Gardening This post shares how I approach planning and planting a homestead garden in a cooler climate, along with links to the methods I rely on year after year. I am so looking forward to getting out and do some gardening, it’s been a long winter with lots of cold and snow this year. On … Read more
Why Everyone Can Grow a Vegetable Garden Growing a vegetable garden doesn’t require acres of land, expensive equipment, or years of experience. Whether you live in an apartment, a suburban home, or on rural property, vegetable gardening is possible in more ways than most people realize. Vegetables can be grown in raised beds, containers, small … Read more
Learn How to Extend Your Growing Season Learning how to extend your vegetable growing season can make the difference between a successful harvest and crops that never fully mature—especially in cooler or northern climates. Where I live, extending the growing season isn’t optional. Without some form of protection, many crops simply wouldn’t make it to … Read more
I started growing garlic several years ago, but honestly, I had no idea what garlic scapes even were. Worse yet, I didn’t realize I was supposed to remove them from the garlic plants. That probably explains why my garlic bulbs were always smaller than I expected. Once I finally learned to cut the scapes off, … Read more
Vegetable garden layout plans are an important part of successful gardening. Putting your garden plan on paper before you start planting helps you decide what you will grow, where to plant, and how much space you’ll need. A little planning upfront can save time, prevent overcrowding, and lead to healthier plants and better harvests. Planning … Read more
Companion planting can dramatically increase the harvest from your vegetable garden — sometimes in ways that feel almost magical. By planting certain crops together, you can naturally improve plant health, reduce pest problems, and attract beneficial pollinators. Best of all, companion planting allows you to garden without relying on chemical pesticides, making it a perfect … Read more
Starting Vegetable Garden Seeds Indoors Starting vegetable seeds indoors is one of the best ways to get a jump on the gardening season—especially if you live in a northern or cooler climate. But when should you actually start your seeds so they’re ready for planting outdoors at the right time? When to Start Vegetable Seeds … Read more
Last year I decided to try growing my garlic in raised beds, and it ended up producing the best garlic I’ve ever grown. Now I can’t say for certain that the raised beds were the only reason, but they definitely helped. We had an unusually wet summer, and many gardeners in our area struggled with … Read more
