width=”548″ height=”364″ /> This past year I started something new in my garden, I attempted to grow brussel sprouts. In my area these plants are very hearty throughout winter. What I discovered is growing brussel sprouts is truly and exercise of patience. I started by starting my seeds around September of last year and let them grow all winter in the grow box until springtime came and I moved…
Maybe you are looking for something to add to your Christmas list or a fellow gardener you still need to buy for here are a few items on my list…let me know if anyone needs my address (smile). width=”321″ height=”459″ /> Though my homemade computerized grow box works pretty good there is something appealing about having something like this Indoor Grow Tent to provide some more growing space…
alt=”020″ width=”525″ height=”394″ border=”0″ /> It is that time of year again to stock up on some pumpkin puree from some fresh pumpkins. Not sure if it is the 3rd daughter or just getting older but this year I have come up with an ever faster way to convert pumpkins into puree. Not only does this give you a better tasting pie, but given a organic pumpkin cost $6…
Vegetable gardening is a great activity to engage in, it is fun, nurturing and provides tangible results. Year after year many people take great satisfaction in producing their own fruit and vegetables at home. However sometime gardeners look to “spice” things up and create some variety in their routine. Planting less well known and visually interesting strains of vegetables is a great way to do this. Thanks to the…
width=”309″ height=”412″ /> Living in the rainy Pacific Northwest I have considered setting up some rain barrels to save a little on my water bill, but to also provide a water outlet to an area in my garden where one is not available. The biggest inhibiting factor of doing this sooner was cost, typically rain barrel kits cost at least $100 and though as you can see below might…
width=”550″ height=”367″ /> This is the time of year when you have more zucchini in your garden than you can deal with. You neighbors are closing their blinds when they see you coming up the street, here is a delicious option to make use of some of the fruits of your labor. You can use this same recipe to make a large loaf of bread, but I like the…
width=”550″ height=”309″ /> Many people may have heard of guerilla gardening where eager gardeners will make use of an abandoned lot and start a little vegetable garden on the down low. Here is another take on a similar idea but a little more out in the open. My brother-in-law lives in a condominium that unfortunately does not provide much space for an outdoor garden with the exception of several…
width=”549″ height=”412″ /> I like this time of year when I can quit my second job to support my kids strawberry and raspberry habits. At $5-6 for a half pint at some times throughout the year can be a great cost savings to pick these for practically free year after year. My oldest was previously the biggest consumer but now out youngest (now 16 months) is taking in her…
width=”550″ height=”367″ /> In my area today was the first day for our local farmers market. As you can see from the picture above I picked up some asparagus, spinach, lettuce and a few yams. Well I also picked up some kettle corn for the kids and some fresh flowers for my wife…I did pass on some leeks, Swiss chard, bak choy (plenty growing in my garden) as well…
width=”500″ height=”333″ /> Ecological garden designers often look to the native plant communities in their region to see which plants grow together naturally, in order to help determine suitable plant combinations for their designs. This is because many plants that grow together actually benefit each other. It’s an excellent strategy, and yet plants need not have evolved together in order to get these benefits… What Is Companion Planting? Companion…
width=”549″ height=”412″ /> I am always looking for ways to enable myself to grow more in my small suburban yard. One technique to do this is using the maximum vertical space to your advantage. Whether this is growing your tomatoes and cucumbers up a trellis or growing some tomatoes from hanging upside down planters the more you successfully make use of this space the higher yields you can achieve….
width=”508″ height=”381″ /> I like to grow and eat potatoes, the problem is they can easily take over a plot of land and more than likely you will be growing potatoes in the same spot for a few years (not very good crop rotation) when one or two stray spuds don’t get harvested and a plant pops up the next year. One great solution to this problem is a…