A roundup of home and garden tips and events on the Midpeninsula, including information on the Portola Valley Farmers Market.
YOUR RENT IN TURKEY DINNERS … It’s always fun to look at city economic comparisons, and this one, by apartmentlist.com , is no different. The median two-bedroom rent in Palo Alto is $3,060, or 38.3 Thanskgiving dinners, according to the apartment rental marketplace. San Francisco is the most expensive in the country, at 38.4 turkey dinners San Jose comes in third with New York City one-tenth of a dinner behind.
YEARNING FOR FRESH FRUIT? … Good news! The Portola Valley Farmers Market provides year-round seasonal produce every Thursday . About 25 vendors bring fruits, berries, greens, nuts, honey, even seafood, meat and eggs, as well as pastries, made-to-order crepes and more to the Portola Valley Town Center from 2 to 6 p.m. The Town Center is located at 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley. For more information, go to pvfarmersmarket.com.
GIFTS FOR GARDENERS … This month’s Garden Design Magazine offers a range of gift ideas for gardeners. Some highlights: “The Complete Houseplant Survival Manual.” by Barbara Pleasant, provides advice and in-depth information on hundreds of houseplants as well as easy-to-use care information and troubleshooting guides. Another option is a weird-sounding tool called a “perforated mud shovel” by Bully Tools, which makes it easier to work in wet ground, where “ordinary” shovels might get stuck. The holes in the blade let it slide free with less sticking and its welded I-beam keeps the handle attachment from cracking under heavy muddy loads. If the gardener you’re shopping for is into bees, they might be interested in the Bee Bungalow with Trellis, which provides nesting space for bees. It is made with hand-cut natural reeds and drilled-out branches with a variety of opening sizes.