What if there was a way that you could grow your own sweetener that could be used as a sugar substitute in many ways without the negative impacts of sugar. I think that would be some important information to have. Guess What? You Can! The plant is called Stevia. What Is Stevia? Stevia is a…
Camping has become our weekend thing, our vacation thing, our escape from responsibilities and daily life thing. We probably camp too much but it really is a good family bonding experience. Fishing and Other Stuff Maverick and Rosalyn love fishing so that's a big part of the campground experience. Riding through the campground and on…
There are many techniques you can use to grow plants and vegetables successfully, and your chosen method will mostly depend on the space you have available for your garden and the conditions you're growing in. So how does hügelkultur work, and is it the right gardening choice for you? Hügelkultur is a permaculture method of…
One of my favorite authors of all time is Wendell Berry. Over the years I have received great encouragement and inspiration from this author for many endeavors, particularly when it comes to homesteading and permaculture. Who Is Wendell Berry? Wendell Berry was born on August 5, 1934 in New Castle Kentucky. His father was a…
One of the best ways to keep an abundance of fresh food on the table throughout the growing season is by practicing "Cut and Come Again" harvesting, but what is it and how do you do it? What Is "Cut and Come Again Harvesting"? Cut and come harvesting again is a vegetable harvesting technique that…
Turmeric is one of the most popular spices around. Chances are you’re familiar with turmeric (and its main component, curcumin) as an anti-inflammatory and as the spice responsible for the yellow color in curries. Turmeric is also one of the fastest growing supplement markets for investment purposes. This multi-purpose spice is also surprisingly easy to…
Every year we strive to have the best most productive garden we can have in the season we have to grow it in. One way to get the most out of the growing season is through the use of cold frames. What Is A Cold Frame? A cold frame is an enclosure built close to…
Have you ever heard the term chill hours but weren't quite sure what it meant and if it was important for you to understand? Well if you are growing fruit trees or certain vegetables it's probably something you need to know about. What Are Chill Hours? Chill hours or chilling units is the measurement of…
Growing your own food means that you will always know what you are eating, where the food has come from, and that the produce is toxin-free! These days there are so many ways that you can grow your own produce, from caring for a few small pots on your balcony to running a farm or…
The food forest is a relatively new concept in the United States, and many people think that forests and food forests are the same. So, what is the difference between a forest and a food forest? Food forests are man-made forests that are specifically made to grow food. They have 8 layers and are designed…
A variety of brassicas are some of the favorites of many gardeners to grow and eat. But what is a brassica? Brassicas are cruciferous vegetables coming from the cabbage and mustard family, also sometimes called "cole crops". These vegetables are among some of the oldest cultivated plants known to man. Some Brassica Varieties Commonly Used…
Taking care of grapevines requires a certain level of expertise. Once you master your techniques, you can grow grapes in your garden. One of these techniques is pruning, a process people often do and can be hard to understand. Pruning grapevines serves many purposes, including adjusting the vine size and shape, controlling the number of…
