This summer, I have mostly focused on our Amish Paste roma tomatoes, but I don’t want anyone to think they are the king of the garden. Though they make great sauce because they contain few seeds and juice–mostly Read More …
We WILL Have Peas!
We have never had very good luck with peas. Sadly, our much-anticipated straw-bale project has failed; the pea plants are dried and shriveled and it’s not looking good at all. The beauty of learning to grow things is that a Read More …
If bees go extinct, this is what your supermarket will look like
reposted from this source Over the past decade, bee populations have been dropping, partly as a result of a disease called colony collapse disorder. This is very bad news for humans, because bees are a crucial part of the reproductive cycle Read More …
Let's Deal with the Tomatoes
Well, I said I wanted tomatoes this year. I certainly got my wish! They’ve been coming in by the bucket-full. Not too shabby for the tiny little space they are growing in. Pictured above is the harvest from one Read More …
Local Spotlight: Young Urban Homesteaders
I really admire how young these two food-growers are! People in my city are becoming more and more interested in learning how to grow produce in their yards, or are seeking out food that has been grown organically within the city. It Read More …
Fast Friday Tip-Tomatoes on Newspaper
When you are collecting tomatoes every day, they start taking up a lot of counter space. As they wait for their end (eaten fresh, juice dripping down your chin? sauced? roasted?), set them out on a layer of newspaper. Make sure each Read More …
Straw Bale Planting
Not too long ago I mentioned this straw bale that sits next to the garden, and that it was destined for a special purpose. Well, it has met it’s destiny—as a self-contained planter! I only recently learned that you Read More …
Fast Friday Tip: Panty Hose Tomato Ties
Don’t spend another dime on fancy tomato ties from the garden center! Panty hose work perfectly for the task of keeping wayward vines trained where you want them. I’ve always kept store-bought ties like the ones pictured below Read More …
Book Review: Gaining Ground
Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers’ Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm by Forrest Pritchard My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love this farmer memoir because it’s funny, accessible, and deeply touching. Forrest Pritchard writes directly from Read More …
Too-Sweet Defeat
Maybe I was basking in the joy of my mulberry harvest a little too blithely. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken the lazy way out of making jam by trying to make freezer jam instead of cooked jam. Or Read More …