The crazy weather has been frustrating this year. We went from working outside in short sleeves, to 4 inches of snow, to just plain cold and wet. I have been trying to get some outside projects done and some planting started, but weather and available time have not been too cooperative.
Last weekend, I managed to [...]
This year, I plan to test out the “Spud Barrel” method of growing potatoes. If you have never heard of a spud barrel, this is essentially a process of growing potatoes in a barrel (or trash can, a stack of old tires, or some other type of cylindrical object) and filling it with new soil [...]
It seems like it would be putting the cart before the horse to think about canning already. Really, there is still some snow on the ground around here. However, I want to be “putting food by” this year so I need to be planning ahead of planting. If I put some thought into what we [...]
This year, I intend to use a garden seeder to assist with planting. I have spent a great deal of time deciding on what seeder to use. In fact, I’ve put this decision off for at least the past year as I could not make a decision. Since the cost of even the simplest seeder [...]
Many of the most useful vegetables are neglected in the majority of home gardens. Okra, Swiss Chard, Leeks, Brussels Sprouts, Scotch Kale, and Kohlrabi tend to be overlooked, yet they are all appetizing, healthy additions to the table, and require no special conditions to grow.
Okra
Okra, or gumbo, as it is invariably called in the [...]
I have made a significant dent in the daunting task of ordering this year’s seed. I have put it off several times throughout the winter, primarily because we intend to expand our growing this year to include selling at farmer’s markets. This requires quite a bit more planning, especially because I don’t want to over-order [...]
The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden
In a style reminiscent of Erma Bombeck, Alexander takes on a hysterical journey through his “quest for the perfect garden.” I found myself unable to put this book down, [...]
I had every intention of getting this blog going last year. My mistake was setting it up in the spring when I was actually at the height of planting my garden. Then one thing led to another and, as anyone can plainly see, it was shelved. Well, it is high time to pull this idea [...]
