Gardening and Self-sufficiency
The harvest season leaves gardeners with a short window of time to preserve our bounty, prepare to winterize our gardens and get all our equipment in order for long term storage. With so much to do in so little time, its important to prioritize these tasks. These 30 projects and tasks will help you organize all your fall gardening chores to help you finish everything before the first snow fall!
Growing herbs in your garden is a great way to add freshness and flavor to your cooking. Fresh herbs in your diet deliver many health benefits and can elevate recipes to new heights! Many gardeners choose to grow culinary herbs in their vegetable garden, however not all plants are well suited to this design. To save space in your herb garden and take advantage of beautiful blooms, these 12 culinary herbs are perfect additions to flower garden beds.
Designing a wildflower cottage garden can turn an otherwise wasted yard space into an oasis of blossoms. Wildflowers provide a safe haven for pollinators and wildlife while bringing joy to all who look upon them. With minimal effort, you can plant a wildflower patch this year to enjoy for generations to come.
Gardeners and farmers across the world are joining the Climate Victory Garden movement to regenerate their soil and their health. By using plants to sequester carbon from the atmosphere safely into the earth, we can reverse global warming and prevent violent weather disasters. Grow food in your backyard and join the fight for climate change.
Do you eat food? Do live on planet Earth? Then this is for you! Find out how the way we grow our food is destroying soil and turning fertile land to dust. Join the soil revolution!
Pressure canning may seem intimidating at first but it actually takes less prep work than water bath canning. Did you know, pressure canning is the only safe way to can low-acidity foods such as vegetables, mushrooms, broth, soup/stew, and meat? So, take the leap and start preserving produce from your own garden this season!
The best way to achieve all summer color in your flower beds is to choose perennials with the longest possible bloom time. I have put together a list of the most eye catching flowers that bloom for 8-12 weeks. Since they are perennials, they will come back to life every year to fill your garden with low maintenance beauty.
Learn how to harvest cilantro from your garden, dehydrate or air dry it, then cure your herbs for long term storage! Proper handling can mean the difference between a flavor packed, long lasting spice and a tasteless, unpleasant dish.
We got started raising pigs in 2014 and absolutely fell in love with these amazing creatures. We will never go back to buying pork from the grocery store again. The meat is far superior in flavor and we find it very fulfilling to be self sufficient by growing and raising our own food.
Have you ever looked at lists of companion plants and wondered why? Why are these certain plants good companions? What makes them go well together? And most importantly, is there a way to implement companion planting without cross referencing lists in multiple books and websites? The answer is yes, you can gain a deeper understanding of companion planting, and this will make it easier and quicker for you to plan vegetable garden layouts.
If you have decided to raise pigs, you will need to consider how to fence them in, what type of shelter they will have and supplies for feeding, watering and simple veterinary care. With this guide, you will learn the benefits and drawbacks of different containment solutions so you can decide what will work best on your property.
Take the guess work out of planning your vegetable garden layout with this comprehensive list of vegetable garden plants and their companions!
When you’re a beginner in the hog industry, the lingo can be quite daunting. Educate yourself on these commonly used terms and hold your own when speaking with experienced farmers.
When you’re first starting out with homestead pigs, one of the first decisions you will have to make is which breed is right for you. Learn why breed selection is important and how to choose with this overview.
One of my family’s true passions is livestock! With several years of experience under my belt, I am hoping to share some wisdom with anyone just getting started with homestead pigs. Check out this 6 part series!
So you're considering raising pigs, but you're not quite sure if they're for you? It would be nice to hear some stories from someone who has actually done it before and knows the ups and downs. Well here you go, I have been keeping pigs in my backyard and raising them for meat since 2014 and I would love to share some of the wisdom I have gleaned from my experience.
Do you wish you could get more out of your vegetable garden space? By creating a succession planting schedule, you can! Increase yields from all your crops with proper planning and foresight. This guide will give you the confidence and tools to create your very own planting schedule no matter the size of your garden.
There is nothing like a hot cup of tea to cure what ails you! Herb gardens are an incredible resource for making herbal tea and medicines at home. Buying bulk herbs can be quite expensive, whereas garden plants and seeds are a one time purchase that will keep producing for years to come.
Critters in the veggie patch are every gardener’s worst nightmare. The frustration of having all your hard work devoured by garden pests is enough to make you want to give up gardening altogether. But with these strategies, you will finally be able to take back control of your garden space.
With height, bloom time and color in mind, you can create an enchanting cottage garden with ease. Your hard work will be repaid with a low maintenance masterpiece you can enjoy year after year. Plus your vegetable garden will thank you for all the added pollination it receives from the bees and butterflies that flock to your flowers.
Insect pests in the garden can be real problem and need to be dealt with as soon as they appear. Crops can be decimated in a matter of days and many gardeners feel like they are in a losing battle. While it can be frustrating to see insect damage to your precious vegetables, you can take back control with the solutions in this guide.
Learn the entire process for indoor seed starting success including: setting up your growing space, what supplies to purchase, when and how to plant, seedling care, common seed starting problems, hardening off and transplanting.
I am so excited to introduce this product! After many months of development, I have created a garden planner that actually gives users complete control over their garden design, planting schedule, and record keeping! You will get a beautifully formatted Excel file and PDF with printable worksheets!
Whether you are planting a survival garden out of necessity, preparedness, or simply to become more self reliant, you will appreciate the feeling of security it provides! Learn which plants to select for long term food supplies, nutrition and herbal remedies as well as how to design your garden for sustainability.
Looking for an amazing gift for the gardener in your life? Well, look no further. No matter your budget or style, you will find gardening accessories here to fit your needs. Take a look at these innovative and functional accessories every gardenista wishes she could get her hands on. Save these gardening gift ideas for your next Mother’s Day, birthday or special occasion wishlist!
Going green isn't always easy, but if it can save you money and the environment at the same time, there's no reason not to. Maybe you've been trying to be environmentally friendly for a while; reducing your waste, recycling and being more conscious of the products you buy are all great ways to do your part.
Click for an up close look at this potager design layout for a raised bed vegetable garden. The detailed diagrams have great examples of companion planting and intercropping.
Raised Bed Gardening is a method that allows us to spend more time enjoying our gardens and less time maintaining them. This guide will give you the tools to design, build, grow and maintain raised beds like a pro.
Do you find yourself getting bored with your garden produce? Are you sick of planting the same things in your garden year after year? These 30 unique heirloom vegetables are sure to mix up the normal routine in your food garden and kitchen. So dig in and have fun exploring these exciting cultivars!