- Peter McMindes - Brewers today are pushing the past standards on IBUs and hop additions in their beers. With this new wave of hoppy IPAs and other hopped up traditional styles brings increased trub loss via higher vegetative matter, more astringency, and of course higher costs per batch of beer. The sheer amount of hops alone going into a New England IPA can double the cost of the beer! A newer style of hops, called Cryo Hops®, lends a solution to these setbacks. Originally Cryo Hops® … [Read more...] about Cryo Hops® – A Practical Hop for Homebrewing
Hydroponics and the Environment
-Ryan Blankenship- Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without the use of soil, delivering plant nutrients directly through watering. Nutrients are mixed into a water reservoir and then fed to your plants at regular intervals. Your plants will directly take these nutrients up, as they don’t have to first be broken down in the soil in order to be readily available to plants. Hydroponic gardening is, thus, an efficient way to grow plants, and has a few environmental benefits over … [Read more...] about Hydroponics and the Environment
More Microbes, Please
-Luis Guerra- Without healthy populations of microorganisms in your soil, you simply cannot have healthy plants. Microbes work in synthesis with plants, breaking down organic materials into forms plants can take up through their roots, and oxygenating the soil. “Good” microbes can also help destroy harmful pathogens that can damage plants. Microbial pre-inoculants are starting to become more well-known, but they still are not used nearly enough, in our estimation, despite the benefits they … [Read more...] about More Microbes, Please
Caring For Indoor Citrus Trees
-Pam Scott- Bringing tropical greenery into a room softens corners, adding an inviting warmth to most spaces. A windowsill full of blooming African violets, wintered over annuals, forced spring bulbs, scented geraniums, or fragrant culinary herbs will certainly brighten your spirits on a cold bleak day. The scents and colors of an indoor garden can remind us that the warmth and light that we crave during winter will once again be ours. One of the most rewarding families of plants to incorporate … [Read more...] about Caring For Indoor Citrus Trees
DIY Hard Seltzer: A Trend Worth Trying
-Kristin Weeks- Summer is the busiest season of the year nationwide for beer sales, and over the past several months, the adult beverage industry has witnessed a major rise in popularity of a new kind of boozy beverage, hard seltzer. This light, low-cal, low-carb alternative to beer is attractive to consumers preferring more health-conscious drinking habits and an active lifestyle. Hard seltzer offers that with its sessionability (low ABV, 5% typically) and convenient packaging. Both national … [Read more...] about DIY Hard Seltzer: A Trend Worth Trying
Composting With Red Wiggler Worms
-Luis Guerra- Every spring, many of us rush out to our local garden centers in search of rich organic compost for amending our home gardens. We typically encounter many brands of bagged compost that are derived from different organic sources. Hopefully we find a local, regional, or even national organic copost brand that we can trust, depending on where we shop. But what if you could make your own compost with just a few square feet of space in your home or garage? What if I told you that … [Read more...] about Composting With Red Wiggler Worms
Digital vs. Magnetic Ballasts
-Gabrial House- Today on the blog I wanted to talk about HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting, and more specifically the differences between magnetic and digital ballasts. We are going to take a look at the pros and cons of both and why you would choose one piece of technology over the other. First we will want to look at what a ballast does for your lighting system. If we were to plug an HPS (High Pressure Sodium) bulb right into a wall socket (AC current) you would pop your bulb … [Read more...] about Digital vs. Magnetic Ballasts
Top 5 Easiest Low-Light Houseplants
-Naomi Austin- Often times people come to us wanting to green their homes, but don’t think they have enough light or discipline to care for plants properly. How happy they are when we point them to our top 5 (virtually) indestructible houseplants! Not all plants want your love and attention. Some are best when almost ignored and thrown in a corner. Sounds harsh, I know, but it’s the truth. The following houseplants are our most recommended for both low light and low … [Read more...] about Top 5 Easiest Low-Light Houseplants
Brewing in the Summer
-Ryan Blankenship- Summertime is usually a slow time for the traditional home brewer. Mainly because it gets so hot outside, most of us don’t want to spend 6-8 hours over a boiling hot kettle. It can also become difficult to regulate your fermentation temperatures. If you’re a diehard brewer like we are, however, you might be deciding on what beers do best during the summer. A few of my favorite summer style beers include: Belgian pale ales, Kolsch, and Saisons. Today I want to give a little … [Read more...] about Brewing in the Summer
DIY Bird Bath
-Luis Guerra- Attracting birds to our yards is enjoyable and educational, and has practical benefits as well. In addition to the pure pleasure we receive by watching birds in our environment, birds also aid in our struggles against some common garden pests. Many birds munch on slugs, grasshoppers and caterpillars, which we all know are unwanted pesky critters that destroy our fruits and veggies. We often think about birdfeeders when we want to create a hospitable environment for our … [Read more...] about DIY Bird Bath
