Gardening Guru

Fruits and veggies grown close to home reduce emissions produced by shipping from miles away, and convenience doesn’t get any better than your own backyard. Don’t have a green thumb? Urban Plantations specializes in the design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of edible landscaping, be it on 25 acres or in a 4’x6’ container on a balcony. “You can grow just about anything here in San Diego,” says owner Karen Contreras. Services include soil testing, microclimate analysis, and setting up composting and drip-irrigation systems. For those willing to get their hands dirty, one-to-one garden coaching is also available. (619/563-5771, www.urbanplantations.com)   REBECCA CHAPPELL