Microgreens are ‘baby plants’, growing to only 1-3 inches tall when harvested. Reaching the harvest stage can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks, depending on the type. They can add color, texture, and interesting flavors to meals. Additionally, research has shown microgreens generally have higher concentrations of vitamins than the same plants grown to maturity. They can easily be grown indoors at home and are a great way to get your greens over the winter!Continue reading
Did your plans for a summer vegetable garden not work out? Did you lose track of time and never got around to planting a summer garden? Did you go on vacation to come back to a weedy mess that you just didn’t have the energy to correct before it was too late? If you answered yes to any of these questions it’s not too late to get homegrown vegetables from your own backyard this season! Continue reading
Even with the current events going on, we are lucky as Americans to have a stable food supply system. Many of us garden as a hobby and are able to supplement some of our normal groceries with things we have produced in our own gardens. In the early 1900’s many families solely depended upon the gardens they grew in their own backyards. During the First and Second World Wars these backyard gardens played a much bigger role in the battle against food insecurity. Continue reading
It’s OK to have a few good standbys when it comes to the varieties of vegetables and fruits that you grow. But every once in a while, a new variety comes out that you just have to try. Here are a few new (and newish) varieties. Continue reading
Yes, there is a reason why we should all be composting. According to the EPA, 30-40% of all available food in the US is wasted. Over one fifth of discarded material in landfills is believed to be food. Sadly, the third largest human related methane emission is from landfills. Continue reading
As we start to think about gardening and lawn care this year, one question may pop up: Can I garden on my septic system? Well, there are a couple of questions to consider:
- Can a garden be contaminated by bacterial and viral hazards which may be found in septic drainfields? A properly operating septic system will not contaminate the soil with disease organisms, but it can be difficult to tell if the system is working at optimum efficiency. Also, the soil type can make a difference. Clay like soil will eliminate any organism within a few inches of the system, while a sandy soil could allow for movement of bacteria several feet.
Did you know that the average American eat 68 quarts of popcorn a year! Not only is popcorn a delicious snack, but is also nutritious since it is considered a whole grain. Of course if you slather butter on it, the nutritional benefits may be negated. Continue reading
Garlic is commonly used as a flavoring for food, as a condiment, and for medicinal purposes.
October is a good time to plant garlic. Choose an area with full sun and good drainage. Before planting, fertilize the area and incorporate it into the area. Once soil is prepared, separate individual cloves from the main garlic bulb and plant cloves 3-5 inches apart with points up and cover to a depth of 1-2 inches. Do not divide the bulb into cloves before you are ready to plant. Leave skin on the clove. Continue reading
There is nothing worse than coming into your garden to discover that seemingly, overnight, an entire crop was eliminated by insects. And once done, months of hard work can be negated for an entire season. While it seems like pests appear and disappear at random, there is a pattern to their movement and subsequently a pattern for prevention. Continue reading
For all the joy and satisfaction that growing tomatoes can give a gardener, the frustration and aggravation can be equally as great! Several issues can plague the tomato grower. Here are a few non-disease problems: Continue reading