A medicinal herb native to Europe and Asia, mugwort has had known benefits for centuries throughout the world. Its earliest introduction to North America was in the early 1600s when Jesuit …
6 Different Ways To Use Thinnings and Scraps
When you start gardening, you start the process of raising your own food from the soil and cooking meals you grew with your own hands. It’s an amazing feeling, but as you begin to read gardening …
Continue Reading about 6 Different Ways To Use Thinnings and Scraps →
Homestead Stories: Black-Skinned Apples
What’s your favorite apple? I have many favorites: Braeburn, McIntosh, Snow, Northern Spy, Wolf River, Cortland, or Cox's Orange Pippin. I don’t think there’s an apple I don’t like, though I have to …
Continue Reading about Homestead Stories: Black-Skinned Apples →
Living Willow Hedges
You can call them willow hedges but maybe a more accurate term? "Fedges" = fence + hedge. Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix (Latin for willow), a grouping of 400-ish species of …
15 Tropical Fruits You Should Know About
Ever been to an international grocery market and didn’t recognize half of the fruits that were stocked? Or how about a tropical vacation where you had the opportunity to feast on new and exotic …
Continue Reading about 15 Tropical Fruits You Should Know About →
How To Make Muscadine Wine
Ever wanted to try your hand at vinification (winemaking)? Not sure where to start? Think it's too expensive, time-consuming, or complicated? Well, I've got news for you. It can be expensive, …
Homestead Stories: Orchids That Look Like Birds
I love my orchids. I have all shapes, sizes, and colors of orchids, and I know there are a lot more to consider adding to my collection. I’ve written about the more common orchids and I’ve written …
Continue Reading about Homestead Stories: Orchids That Look Like Birds →
What Is Spilanthes?
Would you like to cultivate unique species in your garden that serve dual functions? Do you have toothaches and pains? Fungus infections? Are you in need of enhancing your digestion or immunity? Or …
10 Ground Cover Plants to Replace Your Grass Lawn
Though it's outside, there's really nothing all that natural about the picture-perfect lawn. Artificially grown, watered, fertilized, and maintained, it's a strange picture of modernity. We've made …
Continue Reading about 10 Ground Cover Plants to Replace Your Grass Lawn →
Different Types of Firewood To Use & To Avoid
It’s that time of year again! The birds are heading south, and the hearth fires are ablaze. Having a campfire out under the stars on a chilly night is one thing. Trying to heat your home with a wood …
Continue Reading about Different Types of Firewood To Use & To Avoid →
Homestead Stories: The Rare Middlemist Red
What makes a plant rare? Or anything for that matter? Well, it’s rare if there are only a few examples in existence. The Middlemist red (scientifically identified as unspecified Camellia), a deep …
Continue Reading about Homestead Stories: The Rare Middlemist Red →
Introduction To Permaculture
Interested in permaculture and not sure what to plant? This could be a great article to get ideas for unique and useful permaculture species! Before we begin, let's talk about what permaculture …
6 Reasons Why I Chose Clover as a Living Mulch
I mentioned in my post about building raised beds that I chose to add New Zealand white clover to the edges of the raised bed to act as a living mulch. First off, I should explain what a living mulch …
Continue Reading about 6 Reasons Why I Chose Clover as a Living Mulch →
Homestead Stories: Growing Vegetables Indoors
The growing season is too short and I long for fresh vegetables year-round. Whilst most supermarkets have fresh produce (at a price depending on where it came from), there’s nothing quite like growing …
Continue Reading about Homestead Stories: Growing Vegetables Indoors →
Companion Planting For Turnips
Turnips are great for any garden, and you can use companion planting to help them grow even better. Permaculture Research Institute describes companion planting as “A gardening method which makes use …
Growing Cucumbers Using A Trellis
I love growing fresh cucumbers in my country garden and enjoy having plenty for salads and pickling. Most seasons, I have lots left over to share with friends and family or to sell at the …
6 Healing Herbs You Should Know About
Of the thousands of plants growing wild in nature, most are considered common weeds. However, many of these plants have healing, therapeutic properties. When out exploring nature, don't be …
Continue Reading about 6 Healing Herbs You Should Know About →
Ethically Harvesting & Processing Aloe Vera
Had fun in the sun and now your skin is burned? Do you deal with irritating skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, or eczema? Are you constipated or have digestive issues? What about dental plaque? …
Continue Reading about Ethically Harvesting & Processing Aloe Vera →
Companion Planting For Eggplant
If you enjoy grilling outdoors, eggplant is a must in the homestead garden. Companion planting and a bit of effort will help ensure a bountiful harvest of succulent, sun-blessed orbs. During the …
Homestead Stories: Common Burdock
My friend passed the paper, and I read the headline: “Invasive Weed Killing Animals -- Wow! That’s scary. What else does burdock kill?” “Just about everything in its path by the sound of …
Companion Planting For Peppers
Do you love mild, crisp peppers in a broad spectrum of colors? Or hot red chili peppers that make your taste buds tingle and your eyes water? Grow peppers in your garden and you'll have an assortment …
How to Amend Arid & Nutrient-Depleted Soil
Do you have dry, depleted soil on your homestead or farm? Does your soil not provide your plants with the appropriate nutrients to help them grow, and do you struggle to establish plants because of …
Continue Reading about How to Amend Arid & Nutrient-Depleted Soil →
8 Winter Vegetables You Should Plant In Your Garden
August rolls around, and lots of us start looking at the garden with a sad sigh. The cucumbers are petering out. The tomatoes are still going strong, but the first frost (is it really looming …
Continue Reading about 8 Winter Vegetables You Should Plant In Your Garden →
Homestead Stories: Fungus Gnat
“Not again,” I groaned. Perhaps I should have said, “Gnat again?” It seemed every time I opened a new bag of potting soil, my house became infested with these fruit fly-like critters. I know fungus …
Companion Planting For Broccoli
Experienced organic gardeners bring diversity and balance to the garden with the age-old wisdom of companion planting, a time-tested method of close planting specific species based on their propensity …
How to Create a Tree Nursery
A tree nursery is a designated area where young trees are cultivated and grown. They are made to grow vigorous, healthy, young trees. Tree nurseries help support young trees by protecting them from …
How To Eat A Persimmon: 4 Easy Steps To Enjoy This Unique Fruit
When I first moved to California, the house we rented had a mature Fuyu persimmon tree in the front yard. I had never tasted them before and didn't know what to make of them or even how to eat a …
Continue Reading about How To Eat A Persimmon: 4 Easy Steps To Enjoy This Unique Fruit →
Homestead Stories: Skeleton Flowers
“Oh my! Those petals are translucent -- why is that?" It was eerie. Once again, I was visiting my friend and enjoying the array of plants in her garden. She had something new to show me, something …
Continue Reading about Homestead Stories: Skeleton Flowers →
Live Fencing: What Is It and How to Implement It
A few years ago, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal, West Africa with the specific task of implementing agroforestry practices. Before this position, I was only vaguely familiar with …
Continue Reading about Live Fencing: What Is It and How to Implement It →
Companion Planting For Cabbage
Companion planting is one of the very best ways to keep cabbage plants healthy and free from insect pests such cabbage loopers, cabbage root maggots, slugs, flea beetles, diamondback moths, and …
10 Probiotic-Rich Foods That Are Even Better Than Yogurt
Chances are you have heard that probiotics are good for you. What are probiotics? WebMed.com tells us that: "Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your …
Continue Reading about 10 Probiotic-Rich Foods That Are Even Better Than Yogurt →
Companion Planting For Celery
You can help your celery crop thrive with companion planting. Companion planting is a centuries-old method of organic gardening that places plants that support the growth and development of each …
12 Vegetables That Can Grow In Shade
Just because your yard, porch, or plot of land is permanently sitting in dappled shade, it doesn’t mean you have to give up on gardening or providing your family with homegrown goodness. Plenty of …
Continue Reading about 12 Vegetables That Can Grow In Shade →
What Is Fruit Tree Grafting?
Do you have an orchard or a beautiful fruit tree you would like to see produce more fruit? Are you interested in growing more fruit varieties but not necessarily planting more trees? And would you …
How to Start a Compost Business (and Why)
Since 2015, I have owned and operated a fully-permitted Tier 2 composting facility in Johnson City, Tennessee. We have grown every year and our future looks bright. If you have an entrepreneurial …
Continue Reading about How to Start a Compost Business (and Why) →
Ground Rules for Foraging Safely
Foraging is more than a hobby. It’s a means of sustenance, and for some of us, it really is a way of life. Pretty much everyone has an idea that some wild plants are edible whether they work in a city …
Foraging for Pokeweed
Elvis sang about it. Gardeners loathe it. Old-timers grew up on it. Suburban moms are afraid of it and pull it out with gloves ... and foragers? They're inconsistent about it. It's a miracle cure, a …
Introduction To Integrated Pest Management
There's one major challenge that applies to all levels of agriculture, from starting a garden to running an orchard, and everything that falls between. It's a shared challenge that growers …
Continue Reading about Introduction To Integrated Pest Management →
Homestead Stories: Pachysandra – Pretty Ground Cover or a Blight to Eliminate?
“Help!” I complained. “What is this plant? It’s taking over my garden!” My friend, always a great resource, had once again come to my aid. “I think that’s pachysandra. Very invasive. Pretty little …
17 Natural Mosquito Repellent Options For The Home And Garden
I detest mosquitoes. I hate that itchy sensation they leave and the fact that they can carry Zika or the West Nile Virus. I also prefer not to use toxic chemical repellents like DEET. Especially when …
Continue Reading about 17 Natural Mosquito Repellent Options For The Home And Garden →
What is Organic Farming?
Organic farming! It's becoming more and more familiar and popularized these days. Every time you're at the grocery store, you see two different types of veggie options: organic or …
Companion Plants for Lavender
Lavender can help protect your garden as a companion plant. The biggest reason is that deer, rabbits and other wildlife nibblers tend to ignore lavender due to its strong odor. Lavender is easy to …
Foraging for Wild Strawberries
One of my earliest foraging memories is crouching in my childhood backyard. I nudged the leaves of a low-growing plant aside with a tiny, slightly grubby finger -- and the white flowers that were …
40 Large Planters For Trees And Flowers
When you're planning your garden for the upcoming spring, you may find yourself quickly running out of space in your yard, garden beds, and hanging planters, but who says you have to pick and choose …
Continue Reading about 40 Large Planters For Trees And Flowers →
The Many Varieties Of Mint
The little, red squirrel was determined, I’ll say that much. He, I assume it was a he because he couldn’t take a hint and go away, kept jumping on the patio door window and trying to climb inside. He …
How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
Habitat loss, climate change, and pesticide use have decreased butterfly populations. Unbeknownst to many butterflies do not live on nectar alone, some species prefer, even require, overripe fruit …
Continue Reading about How to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden →
20+ DIY Indoor Hanging Planters to Refresh Your Home
Science tells us that indoor plants offer benefits such as reduced stress, improved attention, and a boost in productivity. Additionally, plants have a positive impact on a home’s indoor air …
Continue Reading about 20+ DIY Indoor Hanging Planters to Refresh Your Home →
The Forks Over Knives Diet is Easier than You Think
The Forks Over Knives Diet is all the rage right now. Here's what you need to know about getting started and sticking with it. Okay so this is a bit of a new one: a film getting the celebrity diet …
Continue Reading about The Forks Over Knives Diet is Easier than You Think →
32,000 Years and Counting: Re-Seeding the World’s Oldest Plant
Have you ever wondered what grew on the planet before the Ice Age? There must have been plants of some description. How else would the prehistoric creatures have survived? Whatever happened to …
Continue Reading about 32,000 Years and Counting: Re-Seeding the World’s Oldest Plant →
18 Free Garden Bench Plans for Your Outdoor Paradise
You may have a beautiful garden but without a place nearby to sit, how can you admire it? While purchasing an outdoor bench may seem like the easiest solution, benches can be expensive -- and there's …
Continue Reading about 18 Free Garden Bench Plans for Your Outdoor Paradise →