Give a Gift
Best Homemade Herb & Spice Blends for Summer Grilling
No matter the season, I dream of sun-soaked afternoons by the grill, tongs in one hand and the smoky aroma of seasoned meats wafting through the air. That dream begins …
peppers
Tips and Tales from the New Age of Small Farm Living
In a world where tomatoes are shipped thousands of miles, and honey often hides behind syrupy imposters, small farmers are bringing food production back to the backyard—or at least the …
The Heirloom Bell Pepper Revival: From Purple Hearts to Chinese Giants
Forget the standard green blocky bell pepper–today’s gardeners are rediscovering the dazzling world of heirloom peppers, where fruits can be deep violet, striped like a carnival tent, or shaped like …
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 …
Banana Peppers: A Love Story Between a Gardener, a Sandwich, and a Surprisingly Prolific Plant
A long time ago—back when Subway sandwich shops seemed like the height of lunch sophistication—I discovered banana peppers.
At the time, my routine was simple: walk to the neighborhood Subway for …
The Perilous Pepper Parade
One fine Spring, feeling bold and adventurous, I decided to grow an assortment of peppers—everything from sweet bell peppers to feisty jalapeños, along with a few exotic ones with names …
Paprika Pesto Pasta
This Paprika Pesto Pasta combines two culinary treasures with deep-rooted histories that have graced countless dishes with their vibrant flavors and rich heritage. Paprika, with its deep red hue and …
Julia Child’s Ratatouille
Late summer in my garden is pure magic -- that golden time when the eggplants hang heavy and glossy, the zucchini seems to multiply overnight, and my tomato vines are …
How to Pollinate Indoor Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash and Other Plants
Living in the northeast, I don't take indoor growing of fruits and vegetables that seriously. I consider it more of a hobby than a sustainable source of produce, and maybe …
The Seed Keeper’s Habit
The first time I truly understood the magic of seeds, I was standing barefoot in my garden, holding a sun-warmed tomato in one hand and a pair of kitchen shears …
