-Ryan Blankenship- Whisky has been around for many centuries. In fact the “Guild of Barber Surgeons” were some of the first monks to make whisky in Scotland back in the early 1400s. It was originally made for medicinal purposes and to help cure smallpox and colic. James IV of Scotland enjoyed whisky so much that he purchased over 500 bottles from the Barber Surgeons. Now at this time whisky was still so new that they didn’t even age it in barrels, so the spirit was extremely harsh to … [Read more...] about The Art of Making a Whisky Mash
Urban D.I.Y.
A Simple Formula for Perfect Container Gardens
-Kristin Weeks- Let’s set the stage: You find a great deal on the perfect ceramic pot to go beside your front door. It’s time to do it up, so you peruse Pinterest for inspiration and excitedly take a trip to the local nursery to purchase your plants, but when you get there and begin looking around you become completely overwhelmed, paralyzed. Dang, I’ve been there! Creating beautiful, balanced, professional-looking containers doesn’t have to be intimidating. Learning a simple design … [Read more...] about A Simple Formula for Perfect Container Gardens
Fun Fall DIY Project: The Pumpulent!
-Edie Nissen- Do you love pumpkins? How about succulents? Well then, I have got the perfect DIY project for you. Introducing . . . The Pumpulent! The pumpulent is sure to satisfy all of your fall decor needs. It also makes a great gift! What you’ll need to create your pumpulent: - Pumpkin or gourd of choice - Succulents - I like to use echeveria, sedum, or haworthia - Hot glue gun - Moss - Spray adhesive (optional) Steps: 1. Use a hot glue gun to glue a handful of moss … [Read more...] about Fun Fall DIY Project: The Pumpulent!
Aunt Bee’s Pickles? Aw, Heck to the No!
-Ashley Mattison- Pretty much any southerner of a certain age knows ‘The Pickle Story’ episode of The Andy Griffith Show. You know, the one where the prospect of having to eat Aunt Bee’s homemade pickles drives the good gents of Mayberry to extraordinary lengths to avoid that fate. Loving store-bought pickles myself, I was wary of trying to turn my annual abundance of cucumbers into homemade pickles, both because I was well-steeped in Mayberry lore as a kid and because I thought pickling … [Read more...] about Aunt Bee’s Pickles? Aw, Heck to the No!
Making Strawberry Wine
-Ryan Blankenship- With the spring gone and summer in full swing, strawberries are being harvested. What better thing to do with that sweet berry than to make some wine out of it. Strawberries not only have great antioxidant value to them, but they are full of macro, micro nutrients, and some vitamins as well. So while you're enjoying that sweet wine, you are also filling yourself with some good nutrients as well. On top of all this goodness, they also contain an enzyme called amylase, … [Read more...] about Making Strawberry Wine
Bee House OR Vertical Planter DIY Project
-James Gordon- Hello all! Welcome to my first ever “Do It Yourself” blog for Fifth Season Gardening Co. So I really wanted to do something very simple, this being my first blog. Thing is, I came up with a fairly simple project with a result that can be used in multiple ways – so, simple with a twist. I’ll be walking you through how you can use the same basic materials to make a bee house or a vertical wall planter. First things first: we need our hardware: 10x20 Quad Tray Winstrip … [Read more...] about Bee House OR Vertical Planter DIY Project
Fermenting for the Holidays: Basic Tools of the Trade & Easy DIY Holiday Gift Ideas
-Kylie Holloway- It’s the beginning of December, and the holiday season is fully upon us; however, with the warmth and joy of the season often comes stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed when it comes to holiday shopping and gift giving. Well, we’re here to help, with some great gift ideas for the foodies in your life! A great DIY holiday gift idea that is simple, fun, and unique is making fermented gifts for friends, family, and loved ones (and is a great gift to send in the mail!). … [Read more...] about Fermenting for the Holidays: Basic Tools of the Trade & Easy DIY Holiday Gift Ideas
The Many Ways of Using Hemp Flower
-Kylie Holloway- As the popularity of CBD continues to rise, many people are turning toward using hemp products for healing anxiety, stress, chronic pain, etc. The flower of the hemp plant can be used in many ways - by smoking, or by being made into oils, salves, and even food. At Fifth Season, we often get questions about other ways to use our CBD hemp flower, rather than smoking it. One of the easiest, cheapest, and fun ways that you can utilize the magical healing properties of this … [Read more...] about The Many Ways of Using Hemp Flower
Mounting a Staghorn Fern
-Pam Scott- Of all the beautiful tropical houseplants we offer at Fifth Season Gardening, I find the Staghorn Fern (Platycerium) to be the most strikingly dramatic. When mounted and hung on a wall, the Staghorn Fern becomes more of a living sculpture than a houseplant. With Staghorns, as with all tropical plants, it is helpful to know how and where the plant grows in its natural habitat in order to maintain its optimal health. Staghorn Ferns are epiphytes, as are air plants and most … [Read more...] about Mounting a Staghorn Fern
Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
-Ginny Shafer- You finally did it! You assessed the lighting conditions in your home, had an honest conversation with yourself about how often you’ll *actually* water your plants, and you’ve found your perfect houseplant! Now to find the perfect pot to show it off. Just like with lighting and soil, every plant has different needs with respect to planting, so it’s important to choose a pot that’s well suited to meet those needs. When Should I Repot? Houseplants can be repotted when … [Read more...] about Repotting Guide: Finding the Perfect Pot
