-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
Homesteading
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
Herbal Extractions: What and How
-Luis Guerra- For years I have created plant medicine supplements to maintain health and wellness for myself and my family. I grow and forage plant matter to make my own tinctures, infusions, and decoctions each year. At first it seemed complicated, but the more I practiced and explored the process, it revealed itself to be pretty easy. Infusions Most of us are familiar with herbal infusions, or at least those of us who have ever used a tea bag to make tea. At home, I harvest and … [Read more...] about Herbal Extractions: What and How
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
DIY Mushrooms!
-Gabrial House- Enjoying fresh mushrooms is like nothing else. Rich with flavor and meaty with texture, these fun fungi make a great meat replacement in any dish. But did you know mushrooms are also easy and fun to cultivate? Here at Fifth Season Gardening Co. we sure do love to grow some beautiful mushrooms, both indoors and out! We have some great products to make mushroom cultivation as easy and fun as possible, and in this blog, I’m going to go over some of the ways you can cultivate … [Read more...] about DIY Mushrooms!
Jun: Kombucha’s Softer Side
-Kristin Weeks- By now, most folks have heard of the popularized health tonic, kombucha, but fewer people are familiar with its less-known relative, Jun. Also known as the “champagne of kombucha” for its lighter, more effervescent profile, Jun (rhymes with fun) provides a nice alternative to those turned off by some of the more undesirable, not to say offensive, notes associated with kombucha. Within the history and lore of Jun lie some obscurities. Stories tell of the sacred elixir … [Read more...] about Jun: Kombucha’s Softer Side
Bitters Then and Now
-Pam Scott- My personal interest in Bitters started a few years ago using them as a cocktail enhancers. I like to drink alcohol, but don’t like to take the time to feel bad the next day, so my hard and fast rule became two cocktails, no more, and they had better be damn good and interesting. Using bitters as a cocktail enhancer started in the 18th century. Since most early spirits were not very refined and frequently unpalatable, it became popular to use bitters to spice up the undrinkable. … [Read more...] about Bitters Then and Now
Terrarium Tutorial – Build a World!
-Annette Morgan- Terrariums were first developed by a happy accident. In 1842, botanist Nathaniel Ward was observing insect behavior when he mistakenly left the lid off of a jar. A tiny fern spore germinated in his jar and created the first terrarium, which also came to be known as a Wardian case. There are two types of terrarias classification, closed and open. A completely closed terrarium will develop its own water cycle system via condensation. This mini greenhouse will stay moist and … [Read more...] about Terrarium Tutorial – Build a World!
Festive Fermentations
-Jennifer Hawthorne- With the holidays right around the corner, most of us will be spending some time with people we love dearly. We often have get togethers, such as parties, dinners, or just coffee or tea on a rainy day. These moments are special and make life worth living. Why not start the holiday season off by preparing a festive fermentation to share with the friends and loved ones who enrich our lives? Fermenting only takes 5 days to three weeks, depending on the level of … [Read more...] about Festive Fermentations
