by Matt Gibson Bokashi is a composting method that is new to most Western gardeners. The compost is cheap to start and easy to maintain. The word Bokashi means “fermented organic matter,” and that is exactly what the process of Bokashi composting creates. It’s also the name of the ingredient used to get the compost […]
Trench composting fits perfectly into my crazy gardening life. It's much simpler than trying to constantly have a pile of cooking compost.
Compost is the product you get out of composting – a material that you can as fertilizer in the garden and to build up soil structure.
Building soil will make you a better gardener. The quality of your soil makes a huge difference in your success!
Find out how to put your kitchen scraps, dead leaves, and other compostables to work without a big pile or bin! Direct composting is simple and easy!
Having a compost pile is key to growing a productive garden. Starting a compost pile from scratch is often seen as daunting and people don't know how to build
This at-home soil pH test will show you the pH of your soil using only ingredients from your kitchen (no special equipment needed!).
Can you reuse tea bags? YES! We share 7 ways in the garden: in compost, potted plants, lawn repair, fertilizer, acid loving plants, root maggots [DETAILS]
NOTE: This article on amending terrible soil has been updated. It was first written when we lived in hot, arid climate with sandy, rocky soil, so parts will reflect this. We have since moved to N. Idaho, where the soil is wet clay—-completely different. BUT the concepts are pretty much the same for
These 10 homemade plant fertilizers will have your garden in the best shape ever. These DIY fertilizers are perfect for all kinds of veggies!
Composting reduces trash output and provides an excellent soil amendment for gardens. The benefits are large, but not everything belongs in your compost.
A few weeks ago we blogged an article in the LA Times about No-Dig Gardens. They require less water than traditional gardens and they’re an easy way to start a raised bed. You can even start one right over a patch of grass you want to get rid of. Another easy gardening option is bringing the garden inside with grass you can grow indoors. Our friend and coworker, Hulda Nelson, tipped us off to the article.
It's no secrete compost is an excellent organic fertilizer in the garden. Learn how to make compost tea. Instead of starting the garden with plain water, give it a good drink of compost tea. How to make compost tea
In the realm of sustainable gardening, you’ll quickly find what is old is new again. The techniques of the past, forgotten and rediscovered, are a fount of knowledge and inspiration for the champions of permaculture.
To remove the pathogenic microorganisms, a gardener must know how to sterilize soil. Soil sterilization can kill harmful microbes in the soil that harm plants.
Learn how to make compost tea, how to apply it to your lawn and garden. A simple natural solution to feed and fertilize without chemicals [LEARN MORE]
Soil fertility will make or break your garden - there's no doubt about it. We found 22 ways to improve your soil if it isn't as nutrient-rich.
Learn how to start a compost pile in your backyard and save money by turning your kitchen scraps and yard waste into organic fertilizer for your garden.
What if we could make the earth healthy by making more eco-conscious choices in our garden? Using regenerative gardening practices, we can have a positive
Compost tea can help plants grow larger, stronger, and even more disease resistant. Learn a simple and easy way to make compost tea at home!
Nasturtiums are a herbaceous annual flowering plant best known for their peppery taste, stronger than watercress, and perfect for salads, but most have no idea about nasturtium medicinal uses. Nasturtiums are annual flowers grown both
I don’t know why homesteading makes me so impulsive… Whether we’re talking about my propensity to impulse-buy farm animals, or my tendency to fire up a canning project in the middle of a busy morning when I have no business standing there peeling peaches, I guess I just have to blame it on my […]
Trying to find out what can be composted? This list of things you can easily compost is a must-read guide! Included in this list are things you should use caution with when composting as well as things you should not compost. We've talked about how to reduce food waste at home, but I know that
It doesn’t matter how much rain you get if most of it never enters your soil. Mulch is one powerful measure you can take to make soil moisture-efficient. Photo © Scott Stebner, excerpted from …
Cilantro is a herb that gives a distinctive taste and flavor to your food. Fresh cilantro can be obtained by seeds or transplant young seedlings.…
Easy and cheap homemade plant food for flowers and indoor plants. Check out this affordable plant food ingredients for this best fertilizer for plants at home.
We drink a lot of coffee at home and have several citrus trees such as lemon, orange, lime, and tangerine. Instead of throwing the coffee grounds away, we were wondering ...
Learn how to compost chicken manure into safe, garden-ready compost, in as little as 18 days. It's a bit of work, but a great way to transform your spring coop clean-out into black gold!
I love geraniums. The smell of the leaves leave a lasting impression on me of times when I was young and my dad had them in the garden. They produce a host of different reds, pinks, and white flowe…
Gardening doesn't have to be expensive. Improve your garden soil with these 8 amendments that are totally free and have your best garden yet!
See how to rejuvenate and recharge your raised bed soil this fall and bring it back to life to grow better than ever next year!
If you're wondering how to compost, you're in good company. It can be really confusing when you're new to gardening, composting, and other homestead-y ventures. My first compost pile was pretty basic and had no
10 simple steps for how to compost
Come learn how to find and identify the top 18 common garden pests! Also become familiar with beneficial insects, so they are not accidentally harmed.
Save money by learning how to grow a peach tree from germinated peach pits. (It works for plums and cherries too!)
Start growing wonderful moringa plant outdoors that brings beauty to your garden and has many health benefits.
NOTE: This article on amending terrible soil has been updated. It was first written when we lived in hot, arid climate with sandy, rocky soil, so parts will reflect this. We have since moved to N. Idaho, where the soil is wet clay—-completely different. BUT the concepts are pretty much the same for
Do you ever wonder why sometimes your tomatoes thrive, and other times they don’t do so hot? One reason could be your soil’s pH. Tomatoes are an acid-loving
If you're new to gardening and live in garden zone 7b, I'm going to share the best fruits & vegetables that grow in that climate.
A no-till garden is a method of gardening that does away with the traditional use of tilling to prepare the soil. In no-till gardens, the soil is not dug up and turned to prepare for planting. Instead, organic components like compost and animal fertilizers are layered over the soil to create a rich, nutrient-heavy base in which to plant seeds and starters.
