It doesn't take much time or effort to live more in tune with the seasons. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Do you have space if your backyard that can be utilized for fish farming that will give you food or profit? Here's how you can do it.
We know that growing our own cut flowers is easy, with clear benefits: thrift, bounty, show-off value. But we don't always get around to doing it, despite
Biodynamic gardening is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach gardening and 2018 will be an interesting year in the garden as I experiment more with biodynamic gardening as I build my skills as a permaculture designer in my own backyard. This post contains affiliate links: I am grateful to be of service and bring you […]
Sunchokes, also know as Jerusalem artichokes, are promoted for their health benefits, but you need to plan ahead before adding them to your garden.
Design articles are always guiding us into the various ways to refresh a room, let's switch it up and do the same for the garden. 1. PRUNE This is one of my clients who called asking for some pruning. On my! I personally love to prune when a major renovation is required, believing anything can be re-shaped and saved. While the crew was busy, I pulled out the shears Yes, there was an entryway and an address. 2. EDGING AND MULCH Can I say mandatory? Looks clean and fresh, represses weeds and retains moisture Look for the best mulch you can afford, preferably black and fine. We use LEAF mulch, decomposed leaves, rich, black and finely ground. When laid, any mulch will begin to decompose. As wood mulch decomposes, that process robs the soil of nutrients. As leaf mulch goes, it feeds the soil, improving it's texture and adding nutrients Unless you reside at a Shell station, this is a big NO! Ugly, and the dyes are toxic 3. Stabilize structures and paint if needed In winter climes, snow and ice takes it's toll on our structures. Examine closely for needed repairs. A fresh coat of paint does wonders! 4. Clean, and/or replace outdoor soft goods What a renaissance for outdoor pillows; the fabrics and the designs. We carry a line whose style matches any interior pillow, some with gorgeous fringe, trim and down inserts! The rug line we carry, Dash and Albert, has a tremendous outdoor collection. New for 2014 is the collaboration with Bunny Williams, above 5. Declutter It can happen.......one day you are bringing home ornamentation, the next you are in a newspaper, misguided, posing and smiling Benches, table, fountain, watering cans.......complimentary to each other and tastefully arranged. Look around, what might be redundant, in disrepair......generally employ a good edit 6. Re access your front door Charming? Massively so if you live in a cottage, in Czechoslovakia. Enter your home as a guest would, is all clean? Decluttered? In good repair and painted or stained? Outdoor lamps sparkling clean? Consider a color change, this focal point for your home can be unassuming or exciting 7. Give up on low performing plants "I hate to kill plants!" I do too. Often as a landscape designer I am both executioner and nurturer. There are times when a plant is simply "taking up space", overgrown and beyond pruning (not too often), a blob, that is it just sits there, offering little No focus, many blob type plants, all green, no stand-outs and yes, a few weeds To live in my garden, the criteria is; must be of appropriate size must be interesting most of the growing season must be a strong performer; long bloom, colorful foliage, multi-seasonal interest I'm ruthless..... This Hydrangea above is the Incrediball, in bloom from early June to frost....nice! 8. Interesting foliage? Take a close look. Have a section where there is too much green? (disregard if all green is your goal, lovely in a formal setting). Too many leaves of the same size and shape? Insert some of the colorful foliage plants and pay close attention to the shape, mixing it up. 9. Consider the addition of Annuals To me, they are the link for a garden. They perform throughout the season weaving in and out of perennials and shrubbery that have their day until next year 10. Reevaluate your containers Are they in good order? Remove old soil, which no longer has any nutrients, and refill. How about their style and size, appropriate? Charming? YES! Appropriately sized? NO, too small That's better. Take note of the terra cotta color, which pulls from the homes bricks....nice! One of our clients. When we designed the gardens, instead of a pair of urns at the front entrance, we placed oversized, statement urns in front of the two front windows. Enjoyed from inside and out, they make a statement as they are planted fresh, four times a year, celebrating each new season. Cheers! Debra
Micro-farming is small scale farming when you live in the suburbs or even on a rural plot of land, but you only have less than three acres available.
Soil erosion literally means you'll have less land on your homestead or farm. Here's how to stop it rom happening, and how to prevent it in the future.
What is organic, no-till, sustainable, and regenerative farming? How can we farm using regenerative agriculture and floriculture practices to reverse climate change through carbon sequestration? Learn how to incorporate regenerative farming practices into your backyard vegetable garden.
Just because you have shade doesn't mean you can't garden! Here are 38 edible or useful plants that you can grow even in the shade!
Whether you want to divide your hostas for the healthy of the plants or to increase the hosta love around your garden, dividing a hosta is easy to do.
Harvesting wild food from the forest goes back to the beginning of civilization. But recently, interest in edible and medicinal wild plants has been…
Vintage frugal tips for your homestead. It is no secret that the generations that came before us seemed to know these frugal tips as a way of life.
Imagen 4 de 11 de la galería de Paisajes sensoriales: un jardín didáctico y experimental en Sicilia. © Ivan Juarez | x- studio
Blooms come and go, but foliage can last all season. Grow these eye-catching, interesting plants with variegated foliage. They’ll light up your garden!
Hydroponics and aquaponics are alternative farming techniques that have the same growing concept and end goal. Both systems use water instead of soil.
Scabiosa flowers are low-maintenance perennial plants perfect for butterfly gardens and borders. Learn how to grow your own with these easy tips.
You can get more potatoes and a cleaner harvest if you plant them in a Back to Eden garden. I'm going to show you how simple it is.
One of my main goals in writing this blog is to save you time and money by learning from my mistakes. To say that I learned about succession planting the hard way would be putting it mildly! The first year I grew flowers to sell, I was served a big ol’ slice of humble pie. […]
Chocolate Cosmos, Cosmos atrosanguineus Yes, believe the hype. This charming cutie does in fact smell like chocolate, like something you'd find in Willy Wo
In the back of my garden, I have a small patch of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) that grows year-round and stands five feet tall. Sometimes I'll harvest the fronds for a salad or a bulb for my favorite seafood stew, or even the pollen or seeds for my cooking, but for the most part, I let the fennel gro
My Garden Pyramid Guide will help you to visualize how many of each plant type you should include in each garden. Get the right plant ratios to achieve a layered garden with 4-season interest.
How do I dry lavender? Here is a guide on how to properly dry lavender to create beautiful dried bouquets and sachets.
As someone who raises livestock, I’m always interested in sourcing low-cost feed alternatives. Duckweed has been gaining a lot of attention in the farming community, owing to its ease of cultivation and the growing proof of its usefulness as a high-protein feed supplement. Duckweed packs crude protein of 35 to 43 percent, fiber of 5 ...
Calluna Vulgaris (Common Heather Plant) evergreen broadleaf shrub, branching lush upright, forms mats, foliage dense compact, good ground cover. [DETAILS]
Growing amaranth isn't difficult, and it's the perfect plant for edible landscaping thanks to its gorgeous flowers, and nutritious seeds and leaves.
Growing potatoes with aeroponics is a simple, sustainable alternative to traditional potato farming. It could be the method of the future to feed the world.
The modern method of building is to wipe all the top soil away from a lot, build a house, and bring back 3 or 4 inches or soil or just sod and call it good. This, of course, is not good for gardening, and many people want to increase the depth of the top soil […]
I think we are there. Peak pink perfection for the pink muhly grass, Muhlenbergia capillaris. This is how it really looks. Yes, it really is that pink. Full midday sun and breezy are not the usual …
Want a garden that smells fantastic? Here are the top 22 wonderfully fragrant flowers every gardener should plant.
Tips for making your harvest grow in style, straight from the Sunset Test Garden
An in-depth talk about what hugelkultur beds are and why you need them in your permaculture efforts.
The February “Blog Blizzard. continues!” Even though it is has been a mild winter here in the valley, I know many other parts of the country have had plenty of snow this month. So in solidarity with fellow flower lovers snowed in, we’ve “faux snowed” ourselves inside too in order to flood the blog with […]
Is permaculture relevant to homesteaders growing food and being more self-sufficient? Yes! Here's a super short introduction to permaculture!
what are Plant Guilds? American plum tree guild at Bending Oak Permaculture Farm What are Plant Guilds?Plant guilds are planting systems designed to replica ...
You can grow bamboo in your garden or indoors, but make sure you know which type to plant.
Growing great tomatoes is a skill available to just about anyone. But there are a few tricks to getting things right, including the planting out stage. So grab your tomato seedlings, sit down and do a bit of planning before you plant.
Arnica is a lesser-known plant for growing in the garden, but it deserves more attention. The pretty blossoms are also a potent medicine.
Check this article if you are interested in celosia companion plants. Find out what plants to combine with celosia, and what plants to avoid.
Photos from the Sarah Plain & Tall movie series The History of Aprons- I loved this and wanted to share it, pretty fascinating!!! From Facebook- Farmhouse Favorites I don't think our kids know what an apron is. The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material. But along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.. And when the weather was cold, Grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. From Anne of Green Gables movie When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes. Send this to those who would know (and love) the story about Grandma's aprons. REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. From the film Sense and Sensibility End Of The June Blogathon! It's been interesting pushing myself to blog every day! In the summer I blog more anyway, but not always daily. So I'll still be blogging but not every day :) maybe... Thanks for reading, and I LOVE the comments!!!
The Blueberry, one of the most perfect fruits! http://www.immortalhumans.com/wp-content/uploads/Blueberry__23651_zoom.jpg Common Name: Blueberries Scientific Name: Species in the Vaccinium genus and the Cyanococcus section Family: Ericaceae (the Heather family) There are so many species and varieties of blueberries available Here is a patented variety of Southern Highbush Blueberry named Jewel. http://www.floridahillnursery.com/images/JewelBlueberry.jpg Common Species: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) Rabbiteye/Southern Black Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei or Vaccinium virgatum) Northern/Alpine Blueberry (Vaccinium boreale) Highbush Blueberry (Northern) (Vaccinium corymbosum) Highbush Blueberry (Southern) (Vaccinium darrowii) Creeping Blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium) Velvet Leaf/Canadian Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) Kids love to help pick blueberries - a great way to get kids in Nature http://benhewittvermont.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/blueberry-kids.jpg Description: The Blueberry is one of the most well known fruit around the world. It is highly nutritious, highly flavorful, and used in a variety of ways. Primarily used for its fruit, there are blueberries that can be grown in almost any Temperate Climate around the world. A little work is needed to get their acidic soil needs met, but after that we are left with a moderately long-lived, productive plant needing very little maintenance. Blueberries are on my list of mandatory plants in the Forest Garden. Vaccinium corymbosum http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/bigphoto/VACCOR_.jpg History: Native to North America, blueberries were used my Native Americans for thousands of years before Europeans took this plant around the world. The first cultivated blueberries (Highbush Blueberries) were introduced in Europe in the 1930’s. Trivia: The Bilberry, aka “European Blueberry” (Vaccinium myrtillus) is closely related to the North American blueberry species, but it is not in the Cyanococcus section of the Vaccinium genus, so they are not true blueberries. Bilberries have red flesh unlike the white or light green flesh of true blueberries. “Huckleberry” refers to a plant that is either a true huckleberry in the Gaylussacia or Vaccinium genus like the Blue Huckleberry (G. frondosa) or Red Huckleberry (V. parvifolium). The name “Huckleberry” is often a local name given to plants, typically in the Appalacia area of Eastern North America, that are really true blueberries. "Half-High" Blueberries are a cross between Highbush and Lowbush types. They are very tolerant of cold weather, but reportedly are not too flavorful. Blueberry Tart... enough said! Here's the recipe USING THIS PLANT Primary Uses: Fresh Fruit Cooked Fruit Baked Goods, Pies, Tarts, Pancakes (!), etc. Preserves, Jams, Jellies, etc. Dried Frozen (place washed and dried fruit in a single layer on a wax-paper lined baking sheet and place into the freezer for 20-30 minutes before placing in a container – this will keep the berries from freezing together into one large chunk) Juiced Used as primary or flavoring agent in beers, wine, liquors, cordials, etc. The Creeping Blueberry (Vaccinium crassifolium) is a great, evergreen ground cover http://www.briggsnursery.com/assets/photos/Original/VAC_cWellsDelight.jpg Secondary Uses: General insect (especially bees) nectar plant Wildlife food source Hummingbird plant Ground cover plant (mainly the Lowbush Blueberry in cooler climates and the Creeping Blueberry in warmer climates) Edible Hedging Tea Plant – dried fruit and leaves Dye Plant - purple, from fruit and leaves Yield: 3-8 quarts (3.5-9 liters) or 8-15 lbs (3.5-6.8 kg) per mature plant Harvesting: Late Summer – Early Autumn (July - September). The best fruits are ones that fall from the branch with a little shake. Most blueberries in grocery stores were harvested once the fruit turned blue (and sometimes not even quite blue!). Blueberries to not "ripen" after picked, so harvest the berries when they have been blue for a few days. Storage: Fresh fruits will keep for 1, maybe 2, weeks in a cool, humid location Lowbush/Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) is a small, cooler weather shrub http://nhfruitgrowers.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/wild-blue-1.jpg DESIGNING WITH THIS PLANT USDA Hardiness Zone: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 2-7 (Deciduous) Rabbiteye Blueberry: 7-9 (Deciduous) Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 2-8 (Deciduous) Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 5-10 (Deciduous) Creeping Blueberry: 6-9 (Evergreen) AHS Heat Zone: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 8-1 Rabbiteye Blueberry: 7-9, said to “love the heat” Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 7-1 Highbush Blueberry (Southern): No reliable information available Creeping Blueberry: No reliable information available Chill Requirement: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 1,000-1,200 hours Rabbiteye Blueberry: 350-700 hours Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 800-1,000 hours Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 150-800 hours Creeping Blueberry: No reliable information available Blueberry bushes in Autumn... beautiful https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsbP_at5GWfGE7tVcLxMZjaQRHfgVSDhuSnswhBgWIE_fZxQ9UxDUAiukEL4bEc6JGtn2-eUDC9wGmRqgCLZc_cqWXuPTkc57g4uxIWdfnBSbT5yYOIZGOxlyR7ZhOsu8NeJ-P3ljtg92/s1600/FallBB.jpg Plant Type: Small Shrub (including prostrate forms) to Large Shrub Leaf Type: Most are Deciduous, few are Evergreen Forest Garden Use: Shrub Layer, Groundcover/Creeper Layer Cultivars/Varieties: Wide variety of species and varieties available – there will be at least one type well suited to your location. Most blueberries available for purchase are hybrids of multiple species. Pollination: Most are Self-Fertile; however, Blueberries will produce significantly more fruit if another cultivar/variety is in the immediate area. Pollinated by bees and other insects. Flowering: Late Spring-Early Summer (May-June) Life Span: Years to Begin Bearing: 3-5 years Years to Mature Bearing: 6-8 years Years of Useful Life: Average 10-15 years, but some plants have been productive for over 50 years Blueberry flowers attract beneficial insects, like this Mason Bee http://blueberrytalk.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/may-6-2012-011.jpg PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS PLANT Size: Lowbush/Wild Blueberry: 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) tall and 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) wide Rabbiteye/Southern Black Blueberry: 6-18 feet (1.8-5.4 meters) tall and wide Highbush Blueberry (Northern): 6-12 feet (1.8-3.6 meters) tall and wide Highbush Blueberry (Southern): 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall and wide Creeping Blueberry: 3-6 inches (7.5-15 cm) tall and spread up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide Roots: Relatively shallow and flat. Most have a suckering or stoloniferous growth habit… sending up new plants from underground roots or putting down roots from creeping stems. Growth Rate: Slow Blueberries can be used as an edible hedge Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei or Vaccinium virgatum) http://www.acuffirrigation.com/files/QuickSiteImages/Rabbiteye_Blueberries.JPG GROWING CONDITIONS FOR THIS PLANT Light: Prefers full sun Shade: Tolerates medium shade, but reducing sunlight also reduces yields Moisture: Dry to moist soils, depending on the species/variety pH: prefers more acidic soil (3.5-5.5) Special Considerations for Growing: The acidic soil the blueberries love can help be maintained with pine needle mulch if available Blueberries can be early-, mid-, or late-season cropping which provides a longer harvesting season Does not tolerate juglone (natural growth inhibitor produced by Black Walnut and its relatives). Consider using another plant as a buffer between your blueberries and walnuts. Propagation: From seed. Up to 90 days of cold stratification may be required. Cuttings are possible but take some skill - softwood cuttings in Summer. Division of suckers are easier and can be taken in Spring or Autumn. Maintenance: Minimal. Cut back the “twiggy” branches at planting to encourage good initial root development. Prune after 3 years or so to open up the plant; blueberries can develop into less productive, thicket-like shrubs if left un-pruned. Yearly pruning of older woody growth will encourage new growth and larger berries. Remember that berries grow on wood that is one year or older, so don’t get too carried away every year. Netting may be required to protect the harvest from the birds If the leaves start to yellow, then the plant likely needs more acid. Concerns: None.
Lavender can be one of the most profitable cash crops for small growers. Here are seven of the best ways to turn lavender into cash.
Artemisia is one of the best plants for creating background interest in the landscape, with silvery leaves and soft texture that is captivating on its own or in combination with other plants. This tough plant needs little care once established, and is tolerant of heat, drought and poor soils.
The February “Blog Blizzard. continues!” Even though it is has been a mild winter here in the valley, I know many other parts of the country have had plenty of snow this month. So in solidarity with fellow flower lovers snowed in, we’ve “faux snowed” ourselves inside too in order to flood the blog with […]
I’ve been doing quite a lot of reading about permaculture lately. What is permaculture? The word is derived from permanent agri- (and horti-) culture. Bill Mollison, one of its founding fathers, de…
WHAT ARE YOUR time-tested perennials—and would you like expert help selecting others that rate that status? It’s time to talk standout plants, and on that
