Garden Planning

There’s not much to be done in the garden in February, at least not here in zone 4. But as the days lengthen and the sun comes out from hiding, I just want to do something – anything – garden related. Houseplants certainly help in the grey winter months, and seed shopping is fun. But

Garden FAILS. What I’m doing differently this year

It’s only February, but I am already chomping at the bit to get started on this year’s garden. Considering there is still about a foot of snow on top of my garden beds, I still have quite a while before I can even think about starting seeds. Hello, last frost date in JUNE. But it’s

Pickles & Preserves

Making pickles was my gateway into food preservation and the spark that ignited my excitement for the garden and my dream of a homestead. A few years ago, I saw a bag of pickling cucumbers for sale at my local grocery store next to an enormous bouquet of dill. I thought, “I could do that.

Cilantro & Coriander : Growing Guide

Cilantro is one of my favorite herbs to grow and cook with. Its bright, fresh flavor pairs well with the flavors of spring and summer. This delightful herb is wonderful to grow on your windowsill or in a container right outside your door so that you can snag a few leaves anytime you need them.

Garden Journal: July 8th, 2022

Welcome to another garden journal! I so enjoy putting these together. It is a wonderful excuse to take a stroll through my garden with the camera and appreciate the progress that has been made throughout the season. I have a feeling these journals will be especially helpful next winter as I cozy up with a

How to prune tomato plants

Tomato plants don’t naturally want to grow the way we are accustomed to growing them. Left to their own devices, tomato plants will become a giant sprawling tangle of branches, leaves, and fruit. We tend to grow them in tomato cages or set up some kind of trellising device for more convenient harvesting, conserving garden

Growing Guide: Lettuce

Affiliate disclosure: as an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases made from links in this post. Today’s post is the first in a series of growing guides I want to share on some favorites in my garden, and eventually some houseplants too. Each time I grow something, I learn a little bit

Garden Journal: June 17th, 2022

So we may want to rebrand this as a bi-weekly(ish) garden journal because it just has not been happening every week like I planned. Nevertheless, much has grown since I last took you on a stroll through my gardens, and I’m excited to do so again today! Let’s start with the container garden, shall we?

Garden Journal: June 3rd, 2022

Well, it has been more than a week, but here we are again today for another garden journal. The garden has really changed in just a few weeks’ time, and I’m excited to show you all of the progress we’ve made. We are officially past our last frost date (!!!) which means its time to

How to harden off seedlings

My last frost date is finally approaching, and my seedlings are getting big and strong, just about ready for their more permanent outside homes. For almost two months now, I’ve coddled these little seedlings. I started with the best quality seed mix I could find, put my garden plans boldly down on paper, and calculated