Growing and storing onions is a great way to save money on groceries and supply more of your own food. Onions are used in so many dishes, it makes complete sense to grow as many of them as possible while your garden is in season. We’ve written about how to grow onions on the site in the past, and now we want to help you make the most of your onion harvest. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps of how to harvest, cure, and store your onions so that they’ll last throughout the winter. Onions should not be harvested until their stems fall completely over. Harvesting Onions Onions ..read more

This post is sponsored by JUA Technology. They provided us with a Dehytray Solar Dehydrator as a sample for the purposes of the article. Please read on to learn more about the mission behind the Dehytray in supporting global food security. There are a lot of different ways to dehydrate food but one of the oldest and simplest methods is drying food in the sun – the process of solar dehydration. This method has been used for centuries, and it’s still a great way to dehydrate fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other foods. In this blog post, we will discuss how to dehydrate food using the power of th ..read more

Amazon Prime Days 2022 are July 12-13. Here we’re sharing the best deals for folks interested in gardening, cooking, preserving, and more. These deals will appeal to homesteaders and anyone who wants to live a more rustic, self-reliant life. We ONLY recommend products we know and love, and that we feel allow us to live a more self-reliant life. You can trust we wouldn’t share it unless we find it useful, practical, and reasonably priced! Please note – the prices you’ll see on the graphics below are prices BEFORE the Prime Sale. Click on the link to get the current sale price (it may even get b ..read more

Garlic scapes are kind of like a thick garlicky chive. They pop up out of your garlic plants before the actual garlic is ready to bloom, then curl around in a circle, letting you know they are ready. More mild than actual garlic, but stronger than chives, scapes are an amazing bonus harvest that can have you tasting garlic early in the summer season! But when do you harvest, and how do you use garlic scapes? This article will share a variety of ways to add these fun spicy shoots to your menu. What are garlic scapes? First, lets clarify what garlic scapes are so that you know when to harvest t ..read more

This article on planting cover crops in your home garden is sponsored by High Mowing Organic Seeds, our valued partner and one of our favorite seed companies! All photos are courtesy of High Mowing Organic Seeds. — When most people think about cover crops, they think of farmers using them to protect the soil over the winter. However, cover crops can be a valuable tool for home gardeners as well! In this blog post, we’ll discuss why you should use cover crops in your garden, when to plant them, and how to choose the best cover crop for your needs. We’ll also give you links to great varieti ..read more

A Fruit Tree Guild is a group of plants that are grown together to provide mutual benefits for the fruit tree. The plants in the guild protect the tree from pests and diseases, while also providing nutrients and support. By choosing the right plants for your guild, you can create a thriving environment for your fruit tree and increase your yield! This blog post will discuss what a Fruit Tree Guild is, what benefits they provide, and how to choose the right plants for yours! What is a fruit tree guild? A fruit tree guild is a system of plants that work together to support the growth and health ..read more

You can grow any type of potato in your garden using traditional methods like trenching or hills. These methods can be used for anything from large Yukon gold beauties to fingerlings or early purples. In this article, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions for planting and growing potatoes in your garden using either the trench or hill method. We’ll also tell you when to plant, and provide some helpful tips for how to ensure your potatoes grow into a healthy harvest. How long does it take to grow potatoes? Potatoes are a fast-growing crop that can be harvested in as little as 50 days from pl ..read more

You may think of dandelions as pesky weeds, but these flowers actually have a number of beneficial qualities. Dandelions can be used in your yard to improve the soil quality, and they can also be eaten or used in natural remedies. In addition, they are a great early flower for pollinators. In this blog post, we will explore how to use dandelions for their many benefits. We’ll provide some recipes and tips on how to get the most out of these versatile plants! So, instead of asking “how can you get rid of dandelions” how about asking, “how can I make the most of my dandelions?” Are dandelions w ..read more

Mulching your vegetable garden is an important task that helps to protect your plants, conserve water, and suppress weeds. There are many different materials that can be used for mulch, but not all of them are suitable for every situation. In this blog post, we will discuss the best mulch options for a vegetable garden and why they are beneficial. We will also provide tips on how to mulch your garden properly so that you can get the most out of this valuable gardening technique! What is mulching & why do it? Mulching is the process of applying a layer of material to the surface of the soi ..read more

Clay soil is heavy and dense and can be difficult for vegetable gardening. A garden area that is primarily clay will have trouble with water drainage and will not have enough air circulation. This can lead to problems with the root systems of your plants, as well as encourage fungal growth. While it is possible to grow vegetables in clay soil, it is important to take some steps to improve the quality of the soil before planting. Improving clay soil will also be good for the long-term health of your vegetable garden. This article will help you to determine if you have clay soil in your gar ..read more