Fermented Garlic Dill Pickles Ingredients 6 pickling cucumbers 3 tablespoons sea salt 1 quart unchlorinated water 3 grape, horseradish or oak leaves (the tannin makes the pickles crisp) 1/2 teaspoon dill leaves 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/4 teaspoon while black pepper 5 bay leaves 1 garlic clove, mashed Sterile, wide-mouth quart jar with lid Empty tea bag or unbleached coffee filter for spice bag Weight (glass, sanitized rock etc)   Instructions Make a 5% salt brine by mixing three tablespoons sea salt per quart of unchlorinated water in a (separate) quart ..read more

Summer comes, and so do the pests! There are several ways we can combat pests naturally and organically. Using safe methods is not only safe for you, but for your pets, beneficial insects and the soil. One way to get a handle on pests in the vegetable garden is by planting companion plants in and around the garden. Some may attract beneficial insects that feed on the bad guys and others put off an aroma that deters and keeps pesky bugs at bay.  Nasturtiums are excellent to plant amongst squash, melons, cucumbers and pumpkins to help lessen the despised destructive squash bug. You have to ..read more

Vegetables must grow quickly and steadily to be of good quality. That requires evenly moist, well drained soil with well-balanced nutrients. Some vegetables are light feeders and some are heavy feeders and both require different actions. The heavy feeders like rich, fertile soil, so they use a bit more fertilizer. The vegetables considered average feeders need less nitrogen but still require lots of organic matter, plus adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium to thrive.  Fortunately, vegetable gardens are the easiest to supply with nutrients and organic matter.  In Fall: Ideally ..read more

Wild flowers can be grown in borders or in garden sections to mimic a wild-flower meadow. Wild or native plants that prefer or tolerate shade are ideal in woodland gardens or under individual trees. There are so many choices of plants to grow for wildlife from seed or plants that can be found in local stores and seed catalogs. Special mixtures are available, aiming to attract butterflies, bees or birds. Other mixtures may be selected for sun or shade, specific to soil conditions.   By planting or sowing a diverse variety, you can attract all kinds of beneficials to the garden. Birds ..read more

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Tomatoes are probably the most widely used vegetable for cooking and of course a favorite for slicing and eating fresh.  It is worth growing a few, either in the garden or even in grow bags.   Planting tomatoes should be planted after your last average frost free date unless you are protecting them from frost damage with frost blanket, upside down buckets or water cell protectors.   Tomato varieties can really make a huge difference in production and flavor.  If you don’t have a lot of room to grow tomatoes, it might be a good idea to ask nearby gardeners what their favorit ..read more

We plan our calendar and plant our crops from seed, but they don't always come up as planned.  Often times it can be the temperature of the soil that plays a role in that.  From year to year our weather can be colder than normal, making our soils cold as well.  Seeds have an optimum soil temperature range they germinate the best, a minimum that they may not germinate, or are extremely slow and often times with larger seeds causing them to rot in the ground.  The same goes for the warmth of soil, to hot can cause seeds to possibly not germinate at all.  Below is a list ..read more

Being a gardener is more than just growing a garden. There are so many layers to it! It's more than just growing food for security or health.  When you grow your own food, you get to experience something that you don't get when you buy vegetables from the grocery store. The food you grow has been sun ripened, the natural sugars are able to develop fully because it is picked at its prime. The flavor exceeds anything else and you will be more likely to eat more healthy when it tastes good. Gardening can be relaxing and clam the mind and spirit. Just getting your hands in the dirt, pulls out ..read more

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