Rhubarb, or Rheum rhabarbarum is a tasty spring and early summer treat. But only the stalks are edible. The level of oxalic acid is so high in the leaves that they are poisonous and cannot be eaten.
But that doesn’t mean that they need to be tossed in the trash. Here are 7 great ways to use rhubarb leaves:Continue Reading
Manure. You know what it is. Animal waste. It will often include the straw, hay, or wood shavings that are used as bedding for the animal and has absorbed the farm animal’s feces and urine. It’s been used for centuries as a slow-release fertilizer for farms and gardens.
Using manure in your garden builds organic matter, adds nutrients to your soil, and helps to increase microbial activity. It improves soil structure, drainage, and moisture retention.
The nitrogen in manure is not all immediately available. When soil organisms begin the decomposition process that nitrogen then becomes available. It’s a win-win situation with soil organisms and manure. They love each other.Continue Reading
Visit any vegetable garden and you’ll be sure to find a patch of tomato plants. They are a favorite for just about everyone. Even those who don’t like fresh tomatoes will want to learn more about growing tomatoes for sauce. Tomatoes are available in a seemingly endless number of varieties. I love to try at least one new variety each year. Continue Reading
For a beginner gardener, there’s much to think about. What seeds to choose, to dig or not to dig, and very importantly, how to choose the best spot for your garden.
Your first criteria when choosing a garden site is sun. Vegetable plants generally require full sun. That’s a minimum of 6 – 8 hours of sun per day throughout the growing season. A few vegetables will grow in partial sun (4 – 6 hours of sun per day).
An easy way to determine how many hours of sun your yard really gets is to measure the shadows. Get your science cap on, you’re going to be collecting some data here. Don’t worry, though, the process is really easy.Continue Reading
Because some plants tend to be very high in certain minerals, and because many of those plants have a deep root system, it is thought that these plants mine minerals from deep in the soil, accumulate them in their leaves, and fertilize the soil when their leaves drop and decompose. Such a plant is considered to be a dynamic accumulator.Continue Reading
Note from LearningAndYearning: Today’s guest post comes from James Smth, an avid prepper and a homesteader. James loves to write about prepping and natural living. Currently he is working for Teotwawki Supplies, a store offering survival food kits and other emergency survival supplies. Follow @JamesSmith1609 for more updates.
Although it may sound quite difficult, making your own natural fertilizer can be easy and straightforward. The best part is, you probably don’t have to look any further than your own pantry and backyard for the ingredients.Continue Reading