-Gabrial House- There is no easier way to brighten up a room than with tillandsia, a.k.a. air plants! They can add all sorts of colors, shapes, and textures to any house, workspace, or chill space. Air plants are native to forests, mountains, and deserts of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, northern Mexico, Mesoamerica, and parts of Argentina. Tillandsia will pretty much grow onto anything their seedpods can land on. They are commonly seen growing on trees, rock walls, … [Read more...] about Magical, Marvelous Air Plants
Urban D.I.Y.
The Lowdown on Food Fermentation
-Patrick Metz- Winter is tough time of year for anyone, but even more so for gardening and homesteading enthusiasts. It seems as if it is constantly cold, wet, or both, discouraging favorite outdoor activities. But don’t despair! I find this to be the perfect time to experiment in the kitchen. This year, I brushed up on food preservation techniques in preparation for our harvest, mainly food fermentation, and more specifically lactic acid fermentation (aka, lacto-fermentation). First, … [Read more...] about The Lowdown on Food Fermentation
Festive Mulled Wine
-Gabrial House- With holidays right around the corner and a crisper feel in the air I thought it would be the perfect time to share one of my favorite holiday beverages on the blog this week. I love sitting around a bonfire with family and friends sipping on a warm glass of properly steeped mulled wine. There are thousands of variations of this recipe, so feel free to add your own personal touches where you see fit. Mulled wine is a heated (never boiled) wine, infused with fruit, spices, … [Read more...] about Festive Mulled Wine
Save Your Scraps
-Chris Amaya- Thinking twice about which food scraps get thrown away can help reduce your grocery bills and give you the pleasure of growing your own produce at home. There are more than a handful of vegetables and herbs that I rarely re-buy or start from seed because I grow them from leftover bits of my original veggies or herbs. Starting with organic produce is going to be the underlying theme here, because many conventional growers and food distributors will use a sprout inhibitor … [Read more...] about Save Your Scraps
Cultivating Mushrooms at Home
-Jesse Cerrato- Interest in growing edible mushrooms at home is on the rise. Folks with foodie appetites looking for a different kind of hobby and a way to practice economical consumption are joining the movement. Not everyone is sure where to start, but we are here to help! Just like with other aspects of gardening, it’s important to understand the needs and requirements of the species you want to grow. As an introduction, I will specifically cover how to grow Oyster mushrooms in an … [Read more...] about Cultivating Mushrooms at Home
Humidity and Houseplants
-Mike Weeks- It’s still summertime in the South, but soon enough we’ll be getting our fireplaces, stoves, and furnaces running. And while that may keep us toasty warm, all of that dry heat can cause our tropical houseplants to suffer. Most common house plants are tropical plants, so they are used to moderate (at least) humidity in their environment. This blog post will provide some easy methods to help you help your plants survive the arid air of winter.. First off, when considering a … [Read more...] about Humidity and Houseplants
Homemade Smoke’n Hot Paprika
-Pam Scott- The days are getting shorter, summer is winding down, and I can’t say I will miss the beastly hot days that have kept me out of the garden. The cooler nights seem to be reviving some of the annual flowers, tomatoes and herbs, and my pepper plants are still cranking out lots of peppers that are turning fire engine red overnight. This is the promised bounty of plants seeded in late February, potted up indoors to mature early, and finally transplanted outside. We try to extend the … [Read more...] about Homemade Smoke’n Hot Paprika
Pruning Indoors 101
-Luis Guerra- When growing indoors, it is a necessity to have a basic understanding of your plant’s pruning needs. Tool types, timing in the plant’s life cycle, and proper maintenance are some basic skills you need to keep your plant healthy and produce the highest yield possible. Having a small arsenal of pruning tools is a must for every gardener. These include small hand pruners, bypass pruners for larger stems/branches, and maybe even some loppers for harvest time. Make sure to … [Read more...] about Pruning Indoors 101
DIY Terrariums | Just In Time for Mother’s Day
-Kristin Weeks- Terrariums make a great gift for just about any occasion, and with Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, we thought we’d turn this week’s blog post into a tutorial for creating the perfect terrarium! What exactly is a terrarium? Terrariums are miniature, self-contained ecosystems that make beautiful focal points, are simple to care for, and act as a reminder of our connection to the outdoors. Terrariums can be created in everything from a small spice jar to large blown … [Read more...] about DIY Terrariums | Just In Time for Mother’s Day
Growing, Blending and Brewing Herbal Teas
-Pam Scott- I truly love the jolt of drinking a strong cup of Earl Grey tea; it sends me into a creative whirlwind like nothing else. A pot of strong black tea has been the elixir to kick start my day and offer an intense “pick me up” for almost half a century. But .. alas, this roller coaster ride of caffeine can have its consequences when it comes to stable blood pressure and healthy digestion. Growing, blending and brewing my own herbal teas has led me to a new appreciation of the … [Read more...] about Growing, Blending and Brewing Herbal Teas
