Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In June, we were harvesting, starting a second wave of warm season crops and mitigating threats from pests and pathogens. If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at June in the Organic Garden. In July, the focus turns toward helping your garden thrive in the heat and making use of the accelerating harvest! As always, we welcome your own comments, questions and contributions to help make this an … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – July
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It’s All About Mulch
Summer is here! And so is the heat! Watering is critical as always, but there’s a simple thing you can do to help keep your garden in great shape…Mulch! We’re fans of mulching in our organic gardens during the summer months. Mulch helps moderate soil temperatures, controls exposed soil erosion, prevents nutrient depletion from water runoff, mitigates weeds and retains moisture for thirsty plants. Applying a nice 2-inch to 3-inch layer of mulch on top of exposed soil will simultaneously … [Read more...] about It’s All About Mulch
A Year in the Organic Garden – June
Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In May, we got our warm season garden in the ground with organic starts and non-GMO seeds. If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at May in the Organic Garden. In June, with any luck at all, our tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, squash, and pollinator-attracting Summer flowers are coming along nicely! This month’s post will focus on techniques to help your crops along towards a robust harvest and … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – June
A Year in the Organic Garden – May
Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In April, our cool season garden hit its stride, we covered the basics on fertilization and started our warm season seedlings indoors. If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at April in the Organic Garden. May is a month of transition. Our cool season crops will soon be slowing down &/or going to seed as the weather warms. When they’re done, simply pull them and add them to the compost … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – May
Gardening with Kids–Making it Work!
Gardening has been great for my kids. It helps their bodies – maybe they will try that vegetable that they grow on their own. It helps their minds – learning where food comes from and how it grows. And it helps their souls – time outside and the sense of accomplishment that comes when that first seed sprouts! We have also hit a few hurdles on our journey, so we keep it simple – the attention span of a 6-8 year old is not lengthy enough for some of the more advanced techniques out there. We … [Read more...] about Gardening with Kids–Making it Work!
Building Raised Beds on a Slope
Hi all! Sometimes we get questions from folks that want to build raised beds, but aren’t sure how to do so in a sloping space. It is important that your beds be close to level so that water is evenly distributed. Your plants will like that part and it does look better this way too! So, we rolled up our sleeves and took a run at the project. Here’s how we did it and we’re pleased with the results. Hopefully you’ll find this information helpful and if you’ve got tips on how we could have … [Read more...] about Building Raised Beds on a Slope
Winter Houseplant Care
You may have noticed lately that the days are getting the tiniest bit longer. The buds on the trees are beginning to swell and the leaves on the tulips and daffodil bulbs are attempting to peek through the mulch. Some heartening signs of spring but the truth is… we are still deeply embedded in winter. The verdant awakening of spring is still on hold. You have probably also noticed that your houseplants are enjoying a bit of a rest as well. Most tropical plants will go through a dormant … [Read more...] about Winter Houseplant Care
A Beginner Grows Some Spuds
I found myself with more personal “me” time this past year and was determined to occupy the “free” time with a new hobby. Enter the world of gardening…oh boy! There’s a lot going on with that word “gardening.” Simple, rewarding, economic, healthy they all said, and yes, while these things are true – there’s so much to this hobby called gardening! Determined never-the-less, I decided to start my “garden” with some “easy” to grow potatoes. Simple, tasty, and inexpensive (btw, groceries are … [Read more...] about A Beginner Grows Some Spuds
Getting to the Root of it
Root vegetables such as carrots, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, and others are a delicious addition to any fall or winter dish. If you’re lucky enough, and have been patient, you’re sure to be rewarded with delicious, nutritious tuber meals this winter! Proper harvesting and storing your fall bounty are key to culinary success. There’s no need to feel overly rushed when it comes to harvesting beets, carrots, and parsnips. These root vegetables are cold hardy and can tolerate autumn frosts. … [Read more...] about Getting to the Root of it
Matt’s Hot Sauce
Hi everyone, this is Matt from Carrboro. One of my favorite hot sauce brands has been a little difficult to find at stores for the past year and bland table fare at my house just isn’t going to get the job done.. Lightbulb moment…I would take matters into my own hands! I had a bumper crop of peppers this year and wanted to take a shot at making a fermented hot sauce. As I was using what I had, this recipe isn’t intended as a clone for the hot sauce with a rooster on the bottle. But it … [Read more...] about Matt’s Hot Sauce
