GARDEN

Think of long lazy days in the South of France, and you will be in the lavender fields of Provence. Stretching as far as the eye can see, these blue purple blooms fill the air with their sweet fragrant scent. This eternal symbol of Provence grows with the dazzling Mediterranean Sea as its backdrop. Fortunately, … Read more

If you ever wanted to grow a vegetable in your garden that would have your friends and family stopping in their tracks, pointing, and exclaiming, “What is that?” then you’ve got to consider growing kohlrabi. Kohlrabi is a unique plant that many people don’t include in their cooking – let alone in their garden plans. … Read more

For many people, parsley is nothing more than a garnish that rests off to the side of the dinner plate. For others, parsley is a necessary staple in the kitchen, providing a whole host of flavors and uses for home chefs. I happen to fall into the latter category. Although I wasn’t a huge fan … Read more

No-till gardening is a recent trend for homesteaders looking to improve their land instead of depleting it. Traditional farming and gardening tactics reduce soil biology and fertility, leading to successive plantings that are less productive. No-till gardening aims to build soil life and structure while reducing some backbreaking jobs that traditional gardeners deal with regularly. … Read more

What if you could grow a garden that was not only beautiful – but edible, too? One of my major gardening goals for this year was to reduce as many of my “non-purposeful” gardening tasks as possible. Last year, I found myself doing a lot of weeding, mowing, and watering for areas that weren’t really … Read more

Americans produce almost 40 million tons of food waste each year – that means we’re putting about a pound of food into the trash each day, when this is totally unnecessary. Composting is a great way to reduce your household’s food waste and to make fertile, nutrient-rich planting matter that you can use in your … Read more

Oregano is a superb multi-purpose culinary and medicinal herb. The delicious herb is not only often used in my homesteading kitchen, but also in herb balls that I made for all of our livestock to boost their immune systems and help keep them healthy. This herb plant is a part of the Origanum genus. Origanum … Read more

Whether you practice permaculture, agriculture or traditional gardening, you will come across the words nitrogen fixing more than once. The practical application of using nitrogen fixers is universal. Whether you are a small traditional gardener or a sustainable permaculture operation, the same rules apply. A healthy garden or food forest is all about the levels, … Read more

Growing red winter wheat does not require a large homestead with double digit acres of fields. Nope, you can grow this shelf-stable food in small patches or even in 5-gallon gardening containers. By cultivating your own wheat your are not only saving money by growing your own groceries, you also know exactly what is going … Read more

I finally finished planting the last round of tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers in the hoophouse! It’s still summer, so it might seem odd that I am planting in an insulated greenhouse. However, I’m trying to plan ahead for November – when I plan to still be enjoying juicy homegrown tomatoes fresh from the garden. Where … Read more

Cultivating medicinal herbs indoors increases the homegrown seasonings and herbal remedy ingredients available on the homestead year-round. Unlike traditional crops, herbs and medicinal flowering plants do not take up much space nor do they require deep soil to thrive. Windowsill herb gardens were once commonplace throughout America. Growing your own spices or even an aloe … Read more

Olive orchards can be cultivated on nearly all homesteads, no matter where they are located or how much acreage they sit upon. While these fruit trees are subtropical, dwarf versions can be cultivated outdoors (except during the winter months when they must be moved into a greenhouse or indoors). Starting an olive orchard also brings … Read more

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sucrose – table sugar. The FDA has approved highly purified stevia for use in food, but has not done the same with raw stevia grown at home and used in the raw due to a lack of safety testing. This herb plant … Read more

Comfrey is a beautiful and medicinal herb. You can easily grow this shrub style herb plant in either ground plots or containers. Comfrey can be cultivated in an apothecary patch on the homestead, or used as part of an edible landscaping project in traditional landscaping flower beds. This healing herb typically grows to reach heights … Read more

Marjoram is a superb “plant it and forget it” type of herb plant. Aside from being a little cold weather sensitive, marjoram thrives equally well when cultivated indoors in a pot, or outside in a raised bed. This member of the Lamiaceae family is a cousin to oregano, basil, summer savory, rosemary, thyme, mint, sage, … Read more

Summer is just around the corner, and many homesteaders are trying to decide what to plant on the homestead. As homesteaders, we tend to spend a lot of time outdoors, but in the summertime, we spend even more. Deciding which summer plants to grow on your homestead can take some time and thought. Before you … Read more