Grow Young In Your Garden
As someone creeping up on 80 and still feeling sprightly, I often reflect on how I’ve kept my body moving, my mind sharp, and my spirit young. Turns out, the …
compost pile
What to Do When Your Compost Smells Like Ammonia or Sulfur
If you've read much about compost, you know it shouldn't have too much of an odor. And if you've been composting for more than five minutes, you also know that …
What to Plant in July in USDA Zones 4-6
As we step into the warm embrace of July, many of us might think it's too late to start planting. But let me tell you a little secret: July is …
August Adventures in the Garden
There’s something about August that feels like the garden’s grand finale before Fall starts tapping on the shoulder. It's hot, a little chaotic, and honestly, I’m never quite sure if …
My Compost Pile: A World Unto Itself
It’s a bright, breezy Saturday, first week of June—a fine time to be a backyard composter here in southern New England. I wander outside to check up on my pile, …
Can Compost Go Bad? Plus 5 More Facts About Composting
I sometimes feel like a magician when I work on my compost pile. A few potato peels, a bell pepper core, and some coffee grounds go into the pile, and …
Mow, mow, mow, you go
It’s the middle of May, and my backyard compost pile here in southern Connecticut is now fully six months old. As much as the first half of its life was …
Root Pruning Secrets to Convert Unruly Blackberry Plants into Productive Bushes
Let’s face it – blackberry plants have commitment issues. Give them an inch, and they’ll take over your entire yard! One minute you’re dreaming of summer cobblers, and the next …
How to Keep Animals Out of Compost Bins
Composting is the gift that keeps on giving. I love turning food scraps, cardboard, grass clippings, and other green and brown materials into a usable and nutritious soil amendment. It …
Hydroponic vs. Garden Lettuce Growing Showdown
Are you stuck in lettuce limbo, endlessly scrolling through Instagram-perfect hydroponic setups while glancing guiltily at your perfectly good garden plot outside? You're not alone! The great lettuce location debate …
