Planting Raspberries: Where to Put Them and Why It Matters
First-time raspberry planting comes down to three things: sun, drainage, and not crowding them. Here’s what I got wrong the first time and how to set yourself up right from the start.
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Hugelkultur Beds: Why Your Garden Wants Rotting Wood
Hugelkultur beds sound complicated but they’re really just buried wood piles that feed and water your garden for years. Here’s how they work, what to use, and the one mistake to avoid in year one.
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Cheap Raised Beds from Scrap for Under $50
You don’t need a trip to the lumber yard to build raised beds. Scrap wood, cull boards, cinder blocks, and a little scrounging can get you a solid 4×8 bed for well under $50. Here’s how I’ve done it, including the mistakes.
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Hugelkultur: The PNW Gardener’s Secret Weapon
The Pacific Northwest practically builds hugelkultur beds for you every winter. Fallen branches, soggy leaves, free organic material everywhere. Here’s how to bury it all under your raised bed and let it work for you all summer long.
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Vertical Gardening: Big Yields in a Tiny Space
If your raised beds are packed and you’re out of ground space, look up. Vertical gardening lets you squeeze serious production out of a tiny footprint, and most of the best trellis setups cost almost nothing to build.
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Victory Gardens: Growing Food for Self-Sufficiency
Growing food for self-sufficiency doesn’t require a farm or a big budget. Here’s how to start a practical victory garden this April in the Pacific Northwest, with crops that actually feed your family.
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Spring Watering and Mulching Before It Gets Hot
April in the PNW feels too wet to think about watering schedules. But every year, the dry heat sneaks up fast and I’m scrambling. Here’s how I get my spring watering and mulching sorted before it actually matters.
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Build a Hugelkultur Bed for Free with Yard Waste
Got a pile of rotting wood and a mountain of leaves going nowhere? You’re halfway to a hugelkultur bed. Here’s how to build one for free with nothing but yard waste and a little patience.
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Vegetable Gardening for Beginners: Start Here
Killed a zucchini my first year. That’s where we’re starting. Here’s what actually matters when you’re new to vegetable gardening and living in the Pacific Northwest.
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What To Do With Empty Winter Beds (Besides Feel Guilty About Them)
Empty winter beds aren’t a waste of time, they’re an opportunity. Here’s how to build serious soil health through the wet Redmond winter without spending more than a few bucks.
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Garlic Goes In the Ground This Month
Planted garlic in spring my first year and harvested marbles. Turns out it goes in the ground in October and spends the winter doing its thing. Here’s how to do it right in the Pacific Northwest.
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Dirt Cheap: Cover Crops That Actually Do Something While Your Garden Sleeps
Bare soil in a PNW winter is a slow disaster. Cover crops like winter rye and crimson clover keep your beds productive, fix nitrogen, and cost almost nothing. Here’s what I actually use and what I got wrong the first time.
