Hi everyone! It's finally fall here in Northwestern North Carolina. After the intense heat, humidity, and heavy rains we've had for the last two months, this weather is an amazing gift. I just wish I could wrap it up and share it with the West Coast for awhile to help all those brave people out… Continue reading Growing and Harvesting Ginger at Home (with Video and a Peak in My Fall Garden)
Tag: homesteading
Epicurean Homesteading
I started writing this post for the purpose of sharing one of my new posts Morning Chores called Epicurean Homesteading: How to Be Self-Sufficient While Making Your Life More Pleasurable. But then I realized, to those who don't know the history and philosophy of Epicureanism, this subject might seem silly in the context of a… Continue reading Epicurean Homesteading
A Homestead Tour
I recently posted a photo tour of our homestead on my other blog (which is more of a personal journal). I wanted to share the link to that post here too so you can see the power of simple homesteading to transform a landscape. Before you link out to the photos, though, let me share… Continue reading A Homestead Tour
Fast-Track to Greater Self-Sufficiency
Creating a functioning homestead takes time, effort, and resources. It's not something you should rush into or do without careful planning. Yet, often in the middle of a crises, we feel an overwhelming urgency to make radical changes to increase our sense of security. Unfortunately, that can be the hardest time to get started. Fear… Continue reading Fast-Track to Greater Self-Sufficiency
Harvesting, Preserving, and Propagating Spring Herbs
Each year in early to mid-spring, my perennial herbs start putting on huge amounts of new growth. In order to keep those plants tame, make them bushier, keep evergreens from becoming woody, and delay premature flowering, harvesting quite a bit of that early growth is necessary. It seems counter intuitive to harvest heavily when plants… Continue reading Harvesting, Preserving, and Propagating Spring Herbs
Potager Gardening in a Crisis
The COVID-19 virus has made it difficult for grocery stores to keep shelves stocked. I visited the grocery for the first time in a month and was surprised to see so many shelves empty. Toilet paper, of course, was no where to be found. But, other things like flour, eggs, butter, and many fresh vegetables… Continue reading Potager Gardening in a Crisis
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Garden
Choosing the plants that will grow well in your climate, weather, soil type, and garden is quite complicated. That's why a big part of becoming a good gardener is learning how to read your landscape, understand your conditions, and carefully select plants that are most likely to thrive where you live. If you want to… Continue reading Choosing the Right Plants for Your Garden
Start Raising Chickens Simply
Start your first chicken flock with less stress and more fun!
The Power of a Well-Planned Potager
Do you want your garden to produce food even with 4 weeks of neglect in extreme heat and dry weather? Then plant a well-planned potager garden.
Thai Basil
Thai basil grows very similar to other basils. It does well in fertile, well-draining soils, and can tolerate some drought. It has been much slower to flower than the common Genovese basil and more resistant to bolting in hot, dry weather. This basil grows a bit slower than many other basils, but puts on a… Continue reading Thai Basil
Persian Basil
Persian basil is a mild tasting,easy to grow, member of the basil family.
Easy Composting for Your Organic Garden
Make compost for your garden using a few simple steps.
The Homestead Potager Garden Design
In previous posts, I covered some things I know to be beneficial about choosing your potager location and designing your paths and bed styles. I also explained why I think it's really important to make a vegetable garden functional and beautiful and inviting. Now I want to cover a few other practical considerations that may… Continue reading The Homestead Potager Garden Design
Pathways For Your Homestead Potager
When you see past the pretty flowers and profuse plantings, you'll discover that every garden has bones and secrets buried beneath. A garden's design and its underlying infrastructure dictate how well it works and how much work it takes to maintain that garden. The Beaten Path For example, when I visit a garden that has… Continue reading Pathways For Your Homestead Potager
Starting a Homestead Potager
I strongly believe that all in-ground homestead vegetable gardens should be "potagers". Potager is a French word that embodies the idea of both a functional kitchen garden and a beautiful space that allows for creative expression and cultivation of your gardening skills. Potagers have lots of vegetables, of course. However, they often include plants to… Continue reading Starting a Homestead Potager
