About Don Nicholas

Don Nicholas

Don Nicholas serves as Executive Publisher for Food Gardening Network and GreenPrints. He is an active gardener whose favorite crops include tomatoes, basil, blueberries, and corn. Don and his wife Gail live and work in southern Massachusetts surrounded by forests, family farms, cranberry bogs, and nearby beaches.

Articles by Don Nicholas

Your green thumb is itching for some wisdom!

Your green thumb is itching for some wisdom!

  Hey GreenPrints Garden Club enthusiasts, Don Nicholas here, your friendly neighborhood cultivator of good vibes and purveyor of plant-inspired wisdom. I'm buzzing with excitement as I unveil our latest horticultural masterpiece  
Herbs That Make the Loaf

Herbs That Make the Loaf

My father always said, “Beans make the meatloaf, but herbs make it sing.” He meant that no matter how good your base is, the right blend of fresh garden flavor  
Beans, Glorious Beans!

Beans, Glorious Beans!

If meatloaf really does start in the soil—as my father insisted—then beans are the foundation. They bring the hearty texture, rich flavor, and plant-based protein that make a veggie  
Growing Meatloaf

Growing Meatloaf

How to Plant a Meatloaf (According to Dad) One sunny April morning, I caught my father kneeling in the bean row with a packet of seeds in one hand and a  
Stories Rooted in the Soil

Stories Rooted in the Soil

As I begin this collection of stories about gardening and farming across America, I find myself reflecting on how deeply the land has shaped my own life. Like many families  
A Gardener’s Promise

A Gardener’s Promise

Afterword If you’ve made it this far, you know a secret that many overlook: soil is not just “dirt.” It’s memory, energy, and life itself. It holds the laughter of children  
Soil Troubleshooting Guide A to Z

Soil Troubleshooting Guide A to Z

No matter how much love and compost you pour into your garden, soil sometimes misbehaves. Plants look yellow, fruit drops early, or herbs refuse to sprout. The good news? Most  
Soil Life and the Food Web

Soil Life and the Food Web

When you dig into soil, you’re not just handling minerals and organic matter—you’re holding a bustling city of life. Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, insects, and earthworms are all part of