A Collection of Photos from Our White Garden
An Elegant Garden with Drought Resistant Plants
Read More »A Collection of Photos from Our White GardenAbout Lisa LeCoump Lisa LeCoump is a food photographer, agricultural expert, and passionate home cook dedicated to sustainable agriculture and seasonal, science-based cooking. Her blog brings together more than two decades of experience in both crop science and culinary creativity, helping home cooks gain confidence through flexible, master-based recipes built on real agricultural insight. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from California State University, Chico, specializing in soils and irrigation, along with advanced training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) from UC Davis. Her background bridges the worlds of farming, food systems, and visual storytelling—showing readers how sustainable growing practices directly shape the flavor and quality of the food we eat. She began her career working with California walnut and almond growers, advising on eco-friendly pest management and crop health. Later, as an Agricultural Extension Agent in Thailand and Deputy Agricultural Commissioner in Santa Cruz County, she promoted organic certification standards, EPA compliance, and environmentally responsible farming methods. These experiences inspired her belief that great cooking starts in the soil and that transparency in food systems builds both better meals and a healthier planet. Today, Lisa combines her agricultural expertise with her passion for food photography and recipe development. Her photography celebrates honest ingredients, local farms, and simple seasonal recipes rooted in sustainability. Through her blog, she shares practical cooking techniques, ingredient education, and the beauty of food grown and prepared with care. Follow Lisa’s latest recipes and photography to explore how science, sustainability, and creativity come together in the kitchen.
An Elegant Garden with Drought Resistant Plants
Read More »A Collection of Photos from Our White GardenTry our delicious caramel turtle cookie recipe and turn your leftover Halloween candy into a delightful treat.
Read More »Caramel Turtle Cookie RecipeSeabirds at Seacliff State Beach in Santa Cruz, California
Read More »A Collection of Photos of Seabirds In Santa CruzDIY Whipped Honey or Spun Honey is So Easy To Make at Home
Read More »How to Make Whipped HoneyMaking Matsoni Yogurt with an Instant Pot Yogurt Recipe and Temperatures for Homemade Yogurt
Read More »Matsoni Yogurt in an Instant PotIn recent decades, populations of the Monarch butterfly have been declining sharply — and loss of milkweed habitat is a major factor. The good news is: by planting the right milkweed species in your garden, you can provide critical habitat and food for Monarchs and their caterpillars, supporting migration and local butterfly populations.
Read More »Growing Milkweed to Help the Monarch Butterfly — A Complete Garden GuidePlanting with a color scheme made the garden look more about the colors and less about drought tolerance
Read More »A Drought Tolerant Garden with a Fall Color SchemeA great Oatmeal Cookie Recipe with no Butter – Crisp on the Outside, Chewy in the Center – Roasted Pecan Oil, Toasted Oats and Ground Pecans
Read More »Oatmeal Cookie Recipe No ButterThe Butterfly Effect Holds the Solution to the Climate Change Problem – Make the right Small Changes and it makes a Big Difference
Read More »The Butterfly EffectToasting nuts in the air fryer is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to bring out deep, rich flavor—without the risk of burning them. In just a few minutes, you can transform raw nuts into perfectly golden, aromatic ingredients that elevate everything from baked goods to salads.
Read More »How to Toast Nuts in the Air Fryer (Perfect Every Time – No Burning)An Easy Instant Pot Sour Cream Recipe Using Just Real Cream and Starter
Read More »Instant Pot Sour Cream RecipeEasy Sunflower Seed Baguette Recipe that Rivals a Parisian Baguette
Read More »Sunflower Seed Baguette RecipeWe are planting flowers to attract and benefit butterflies
Read More »Planting a Butterfly GardenGrowing herbs is a way to grow plants with many uses.
Read More »Growing Herbs for an Edible and Drought Tolerant GardenLast year, a forest fire in northern Santa Cruz county, the CZU lightning complex fire, burned 86,000 acres.
Read More »Santa Cruz Forest FireThis pain à l’Ancienne French bread recipe is an incredible recipe for French bread and baguettes. A traditional method that is easy, foolproof and makes a bread that rivals the bread we found in France.
Read More »Pain à l’Ancienne French Bread RecipeMany of the Plants in Our Garden Produce Edible Flowers.
Read More »Edible FlowersAn easy star bread recipe that makes a show-stopping sweet bread for your holiday table. Based on our master dough, this recipe is easier, sustainable and delivers flavor and beauty in one.
Read More »Easy Star Bread Recipe – Festive Holiday Sweet Bread That’s Sustainable & SimpleMaster the best walnut bread recipe with quality ingredients that are good for you and the environment.
Read More »The Best Walnut Bread RecipeThe Common Buckeye Butterfly, Junonia coenia, that despite the name, we have rarely seen.
Read More »Common Buckeye ButterflyThe wedding we photographed at the beautiful wedding venue Creekside of Los Gatos was just published in the San Francisco magazine “7×7“.
Beurre Noisette is the French Term for Browned Butter
Read More »Beurre Noisette | Browned butterBourbon pecan ice cream recipe, made with Kentucky bourbon, Texas Pecans and Vermont maple syrup. A showcase of some of America’s finest products.
Read More »Bourbon Pecan Ice Cream Recipe (Rich Maple Syrup Flavor and Crunchy Toasted Pecans)We rarely see a Gray Hairstreak Butterfly (Strymon melinus) in our area, so it was surprising when we saw this one in our garden.
Read More »Gray Hairstreak ButterflyThis is the easiest crème fraîche recipe imaginable. Authentic French crème fraîche. Made by adding a starter culture to cream, and then controlling the temperature while it cultures.
Read More »The Easiest Crème Fraîche RecipePhotos of hummingbirds at the UCSC Santa Cruz Arboretum.
Read More »Hummingbirds at the UCSC Santa Cruz ArboretumOrdering spices in bulk will give you a great price and the best quality, and the holiday baking season is a good time to stock up.
A tomato tart is a nice summertime celebration of the tomato.
Read More »Tomato TartPlanting Flowers to Provide Natural Food Instead of Using a Hummingbird Feeder
Read More »Planting Flowers for the HummingbirdsWe are planting flowers for honey bees. They need both nectar and pollen, so we have planted a variety of flowers.
Read More »Planting Flowers for Honey bees