As coronavirus swept the United States in early 2020, interest in backyard gardening soared. People began to spend more time at home and struggled to find many pantry staples in supermarkets. All of a sudden, growing your own became trendy. Now, we are seeing the comeback of backyard gardening in 2020. Then and Now This is not the first time in history when non-farmers began to grow vegetables and fruits at home. During World War II, pantry staples and canned vegetables were rationed. Gardening at home allowed the rations to be stretched longer. Posters and literature described Victory G ..read more

When my oldest son started walking, we involved him in gardening. We quickly learned top 5 plants for toddler gardeners! Gardening is a wonderful tool for teaching responsibility. The first task my son had was watering herbs in colorful pots. He loved to pour water and watch it splash! Are you looking for educational activities for kids to do outdoors while doing school at home? Check out our Kids’ Garden Bucket List! Now that my son is older, he still helps with watering plants. He understands plants need water to grow and survive. His gardening responsibilities have also grown. My fa ..read more

For most gardeners around the U.S., it is still too cold in the early spring to plant vegetable seeds outside. However, beginners and seasoned gardeners can start seeds indoors between 4-10 weeks before the last frost, depending on the seed type and variety. Most vegetables transplant nicely after growing indoors! The Five W’s of Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors Milspouse Gardener is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Who ..read more

It’s #ThriftyThursday on the Milspouse Gardner blog! Today, I am sharing a list of stores that offer military discounts on gardening supplies every day or once per week. Who doesn’t like to save a few bucks, especially when it comes to pricey tools and building materials for your garden? Check out the stores below to find savings on gardening tools, soils, fencing, seeds, watering systems, and more. List of stores that offer military discounts on gardening supplies Lowe’s offers a 10% military discount to members of the military and their spouses. You must register for a MyLowes acc ..read more

Looking for something new to do while your kids are out of school? Check out Milspouse Gardener’s Kids’ Garden Bucket List! Here are some fun, no-screen activities for you and your kids to do outdoors. Milspouse Gardener is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com Things for Kids to do in the Garden • Paint Garden Rocks or Markers Kids can paint their rocks or markers to look like the vegetables in your garden or like b ..read more

If you are looking for recommendations on raised beds and planters for your plants this season, check out my ten favorite raised garden beds and planters from Amazon. Milspouse Gardener is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com A Metal Raised Bed This galvanized metal raised bed is my favorite size for vegetable gardens. It measures 8ft x 4ft x 1ft. It is easy to assemble and is durable for multiple season use. A Vertical ..read more

Squashes, peppers, melons, berries, and over 100 more fruits and vegetables require bees for pollination. How can you attract more bees to your garden? Here are some tips: Side note: Milspouse Gardener is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Tips to attract more bees to your garden Include native plants in your garden or landscape. Wild bees are attracted to the wildflowers native to their region. If you are not familiar with ..read more

My first garden started with curiosity. One summer, my husband and I saw a sign advertising garden plots by Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) at Joint Base Lewis McChord. We gave gardening a shot and fell in LOVE with it. Little did I know there was so much to gain from our new hobby. There are a ton of reasons for milspouses to start gardening. Dixie and I preparing our MWR garden plot at Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA. Five Reasons to Start Gardening Specific to the Military Lifestyle Gardening is a stress reliever. It is no secret. Being a military spouse (service member or mi ..read more