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10 Vegetables that Require Little Sun to Flourish
When we bought our house, my favorite thing in the backyard was the hundred-year-old Ash tree smack dab in the center of the yard. She was statuesque, gorgeous, sturdy, and …
beans
Quinoa and Pepper Medley Casserole
Let me tell you about this flavor-packed vegetarian masterpiece that's become my secret weapon for Meatless Mondays! As someone who used to think "spicy" meant a dash of black pepper, …
The Best Flowers for a Vegetable Garden to Attract Pollinators and Deter Pests
When Emily Dickinson wrote this poem in the mid-1800s, she may or may not have been thinking about flowers for a vegetable garden. There’s really no way to say. She …
7 Common Vegetables that Should Not be Planted Together
I remember being in third grade and my teacher separated two of the annoying boisterous kids (okay, one of them was me), and said: “You two just can’t be around …
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
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 …
Soil Care in Moderate Climates (Zones 6–8)
For gardeners in Zones 6–8, the soil feels like a gift. Winters are short enough to grow cover crops (or even hardy greens), summers are long enough for tomatoes, peppers, …
Summer: Feeding the Feast
By summer, the garden is in full swing. Tomatoes sprawl across their cages, peppers swell on the stem, beans climb skyward, and zucchini plot to overwhelm you. It’s a season …
Testing Your Soil: The Gardener’s Report Card
When I was in school, I used to dread report cards. They always told me more about where I had slacked off than where I had succeeded. But as a …
What Is Soil, Really?
When most people hear the word soil, they picture a patch of brown stuff stuck to the bottom of their shoes. Dirt, plain and simple. But as food gardeners, we …
