Garden

Lots of homesteaders turn to growing crops not just to feed themselves and their families, but to make or supplement a living. This starts off well enough, but as soon as you realize that an entire acre of corn or wheat will sell for about $1,000 bucks or even less, it will quickly douse your … Read more

If you’ve been gardening for any length of time, you’re probably familiar with the concept of companion planting. These are plants that can help each other, even directly support each other, in a mutually beneficial way. Usually, one plant will require lots of one type of nutrient that the other doesn’t, or it can improve … Read more

One of the most exciting times in any gardener’s endeavors is that first sign of new green poking up through the soil. When a seed germinates and starts to grow, it is full of promise and anticipation of what’s to come. Yes, it’s also the beginning of a lot of hard work, but it’s always … Read more

As a homesteader, you are likely always looking for ways to improve your land. One of the best ways to do that is by using cover crops. Cover crops can help improve soil health, suppress weeds, and provide food for livestock. One of the most popular cover crops is crimson clover. In this post, we … Read more

One of the best things you can do to enhance your own self-sufficiency is grow your own food. After all, people have been doing it basically forever! It’s a great way to get closer to the things you eat, and it also helps to prevent waste in the kitchen since you are far more likely … Read more

No matter what your preferences are when it comes to heat, there’s bound to be a pepper variety for you. From the crisp, green sweetness of bell peppers to the ferocious wallop of the classic cayenne, there is something for every taste. The good news is that most pepper varieties are basically the same, and … Read more

If there is one annoyance that unites gardeners, landscapers, farmers, and groundskeepers it is weeds. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and can be found everywhere, including your driveway. Emerging from cracks in the concrete, growing from between the gravel or popping up in the bare dirt, there’s nothing quite like a weed … Read more

Before you read any further, I am not nuts! You will love using this tea… for your plants! That is to say, we are talking about eggshell fertilizer tea. Eggshells are often used for the sharp edges to keep snails out of gardens, but this humble kitchen scrap is worth much more than just a … Read more

As gardeners, we all want to keep our gardens looking great for as long as possible. But for older folks, that task can be a little more difficult. If you’re older, you may have difficulty bending down or reaching up, and you may tire easily. In addition, you may be susceptible to health problems such … Read more

Even if you are the most conscientious of gardeners, there may come a time when your plants start to die. It can be frustrating and upsetting when this happens, but before you give up on gardening altogether, take a look at some of the most common reasons why plants might die. With a bit of … Read more

Do you want an eco-friendly garden but don’t have the time or energy to deal with planting and maintaining annual plants? Or maybe you’re just lazy like me. Either way, perennials are the solution for you!  Perennial crops come back year after year with little maintenance, which makes them perfect for those who love gardening … Read more

If you’re a homesteader, then you know the importance of growing your own food. But what about plants that can help support your local ecosystem? Milkweed is one such plant, and it’s worth growing even if you don’t have a lot of space. Here are a few reasons why milkweed is so important, and why … Read more

If you tend to your own garden, you already know that time is always at a premium. There’s a never-ending list of things to do, chores to handle, and projects to start, or sometimes cancel! It’s a good idea, then, to draw on any technique, tip or hack that can make your life just a … Read more

With the arrival of my son last September, I found myself chomping at the bit to find ways to get him outside – and my research led me to instructions on how to build a play garden for kids. I have to be patient for now. After all, he’s not even a year old! However, … Read more

Urtica dioica, commonly known as stinging nettle, is a perennial herb growing throughout many continents. The herb is native to Asia and north Africa, but has travelled to Europe, North America, and even in some parts of the South Pacific. It gets its common name from the stinging hairs, known as trichomes. These fine hairs … Read more

Do you want to maximize the yields of your garden – and minimize the amount of work you have to do? If so, there’s a gardening hack you need to know about – and it’s called crop rotation. It sounds like an agricultural technique that only large-scale commercial farmers would rely on, but the reality … Read more