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.)
Homesteading
Mother’s Day at Fifth Season
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8th. We asked some of our employees who are moms what they would recommend for Mother’s Day gifts. Here are some of their favorites: Flowering Shrubs A bouquet of flowers lasts a week, if you’re lucky. Roses, peonies and other beautiful flowering shrubs can last for decades. What a wonderful way to show your lasting thanks for everything a mom does. Bonus points for helping her plant them! A Hydroponic Garden If you have a mom or wife who loves her … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day at Fifth Season
The Air Plant Terrarium
In one previous post I wrote about tillandsia care, and in another about constructing a terrarium. Since writing these two posts, I have noticed that one particular air plant terrarium here in the Carrboro store does extremely well. Every plant we put in there takes off until someone comes along to purchase it. Since noticing this phenomenon, I have begun mimicking the layers in other terrariums and have had similar success each time. In this post, I want to discuss this particular terrarium … [Read more...] about The Air Plant Terrarium
DIY Bath Salts: A Quick and Simple Gift
As someone who loves to give gifts that I have made myself, I know that far too much time can be spent in the lead up to the holiday season considering what to make. Pretty much everyone I know has received some sort of planted item from me, from orchid-laden dish gardens, to terrariums made from old lightbulbs. This year, however, I wanted to expand to a new area of interest: homemade body products. Recently, I made bath salts, and they turned out to be fun, easy, and relatively quick to … [Read more...] about DIY Bath Salts: A Quick and Simple Gift
Food Waste Reduction
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency announced the first official national goal for decreasing food waste across the country. Partnering with state and local governments, private companies, and charitable organizations, the goal is aimed at reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030.Each year, around 40 percent of food produced in the U.S. goes to waste. It is estimated that 25-40% of the food grown, processed and shipped will never even … [Read more...] about Food Waste Reduction
Kombucha: The Tea of Immortality
What is kombucha? kom·bu·cha kômˈbo͞oCHə Kombucha is a popular effervescent fermented tea said to be full of probiotics, B vitamins, antioxidants, and much more. For me, it is reminiscent of a carbonated, slightly sour apple cider beverage. Kombucha's long list of purported health benefits have not been substantiated by clinical trials, but regular drinkers offer many testimonials of its healing properties. The list includes: Probiotics Antioxidants High in polyphenols Balances … [Read more...] about Kombucha: The Tea of Immortality
How to make your own DIY bottle garden
At Fifth Season, we hear about and see all sorts of cool DIY projects, A couple years ago I came across bottle gardening, and recently I tried my hand at it. These gardens can be as simple as one bottle inverted on itself, or as elaborate as a window-sized unit with stacks of suspended bottles, linked by a drip system and all fed by submersible pumps. At this point, you might ask - why a bottle garden? Well, many people, such as those in apartments or other small living spaces, don’t have access … [Read more...] about How to make your own DIY bottle garden
Hop Rhizomes: What, how, and when
Growing hops can be an incredibly fulfilling undertaking on a number of levels. The most obvious benefit to growing hops is that you can make your own beer with them! However, there are myriad other uses for the hop plant. Hop shoots make an excellent addition to salads or light stir-fries, hop bines make for beautiful ornamental displays, and certain hop compounds are considered a sedative when consumed. If you find that you're inclined to throw some rhizomes in the ground, then there are a few … [Read more...] about Hop Rhizomes: What, how, and when
Fairy Gardening: The Why, Where and How
Fairy Gardening has been gaining in popularity over the last couple years and here at Fifth Season we have jumped in with both feet. A visit to either the Carrboro store or the Charlottesville store will carry away your imagination with the possibilities of the magical spaces you can create. People build these little worlds for a variety of reasons: to pique or sate their curiosity, that of others, to bring the inside in, to play in a garden year round, to entertain children, and many more … [Read more...] about Fairy Gardening: The Why, Where and How
WINSTRIP Trays: Soil Blocks without the Mess
I don't like tear apart flat inserts for seed starting! Given their flimsiness, its really tough to get more than a season of use out of them: there just isn't a great way to consistently pop the seedling out without tearing the bottom of the 6-cell to pieces! I also find myself damaging fragile root systems as I inevitably end up needing to poke the bottom of the cells. The end result is a pile of plastic in the trash. Van Wingerden Int'l Nursery, based Mills River, NC, had the same … [Read more...] about WINSTRIP Trays: Soil Blocks without the Mess
