Few things can have a greater impact for good or ill on a garden than the weather, or, put in another word, climate. Planting and harvest dates, i.e. growing seasons, are quite different from one town to the next. The average length of the growing season in our two counties here is about 14 ½ … Continue reading GARDENING, WEATHER, CLIMATE & MICROCLIMATE
Self-Reliance
My thoughts on my personal journey towards becoming less dependent on a fragile society.
There Couldn’t Be Any Contention In The World…
if everyone had food like this. That was my cherished husband's comment as he ate dinner this evening. It was a simple dinner... an omelet made with eggs from our chickens, left over vegetables from our garden that I had cooked last night, herbs from the garden, and cheese plus fresh corn on the cob … Continue reading There Couldn’t Be Any Contention In The World…
FAST FOOD FROM YOUR GARDEN – 22 in a MONTH or LESS + 12
Okay, so a month doesn’t begin to compete with your local fast food restaurant. Still, most people think of raising vegetables as something that takes ALL SUMMER! But, that doesn’t need to be the case. There can be several excellent reasons for wanting to grow some speedy crops, ranging from an apartment dweller with very … Continue reading FAST FOOD FROM YOUR GARDEN – 22 in a MONTH or LESS + 12
USDA Hardiness Zones
What are the USDA zone designations and what do they mean to you as a gardener? The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone maps have been developed based on AVERAGE maximum cold temperatures in the winter to help people determine which plants have the best chance of surviving in their area. But, the Hardiness Zones are pretty … Continue reading USDA Hardiness Zones
The DIRT on DIRT
We walk on it. Children play in it. We hate it on our cars and collars. Sometimes we even make dirty jokes. But when it comes to growing flowers and vegetables, dirt is no joking matter! To a plant, dirt is much more than a place to put down roots so you don’t blow away … Continue reading The DIRT on DIRT
My Mother’s Gardening Secret
My mother was widely considered to always have the best garden for miles around, for as long as I can remember. When asked what her secret was, she would always tell people, “The secret is in the soil.” That’s all. Just, “The secret is in the soil.” Some would then ask her if she made … Continue reading My Mother’s Gardening Secret
Busy Days! And Seed Saving
It's spring! That means outdoor activity around here has sprung into high gear. The hyacinths and tulips have finished their bloom cycles. The strawberries, peaches, apricots, plums, and nectarines are blossoming. The onions that overwintered, as well as the freshly planted ones, are coming up strong and healthy and happy. The rhubarb that the chickens … Continue reading Busy Days! And Seed Saving
World’s Best Mousetrap
Rodent control -- That brings to mind a variety of unpleasant pictures. Natural disasters are often fraught with rodent population explosions in a very short period of time. The infamous Black Death of the Middle Ages was spread by rodents - or rather, by the fleas that lived on the rodents. Even today, the Plague, … Continue reading World’s Best Mousetrap
A Vegetable Companion Planting Guide
Strawberries peeking through the winter mulch Spring has sprung (at least today). Sprouts are coming up both in my kitchen and in my garden. So now it’s time to talk about companions. Whether we like it or not, we all have some people that really build us up and make us feel good when we … Continue reading A Vegetable Companion Planting Guide
GARDENING THROUGH THE YEAR – MARCH in USDA Zone 5
The warring hosts of Winter and Spring Are hurtling o’er the plains. ~Christopher Pearse Cranch When March has April weather, April will have March weather. Spring is definitely trying to break through winter’s icy grip on us and the urge to garden is surely growing as the days lengthen! But, the frost has not left the … Continue reading GARDENING THROUGH THE YEAR – MARCH in USDA Zone 5
