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The Easy Way to Grow Raspberries

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Growing fruit can be more challenging than vegetables, but once you learn the easy way to grow raspberries, you'll never grow them any other way!

I guess it’s part of my personal philosophy. I work hard, but I don’t see the point of doing a job a certain way when there’s an easier alternative. So, I don’t dry dishes, because they’ll dry themselves in the dish drainer. And I take the easy way out when it comes to growing raspberries.

 


Raspberries, and other thorny bushes like blackberries, are brambles in the Rubus genus. They are perennials, but their branches (or canes) live for only two years. First year canes are known as primocanes, and second year are called floricanes.Continue Reading

Storing Vegetables: 10 Garden Vegetables That Store Well

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If your goal is to eat vegetables from your garden all year long then storing vegetables properly is essential. Here are 10 garden vegetables that store well.

In our early years of gardening, we were able to eat fresh from our garden all during harvest season. Sure, there were often extra tomatoes to can, or broccoli to freeze, and even enough carrots to over-winter in the garden. The size of our garden has increased exponentially over the years and the goal now is to eat vegetables from our garden all year long. Yes, even fresh vegetables. Storing vegetables properly is essential.Continue Reading

Lasagna Gardening – an Easy and Productive 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

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