It is always a bit of a shock when someone asks me if something -- apples, pigs, turkeys, you-name-it -- can be grown organically. I've heard the questions so many times over the years that it really should not be a surprise to me, but optimist that I am, I always think that I will never hear the question again. Why? Because every type of food can be grown organically. Prior … [Read more...]
Garden Vertically With a Sandwich Board A-Frame
by Chris McLaughlin Sandwich board A-frames are simple to build, store, and modify. If you're not worried about storing it, you can forgo the hinges, and screw or wire the top of the structure together (where the boards meet). This sandwich board A-frame in this photo was made with plastic poultry/garden netting because it's what I had on hand, but you can switch out the … [Read more...]
Using last year’s seeds in the garden
If you are wondering whether or not to use last year's seeds -- or some even older -- there is no reason to waste time planting them in the garden only to realize a couple weeks later that they are not going to germinate. You can check out their viability now! I happen to have a very large bag of pea seeds that I've had for a few years. They don't have a date on them, and I … [Read more...]
Dealing with drought
Because more than half of the United States is currently in a drought, odds are good that the majority of people reading this are actually in that situation. I remember last year hearing about the people in Texas who were selling off their herds at rock bottom prices because they had no water, no pasture, no hay, and no grain. And my heart was really breaking as I watched … [Read more...]
Variety is the spice of life
Homemade salsa with several types of tomatoes and peppers A few months ago I was being interviewed on a radio talk show, and the host asked me if we ever get bored with our food. You know, since we grow almost all of our own, we must get bored eating the same thing all the time, right? Uh, no. Not even close! The simple fact is that we have far more variety in our diet than … [Read more...]
Herbs in Small Gardens
Thinking about gardening already? Can't wait to get outside and dig in the dirt as soon as the mud or snow clears? Well, today's guest blogger has some ideas for your garden, as well as containers, so you can get started right away! And if you leave a comment at the end of the post, you'll automatically be entered to win a copy of Chris McLaughlin's book! You can either post an … [Read more...]
GMOs in your garden?
It is miserable for a farmer to be obliged to buy his seed; to exchange seeds may, in some cases, be useful, but to buy them after the first year is disreputable. George Washington to Farm Manager William Pierce Nov. 16, 1794 I first read this quote when we visited Mount Vernon in 2000, and even though we were still city slickers back then, that quote has been stuck in my … [Read more...]
Aquaponic Gardening
by Sylvia Bernstein What if I told you that you could catch fish for dinner right in your own backyard? And what if before you catch those fish they were growing the veggies for the rest of your dinner plate? Would you believe me? You should! This is all within reach using a new style of gardening called Aquaponics. Aquaponics is, at its most basic level, the marriage of … [Read more...]
Homegrown in the city
The only thing I regret about moving to the country is how many people look at me and say, "I wish I could do what you're doing, but I live in town." Oh, but you can do what we're doing, even if you live in town! I interviewed a few people for H&H who are doing it, and today I'm posting an interview with another person who lives in town and is doing it! Rachel Hoff, along … [Read more...]
Don’t judge a fruit by its skin
When growing your own fruits and vegetables, you need to forget a few things that you've been doing in supermarkets your entire life. One of those things is eschewing any produce that looks imperfect. I totally understand that you don't want to buy anything that looks like it might not be edible. Neither do I. But when something is growing in your yard or garden, you owe it to … [Read more...]