507. Employees and family members of employees of ALIVE East Bay are not eligible. Restaurant may be changed without notice.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is similar to its counterpart, Golfer’s elbow. The primary differences between these conditions are the location of the pain and the activity that leads to injury. However, both conditions are caused by overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, leading to inflammation and pain around the elbow joint, commonly called tendonitis. Tennis is one common cause of tendonitis, but many other sports and work related activities can cause the same problem.

The cause of tennis elbow can vary from a single violent action (acute injury) to, more commonly, a repetitive stress injury where an action is performed repeatedly and pain gradually develops. In an acute injury of the elbow, inflammation occurs without substantial tissue damage. However, in a repetitive stress situation a person may experience damage to the tendon and surrounding soft tissue causing tissue degeneration over time. Inflammation from acute injury often responds quickly to rest and anti-inflammatory treatment. However, if the injury is due to tendon tissue degeneration, treatment will be longer and will be focused on improving the strength of the tendon as well as rebuilding tissues.

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

With tennis elbow the pain is on the outside of the elbow and may radiate down the forearm into the wrist. It can be common to have pain and/or weakness when turning a door knob, holding a coffee cup or shaking hands.

Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow does not usually cause any long-term disability. However, the condition may become stubborn and proper rehabilitation will help alleviate the symptoms and get you back to life again.

Rest and Reduce Inflammation: The first step a person should take if tendinitis is suspected is to stop the activities that cause the pain and inflammation. Use a topical cream containing Arnica to begin to reduce the inflammatory process quickly.

Laser Therapy to Heal the Damaged Tissue: Ending the pain caused by tennis elbow requires healing the damaged tissue. Class IV laser therapy is an excellent method for this, because it is presently the only form of therapy that can both reduce inflammation and heal tissue simultaneously. Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser 1200 a Class IV Laser. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During Laser Therapy the infrared laser light interacts with tissues at the cellular level, increasing metabolic activity and improving the transport of nutrients across the cell membrane. This initiates the production of cellular energy (ATP) that leads to a cascade of beneficial effects, increasing cellular function and health. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness, scar tissue and pain.

Correct the Mechanics of Motion:  Assessing the forearm, elbow, shoulder and spine for proper postural feedback is done to diagnose and correct improper alignment. After proper alignment is restored, specific muscular taping is applied to improve circulation and insure proper motion on a daily basis. Lastly, specific strengthening and stretching exercises are given. By strengthening the muscles and tendons involved with tennis elbow, you can prevent the problem from returning.

At Align Healing Center we are having great success not only treating tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, but also treating plantar fasciitis, sciatica, shoulder and neck pain, migraines, arthritis, carpal tunnel, post surgical pain, sports injuries and more; even long-term residual pain. Ar­thritis and degenerative disc disease sufferers can see long term benefits from this treatment without any of the negative side effects experienced with the long term use of medications.

 Dr. Niele Maimone, DC is the owner and founder of Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She has been active in our natural health & wellness community since 1999. For more information or to set up a consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

 

 

 

I originally viewed this movie thinking I wanted some summer fun. It wasn’t what I thought (not sure I had any pre-conceived ideas) but I truly liked it and I think you will as well.

We Bought a Zoo, based on a true story, is about family, grief, taking risks and a love that stays with you. Benjamin, (Matt Damon) is a successful adventure writer. Flying into the eye of a hurricane to get a story just made his blood pump. As the story unfolds, Benjamin is juggling a beautiful, but much too responsible seven year-old daughter named Rosie (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) and a sullen, angry fourteen year-old son by the name of Dylan (Colin Ford). Benjamin’s wife had passed away six months earlier and everything in their lives seemed like a challenge. Quitting his job, Benjamin isn’t sure where he’s going, it just isn’t where he is; the streets where every turn reminds him of his beloved wife.

One night as Rosie is once again kept awake by the partying neighbors, Benjamin decides it’s time for a new home. The next day they are in the car with a real estate agent who wants to make them his very first sale but just doesn’t want it to be the “home with a zoo” that Rosie finds in the stack of home listings.

The Zoo is a rundown local zoo that has been maintained by the state government until it could be sold and re-opened. The buyers would be required to do just that. Rosie and Benjamin decide the new “family business” would be quite an adventure and the next thing you know the family is leaving the city and moving into the ram shackled home on the property. Of course, there is always a voice of reason and that would be Benjamin’s brother, Duncan (Thomas Hayden Church) who is promptly overridden. As well as purchasing a rather large contingency of wild animals, they inherit the zoo staff, a rather eclectic group of dedicated animal lovers. Scarlett Johansson plays the hardworking Kelly Foster, the Zookeeper. They quickly realize the zoo is a money pit and the deadline for re-opening is looming.

Benjamin had lived his whole life by what his older brother, Duncan had told him as a child; when the situation called for bravery, “you only need 20 seconds of insane courage”. This advice was crucial when facing down the runaway bear or wading into the middle of a yard full of exotic snakes.

We Bought A Zoo, Director, Cameron Crowe of Jerry McGuire fame brings us a heartwarming true drama about a family uniting together to overcome a tragedy. The family is rewarded for taking a risk, banding together and working hard proving that if you do something for the right reasons nothing can stop you.

By the way, the Mees family still live on the property at the Dartmoor Zoo and it is considered one of the best designed and operated zoos in the country. There’s a small amount of language and some “dark” art by Dylan so you might want to take that into consideration for small children.We Bought a Zoo is easily available and worth the bucks to rent for a delightful summer evening of family fun. As always I look forward to your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

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Q. Why should I prune my tomato plants? I’ve been told I should. They’re in cages and seem to be thriving with tomatoes nearing maturity. In addition, can I save the seed from these plants for next year?

A. Yes, tomatoes are pruned but not like a rose, fruit tree or hedge. It’s better described as a thinning by removing the side shoots of each plant. With the indeterminate tomato varieties, this is an important practice throughout the growing season while the determinate varieties have a shorter growing season that lessens the necessity to thin. Indeterminate plants are a vigorous grower creating very dense conditions in cages. The dense growth can lead to several cultural issues over their prolonged growing season. The lack of light forces the center of the plant into permanent shade, causing the foliage to discolor and fall off. The lack of sunlight minimizes or eliminates photosynthesis from occurring in these leaves. Photosynthesis is critical in forming the green pigment, chlorophyll and plant sugars. Most of the sugar is directed toward the production of tomatoes. An excessive amount of vegetation increases the number of smaller sized fruits. Thinning or removing the side shoots increases the amount of light into the center of the plant. This growth is found emerging next to a leaf where it is attached to an established stem. Typically, this is done throughout the spring and summer months. There are no set rules as to how much or how often this would be done. It’s strictly a judgment call on your part. Another reason for opening up the plants, it makes it easier to spot the early damage from Tomato Hornworms. Tomato Hornworm is a green segmented, worm that can be a problem June through September. Hornworm is the larva stage of the Sphinx Moth and you can have multiple infestations each year. Their green color makes it easy for them to blend into the foliage. You need to be on the lookout for them now. The worms can strip a plant quickly of leaves exposing the maturing tomatoes to Sunburn damage.

You can save the tomato seed for planting next year. But that’s the wrong question to ask. The question should be; Is this a variety worth the time and effort to save? All tomato plants produce seed but not all varieties are predictable from year to year. The genetic characteristics of hybrid varieties vary greatly in the seed they produce. The only way to exactly duplicate these varieties is to plant new seed. Hence, it’s not suggested or recommended saving seed from hybrid varieties as you’ll more than likely be disappointed with the results. This is not the case with the open pollinated varieties. They are genetically stable as many of these varieties have been around for decades. If you’re not sure what you have contact your favorite garden center. They can help out with questions concerning indeterminate, determinate, hybrid and open pollinated varieties.

Buzz Bertolero is Executive Vice President of Navlet’s Garden Centers and a California Certified Nursery Professional. His web address is www.dirtgardener.com and you can send questions by email at dirtgarden@aol.com or to 360 Civic Drive Ste. ‘D’, Pleasant Hill, Calif. 94523 and on Facebook at Facebook/.com/Buzz.Bertolero