Looking for a gift or a little stocking-stuffer that also considers environmental impacts? We have a bunch of options that are environmentally responsible and cool as all get out! Reusable Food Storage For everyone who hates having to using plastic wrap, plastic baggies, or tin foil to keep food fresh and/or portable. From Bees Wrap reusable food wraps, to Stasher silicone food storage bags, to zippered sandwich and snack bags from Eco Bag-It, to silicone bowl covers, we have lots of … [Read more...] about Sustainable Living Gift Guide
Search Results for: compost
Living Soil: 101
-Jordan Capps- We sell an amazing array of high quality pre-bagged planting mixes at Fifth Season, enough to cover pretty much any need a gardener may have, but have you ever wondered about the ins and outs of creating your own soil? There can be an overwhelming amount of information on the subject online, enough to make the task seem impossible. To help alleviate some of that “analysis paralysis” I have a (relatively) simple, easy to follow recipe that pretty much any plant under the sun … [Read more...] about Living Soil: 101
Some Helpful Tips for Growing Squash
-Pam Scott- Spring is in full swing. Most of us have our seeds and seedlings tucked safely in the ground as we head full speed towards summer. On these 80-90 degree days it's hard to imagine that it was only weeks ago that we were hit with a heavy frost. Summer vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, okra, beans, squash, and cucumbers are growing quickly due to warm sunny days and rainy nights. One of the most frequently asked questions we hear these days is “How do I keep bugs and mildew from … [Read more...] about Some Helpful Tips for Growing Squash
Building a Raised Bed
-Ryan Blankenship- Whether you live in the city or out in the country, the best way to have complete control over your garden is by building a raised bed. I say this because everyone’s soil is going to be different. It could be very sandy, loamy, high or low in nitrogen, or even solid red clay like mine is. The best way overcome challenges presented by your soil is by building a garden bed on top of your existing soil. The first step is determining the size bed you would like to … [Read more...] about Building a Raised Bed
Tips for Growing a More Sustainable Garden
-Patrick Metz- People start gardening for a bunch of different reasons: the joy of creating and growing something; the deliciousness of home-grown vegetables and fruits; knowing where your food comes from and how it has been grown; concern for our environment and the impact of industrial food systems; the sheer delight of a beautiful landscape, and more. Here at Fifth Season we advocate gardening in harmony with, not in opposition to, natural rhythms and processes. It’s not only good … [Read more...] about Tips for Growing a More Sustainable Garden
How to Tell if Your Garden Soil Is Ready for Planting
-Ryan Blankenship- The very first step in determining if your soil is ready for planting is to simply dig yourself a small hole where you would like your planting site to be. By digging this small hole, you will be able to determine if you have loose or clay soil. Like many people in our area, we typically have a lot of red clay where we would like to plant. I also like to send a soil sample out to our state agricultural extension program to get tested to understand the NPK … [Read more...] about How to Tell if Your Garden Soil Is Ready for Planting
Blumats and No-Till Gardening
-Mike Weeks- Growing organically has always been a passion for us, and we love learning and teaching the best methods to do so. Since it's cold, and none of us are really spending much time out in the garden, I thought I would bring you to one of our off-site, indoor hemp gardens, because there’s plenty of action happening there. I have been practicing a gardening method known as “no-till”, a term well-known in the outdoor gardening community, but there are ways to apply this to an indoor … [Read more...] about Blumats and No-Till Gardening
It’s Soil, Not Dirt… And It’s Alive!
-Patrick Metz- This past weekend we had the folks from Mountain Gate Organics over at the Charlottesville store talking worms, soil, and biology. In anticipation of the day, we had made a couple hundred gallons of compost tea and were giving it away to any interested gardeners. Even more exciting was a little display we had set up with a microscope connected to a computer screen. Underneath the microscope two drops of the tea (made from worm castings and molasses introduced into water and … [Read more...] about It’s Soil, Not Dirt… And It’s Alive!
More Microbes, Please
-Luis Guerra- Without healthy populations of microorganisms in your soil, you simply cannot have healthy plants. Microbes work in synthesis with plants, breaking down organic materials into forms plants can take up through their roots, and oxygenating the soil. “Good” microbes can also help destroy harmful pathogens that can damage plants. Microbial pre-inoculants are starting to become more well-known, but they still are not used nearly enough, in our estimation, despite the benefits they … [Read more...] about More Microbes, Please
Nectar-Producing Plants and Host Plants: Superheroes of the Garden
-Pam Scott- The importance of pollinating and beneficial insects in our world cannot be over stressed. The production of 3⁄4 of our major food crops depends on insect pollinators. Most of the crops we grow and eat (tomatoes, cucumbers, almonds, eggplants, fruits and berries, to name just a few) need pollinators to produce fruit. Unfortunately, the population of both native and managed pollinators is in decline due to destruction of habitat and the use of broad-spectrum pesticides. Perversely, … [Read more...] about Nectar-Producing Plants and Host Plants: Superheroes of the Garden
