-Pam Scott- 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 … [Read more...] about A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes
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How to Balance a Beer
-Ryan Blankenship- 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 … [Read more...] about How to Balance a Beer
Refreshing Ginger Pear Kombucha
-Gabrial House- In this blog post I am going to share my prized kombucha recipe! Kombucha is the perfect healthy summer drink. This recipe is easy and will have everyone asking for more! Materials: 1-gallon Pickle Jar Cheese Cloth 6 EZ Cap Bottles Ingredients: 1 cup Sugar 8-10 bags Green Tea SCOBY & 1 cup Kombucha Starter Fluid Fresh Ginger 750ml Pear Nectar Instructions Step 1 Take a 1-gallon pickle jar and brew a strong batch of green tea. … [Read more...] about Refreshing Ginger Pear Kombucha
It’s As Simple As Water
-Gabrial House- Water is the lifeblood of any plant growth. When choosing to grow plants hydroponically, a clean fresh water source is the foundation of success. The water acts as a catalyst to the plant for transporting nutrients and oxygen, which is a key element of a plant’s life cycle. In this blog we will go over appropriate sources of clean water, water temperature, and the maintenance of a healthy root system. Whether you are growing indoors or out, selecting the right water … [Read more...] about It’s As Simple As Water
To Organic, or Not to Organic, That is the Question
-Chris Amaya- As a home gardener, you have a lot to consider when choosing the right resources to fuel your hobby – everything from location, to fertilizers, to pest control, and even seeds. For years commercial farmers have used a variety of heavy salts to grow cash crops such as tobacco, corn, and soybeans to keep up with increasingly high demand. Unfortunately for the environment, these salts can build up over time and runoff into the water tables causing irreversible collateral … [Read more...] about To Organic, or Not to Organic, That is the Question
4 Simple Ferments Everyone Should Be Making at Home
-Kristin Weeks- Chances are, many of the foods you buy and consume today are fermented, whether you realize it or not. Coffee, chocolate, salami? All fermented. Although many people enjoy fermented foods like sauerkraut, cheese, and yogurt, they’ve lost the knowledge and desire to prepare it themselves. But DIY ferments are a great way to go because they take very little time, provide excellent health benefits, and can be made at a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay in the store. … [Read more...] about 4 Simple Ferments Everyone Should Be Making at Home
Give Extract a Chance
-Kristin Weeks- In an earlier post, we talked talked about what it takes to go from extract to all-grain brewing. At some point, whether it be after a few batches or perhaps a few years, most homebrewers will eventually take the leap and never look back. Over time, the seasoned homebrewer begins to speak a different language and develops a deeper understanding of how fermentation works. This creates an opportunity to experiment with different recipes and techniques, but does it … [Read more...] about Give Extract a Chance
Hydroponic Growing Media (Part 2)
-Luis Guerra- In my last submission for the Fifth Season blog, I spoke about three types of media used in hydroponic growing: Canna coco, expanded clay pebbles by Hydrocorn, and Sunleaves ‘Rocks.’ These are all great choices, but they are not the only options available. This post will cover three additional growing media for use in hydroponic growing. Let’s start by talking about rockwool. Produced by heating basalt rock and chalk into a molten lava, rockwool is then spun out (sort of … [Read more...] about Hydroponic Growing Media (Part 2)
Don’t WEED It; EAT It!
Foraging for local plants has become a hugely popular past time, but you don’t have to spend hours hunting in the woods to enjoy nature’s bounty. In fact, you are probably already harvesting some of these plants and don’t even realize it. A lot of very common weeds in the southeast are actually quite tasty and nutritious! As with all foraging, it is important to be sure of the plants you are picking, as some plants can be toxic. There are many books and online resources to help you identify … [Read more...] about Don’t WEED It; EAT It!
Seed Starting: When, Where, and How
-Jenn, Pam, and Annette- When planting seeds, you want to start with quality seeds from a reliable dealer to ensure strong germination rates (we are pleased to offer seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Sow True Seeds, and Baker Creek Seed Co. at our various locations). Select varieties to match the size, color, growth habit and taste profiles you desire. Always choose varieties that grow well in your area and hardiness zone. We prefer open-pollinated seeds and heirloom varieties, … [Read more...] about Seed Starting: When, Where, and How
