-Ryan Blankenship- After brewing and sampling beers over the last decade, I would have to say that my favorite summer ale is the Kolsch. This light colored, low hopped ale has the perfect balance for that 90 plus degree day. Whether sitting by the pool, relaxing at the beach, or even after doing all of that dreaded yard work, this ale is so refreshing. So what exactly is a Kolsch? It is an ale that takes on several characteristics of a lager. This beer is best fermented at 60F to help it … [Read more...] about Kolsch: Tips & Recipe
Summer Care for Tropical Houseplants
-Pam Scott- Being a parent of tropical houseplants has its challenges year-round, but keeping houseplants indoors during the summer months has some unexpected challenges that most plant caregivers don't anticipate. As plant owners, it is our responsibility to provide our plants with the optimal conditions, water, light and nutrients that mimic their native environments. We often don't consider the fact that changes in light and humidity indoors during the summer months can greatly affect the … [Read more...] about Summer Care for Tropical Houseplants
Bacteria-Based Fungicides for the Organic Garden
-Mike Weeks- We are entering the time of the growing season where it becomes especially important to protect your outdoor plants from all sorts of incoming pressure from insects, bacteria, and fungi. The moisture and heat of summer create perfect conditions for these pathogens to grab hold of your plants if left unchecked. This post will focus on organic fungicides, specifically the living, bacteria-based ones, that can help you keep your garden healthy and productive. For many years … [Read more...] about Bacteria-Based Fungicides for the Organic Garden
Making Strawberry Wine
-Ryan Blankenship- With the spring gone and summer in full swing, strawberries are being harvested. What better thing to do with that sweet berry than to make some wine out of it. Strawberries not only have great antioxidant value to them, but they are full of macro, micro nutrients, and some vitamins as well. So while you're enjoying that sweet wine, you are also filling yourself with some good nutrients as well. On top of all this goodness, they also contain an enzyme called amylase, … [Read more...] about Making Strawberry Wine
Repotting Guide: How to Repot Your Houseplant
-Ginny Shafer- You’ve found your perfect houseplant, a high-quality potting mix, and a pretty pot that meets your plant’s needs; now the last step is to repot it! Before getting started, make sure to water your plant a few days before you repot it to help prevent it from going into transplant shock. In my last repotting guide I talked about my preference for pots with drainage holes. While I still strongly recommend that any pot you get have at least one drainage hole, I understand … [Read more...] about Repotting Guide: How to Repot Your Houseplant
‘Tis the Saison
- Dan Toot - Let’s talk variety in our homebrew. Like many homebrewers, I have my go-to’s. The recipes that have been proven to work, are loved by friends and family, and the routine is so familiar, it’s a low-fuss way to get a good drink in your hand in relatively little time. Every once in a while, however, we want to branch out. Brewing being the ancient art that it is, there are virtually limitless possibilities (any poor fellow-traveler who has spent any time on a brewing forum online … [Read more...] about ‘Tis the Saison
Growing Herbs as Houseplants
-Pam Scott- If you are short on outdoor garden space, love the smell of fragrant plants, or want the ease of having cooking herbs at your fingertips, you may want to consider growing herbs indoors as houseplants year-round. There are lots of good reasons to grow culinary herbs as indoor plants: they smell good, taste great and can be a beautiful addition to your houseplant collection. There are few things more delightful than brushing past fragrant basil or scented geraniums growing on your … [Read more...] about Growing Herbs as Houseplants
Make Your Own Blooming Container Gardens
-Pam Scott- There is no better way to bring continuous color into your garden throughout the spring, summer and fall than to plant blooming annuals. Annual flowers will usually bloom profusely for one entire growing season and then die off in the cold months, whereas perennial flowering plants will most often bloom for a short time, become dormant and then reappear the following year. Annual flowers add color to the garden when perennial plants stop blooming or become dormant. By planting … [Read more...] about Make Your Own Blooming Container Gardens
Lighting for Hydroponics
-James Gordon- Welcome back to another Introduction to Hydroponics blog! Today we are going to look at the different types of lighting best suited for indoor cultivation. With lights in the past there have not been as many options as there are today, and picking a light can be a little tricky now. Let's look at all the different types, what they are best suited for, and when to use them. So let's keep an open mind, maybe take some notes, and hopefully this will be a good tool to … [Read more...] about Lighting for Hydroponics
Getting Started Seed Starting
-Dan Toot- It can’t be April again! It’s STILL April! (March 413th as of the time of this writing.) Still, the wonderful deja vu of this time of year is seeing the rush to the seed rack and our soil amendments as gardeners prepare for a great year of growing. Seeing this, I decided it was time to join the fun and start plants from seed myself! If you dig back, you’ll see I first dipped my toe into organic gardening with some Golden Ghost Pepper seedlings -- which I cloned and am … [Read more...] about Getting Started Seed Starting
