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A natural living site where you'll learn about organic gardening, foraging, home medicine and more.

Lasagna Gardening- The Best Way to Garden

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For the past 8 years we’ve taken our garden from good to great with a style of gardening that has been labeled lasagna gardening. Also known as sheet composting, a lasagna garden is built by layering organic materials which eventually will decompose into wonderful garden soil.

Lasagna Gardening Builds Soil

I was heavily influenced by Ruth Stout in my early years as a gardener back in the 70s. She advocated a style of gardening that was no-dig and heavy on mulch so that weeding was eliminated. As the mulch decays, it builds soil, and more mulch is added.

In those early years, I continued to hand dig my garden, but I did take Ruth’s advice and mulched heavily. Our gardens were productive.

But for the past 8 years we’ve taken our garden from good to great with a style of gardening that improves on Ruth Stout’s work. Continue Reading

Book Review: The Suburban Micro-Farm

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The Suburban Micro-Farm by Amy Stross is full of valuable advice for all levels of gardener. Learn not only how to grow a garden but how to earn an income!

It’s always fun to get to check out a new book before the rest of the world sees it. And The Suburban Micro-Farm by Amy Stross was no exception. This gardening book really does cover it all, and there is plenty for both the beginner, and advanced gardener.

If you are living on a small plot of land, you’ll really appreciate Amy’s years of experience and wisdom in getting the most of every inch of your property. She’ll teach you how to build your soil, and to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs.Continue Reading

June: Tour My Zone 5B Garden

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onions

Welcome to my Pennsylvania garden! Be sure to scroll to the bottom to get a tour of 11 other gardens. How fun is that?

The June garden, for the most part, is a young garden. While the cool weather plants like onions, peas and broccoli have been in the ground for a month or two, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra were planted just a few short weeks ago.Continue Reading

7 Great Ways to Use Rhubarb Leaves

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The level of oxalic acid is so high in rhubarb 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 them!

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

The Ins and Outs of Using Manure in Your Garden

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Learn the ins and outs of using manure in your garden, and important questions to ask your farmer to be sure your manure is safe.

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.

Why Use Manure in Your Garden

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

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