September always feels like the garden’s grand finale–a month when everything I’ve nurtured since spring finally reaches its crescendo. My counters are overflowing with tomatoes in every stage of ripeness, the herb beds are lush and fragrant, and I’m picking carrots with tops so vibrant they practically glow at night. It’s the kind of abundance that makes you want to preserve every last bit, knowing winter is just around the corner. READ MORE
There’s a new trend taking root across the country, and it’s a lifestyle as rich and rewarding as the fresh vegetables, honey, and eggs it produces. Urban and suburban families are embracing the charms of small farm living, carving out slices of rural paradise on 5- to 15-acre plots. These modern-day farmers aren’t abandoning their… READ MORE
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 back 10 acres. Inspired by families like the Olsons, Chens, Carpenters, Rodriguezes, and Thompsons, let’s dig into some of their favorite crops, growing tips, and… READ MORE
Imagine waking up to the rooster’s crow (or your smartphone alarm with a rooster ringtone) and heading to the backyard to gather eggs from happy hens, pick dew-kissed tomatoes, or snip some fragrant herbs. That’s the dream of farm living—one that doesn’t require owning acres of land, just a commitment to embracing fresh, homegrown, or… READ MORE
Even though Jack Frost might be peeking around the corner in our neck of the woods, September can still be a surprisingly fruitful month for planting. Sure, it's a bit of a gamble - will we get an early frost or won't we? But isn't that half the fun of gardening? It's like nature's own… READ MORE
Ah, September in USDA zones 7-8 - a time when most folks are packing away their gardening gloves and dreaming of pumpkin spice everything. But hold onto your sun hats, green-thumbed friends, because the gardening season is far from over in these blessed climate zones! While the rest of the country might be battening down… READ MORE
While the rest of the country is breaking out their pumpkin spice everything and dusting off their sweaters, you'll still wiping be sweat from your brows and reapplying sunscreen. September in these sun-kissed regions isn't about battening down the hatches; it's about gearing up for another round of garden goodness. But hey, while your northern… READ MORE
Hard to believe that just 150 years ago, American orchards grew over 2,800 named apple varieties. Today, we've lost roughly 86% of those historic cultivars—a staggering disappearance that would make any gardener's heart ache. But here’s the exciting part: they’re not all gone forever. Across the country, a passionate community of apple detectives, horticulturists, and… READ MORE
I'll never forget that morning, my daughter came running in from outside, yelling that I needed to come look at the tomatoes, which I'd neglected for the past week. What I found was a scene that looked like something had thrown a very exclusive, very destructive dinner party. My beautiful ‘Cherokee Purple’ tomato–the one I’d… READ MORE
Every time you toss carrot greens into the trash or compost bin without a second thought, you’re discarding what might be the most nutritious part of your harvest. Those feathery, emerald fronds aren’t just pretty garden decoration – they’re a culinary goldmine hiding in plain sight, packed with more nutrients than the orange roots we… READ MORE
Most gardeners fixate on the treasure under the soil–the tubers–while the plant’s modest, starry flowers get barely a nod. But those lavender-white blossoms aren’t just decoration; they’re status updates from your potato patch. Read them well, and you’ll water smarter, harvest at the right time, and spot stress before it steals your yield. Why potatoes… READ MORE
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 tiny hearts. After decades of supermarket uniformity, these extraordinary varieties are staging a spectacular comeback in gardens and farmers markets across the country. What Makes… READ MORE
A comprehensive planning kit with monthly calendars, zone-specific planting guides, growing charts, and seasonal recipes to help you harvest fresh vegetables from September through winter. Fall gardening opens up incredible possibilities that many gardeners never explore. While others are putting their gardens to bed, you can be harvesting crisp lettuce, sweet carrots, and robust kale… READ MORE
If you were to ask me what part of my garden I love most, I'd emphatically tell you it's my herb garden. When people visit my backyard, it's the first thing I love to show off, and I've planted it on the pathway to the back door so that anyone coming to visit will get a little infusion in the air as they walk by. READ MORE
Some people think that gardening is a summer’s game, but not only are there such things as succession crops—which you plant in the same place as your spring crops—but you can start planting vegetables in the fall that will pop up next spring. READ MORE
In the cooler months, one of my favorite gardening activities is looking through seed catalogs and planning my spring garden. And I don't know about you, but I know that in my experience it can be very tricky to get my hands on certain varieties of seeds that are either rare or in high demand. READ MORE
Where would wine be without cheese, or peanut butter without jelly? Simon without Garfunkel? And let's not forget our special guests today, the "Three Sisters" otherwise known as corn, beans, and squash. Native Americans have long understood that some plants work better together, and the Three Sisters' planting method is based on centuries of Native… READ MORE
Anytime is a good time for homemade soup. The more veggies the better, and the easier to throw in a pot, even better. Throw it in, and let it go, I say. This recipe is slightly more involved, but I promise it's for good reason! See, ever since I started making my own tomato sauces and pastes, I have come to adore the flavor of grilled and oven-baked tomatoes. READ MORE
Weeknight turkey lasagna proves you don’t need to spend your entire Sunday afternoon in the kitchen to get that soul-warming, family-gathering feeling on your dinner table. As someone who grew up watching my grandmother spend hours stirring her legendary meat sauce (seriously, the woman treated it like a meditation practice), I used to think shortcuts… READ MORE
I love lasagna, and so does my family. I mean, who doesn’t? It’s delicious and filling! You can even say that lasagna is somewhat of a social butterfly; you can prepare it during formal parties or take it to any casual potluck and it… READ MORE
I’ve been having so much fun reinventing classic dishes with more vegetables, and this Guilt-Free Zucchini Lasagna might be one of my favorite makeovers yet. In our home, lasagna is a beloved comfort food—something about the rich tomato sauce and creamy, melted cheese hits just right every time. This time, though, I swapped out the… READ MORE
Classic meat lasagna - it’s the dish that transforms Sunday afternoons into culinary celebrations and turns your kitchen into the heart of pure comfort. As someone who’s spent countless weekends perfecting this recipe while dodging eager family members hovering around the oven, I can tell you this isn’t just dinner - it’s an event that… READ MORE
Mexican lasagna - it’s the dish that proves fusion cuisine isn’t just a fancy restaurant trend, it’s pure comfort food genius happening right in your own kitchen. As someone who stumbled upon this incredible combination at a rehearsal dinner in Austin (expecting boring old traditional lasagna and getting my mind completely blown instead), I can… READ MORE
