Nature does what needs to be done if we let her. The fungi and the plants will sing this soil redemption song for us. As the fungi and the plants always have. The post Focusing on Soil Remediation with Fungi first appeared on Chelsea Green Publishing ..read more

For those who love fermented foods, we now welcome you into the wonderful world of dilly beans. There’s nothing quite like a dilly bean. Whether they’re next to a plate of cheese and crackers, on a sandwich, or taken straight from the jar in the middle of winter when you’re sick of potatoes and pasta,… The post Dilly Beans: Voted The “Best Snack Ever” first appeared on Chelsea Green Publishing ..read more

"An immediate halt to chemical fertilizing and returning to the use of compost instead would turn degeneration into regeneration." The post Biodynamic Farming: Unlock Fertile Fields with Cows & Compost first appeared on Chelsea Green Publishing ..read more

This tried-and-true jam recipe relies on the natural sugars in fruit to provide a balanced flavor and sweetness that can't be beat. The post How to Make Whole Fruit Jam first appeared on Chelsea Green Publishing ..read more

If you’re not familiar with silvopasture, you should be. The integrated system, which combines aspects of forestry, animal husbandry, grazing, and ecology, offers both the promise of land regeneration and economic livelihood. In order to succeed you need to understand a key component of the system: the art of grazing. While it may seem like a simple concept, grazing – or perhaps better said, overgrazing – can be detrimental to your silvopasture strategy. But with a little planning, time-management, and the ability to expect the unexpected you can effectively realize Steve Gabriel’s vision of ..read more

As the weather heats up, now’s the perfect time to grow and pick cucumbers! With these easy tips and tricks, you’ll be prepared to successfully harvest and store the cucumbers you grow until they’re ready to eat. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs copyright © 2017 by Andrew Mefferd. The following is an excerpt from The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook by Andrew Mefferd. It has been adapted for the web. The Resilient Cucumber Cucumbers are a very fast-growing crop. When grown quickly at high temperatures, they can take as little as twenty-one days to go from seed to ..read more

Some of the world’s most productive and resilient soils contain significant quantities of “natural” biochar.  Author Kelpie Wilson challenges us to “change our perspective from ‘too much carbon in the air’ to ‘not enough carbon in the soil.’ We are good at being miners and exploiting resources, so let’s mine the air and stash the carbon back in our soil.” Burning organic material in a low-oxygen, low-emission environment could be one of the most powerful tools to restore degraded soils and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The following is an excerpt from The Biochar Handbook&n ..read more

Aside from the sheer pleasure of telling your friends, straight-faced, that you maintain your garden using something called a “chicken tractor,” there are a slew of other benefits to working the land with a few of your animal friends. Getting rid of pests without chemicals, for one; letting them do the work of weeding and tilling the soil—not to mention laying down some natural fertilizer—for another; and don’t forget supplementing your chicken feed bill. Oh, and farm fresh eggs, and meat, if you like. The following is an excerpt from Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway. It has been adap ..read more

With the “dog days” of summer underway, the heat can feel a little unrelenting. On hot days, there’s no better way to cool off than with a refreshing, cold beverage. Here’s a list of some perfect cool-down summer drinks made with organic ingredients sourced right from your garden or local wild places.  The following excerpts have been adapted for the web. Thistle Root Chai Tea (Iced) From The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina Blair “We blend thistle roots into our homemade chai tea. By adding honey and homemade cashew milk, this local healing beverage is popular with all ages. The tas ..read more

Think about how much work your perennial flower beds take compared to your annual vegetable garden. In a busy year, your perennial garden largely sails through despite neglect. Once your perennials are established, and if they are suited to your climate and site conditions, they can be virtually indestructible. An annual vegetable garden, as we all know, requires much more watering, weeding, and work to get a good crop. Once established, perennial vegetables are often more resistant to the attacks of pests, due to their reserves of energy stored in their roots. Their deep roots and soil build ..read more