Many of us at Fifth Season enjoy multidisciplinary hobbies, and few hobbies integrate better than brewing and gardening! While growing, harvesting, and malting your own grains may not be for everyone, there are numerous plants, berries, and herbs that the homebrewer can add to their garden and, later, to their beer. Hops are the obvious first choice, and much has been written about the cultivation of hops, including on this very blog. Properly cultivated, hops can have extremely high yields, … [Read more...] about Brew What You Grow
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Hydroponic Growing Media (Part 1)
-Luis Guerra- One of the first questions we get asked at Fifth Season when someone is just starting out in hydroponics is, “What is the best medium to grow in?” In this blog post, I will share my experience with various growing media, as well as feedback I have gathered from professionals within the industry. First, let’s get an understanding of what growing media are. Media are materials that physically support plant growth. A good medium supplies a plant’s roots with enough air … [Read more...] about Hydroponic Growing Media (Part 1)
Companion Planting Guide
Everybody knows that tomatoes and basil make a great combination on the plate, but they also make a great combination in the garden, enhancing each others’ flavors during the growing process. There are a lot of plants that have beneficial effects when planted together, from improving flavor to deterring pests and diseases. There are also combinations of plants that aren’t so great and that you should try to avoid. To help you plan out your spring and summer vegetable gardens, we put together … [Read more...] about Companion Planting Guide
Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting
Here’s a great primer on planting bulbs in containers from our bulb supplier, Netherland Bulb Company: Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Planting bulbs in containers offers a solution to gardeners who lack the space to create a full garden. Spring blooming bulbs can be grown in decorative pots to add accents to patios, decks, and entryways. Bulbs planted in beds outside require little maintenance, however, with a few guidelines and commitment, container bulbs can prove equally as … [Read more...] about Container Gardening and Lasagna Planting
More Sustainable Homebrewing
Here at Fifth Season we do our best to contribute to sustainability and energy resource management, yet as an avid homebrewer I’ve always felt a touch responsible for not exactly having the most environmentally friendly hobby. At times I think about how much water, alone, I’ve used before I began streamlining my process, and yet I could definitely cut my water use even more so. Multiply that by all the less environmentally conscious homebrewers, and that’s a lot of needless environmental impact. … [Read more...] about More Sustainable Homebrewing
The Benefit of Light Movers
Adding light movers to your indoor growing plan allows you to cover more canopy area without increasing the amount of light you use. Typically, a 1000 Watt HID lighting system will cover an area of up to five sq. ft. with the right reflector. Utilizing a Light Rail light mover can increase your footprint by 30% without needing to add another light – ultimately helping to cut down both on the need for both heat remediation and rising electrical costs. Running a light mover also helps to … [Read more...] about The Benefit of Light Movers
Organic Treatments for Fungal Infections
The hot and humid days of July and August are prime time for fungal infections to start popping up on your trees, vegetables, and landscaping plants. Some of the most common infections are powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot, and blight. Preventative treatments, and acting quickly to treat fungal infections when you first notice them are crucial to keeping your plants healthy and prevent annually recurring infections in trees and perennials. Luckily, myriad organic products exist to prevent and … [Read more...] about Organic Treatments for Fungal Infections
Father’s Day at Fifth Season
June 19th, Father’s Day, is fast approaching, and what better way to let the big guy in your life know that you appreciate him than hooking him up with some brewing equipment or ingredients? Whether you’re helping a seasoned brewer expand his arsenal, or introducing your father figure to a rewarding and fulfilling new hobby, Fifth Season has the stuff and know-how to help you choose an awesome Father’s Day gift. Equipment Kits There’s no better way to [re]introduce your father to beer … [Read more...] about Father’s Day at Fifth Season
Die Mosquito, Die! (Or at least stay far away from me.)
It is unbelievable, all the rain we have had this spring. Rainy weather means standing water, and standing water means mosquitoes, because that’s where mosquito larvae develop. Fortunately, there are effective natural ways you can prevent mosquitoes from ruining your good times outdoors. Prevention is the best defense against a mosquito problem, so whenever and wherever possible, dump out any standing water near your home. Don’t forget to check the saucers under your container … [Read more...] about Die Mosquito, Die! (Or at least stay far away from me.)
Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale
For our blog post this week, we’re doing something a little bit different. In celebration of National Homebrew Day last month, Ethan in our Carrboro store created a hop-bursted pale ale featuring Mosiac hops. This beer has a bright aroma, with hints of white grape, mild citrus, and subtle floral notes. It was so tasty, we thought we’d share the recipe with you – enjoy! Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale Batch Size: 6 gal Assumed Efficiency: 78% Target OG: 1.049 Apprx. Alcohol: … [Read more...] about Mosaic Single Hop Bursted Pale Ale
