Do you have your garden planned out yet for next year? I know, I know. It's only December. There's snow on the ground and we're barely into winter yet. But it's this time of year when I start getting the itch to work the soil. You know what I mean? When the days are short,... Continue Reading →
Clover might be my favorite discovery in gardening. Growing up, I was taught that clover was nothing more than a weed that marred an otherwise perfect lawn. I saw the various patches of clover as areas to avoid in the summer when walking barefoot, since they were often teeming with bees. It wasn't until we... Continue Reading →
Gardening is hard stuff. It's not just the weeding. Or the ground prep. Or the manual labor. It's also getting your seed placement and timing right. It's understanding how soil temps will affect germination, and knowing just how long to harden off those beautiful transplants you've been worrying over for the past week. It's all... Continue Reading →
I think the best part of gardening is knowing that at the end the season we will (usually) end up with an abundance of food that can be preserved and put on the shelves or in the freezer for later use. The work is rewarding in and of itself. The mystery of placing seed in... Continue Reading →
There is a rhythm to life. Birth. Growth. Production. Decay. It's the pattern that every living thing must go through. We were formed from the earth and to the earth we will return. Decay is essential for new life to begin. When it comes to healthy soil, it is the spent life of decaying things... Continue Reading →
I was reading the other day that the FDA has lifted its consumer advisory to avoid romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas region of California. I'm sure the growing community is happy to have this ban over with. However, this was the fifth recall on leaf crop grown in the area that I can remember,... Continue Reading →
The market garden is now dormant. Asleep again as winter approaches. All is quiet where there once was a flurry of activity not that long ago. I always come into this season with mixed feelings of relief and gratitude. Our spring is so busy with planting and working the soil, and our summer with harvest,... Continue Reading →
You've heard them before. I know you have. Maybe you've even tried some of them. It seems like gardening has more myths passing around than any other hobby. But how do you know what's true and what's folklore? Just because it's been passed around on Facebook a million times doesn't make it true. Seriously, this... Continue Reading →
So you did it. You found the piece of property you can start building your dreams on. You may have been waiting for this moment for a long time. But what now? How will you manage your land? I was there not that long ago. We were so caught up in the idea of having... Continue Reading →
What if I told you that you could easily grow your own broccoli, right in your back yard? Okay, maybe that's not that big a deal. But what if I told you that it just might be the best broccoli you've ever tasted? Store bought broccoli has one advantage: it's usually available any season you... Continue Reading →