Few things in life are as satisfying as preparing meals from your own homegrown produce. Yet many urban gardeners feel discouraged from growing vegetables because of a lack of garden space. Although you may not be able to provide all ...
Read More »Survival Gardening
Five Undeniable Reasons Why You Should Grow A Garden
This winter means another season of icy pavement and frozen soil. It means another season you’ll be trapped inside the house, longingly staring out your frosted windows. Aching for the spring sunshine, you’ll utter a familiar promise to yourself: “I ...
Read More »Growing Heirloom Apples: From Romantic Notion To Outright Obsession
From a child’s point of view, few trees are as inviting as an apple tree. As a child, I found many friends on my grandfather’s farm: Grandpa’s two friendly quarter horses, Dolly and Babe; the mild-mannered Guernsey dairy cows; the ...
Read More »Utilizing Microclimates For More Diverse Gardening
To establish a more diverse, efficient garden, many gardeners are turning to microclimates for assistance. Microclimates are small areas, usually from a few feet to a couple miles across, that have different conditions from the surrounding area. These isolated pockets ...
Read More »Sprouts: A Garden in Your Kitchen
If the sight of your barren winter garden makes you melancholy, take heart. Even when six inches of snow covers your yard, you can grow food indoors with almost no effort at all. Sprouting isn’t technically gardening because no soil ...
Read More »Growing Your Own Exotic Crops
Exotic tropical plants can be grown for more than just their lush beauty. Some of these plants are edible as well, and even in the middle of winter they can reward a patient gardener with unique spices or sweet fruits ...
Read More »Lasagna Composting: The Lazy Gardener’s Secret To Great Soil
I’ll admit it. I have a compost box, but I’m a lousy composter. Every spring, I make a renewed commitment to manage the compost successfully. I layer nitrogen and carbon materials, water the pile until it’s as wet as a ...
Read More »Protecting Your Garden From Severe Weather
When serious storms like Hurricane Sandy slams into coastal cities and towns, many worry about lives and property. Fallen trees, widespread flooding, power outages, and other damage are a given, and it comes as no surprise that garden beds often ...
Read More »How To Get In The Greenhouse Business
Hello friends, this is Bob Whitten, coming to you from beautiful, sunny Thomson, Illinois. Have you been wanting your own greenhouse, but sticker shock has kept you from pulling the trigger? I have found a way to make it happen ...
Read More »Planning For Spring: Seed Shopping
You’ve likely got most things taken care of in the garden and most of your garden tools put away for the winter. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to begin thinking about what you want to ...
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