October brings brisk mornings and chilly overnight temperatures across zones 1-3. In some areas, the cold has already set in. Reward yourself for making the most of your summer gardens in that small growing window that you have. It’s time to stock up on some s’more and hot cocoa ingredients and kick your feet up around the fire pit. But first, there are some essential October gardening tasks that should be tackled this month in the area of planning and maintenance that will keep your garden at its best. Check out our October Garden Checklist Zones 1-3 for a robust guide on what you should be ..read more

Carbon sequestration. It’s a big term with a simple meaning, yet it packs a whole lot of punch for the earth! Simply put, carbon sequestration is the means by which valuable carbon is returned to the soil. A process that many scientists believe has the power to slow climate change. [1] In fact, a mere 2% increase in the carbon content of the planet’s soils could offset 100% of all greenhouse gas emissions going into the atmosphere. That’s huge! [2] Did you know soils can hold three times the amount of carbon currently in the atmosphere or almost four times the amount held in living matter ..read more

Milder temperatures have become more prominent in Zones 9-10, but that hasn’t stopped the growth and production in most November warm-climate gardens. Keep your garden thriving and looking tidy with some prep and maintenance tasks, and do a little planning ahead for future gardens. Follow our November Garden Checklist Zones 9-10 for a robust list of all of the things that you should be doing in the garden this month to keep it in top-notch shape. As always, it is best to consult your local extension office for planting information relative to your specific county. November Garden Checklist ..read more

The air has cooled down, and so have most gardens by the time that November rolls in. While some gardeners are still practicing November gardening and harvesting and may have extended their growing seasons with fall and winter gardens, others are putting their gardens to bed for the winter. No matter what stage you are at this November, there are many essential tasks on our November Garden Checklist Zones 6-8 that will help keep your gardens on track for continued success. As always, it’s a great idea to consult your local extension office for garden guidance specific to your county. Novemb ..read more

The consistently cooler days of fall have arrived, and the leaves continue to rain down from the trees. Hopefully, you are gathering that brown organic matter and using it to mulch your gardens, adding it to compost piles, and transforming those leaves into soil-enriching goodness. Even though the November garden is entering dormancy, there are still many things to plan for and maintain to keep your gardens thriving year after year. Our November Garden Checklist Zones 4-5 will guide you through a robust list of garden tasks to keep your gardens healthy, tidy, higher-yielding, and easier to ma ..read more

November signals the close of the garden season in Zones 1-3, and it is time to tuck your gardens in for a winter’s rest.  Before you do, there are some tasks to complete that will keep your November gardens tidy, well-nourished, and ready for a robust growing season come springtime. So, don’t put those tools away just yet! Our November Garden Checklist Zones 1-3 will take you through some quintessential garden to-dos that will bolster your gardens, lighten next season’s load, and allow you to rest a little easier through the winter. November Garden Planning In Zones 1-3, by the time N ..read more

The tastes of summer harvests do not have to be something you only dream about once the growing season has subsided. Bring a hint of summertime into your meals throughout the entire year by freezing squash and preserving it at its peak of freshness. No matter what kind of squash you are reaping at harvest time, there is a way to retain its freshly picked essence. Check out our guide for tips and tricks on freezing squash so that your harvests maintain their textural integrity and fresh summer flair. Can You Freeze Squash? Absolutely! The peak of summer isn’t the only time that you can satis ..read more

If your vegetable gardens were productive this season, and we hope that they were, you may have so many vegetables that you don’t know what to do with them all. We all long to stretch out the growing season and extend our harvests for as long as possible, but often, we still find ourselves longing for homegrown produce once the growing season has ended. Pickling vegetables is a fantastic way to add flavor diversity to your crop and allow your fresh vegetables more longevity to be on hand throughout the entire year. We’ve highlighted the best pickling vegetables that go above and beyond the tr ..read more

Bring your crop of beets from garden to jar by making pickled beets and enjoy these colorful, vitamin-packed vegetables all year long. Beets are high-fiber foods rich in essential nutrients, including folate, manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C, which work together to lower blood pressure, aid in digestion, and increase blood flow throughout the body. The taste of raw beets is earthy and not appealing to everyone; however, pickled beets are often more palatable to the masses. Follow our robust guide to making pickled beets, complete with recipes, tips, and the best varieties to grow so ..read more

What is Pickling? Pickling is a technique used for preserving food, particularly vegetables. It allows us to make the crops that we grow in the summer and fall last through the winter. It requires putting foods into a vinegar and salt or brine solution with the intent of keeping the produce from spoiling or breaking down. Salt and vinegar solutions tend to suppress mold, bacteria, and yeast growth, allowing the vegetables that are soaking in them to stay intact and last much longer than if they were exposed to the air. Unlike purely canning, when something is pickled, it gains a fermented ele ..read more