Starting seed indoors is the best way to give your tomatoes a jump start on the coming season.  It’s nearly February and for me that means that the time to start seeds is rapidly approaching. In less than three weeks I will be planting my tomatoes at the end of the month during the full moon.Nearly four years ago I purchased some organic Wheatgrass seed, it was a really good heirloom variety so I saved some.  At first I had them stored in the pantry, then they got moved.  As it happens, I forgot all about them.   Starting Seed is Easy Upon re-discovering them last week ..read more

This is a topic that deserves special consideration for organic gardeners. But what exactly is it? At it’s most basic definition, it means soil it is capable of supporting life. But even more to the point it is soil that is alive. In order for our garden soil to be truly fertile it must be populated with diverse micro-organisms such as fungi, bacteria, nematodes, protozoa and earth worms. These most basic life forms perform the necessary function of converting fertilizer and organic matter into food for our plants. That is why they are so important to have in our soil! Beneficial microbes also ..read more

Bokashi will allow you to compost any organic waste indoors using nothing more than a sealed bucket! It is a process of fermentation that preserves all of the nutrients, minerals and trace elements contained in organic waste. Once it is incorporated into your soil it quickly breaks down rapidly providing an excellent fertilizer for your organic vegetables. Two weeks in a bucket and the bokashi is done Unlike traditional composting that uses aerobic bacteria to breakdown organic matter, this method uses anaerobic bacteria. There is no heat, methane or carbon dioxide produced during fermentation ..read more

The day before yesterday, I made my first batch of pickles. I thought I’d chronicle the ups and downs of pickle production, complete with my mistakes for your learning. I’ve never canned anything before, so I relied heavily on advice from a friend, but some of the items were not easily available, like the wide mouth Ball canning jars. The quart sized jars I got had the regular sized openings. This proved to be a problem, necessitating cutting the cucumbers into slices, spears, and chunks to pack them into the jars. The adventure began at our local farmer’s market where I purchased 60 Kirby cuc ..read more

Ok, the fun part. I like  to build a compost pile. I looked through Google to find a pic that closely matches the one we have, and this is what I found, and will talk about it now. But I thought to make a short video on my iphone showing our compost pile live….coming soon. I am going to give you a basic biodynamic compost recipe. You can build it in a nice square anywhere, or in a designated location. I like to have all four sides of it, at least three, accessible. You can build it more evenly, get to it easier for good watering and really do conscious building of it with all the elements ..read more

The habitats for growing Japanese maples call for some considerations, and if these conditions are met then you can have the very same jubilant expertise as the native Japanese narrate. Extreme climate, be it too worm or too cold, is much less tolerable by these trees as they posses highly delicate leaves. A not too cold and not too hot climate is the most favorable thing that is call for for their full thriving. But if such climate is not readily available then a sheltered and protected lawn in property and office can make a massive distinction in its growth. If you are growing it indoor then ..read more

My thoughts are turning to all of you wonderful gardeners to the north of us who should begin planning your spring gardens now. Those of you in Zone 9 and even parts of Zone 8, including northern Florida, the Gulf Coast, south Texas and southern and coastal California can all plan on setting your seedlings out in April, and in some places (like central Florida) even before April. That means that the time to get your seeds planted is NOW. Well, at least within the next week or so you should get those seeds planted. The rest of you gardeners should be planning and ordering your seeds soon as wel ..read more

Gardens brighten our world with a plethora of rich colors and attractive smells while providing us with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. In a community garden, families can grow their own cooking ingredients, and enjoy the beauty a community garden has to offer. Starting a community garden can also cut down the cost of groceries. Community gardens ultimately promote healthier and greener lifestyles  as well as a sense of community. Formulate A Planning Committee Before planning can begin, those who are interested in starting a community garden must have a meeting. A planning comm ..read more

Growing Potatoes has got to be about one of the easiest vegetables to plant in your raised bed garden. Of course, everything that I plant is an heirloom organic because there is just no way I am going to help support Monsanto and their genetically modified nightmares. I like to save my seeds and that is something that you can not do with hybrids or GMO’s. Growing potatoes is a lot easier than some other garden plants. They are not as finicky or persnickety as tomatoes. They don’t need to be staked up and they are not deterred by the heat and humidity here in the Mid-South. There is one caveat ..read more

I have to admit that the main reason for my garden is the tomatoes. Most grocery store tomatoes are varieties that have been bred for appearance and shipping durability, but are often mealy and tasteless.  There is an almost endless variety of tomatoes available in the seed catalogues and garden centers, with varying color, size and purpose.  There are beefsteaks, grape, cherry, Roma, pear, zebra striped, yellow, orange, purple, and green tomatoes.  They’re all good if you ask me. Tomatoes need to be started from seed indoors under a grow light, and they’re not ready to put in t ..read more