Blueberries are high in vitamin C and are very versatile; they make great pies, preserves, juice, or can be eaten right from the bush. Blueberries are among the easiest berries to grow, but soil preparation is crucial to a good crop. They grow best in sandy, well-drained soil rich in organic material with a pH level between 4.0 and 5.2. Soil should be prepared well in advance, at least two weeks before planting your bushes, but some say that preparing the season before is best.
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Growing Great Gooseberries
Gooseberries have thorny, arching branches that grow to a height and spread of three to five feet. They flower from one-year-old wood and short spurs of older wood. Buds open to yield one to four blossoms. They are self-fertile and ...
Read More »Homemade Yogurt for Half the Price
Greek yogurt has recently become the rage in yogurt choices. Did you know that you can make your own, and it is cheaper than you can buy it from the store? I will share with you the process for making great yogurt, both in both traditional and Greek styles. I will also include the recipes for plain, vanilla (regular and sugar free), and maple (regular and sugar free) flavors.
Read More »Growing Cold-Hardy Currants
Currants are a fast growing, deciduous shrub, which produce multiple stems that can grow five feet wide and high. Most currants are self fertile, but some cultivars are partially self-sterile, so planting them in twos and threes is a good ...
Read More »The Basics of Cold-Weather Gardening
Depending on where you live, it may be too late to start on a winter garden at this time, but it is never too early to plan for next year. So get out your graph paper and colored pencils and ...
Read More »Better and Longer-Lasting Gardening Equipment in a Few Easy Steps
Keeping your garden tools in good repair will add years to their life. It will also make your job easier next spring, as they will be sharp, oiled, and ready for use. The first step to putting away your gardening ...
Read More »Beautiful Edibles: Nutritious, Delicious Roses
We know that roses make beautiful gardens and flower arrangements, and you may have even used petals for potpourri or tried your hand at making perfume. However, whatever experience you have with these fragrant flowers, you may not know they ...
Read More »To Pasteurize or Not to Pasteurize: How to Prepare and Store Fresh Milk
Pasteurizing milk is essentially sterilizing it to get rid of any bacteria present. There is a great deal of debate over whether milk is safe to drink “raw,” as in unpasteurized, and many self-sufficiency advocate drinking raw milk because they say it is healthier than pasteurized milk. In fact, the two are nearly identical, and pasteurized milk also tends to last longer because the reason milk spoils is due to a buildup of bacteria.
Read More »Growing a Low-Carb Garden
Many of us have chosen to change our eating habits from traditional western fare to a low-carb/high-protein diet. Whether it is for weight loss or better health – or both – this type of eating is becoming more popular. So this session we will talk about planting a low-carb garden. So what shall we plant in our low-carb garden? As it is cooling off, let’s start with cool-weather plants.
Read More »Canning Bacon and Sausage
Canning of meats is a bit daunting for some, especially beginners. But there are people who have pioneered these preserving processes for us, so we can use their experiences to build up our confidence in this area. Learning these processes will allow you to have bacon and sausage on hand, even if you don’t have a freezer.
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