I seem to always have my mind on spring. It doesn't matter if it's in the middle of winter, or at the end of summer. The next spring planting is never far from my thoughts. I love every minute of the researching, planning and organizing that goes into our garden pre-work each year. Plotting out... Continue Reading →
Starting a market garden sounded like a good idea... Raspberries. Tomatoes. Broccoli. We would grow all the things and the people would rejoice! This may not be exactly what was on my mind when we first set out to grow produce for our community. But I can honestly say the picture I had in... Continue Reading →
You know that feeling when you plant all the things...but nothing comes up? Spring finally comes after a long winter, and you're anxious to get out to plant the garden. You're looking forward to fresh veggies, and you can almost taste them as you're putting seed in the ground. You plant. You water. You wait.... Continue Reading →
The Irish know a thing or two about potatoes. Like the old wisdom of planting potatoes on Good Friday. Whether doing so actually brings luck, I can't tell you. But it's usually our goal to start getting our potatoes in the ground by then. Will you be planting potatoes this year? Growing potatoes is easy... Continue Reading →
They come in all sizes. They come in all shapes. It doesn't matter how grand or how small your gardening ambition might be. Adding raised beds might be one of the easiest things to consider to give a jump-start to your gardening experience. The benefits of raised beds There are many reasons to use... Continue Reading →
Market Gardening has become the craze. Do a quick search on the subject and you'll probably find someone boasting about how you can make six figures growing vegetables in your front yard. We started down the path that eventually led us to market gardening long before we knew about pioneers like Jean Martin Fortier and... Continue Reading →
I wasn't always a fan of kale. As a matter of fact, I always associated the taste of kale with dirty feet. It wasn't until we started to grow our own that I really started to appreciate kale for what it is. Kale is a super food packed with so many nutrients like Vitamin K,... Continue Reading →
I used to dream of owning several greenhouses. Large, beautiful caterpillar shaped vessels filled with flower and vegetable starts. Can you picture them? I still dream about them. But this just isn't in the cards for us quite yet. Dreams must yield to reality. A proper greenhouse is still very much in our plans, but... Continue Reading →
January in Iowa. Yes it's cold. Yes there is snow on the ground. Yes the wind is blowing so hard it feels like it will bite through your clothes and right into your soul. April can feel so far away this time of year, but January is an important month for us still. This is... Continue Reading →
The warm days of summer might very well be behind us for now, but there are still plenty of things that need to be done in the garden. And if you’re like me, this is good news! I love the fall months for their rich change in color, crisp evenings and moderately warm afternoons. But... Continue Reading →