Being a successful home grower involves understanding how to make the most of each and every crop that you grow. Experienced organic gardeners soon learn that not everything goes according …

While there are several ways to preserve fresh table grapes, making grape juice tops the list of most delicious ways to make those fragrant bunches last well into the winter …

Flowering bulbs (and corms and tubers) are early harbingers of spring, providing some much needed color and beauty after a long and dreary winter season. Aside from buoying our spirits, …

Raising perennial berry bushes on the homestead can take years of effort, often with minimal reward. A better option? Focus on foraging the wild fruit abundant in your region. Autumn …

Look, I already know what you’re thinking. “Beet wine? Is she crazy? That sounds terrible.” Of course, beet wine. Maybe a little. And no, it’s quite wonderful actually. But it’s …

When the warmth of summer suddenly comes to a halt, will your garden be ready for cold nights and beautiful, sparkling frosty mornings? Many gardeners know the feeling all too …

There are few fall pleasures as profound as biting into a homegrown apple. However, apple trees cause far more than their fair share of stress for any home growers.   …

When you live in a part of the world with distinct seasons, dutifully checking the weather forecast every day is a semi-annual gardening tradition. Sudden swings in temperature in late …

If you’ve been gardening for any length of time, you know that compost does magical things for your yield. But even the most active compost bin can’t break down all …

Am I the only one that grows herbs and then thinks, “Okay…now what the heck do I do with these?” I mean, for some herbs, it’s obvious. Mint you make …

With a bountiful apple season on the way, are you prepared for the work – and joy – that comes with preserving a hundred apples? Or a hundred pounds of …

Lemons are such an amazing and versatile ingredient, it’s always a good idea to have some on hand. The sweet and sour flavoring of all parts of the lemon fruit …

Compost always amazes me. You take scraps from your kitchen that you’d typically throw away, mix them with microbes and air, and dry scraps from your yard that you’d normally …

Elderberries are one of my favorite fall-garden attractions. Where elders grow, the glossy, black berries on their reddish-pink stems are a definitive sight of the season. Here on our homestead, …

Blueberries and basil go together like peanut butter and jelly. This flavor combo pops up everywhere these days, and for good reason. A couple of summers ago I was inundated …

We are always on the search for easy canning recipes that are not only delicious all winter long, but those that store well for several months too. As sweet as …

Keeping chickens is a lot of fun, but when you first start off, it can be so nerve-wracking. If you’re a nervous beginner, one of the best things you can …

So, I want to know who decided we should throw out carrot tops instead of eating these delicious greens? I know the thought of eating carrot tops seems strange. Can …

Lettuce is one of the easiest crops for any gardener to grow. But getting it right means thinking about which varieties are right for you and your area. If you …

Daffodils are surely one of the cheeriest sights in a spring garden. Most gardeners will no doubt be aware that these are one of the earliest flowers to bloom in …

Broadly defined, invasive plants are non-native species introduced to a particular region where they are able to spread far and wide. Exotic plants from faraway lands may be beautiful but …

Honey is one of the coolest natural products we’ve got going on this planet. I mean, just think about it. Honey is a food made by insects; that in itself …

Some of my favorite vegetables are the ones that you can munch on straight out of the garden; no cooking required. You know the ones – a warm, sun-ripened tomato, …

Outside of the coldest months, there is always something to do in the garden, whether it be planting, weeding, dealing with pests, saving seeds, drying herbs, amending the soil or …