It is easy and cheap to make your bloom booster fertilizer at home. There is no need to purchase costly fertilizer products from garden stores because you can make a superior quality fertilizer - fermented fruit juice (FFJ) - for pennies on the dollar. Fermented fruit juice (FFJ) is an effective homemade bloom booster containing…
One of the most taxing aspects of composting is turning the pile. Enter the compost tumbler. These devices make turning your organic waste into compost much simpler. By allowing air to enter the system, you improve the rate of decomposition. However, once in, how do you get the compost out again? Here is a quick…
Many gardeners have experienced the disappointment of harvesting tiny squash from plants they've spent months growing and caring for. Luckily, there are ways to ensure that your plants produce larger squash. Squash doesn't reach their full potential size when grown in compacted, slow-draining, nutrient-poor soil and when they don't receive adequate amounts of heat, sunlight,…
In permaculture design, it's important to take a holistic view, examining the broader picture and larger patterns before we hone in on the details. When we talk about sectors and about zones in permaculture, this is our way of clarifying the patterns we see around us. This is how we use those patterns to inform…
The most common and simplest way to build a raised garden bed is with lumber. However, you may want to avoid using any wood that has been treated with harsh chemicals that can leach into the soil. The problem is that untreated wood doesn't last nearly as long for garden beds as treated wood. Treating…
There is nothing better than a freshly picked strawberry. They’re so juicy and sweet with just the right texture. The problem is, not everyone can have a garden full of tasty treats. Even if they could, it’s really hard to keep them growing and producing year-round. Whether from the store in those annoyingly difficult to…
The Honey Locust and the Black Locust are both considered invasive species of trees. The Honey locust, or Gleditsia triacanthos, is native to central North America, while the Black Locust, or Robinia pseudoacacia, is from a few small regions in the US. Both the Honey Locust and the Black Locust are members of the legume…
As more and more people wish to eat healthier, they get their green thumb dirty and try different gardening techniques. As you explore this field, you start researching and notice many farming practices you’ve never heard of before and don’t know how or if they interlink. Biodynamic farmers rely on astrological indicators for farming practices.…
Organic gardening has long been seen as a safe way of producing uncontaminated healthy food. With growing concern over a variety of pesticides containing harmful chemicals, a lot of people are turning toward organic pest control options like Diatomaceous Earth. But how safe is Diatomaceous Earth when it comes to gardening? Diatomaceous Earth is an…
As gardeners, we are always looking for ways to keep our growing as natural as possible, and part of that is finding ways to improve the soil without using chemical fertilizers. Wood is about as natural a product as you can get, so gardeners with access to wood, wood chips, and sawdust may see this…
For some, red clover might be seen as an invasive weed overgrowing some of their favorite plants and lawn space, while others, particularly homesteaders, might grow this herbal supplement intentionally to take advantage of its medicinal, cover crop and nitrogen fixing properties. A question both of these parties might have then is whether red clover…
Many families like to choose organic foods when shopping at the grocery stores to avoid toxic chemicals. But even farmers who grow organic crops can add some herbicides and pesticides. What can be used? You may be surprised but many crops have glyphosate, even though with organic crops, it isn’t supposed to be used. You…
