Over the last few years, here in San Antonio and the general area of the state, we have had quite the weather activity. In fact, prior to quarantine, our summers had been fairly mild and wet. In 2021, we got hit with a snow storm that left us all without reliable power. In 2022, we experienced severe drops in temperature and early freezes. 2023 now has us in the middle of an intense heat dome that has left us prone to wildfires AND power outages. Many experts say this is only the beginning.  Conception Park during 2021 Winter Storm UriKeeping an Environmentalist Mindset as Gardeners As en ..read more

If you have been gardening for longer than a season or two, chances are you’ve been disappointed when your plants have exhausted the expensive soil you bought, been eaten by pests and not given any real production. Even with all the time and energy spent tending to that promising raised bed something just didn’t go right. This is where we might come in and ask, “Are you familiar with Regenerative Gardening?”  What is Regenerative Gardening?  Regenerative Gardening is just like Regenerative Agriculture, only on a smaller scale since most homes are on less than a fourth of an acre. Reg ..read more

This is a wooden keyhole garden we created for a client’s backyard garden last year. This is not our first keyhole, but it is one we love getting updates from periodically. The client wanted something raised for easy reach, room for climbers, and something enclosed, making this the perfect option. The client’s grandchild loves getting involved with caring for the plants, and we love to see the garden love being passed down through the generations. It’s great to see such great memories being made from season to season. The post Wooden Keyhole Garden appeared first on Two Hoes Gardening ..read more

Hello! This is the first piece that I’ve written for Two Hoes Gardening, so I’ll introduce myself. My name is Ben Steele. I work “part time” at Two Hoes Gardening with my wife, Becca, and our friend Kristi. I have been in the construction industry working with my hands for almost 15 years. I run my own electrical business, Steele Electrical Service LLC, and have been an electrician for about as long as I’ve been working construction, specializing in residential and commercial new construction, service, maintenance and repairs.  I have been a carpenter, however, since I was about 4 ye ..read more

Here is a project with two tall trellises attached to raised beds on either side for our friend, Jacki. This is a nice design that suits her intentions of planting climbing plants like cucumbers, beans, and even…pumpkins! Yes, some pumpkins and squashes can be trained to climb, and may need a little support for the large fruits. We’ve seen people use pantyhose, small produce bags, socks, or crocheted bags. Really, there are limitless possibilities– just use what you have and get crafty. This tall trellis with raised beds adds a gorgeous and friendly element to her beautiful yard. We can’t wait ..read more

Last month we announced The Eagle’s Nest Community Food Forest on the grounds of Gardens at Hacienda Tecolote. It is an educational community project that will be home to a diverse range of gardens, from conventional raised beds, to keyholes, hugels, food forests, a rain garden, and wildscaping. The Eagle’s Nest is a collaboration between ourselves here at Two Hoes Gardening, Compost Queens, Tecolote, and students from a mix of local public and private schools. We’ve also gotten some donations for supplies and plants from Green Spaces Alliance. As educators, we are so grateful for this opportu ..read more

At harvest time, there are many ways in which we celebrate and acknowledge death and renewal. From a gardener point of view (especially one in Texas) we are tasked with cleaning out our crispy beds from summer and excited to prepare for the cool crops of winter.  Harvest Time as a time for Death and Closure In other aspects of life we are all enjoying the fall foods like pumpkin and cinnamon spiced desserts, getting ready for Halloween, Samhain, Dia de Los Muertos or a number of other autumn festivities. While all of these may mean something different to us, the underlying theme is death ..read more

What is better than a meadow of beautiful wildflowers full of butterflies, bees, and wildlife in the Spring? Texas has over 5,000 species of wildflowers, all of which grow differently. Let’s look at some tips for Fall wildflower seeding. Tips for wildflower seeding in Fall 1. Wildflower seed germination depends on the cold. Germination: noun the development of a plant from a seed or spore after a period of dormancy. “successful germination of crops” the process of something coming into existence and developing. “the rules would stifle the germination of new ideas” Every wildflower seed h ..read more

Treat Yourself with Rosemary Life is busy. We all need at least a little pampering and self-care each day. As herbalist and permaculture specialists here at Two Hoes Gardening, we find so much comfort, wellness, and peace from the plants we grow. We’re going to share four ways to treat yourself with Rosemary. Fool-Proof Herb for your Garden You don’t have to be a seasoned gardener to enjoy some homegrown goodies, however. Rosemary is native to Asia and the Mediterranean, and is one of the most common herbs to grow because of its hardiness, versatility, beauty, and availability. Along with bein ..read more

Herbal tea for Summer Colds Jump to Recipe Coughing, congestion, sinus pressure? Ah, the first signs of fall…Only it’s June and it’s 95 degrees outside! Before you break out the caldo de pollo ingredients and run to the doctor, know that summer colds are a normal thing, but we might just be a little more sensitive to them this time around.  You might just need a simple herbal tea for summer colds. The 2020 Bubble The past year has seen the lowest cases of influenza rates in the country and my kids (despite attending school all year) have not had one case of strep, Norovirus, or the very c ..read more