I’ll admit that part of the joy of gardening is having a good excuse to play in the dirt. As adults, we don’t get to do that very much, but it sure does feel good. Of course, playing in the dirt actually means getting the soil ready; there’s always compost to add or weeds to dig up. Even when you have “perfect” soil, you still have to do some prep work. Preparing clay soil for planting your garden isn’t that much different.
There’s nothing like the fragrance of fresh herbs in the kitchen. I love the way they flavor a meal and add color to sauces. And I love how easy they are to grow. You can grow herbs like basil in a sunny windowsill, rosemary will stay fresh outdoors well into the colder months of the year, and I’m pretty sure mint would even grow on the moon. But can you help your herbs grow even better and stronger? Should you use mulch for an herb garden?
Javier’s class is digging dirt in the community garden by P.S. 102 in the Bronx And Javier says: ”why am I digging dirt, I haven’t done anything wrong?’ He knows that men from Leland Ave., from the barrio, maybe from the block go to jail go to prison He knows that men from the block […]
When I think of deer-resistant vegetables, it’s usually a cartoon that comes to mind. I can picture little veggies with shields and swords trying to ward off a herd of hungry deer, mouths drooling, hooves stamping, and a little fire in their eyes. The vegetables are tenacious and scrappy, maybe leeks, banding together behind Sgt. Garlic and Captain Onion.
I live in New England, and I love having four distinct seasons, even if winter is a bit longer than I’d like. If you’re reading this based on the title, you are likely in New England too (howdy neighbor!) so you know that New England also has a long history of farming, and you probably live on a plot that was once farmland. Bartlett Farm, one of the oldest farms in New England, is in Massachusetts and began growing vegetables in 1659 (or possibly 1639, depending on your source).
If there’s one thing we should know about gardening, it’s that we have to have patience. Our hard work may take weeks, months, even years to produce the results we hope for. Which is why gardening mishaps can feel so devastating. All that time we spend hunched over the soil, spade in hand, creating the […]
If you’ve ever driven through farm country at the right time, you’re already somewhat familiar with cow manure fertilizer. That’s one of those rare times in life where I think I would appreciate stuffy sinuses!
I’m curious to know what a typical day of gardening tasks looks like for you out in the garden. I’ve admitted this several times before, but I’m not one of those people who loves to weed. I’ve had arthritis in my back since my early twenties, and I doubt it will ever be on my […]
Learning how to protect your eyes in the garden is essential for anyone who spends time tending to plants, especially when working with species that can cause irritation or injury. Signs of Plant-Related Eye Irritation If you experience any of these symptoms while gardening, you may have had contact with a plant that causes irritation: […]
Container vegetable gardens are the versatile champions of any garden. I love container gardens because you can start them indoors and transition them outdoors without disrupting the vegetable roots. They’re ideal for small spaces, porches, balconies, and even that sliver of side yard you might have that gets great sun exposure but is too small for a garden bed. The key to a successful container garden is your potting medium. There are many different store-bought varieties of potting soil and potting mix, but in my opinion, the best potting soil for container vegetables is a hand mixed.
