Today’s post is a conversation with Steve from Winston-Salem, NC. In his spare time, he is an organic gardener and home brewer. He’s also kind enough to shop at FSG (Thank you!). Steve has been growing his own hops for a few years now and we thought it would be fun and useful to get his insights on growing this great plant. We hope you agree! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Hi, well you already shared my name, some of my hobbies and my home town. Other things that … [Read more...] about Soooooo Many Hops!
Organic Gardening
A Year in the Organic Garden – September
Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In August, we were harvesting our summer fruits and veggies and preserving the excess. We also got our Fall garden going! If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at August in the Organic Garden. In September, our Summer’s harvest is waning or just plain done and we fully transition to cool season gardening. Read on for our suggestions on how to make the most of the month. As always, we welcome … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – September
Hey Grass, Move Over! Make Room for Clover!!
About this time last year I was seeking a new solution to an annual ritual with predictably frustrating results. I’m referring to my Fall habit of preparing the lawn, seeding new grass, tending it carefully, being pleased with the results and then watching it all die just as soon as the heat of the next Summer arrives. One of my colleagues here at FSG suggested that I overseed my lawn with clover as a potential solution to my problem. I did a little research and found out that clover … [Read more...] about Hey Grass, Move Over! Make Room for Clover!!
A Year in the Organic Garden – August
Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In July, we were watering, fertilizing, harvesting and even getting started on our Fall gardens. If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at July in the Organic Garden. In August, our Summer garden’s harvest is at its peak and the transition to Fall gardening is imminent. Read on for our suggestions on how to make the most of the month. As always, we welcome your own comments, questions and … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – August
A Year in the Organic Garden – July
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
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
A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes 2023
This article was originally published in 2017, it has been updated with new information and product links. As always, please leave us your comments below! -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 … [Read more...] about A Guide to Healthy, Organically-Grown Tomatoes 2023
A Year in the Organic Garden – April
Welcome back to our “Year in the Organic Garden Series!” In March, we put the first wave of our cool season crops in the ground by directly sowing seeds and transplanting the previous month’s starts. If you missed the post, or want to refresh your memory, please take a look at March in the Organic Garden. In April, the pace quickens and we can usually count on stretches of warm weather and reasonably consistent rains. We also tend to have frost in the first half of the month. Savvy … [Read more...] about A Year in the Organic Garden – April
Talking Pawpaws with Sleepy Gap Pawpaws
Today’s post is a conversation with Andra of Sleepy Gap Pawpaws which supplies Pawpaw Seedlings to Fifth Season Gardening Co. We thought you’d enjoy learning more about this native fruit tree and hearing her story. Enjoy! Please introduce yourself to our readers! Hi, my name is Andra and I am the founder of Sleepy Gap Pawpaws near Asheville, NC. Sleepy Gap Pawpaws is a small-scale nursery and we also have an orchard with 130 trees growing for future harvests. In my other job I am a … [Read more...] about Talking Pawpaws with Sleepy Gap Pawpaws