It’s mid year and the garden is blooming, the sun is ablaze, and the pests are rampant. I get several questions every week in the shop about infestations and what to do about them. The term “pest” can range anywhere from your neighborhood deer to tiny little specs in the dirt that are too small for the naked eye to see. For many people, the damage has taken a huge toll already that can set back the due date for fruits and vegetables. In this blog I specifically want to cover a few products and … [Read more...] about Dealing with Pests in the Garden
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Kettle Sour vs Barrel Sour
Over the past 3-5 years I have noticed there have been a large number of breweries putting out sour beers. Sours have actually been around since the early 1800s when brewers would use open vats to ferment, and wild yeast, or Brettanomyces, would enter the wort creating a sour taste. A sour ale is an ale that is made intentionally acidic by adding either Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, or Brettanomyces. The pH is extremely low, usually between 3.3-3.5. In order to create a sour in 3-4 weeks, … [Read more...] about Kettle Sour vs Barrel Sour
Raspberry Infusions
At 5 AM yesterday morning my neighbor caught me picking raspberries in my pajamas. Having accessorized my bunny print PJs with pink fluffy socks and sandals, I was quite a sight that early in the day. There was a reason for my unusual fashion statement, though. Because of a very mild winter and a warm wet spring, all of the fruits, herbs, flowers and vegetables on my tiny urban farm have exploded into production all at once, a full 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Keeping up with the harvest has … [Read more...] about Raspberry Infusions
Advantages of Ebb & Flow
Today we are going to look at the advantages of setting up an Ebb & Flow hydroponic garden. Ebb & Flow also known as “flood and drain” is an effective, easy to use, hydroponic system for both expert and novice gardeners alike. Ebb & Flow consists of a flood tray, tray stand, reservoir, and pump. You will also need a couple feet of black vinyl tube, ebb and flow outlets, and screens. The setup is super simple. The flood tray sits on the tray stand above the reservoir. The pump … [Read more...] about Advantages of Ebb & Flow
Fruit-Lover’s Paradise
“It’s the Berries!” A phrase hailing back to the 1920’s, expressed by my little grandmother, when something was “super good.” Berries are super good. There is nothing better than standing in the garden on a warm spring morning and eating the first strawberries off the plant. Having planted as many small fruits as I can fit into my small city garden, I have been enjoying a bounteous harvest of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and grapes for quite a few years. When the harvest comes … [Read more...] about Fruit-Lover’s Paradise
Summer is Saison Season
The origin of the farmhouse saison leads us to the southern Belgian countryside circa 1700. Saisons were traditionally brewed in the fall and stored in the cold winters to be used as a safe form of drinking water in the spring and summer for seasonal farmworkers or ‘les saisonners.’ This style takes on as many forms as there are farmers. Variation is at the core of this beer, and that gives us a lot of wiggle room as homebrewers. In the past, these brews tended to be lower in ABV, but today … [Read more...] about Summer is Saison Season
Cooking with Kombucha
Kombucha, commonly known as “tea vinegar,” is a probiotic drink that has recently gained mass popularity. If you have had, want to have, or regularly enjoy this drink, the following may interest you. What I generally see and hear from people is different combinations of juices, herbs, fruits, spices, and even in some cases hops and grains, being added to kombucha during the second fermentation. These additions to this healthy elixir are all quite wonderful. What I don’t hear a lot of is … [Read more...] about Cooking with Kombucha
Starting Seeds Under Lights
You may have noticed that this year at several Fifth Season locations we grew our own plant starts to sell. Combined from our Asheville, Carrboro, and Charlottesville, VA stores, we sowed thousands of seeds. We grew heirloom tomatoes, some of the hottest peppers in the world, culinary herbs, and many types of greens for salads and sautéing. We started mixing our own starting soil recipe, using all organic components and natural trace minerals. During your next visit, ask one of our employees … [Read more...] about Starting Seeds Under Lights
A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes
I love tomatoes! Canning them, freezing them, drying them, pickling them, roasting them and saucing them is my idea of fun. Tomatoes, basil and mozzarella define the taste of summer for me. Growing up in cool, dry, New England, I spent most every August canning tomatoes with my mother. You can imagine my despair when moving to the hot, humid,fungal jungle we call the South East. I found growing bountiful crops of tomatoes to be next to impossible.This went on for quite a few years until I … [Read more...] about A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes
How to Balance a Beer
After going to beer school at Siebel Institute you learn a few things about brewing that perfect beer. One of the keys to designing that great beer is balance. Without the correct bitterness your beer could be either too sweet or too bitter. Today we will focus on the correct IBUs for the style of beer you want to create. IBU stands for International Bittering Units. Let’s start with stouts and porters. These styles typically have lower IBUs than your IPAs and pale ales. A stout that is … [Read more...] about How to Balance a Beer
