-Elliott Richter- Today’s Product review is actually a review of 4 options for keeping your plants watered when you have to leave for a trip, work, vacation, what have you. We will be covering 2 products each from Blumat: the Easy Adapter and Classic Junior Universal Automatic plant waterers (aka “Carrots”), and from Bosmere: Mr. EverGreen and Bottle Plant Drinks, where both Bosmere products are twin packs. Overview: Everyone has been there. A last minute trip pops up due to an … [Read more...] about Watering, When You Gotta Go! – Products Review
The Art of Making Tequila
-Ryan Blankenship- Tequila was first distilled back in the early 16th century near the city of Tequila, which is located in the state of Jalisco about 35 miles from the city Guadalajara in Mexico. Tequila is a distilled beverage from a mash made out of Blue Agave. The Spanish conquistadors actually were the first to produce this spirit when they had run out of all of the brandy that they brought with them. They were the first to understand how to extract the sweet nectar from the core … [Read more...] about The Art of Making Tequila
Epiphyllum, Queen of the Night
-Pam Scott- As an avid collector of all things green and growing, I am always on the lookout for plants that I find endlessly entertaining. Plants that bloom and have interesting growth habits are top on my list of favorites. I find that most epiphytic plants easily fit into the description of “endlessly entertaining”. Epiphytic, as opposed to terrestrial plants, are ones that grow on other plants. Staghorn ferns, some orchids, air plants, some bromeliads, and epiphyllum are all … [Read more...] about Epiphyllum, Queen of the Night
DIY CBD-Infused Honey
-Kristin Weeks- One of my favorite aspects of growing food and herbs is the culinary magic that happens after the harvest. From steeping a blend of freshly-picked herbs in the summertime for “sun tea”, to pickling beets and fermenting cabbage for delicious homemade kraut, to making elderberry syrup in the early fall for winter wellness, there’s just something so special about taking what you’ve grown with love and intention and making something amazing with it. Naturally, DIY gifts are my … [Read more...] about DIY CBD-Infused Honey
Let’s get this spring thing started!
-Pam Scott- It’s February 1st, and I am marveling at the insulating, nitrogen-rich blanket of snow covering my garden. Today I will be making my way out to the yard to take cuttings of quince and forsythia. They will be taken indoors and put into vases of warm water where they will be forced into bloom, filling the house with the colors and scents of spring. This is a yearly tradition for me to welcome in the beginning of “Gardeners Spring”. This is also the date when we at Fifth Season … [Read more...] about Let’s get this spring thing started!
A Review of the Cider House Select Cider Kit
-Tanner Frizsell- As someone with years of beer brewing experience, I’ve been interested in trying my hand at other types of fermentation. Fifth Season stocks a selection of Brewer’s Best Cider Kits including Apple, Pear, and Cherry. I decided to try out the cherry kit for my first venture in cider brewing. The kit is packaged in a double-layer pouch containing the juice concentrate, yeast, flavoring sachet, sweetener, and instructions. The recipe calls for additional corn sugar that … [Read more...] about A Review of the Cider House Select Cider Kit
A Brew For Every Season, and Every Season a Brew
-Elliott Richter- One of the best things about homebrewing is the vast selection of beers, ciders, meads, kombucha, and wines that you can create for any occasion. As the year unfolds, a cornucopia of flavors and ingredients is opened up for us to peruse and sample. We are able to create and develop, with high hopes, our year’s best concoctions and libations to be enjoyed, by not just ourselves, but in the company of our loved ones and companions. One of the most celebrated homebrew … [Read more...] about A Brew For Every Season, and Every Season a Brew
Growing Poinsettias Year Round
-Pam Scott- This time of year, many of us are decking our halls with boughs of holly, evergreens, and the perennial favorite… poinsettias. I have to admit that in the past I have had a rather “whatever” attitude when it came to treating poinsettias as an indoor tropical houseplant. I love to use them to fill in spots that need seriously fabulous seasonal color in my home or as the perfect holiday gift to give to a friend or relative when I have no clue what to give them. I considered them as … [Read more...] about Growing Poinsettias Year Round
DIY Pizza Dough with Brewers Yeast
-Kristin Weeks- Not everyone shopping our homebrew department for yeast is actually brewing beer. We often get folks looking for fresh yeast for baking. This summer, a friend turned me on to what she described as “hands down, the best pizza dough in town” from White Labs Kitchen & Tap here in Asheville, NC. White Labs is a San Diego-based yeast production company and a popular yeast brand among homebrewers. In 2017, they opened a second location in Asheville that aside from the lab has a … [Read more...] about DIY Pizza Dough with Brewers Yeast
Water: The First Step in Hydroponics
-James Gordon- Interested in Hydroponics? If you said yes then this blog is for you. Let’s start at the very beginning (a very good place to start): in any gardening application water is one of the most important things to consider. When talking about Hydroponics it's even more important! Being educated and getting your water dialed in right will only improve your success rate, so let's dive into this and see what are the most important things to cover when looking at water in hydroponic … [Read more...] about Water: The First Step in Hydroponics
