-Gabrial House- As a gardener, summer is my favorite time of year. My garden is thriving and rewarding me for all the hard work and love that I have put into it. It’s bursting with life and color, and is full of fresh fruit and vegetables. One of the things I like most is trying to make complete meals with everything from my garden and my DIY hobbies combined together. In today’s blog I am going to talk about making fresh mozzarella cheese to add to a Caprese salad with fresh garden … [Read more...] about Making Mozzarella and a Garden Caprese
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Pruning Indoors 101
-Luis Guerra- When growing indoors, it is a necessity to have a basic understanding of your plant’s pruning needs. Tool types, timing in the plant’s life cycle, and proper maintenance are some basic skills you need to keep your plant healthy and produce the highest yield possible. Having a small arsenal of pruning tools is a must for every gardener. These include small hand pruners, bypass pruners for larger stems/branches, and maybe even some loppers for harvest time. Make sure to … [Read more...] about Pruning Indoors 101
New England IPA: Clarifying a Murky Style, Part 1
-Ethan Johnston- The saying goes that a rising tide lifts all boats, and the rise in craft/artisan beer has certainly had a similar impact on the various beer styles. Styles like Gose and Grätzer, which were bordering on extinction until recent years, are enjoying exponentially more of a market share than they ever have. However, no style has been lifted to the height of India Pale Ale and its various sub-styles. IPA has been the hottest craft beer style on the market since the most recent … [Read more...] about New England IPA: Clarifying a Murky Style, Part 1
Herbal Extractions: What and How
-Luis Guerra- For years I have created plant medicine supplements to maintain health and wellness for myself and my family. I grow and forage plant matter to make my own tinctures, infusions, and decoctions each year. At first it seemed complicated, but the more I practiced and explored the process, it revealed itself to be pretty easy. Infusions Most of us are familiar with herbal infusions, or at least those of us who have ever used a tea bag to make tea. At home, I harvest and … [Read more...] about Herbal Extractions: What and How
Cloning Problems and Solutions
-Mike Weeks- One of the most common frustration we find with our customers is on the subject of cloning. Growers that have been taking clones for years will occasionally fall into a bad habit, and not know why their success rates have plummeted. This blog post will point out some of the most common mistakes made in the cloning room and how to avoid them for future cloning success. Healthy Plant Stock The first step in getting healthy clones is to start with a healthy stock plant (the … [Read more...] about Cloning Problems and Solutions
Mulch Much?
-Chris Amaya- With spring almost over, and the sun soon to be getting too hot for comfort during mid-day, its easy to accidentally forget to water the garden. Fortunately there is a natural buffer that allows plants to stay hydrated longer while simultaneously benefiting soil biology. Mulching the areas around established plants before pesky weeds can germinate will be your saving grace this season. Without mulching, these small, weedy plants can turn into big competition for your … [Read more...] about Mulch Much?
Brew Review: Blichmann RipTide Brewing Pump
There are a handful of purchases that I’ve made in my 10 years of brewing experience that stand out for their impact on the quality of my homebrew and on decreasing the effort it takes to make it. If I had to name a number one, then it would most definitely be a brewing pump. I can’t think of anything I’ve purchased over the years that has improved my all-grain brewing process to the degree my pump has. There was the expected benefit of not having to physically transfer hot liquids from one … [Read more...] about Brew Review: Blichmann RipTide Brewing Pump
DIY Terrariums | Just In Time for Mother’s Day
-Kristin Weeks- Terrariums make a great gift for just about any occasion, and with Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, we thought we’d turn this week’s blog post into a tutorial for creating the perfect terrarium! What exactly is a terrarium? Terrariums are miniature, self-contained ecosystems that make beautiful focal points, are simple to care for, and act as a reminder of our connection to the outdoors. Terrariums can be created in everything from a small spice jar to large blown … [Read more...] about DIY Terrariums | Just In Time for Mother’s Day
Is Silica In Your Nutrient Line Up?
-Gabrial House- This week on the blog, I wanted to talk about a great supplement to add to your nutrient solution. Silica can work wonders on your plants, protecting them from heat stress, water drought, pests, and even help pack on more fruit for your harvest. This just might be the missing supplement that you are looking for! Silica is used to reinforce plant cell walls in leaves, fruits/flowers, branches, and stalks. This reinforcement leads to an increased ability to efficiently … [Read more...] about Is Silica In Your Nutrient Line Up?
Raised-Bed Gardening
-Patrick Metz- I am getting ready to start a new garden plot. For years I have employed a technique known as double-digging to get started. The concept is simple and effective. The goal: create a deep bed of loose, well-amended soil without harming and undoing the work of the biology already in the soil - earthworms, microbes, fungi. This technique creates a beautifully cultivated plot and an excellent rooting zone for your future plants. So what's the catch? It is labor intensive and … [Read more...] about Raised-Bed Gardening
