VEGETABLE GARDENS

Discover the process of building a self-sustaining garden with this comprehensive guide. Ever wondered about a garden that can water and fertilize itself? Introduction to Keyhole Gardens This simple concept is realized through a keyhole raised bed, which can be easily constructed with minimal tools and affordable materials. Keyhole gardens are gaining popularity worldwide and […]

Successful storage of vegetables is not difficult and in most homes it merely means utilizing the cellar, attic, a large closet or other parts of the house, depending upon the character of the product to be stored. There are four major things to remember in storing vegetables; namely, temperature, ventilation, degree of moisture, and the […]

Gardening can be a fun activity for all ages and skill levels, but knowing what flowers to grow can be daunting. To make things simple, here are 10 easy-to-grow flowers that any gardener can enjoy! From dainty daisies to vibrant marigolds, these plants will bring life and color to any garden. With the right care […]

The citrus industry in Florida has frequently suffered from severe freezes. The most disastrous of these probably were the freezes of 1835, 1886, and 1894- 95, which killed or seriously injured almost every tree in the State. Other minor freezes have occurred from time to time, which, while not so severe, have seriously damaged many […]

On a purely practical level, whether you hope to harvest 10 or 10,000 tomatoes, diseases can diminish your abundance every season. Before we dive into the capacities of DNA and seeds themselves, there are four cultural keys vital to preventing tomato disease. As we hone our practices of community care and mutual flourishing, these cultural, […]

Starting plants from seed is particularly rewarding. There’s nothing more satisfying than surveying your tiny kingdom of sprouts each morning. But sowing seeds can sometimes feel like a gamble. Luckily, there are numerous things you can do to improve germination rates and speed up the process a bit. Why Should I Bother Starting Seeds? If […]

When cooking dinner, do you ever wish to pluck a few fresh leaves from the nearest pot of aromatic greens to spice up whatever dish you are creating? If so, you may just be an herb-lover, a perennial forager or a budding chef. No matter what side of the wild herb or cultivated fence you […]

Flowering trees make a smart addition to your home landscape. Some enjoy them only for their ornamental value, while others avoid them, seeing flowering trees as nothing more than pointless decoration. Don’t let their gorgeous floral displays fool you; these trees offer numerous practical benefits to your home. Take advantage of them and plant a […]

Many of my childhood memories were made in the strawberry patches that my father, Paul Edwards, was gifted at growing. Even for that, he would never eat them. The texture of their seeds was too much and for all the decades that he grew them, and grew them well, I never saw him raise a […]

You probably know the building blocks needed to keep human bodies healthy, but how familiar are you with plant nutrients? We’re often guilty of just tossing some generic fertilizer on plants, but understanding all the specifics about plant nutrients and the best way to provide these nutrients to your plants can make all the difference…

There’s something uniquely special about trees. Trees give us cool shade in summertime and spectacular color in fall. They help take the dullness out of the winter landscape and are among the first plants to signal spring is on its way. But more than this, the slow but steady growth of trees marks the passage […]

I’m quite fortunate as a gardener. My partner and I have a large no-dig garden out at his place. But my apartment is on the second floor of my building. Gardening at home is limited to the balcony. So, I understand your frustration with the piddly yields you get from container gardening. But I’ve taken […]

Those of us who live in colder climates champ at the bit to start gardening every year. Fortunately, there’s a way to start gardening early, without waiting for the snow to disappear in the spring: cold frame gardening. Those of us in cold regions monitor snow levels daily to anticipate when we’ll be able to…

For many of us, planning our garden is one of the things we enjoy about gardening. For others, planning is less of a priority and more of an afterthought. But if you’re serious about a successful growing season, there are a few questions you should ask about the last one before you put a single […]

Sickle bar mowers are no high performance machinery and need a lot of maintenance, compared to disc and drum mowers, but are definitely the better mowers in my opinion. This is not only due to their low impact to the nature, but also due to the quality of their work. The knives cut the grass […]

Ask any child over seven, and I’ll bet they can tell you what plant the Monarch butterfly eats. At 43 years old, I still remember learning about the Monarch butterfly’s life cycle in Mrs. Potter’s second-grade class. The caterpillars eat milkweed, the only thing they eat in their larval stage. Somehow, we forgot this lesson […]

Gardens are a beautiful part of every home. Having a garden in your home is nothing less than a blessing. You can grow your favorite vegetables, and plants and enjoy the view at any hour. However, maintaining a garden is also crucial, especially while landscaping.  There is nothing wrong with reshaping or landscaping your home. […]

Kohleria come in shades of red, orange and yellow. As much as I enjoy growing classic houseplants and sometimes buying trendy ones (such as this pickle plant), there’s something very satisfying about getting a plant that’s not super popular. But I’m a generous plant keeper – I love sharing advice as much as I love […]

Chewning loves to save seeds — he has revived nearly extinct corns, beans, heirloom radishes, watermelons and field peas. He rescued Jimmy Red as well, growing it and saving kernels each year, increasing the seed stock. Little did he know that soon it would burst on the restaurant scene as a prized heirloom cultivar that […]

We all love certain plants because of the way they look, their fragrance, or because they are useful in the kitchen. Sometimes though, those plants really aren’t good for the garden or yard due to their invasive root systems. The roots of plants are incredibly strong, especially with some trees, and if they are prone…

As gardeners, there’s an inherent sense that we’re a step ahead of our non-gardening friends when doing right by the planet. We’re growing green things, so we have to be helping, right? Not always. Many standard gardening practices contribute to global warming. But not to worry, a few simple changes can turn your garden into […]

Earthworms are among the most beloved residents in the home garden. Tireless in their quest to tunnel, feed, and poop, worms are amazing for aerating the soil, breaking down organic matter, and dispersing nutrients via their castings. Nightcrawlers and red wigglers are two of the worms you’re most like to see burrowing through the dirt, […]

If you want a bounty of juicy ripe fruit every year, then annual pruning and maintenance of your fruit trees is a must – especially in winter. But once the job is done, you’re left with a giant pile of twigs, branches and sometimes larger limbs. Most folks dispose of the cuttings in one way […]

Let’s get your burning question out of the way. No, I’m sorry, but marshmallow plants do not grow marshmallows. However, should you plant marshmallow in your yard, you can harvest the roots, and those can be used to make homemade marshmallows that will blow away those pasty store-bought things we’re all used to. (Use my […]

The period between 1929 and 1939 was one of widespread human suffering. At no other time in modern history had there been such a drastic drop in standards of living and quality of life than during the Great Depression. The most basic things – putting food on the table, keeping a roof over your head, […]

Episode 21Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you want to grow a garden that is in sync with nature, then you need to check out Chris McLaughlin’s ninth and newest book, The Good Garden: How to Nurture Pollinators, Soil, Native Wildlife, and Healthy Food — All in Your […]

There’s nothing worse than putting out a fresh feeder full of birdseed and, moments later, looking up to see this guy staring back at you. Seriously, dude? What was supposed to be a feast for your favorite feathered friends ends up being an all-you-can-eat buffet for a “tree rat.” (My sweetie’s nickname for squirrels that […]

I’ve come to realize that January feels to me, as a gardener, very much like that week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The first part of the celebration is over – all the pruning and bulb planting in the fall. Yet I don’t know what to do with myself until the next one begins […]

Ask any self-respecting houseplant aficionado if they have a kill list, and they’ll likely admit to having put a few leafy friends to rest. It happens; you learn; you move on. But what about a list of plants that are just constantly yo-yo-ing between thriving and imminent disaster?  For me, ferns tend to fall into […]

We’ve all seen those huge pictures of fields filled with tulips in all colors and styles and wanted to recreate the vibe. Maybe not on that scale, but growing even a small patch of tulips can recreate the charming look. Tulips are easy to grow and look good in any quantity, including in small containers…

How it started, how it’s going. It appears we can thank the French for taking the headache out of growing indeterminate tomatoes. I’ve expressed my annoyance with their annual habit of taking over the garden at length. Er, the tomatoes, not the French. But this method has completely changed my mind. Espalier tomatoes are the […]

Who is an impatient gardener? I am. I hate it when I plan my spring and summer garden and have to wait for the last frost to be over before I start planting outside. I’m always looking for a head start, and over the years, I have discovered through trial and error what to plant…

We’ve all seen the articles; a few houseplants are all it takes to clean up the air in your home If you’re one of the millions of plant parents driving the current houseplant trend, you’ve probably read your fair share of articles pushing the benefits of owning them. (Pfft, as if we needed a reason […]

After a long winter, gardeners eagerly await the first blooms to appear in spring. Crocus plants are some of the first little flowers to start growing when the weather gets warmer. You can sometimes see the petals pop up right through the snow. It’s easy to spot the bright purple, yellow, and speckles of white…

If you’ve read any of Cheryl’s great articles about no-dig gardening, you’ve probably wondered if this way of gardening would work with your existing raised beds. And the answer is a resounding yes! Depending on how exuberant you are with your shovel, you might even be ahead of the game. There are a ton of […]

Look, normally, I would draw you in with a funny story or quaint anecdote, but today I’m not messing around; we’ll get straight to the point. Should you grow spicebush? Yes, absolutely. You would be hard-pressed to find a shrub with more going for it than this incredible native species.  So, that’s that; you can […]

Growing food is difficult enough without crawling interlopers wreaking havoc. Slugs, snails, beetle larvae, and cutworms are just a few species that can annihilate our plants. Many of the methods we use to combat insects can damage the soil, and harm beneficial insects. This is where a mustard pour can come in handy. A mustard…

We’ve watched over the past couple of decades as the popularity of the ‘internet hack’ grew. Lifehacks, money hacks, cooking hacks – social media is brimming with hacks to make every area of your life a little easier. The problem is there are probably more bad hacks out there than good ones. As we’ve come […]

When it rains, it pours. So much so that heavy rainfall flows quickly off of roofs and onto some form of paved surface, occasionally with unintended consequences. With the installation of a rain garden in the right place, you can reduce runoff from your property in a natural way. Besides, a well-maintained rain garden has […]

Some flowers are just classics. Daffodils are one such flower, and for good reason. Daffodils in bloom signal the warming of the Earth and the coming growing season. Daffodils add cheerful color to a time when many other plants are still dormant or just starting to awaken. They are super-easy to grow, and you often…

Fittonia (also known as the nerve plant) is one of those houseplants that is both a looker and easy to find for sale (not a small feat in the world of Instagram #rareplants trend).  I had my first fittonia plant for almost four years before I had to give it away when I was moving […]

The transition from crisp and colorful autumn leaves to crumbly and dark leaf mold is – normally – a very slow process. Do nothing more than rake your leaves into one big pile, and the heap will undoubtedly turn into leaf mold, given enough time. Let nature run its course, and the leaves will rot […]

When you start bringing plants into your home, you’re automatically enrolled in a crash course on all the nemeses you’ll be facing. Whether it’s aphids, thrips, gnats or root rot, there is a steep learning curve to keeping plants happy. I’m speaking from experience here. It took me a while to learn which plants need […]

Setting up suet feeders is a great way to attract birds to your backyard. With their high metabolic rates, these tiny creatures need high-fat food content. Think of how quickly they move and the energy required for all that flitting about, compared to their overall size, and it’s no wonder they consistently need high-energy food […]

If I showed you my six-year-old kalanchoe plant, you’d be hard-pressed to identify what it actually is. It looks part succulent, part weird sculpture and part mythical tree straight out of a fairytale penned by the Brothers Grimm.  This often happens to my houseplants because I’m a stubborn plant keeper. Some people simply dispose of […]

Journaling is one of the most rewarding hobbies. Each journal is a beautiful and unique way to record your thoughts, plan your dreams, or track cyclical events. I use journals as reading logs, weekly planners, and homestead management tools, as well as keeping a simple journal of day-to-day thoughts and reflections. One of the most…

The Grape is probably the oldest of domesticated fruits. It is probable that wine was made from it before the species was brought into cultivation. It seems to have been cultivated at the dawn of history. Its product was certainly no rarity in Noah’s time. The Grape of history is the Old World Vitis vinifera, […]

Looking for stocking stuffers for gardeners? Christmas is coming up, and it can be hard to find the perfect stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. If you’re looking for a gift for the green thumb in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 14 great stocking stuffers for gardeners in your… […]

Mulch is an essential part of any garden. It helps keep weeds down, retains moisture, and can provide a decorative touch to your flower beds. But did you know that there are many different types of mulch, each with its own unique advantages? In this post, we’ll explore some tips for how to maximize your […]

Simple farm tools were in the history of vegetable growing and are still indispensable tools with which you can grow and cultivate various vegetables, plants, or fruits. If you want to make a salad with your vegetables without going to the supermarket or worrying about pesticides, then this is the sign that you need to […]

War.  Famine.  Food and water shortages. Supply breakdowns.  The list goes on and on as the mainstream news and social media serve the masses a steady diet of fear and impending doom.  However, every dark cloud has a silver lining or two as well.  After the Covid lockdowns, there seem to be at least two […]

Seeds from last year should definitely still be viable. I regularly use seeds that are at least 2 to 3 years old. But what if you have seeds that are 4 or 5 years old or even older?  There is no reason to waste time planting them in the garden only to realize a couple […]

Hot chili peppers are one of the most fun plants to grow in your garden whether you’re a spicy food fan or not. Their unique fruits are beautiful (and sometimes crazy!) to look at and your harvests can be abundant. But for some people, growing hot chili peppers can be a real challenge. To get […]

Are you wondering why you need a survival garden? Storing canned foods and other non-perishable items for emergencies is something that I personally believe every home should currently be doing. If an actual emergency were ever to occur, it wouldn’t be too long before your supply would eventually run out. Without any more food to… […]

Should you stockpile garden seeds now? Just in the last year alone, there’s been a significant increase in food pricing along with an alarming shortage of food products on grocery store shelves all across the country. Plenty of experts will argue that we’re still dealing with the after-effects of the last 3 years; but I’m… […]

Munavvar Izhar says that Gardening is one of the healthiest hobbies one can develop. It combines physical activity with social interaction and exposure to nature and sunlight. Also, these days people prefer to eat organic, and gardening gives you complete control over the chemicals and products used during the growing process. It not only provides […]

Every plant is different and needs special conditions to grow to its full potential. Various kinds of vegetables need different amounts of sunlight or water. On top of that, they are not resistant to all the weather conditions. However, there are plants that you can grow throughout the year, even in colder months. This way, […]

If you want to learn how to grow grapes in your backyard, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss everything from planting and caring for your grape vines to harvesting and storing your grapes. I will also provide some tips on how to make the most of your grape-growing experience…. […]

Droughts are periods of low rainfall and can have a significant impact on gardens. Dry conditions can stress plants and make it difficult for them to take up water and nutrients from the soil. If your garden is located in an area that is prone to drought, there are a number of things you can… […]

If you’re into prepping and stockpiling, then you know that onions are a must-have item. They’re a great way to add flavor to dishes, and they have some pretty powerful nutritional benefits too. But what if you don’t live near a grocery store that sells onions? Or what if you just want to grow your… […]

There are a lot of great reasons to have a garden. Whether it’s just for decoration or you love to cook, having a garden is a wonderful way of growing your own food. A backyard garden is more than just fruits and vegetables, though.  It can become an entire ecosystem with the proper planning. Below […]

If you’re anything like me, then you love fresh cucumbers. Unfortunately, they can be a bit pricey at the grocery store. But did you know that you can grow your own cucumbers right in your backyard? I’ll even let you in on another little secret. Homegrown cucumbers taste even better than the ones that you’ll… […]

Episode 17Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You might think that someone who write a book about bugs would have been a bona fide bug lover forever. But author Jessica Walliser admits up front that she used to think nothing of spraying pesticides all over plants to kill bugs, […]

Episode 13Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All gardens and farms were organic prior to World War II, and gardeners realized centuries ago that healthy soil was the key to healthy plants. Building healthy soil is exactly where author and gardener Sally Morgan starts her book, The HEALTHY Vegetable […]

Episode 10 Sustainability Book Chat If you thought that it was beyond the reach of mere mortals to grow spices like ginger, turmeric, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamon, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by this episode with Tasha Greer, who talks about her book, Grow Your Own Spices. Although many of us may use “herbs” and “spices” […]

Episode 7 Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are looking for ideas on getting started with organic vegetable gardening, we are talking about everything you need to know! Which vegetables are the best for beginners? How do you actually start to plant? What size should your garden […]

Episode 5 Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Bugs are an inevitable part of gardening, but we have lots of options for dealing with them. In this episode gardener Susan Mulvihill, author of The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook, talks about organic methods of handling pests in our garden. We […]

Episode 1 Sustainability Book Chat As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you are intimidated by gardening because it seems like too much work or you don’t want to invest in a tiller, then you should check out no-dig gardening. In Charlie Nardozzi’s newest book, The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening, he […]

I first wrote this post in 2012 when more than half of the United States was in a drought, including our farm in Illinois. I recalled hearing about people in Texas who were selling off their herds at rock bottom prices in 2011 because they had no water, no pasture, no hay, and no grain. […]

It is always a bit of a shock when someone asks me if something — apples, pigs, turkeys, you-name-it — can be grown organically. I’ve heard the questions so many times over the years that it really should not be a surprise to me, but optimist that I am, I always think that I will […]

Square foot gardening can be an excellent way to produce a lot of food in a compact space. Added benefits come from the common Square foot gardening trend of cobbling different plants together – essentially companion planting and increasing diversity – and creating permanent beds we won’t be stepping on and compacting. We can get […]

It’s rare that we see raw land healthy and ready to plant our survival gardens. Usually, we’re going to have to give it a helping hand. Healthy soil can mean the difference between a garden that produces in abundance and one that barely gives you a return for your efforts. If we’re already planting, chances […]