This simple and primitive looking tool, the Broadfork, is one I highly recommend every garden. The Broadfork is used to loosen and aerate soil without causing disturbance to the beneficial organisms and ecology in your soil layers. I prefer using a Broadfork over using a rototiller any day. I find the Broadfork to be in […] Read more…
Is it a spade or a shovel – what’s the difference? Shovels and spades have been around a very long time and are used in various ways from gardening to landscaping – so long in fact that the design cannot be improved. You will see all kinds of “flashy” things added – wider shoulders, different […] Read more…
I have grown all of the herbs listed in this article, it’s easy to do provided you give the plants what they require. I purchase most of my seeds from Johnny’s Select Seeds, I find them easy to grow and they make excellent additions to salads and many dishes. Mints and Lavender are best when purchased […] Read more…
I thought this article from Johnny’s Select Seeds, March 2011, newsletter was interesting as more and more serious people are supplementing their income; or are going all out and creating large gardens or small farms to cater to their local restaurants. I found the advice in this article a great starting point for those who […] Read more…
Sometimes all we need to know are the basics to get going. I found this article in Johnny’s Select Seeds, March 2011, newsletter to be one of those little gems that plants a seed in our minds and inspires us towards directions we might not have considered otherwise. Like many, I find the local and […] Read more…
Over the years, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that Mother Nature has an intelligence that far surpasses human intellect. For instance, what we think we know about good gardening practices goes entirely down the drain when we examine the interactions of micro-organisms in, or lacking, in our garden soil. Ignorance, or the absence of […] Read more…
Use this simple essential oil spray mixture recipe to control aphids on house or garden plants. You will need: 14oz. spray bottle 6 drops Black Pepper essential oil 6 drops Clove essential oil 6 drops Cinnamon essential oil water Instructions: Fill spray bottle with water. Add essential oils. Shake and spray, be sure to get […] Read more…
It is very important to maintain your tools by keeping them clean and free of rust, properly adjusted and sharp. You also need to do some repair if the metal is deformed like the point on a pick (it tends to get blunt when striking rock) or the tip of your spade. Supplies and tools […] Read more…
The end of gardening is here, at least for this year. It is time to clean up, let the earth rest and plan for next year. For us it was a pretty bountiful year and we had a little bit to clean up. With winter approaching it is time for us to tend our nets. […] Read more…
The term ’embodied energy’ refers to the total amount of energy used at every stage of the manufacturing and transportation of a product. ‘Food Miles’ refers to the distance food travels, from where it is produced to the person who finally eats it. Food miles incorporates the issue of the use of non-renewable resources, such […] Read more…
