Summer should be about lounging in the sun, enjoying crisp garden produce, and splashing in the water at the beach. And really, it’s all fun and games… until a heatwave rolls in, and you don’t have any electricity. Where I live, we are on day fourteen of a monumental heat wave (but who’s counting) and … Read more
Owning your own greenhouse is a great way to extend the growing season so you can have fresh, delicious vegetables all year long. It’s also a wonderful way to improve your yields so you can sell produce to others if that’s something you’d like to do. What Does it Cost to Build a DIY Greenhouse? … Read more
Water is amazing – we know that. Without it, life on earth would not exist, at least not as we know it! That’s a simple fact that pretty much everybody accepts, but something people tend to have a much harder time wrapping their heads around? If you’re anything like me, you probably find indoor houseplants … Read more
If you’ve been following the news or social media, you may have heard of the deadly Chagas disease. On this note, you might have heard rumors that Chagas disease is spread by assassin bug bites. If you’re asking yourself, “can you get Chagas disease from assassin bug bites?” the answer, unfortunately, is yes. You can … Read more
An assassin bug infestation is no laughing matter. If you’ve ever dealt with these pests before, you know how frustrating it can be to have them on your property. Although some types of assassin bugs are completely harmless to humans and would rather spend their entire life cycles outside in your garden, munching on garden … Read more
If you recently purchased a greenhouse, likely the first question on your mind – besides what you are going to grow, of course! – is where to place it. The best place to position your greenhouse is typically one that gets lots of sunlight (with southern exposure), very little wind, is slightly elevated, and not … Read more
Spend hours pulling weeds, with sweat dripping off your brow, and you might be wondering, “why are weeds so bad for your garden?” Sure, they don’t look all that great – but are they really that harmful? There are some benefits to letting weeds flourish in your garden, but there are also some risks, too. … Read more
Do you love foraging for wild mushrooms? This is quite an enjoyable pastime that is practiced by budding mycologists – people who are passionate about mushrooms – all over the world. There are millions of species of mushrooms growing in the world today. While some are both edible and delicious, sporting myriad health benefits, others … Read more
Thinking about an assassin bug is enough to make your skin crawl. Not only are these pests creepy to look at, but they have the power to conjure up some serious nightmares. Carriers of the serious Chaga disease and fellow bug-killers in their own right, assassin bugs are shrouded with myths and rumors. Ready to … Read more
Have you been wanting to grow fruit on your homestead – but put it off because you thought it was too big of a task for you to handle? Think again. Blackberries are some of the easiest plants you can grow on your homestead or in your backyard, and they’re also some of the most … Read more
They might stain your cutting board every time you chop one open, but there’s no arguing – beets are some of the most nutritious, delicious vegetables you can grow and cook. These root vegetables are cultivated all over the world, and they can be served roasted, raw, pickled, and more. Packed with essential minerals and … Read more
This simple oxtail soup recipe is a classic recipe in Chinese culture and actually finds its roots in Russia. It tends to be brothier and lighter than the Western versions of oxtail soup, and also contains many nutrients and lots of flavor. It takes about two hours to make. Check out some other oxtail soup … Read more
This classic oxtail soup recipe, beloved by the Scottish, is easy to make and even easier to enjoy. This is one of those dishes you start in the morning so it will be fall apart tender, ready for the evening meal. If you’re short on time or space, this soup can even be made in … Read more
As a little kid, I was not fond of trying new vegetables – a reluctance that I believe many of us share. However, parsnips were never even an item on our dinner table because they weren’t part of our standard rotation of vegetables. We pretty much stuck to the classics – green beans, carrots, corn, … Read more
Is there anything better than the sweet taste of fresh carrots? I don’t think so. Except, perhaps, the taste of fresh carrots that you’ve just harvested from your own garden. This year, I harvested over a hundred pounds of carrots grown in just two small raised beds in my backyard. I’ve never grown that many … Read more
Another popular recipe from Hawaii, this oxtail soup recipe includes a hearty base and plenty of braised meat. It is generally served with ramen noodles as well as fried garlic chips, but you can, of course, serve it anyway you like – as long as there is plenty of it!