Welcome to my pit of despair. I say that with a cheeky grin and a bit of sarcasm, but not much. Full transparency: this patch is just one of many dreadfully hideous spots on this land. In an effort to dispel any myths about a perfect garden (or hence a perfect life) that I may have inadvertently construed through my blogging, I’m here to unearth the reality.
Read MoreIt’s seemed like a long time coming, but we’ve finally planted trees along our northern border. After considering and imagining countless trees and tall shrubs of all varieties, I elected to plant a dozen Green Giant Arborvitae trees. This hedge of trees is already transforming the feeling in our backyard and I can’t wait to watch them grow together in the coming years. After so many long days of toiling, moments like this make rewilding this land all worth it.
Read MoreFor many novice gardeners, knowing what to do in the garden throughout the year can be challenging As your faithful master gardener, I’m here to dispel the myth that gardening is only done in spring. To simplify your gardening to do list here’s a comprehensive list of what to do in the garden during each season.
Read MoreOur latest project in our backyard consisted of installing a hügelkultur privacy berm along the perimeter of our property. There are many benefits a berm offers within the context of regenerative gardening and beautiful landscaping. I’m excited to share my latest project with you in hopes that it can inspire a greater understanding of garden ecology while showcasing that earth-healing practices can be implemented while creating a beautiful landscape.
Read MoreWe’re well into the growing season and while swoon-worthy photos of lush veggie plots saturate my social media feed, I can’t help but feel a little left out as my garden looks a bit… unconventional this year. I’m not letting it get the best of me because deep down I know I’m making magic. When it comes to cultivating a garden from scratch, or rather, fully regenerating a soil ecosystem from dead to thriving, it’s a slow process.
Read MoreFor those that aren’t obsessed with gardening, it may come as a shock to learn that it is absolutely necessary to shop for seeds in January. However, January is truly the best time to shop for seeds preceding any spring gardening activities. Purchasing seeds early helps us plan our kitchen gardens appropriately and schedule out the best days to sow seeds before seed-starting season arrives in March.
Read MoreGardening by the phases of the moon may seem like a mystical or superstitious way to cultivate plants, but in fact it’s a biodynamic gardening method that farmers and gardeners have practiced throughout the ages. Sowing and harvesting with the moon has turned many of my mundane garden tasks into magical rituals that strengthen my awareness of the cycles of nature. It has helped me cultivate a thriving and beautifully productive garden landscape that nourishes both my body and soul.
Read MoreSo you’ve planted your edible garden (perhaps for the first time), and now it’s summer and your plants are starting to grow. What an exciting time it is to be in this stage of the growing season! If you are new to gardening or lack confidence in growing a bountiful and nutrient rich kitchen garden, then these summer garden maintenance tips will not only help you keep your garden healthy, but make sure it thrives and produces a delicious harvest all summer long.
Read MoreGrowing our own food to be more self-sustaining has never been more important than it is right now. During these fearful times of this evolving economic and pandemic crisis, knowing that I could grow all of my household’s food if necessary gives me great comfort. If you are anything like me, you are dying to get seeds into the ground in as soon as possible so your family can be that much closer to eating delicious home-grown veggies. Knowing what to plant and when can be overwhelming as a beginner gardener, but I’m here to demystify this process, share my best tips as a master gardener, and help you get your dream kitchen garden started.
Read MoreWhen I add a new tool to my collection, I’m not just buying a tool to get the job done, I’m buying an extension to my hands that will garden and forage with me for the rest of my life. These tools will become my allies and comrades in all my ventures, and so I regard tool buying as one of my most important gardening and foraging tasks. Nevertheless the sheer amount of tools on the market can be overwhelming. Knowing what tool is best for what job, or learning what tool can help make many tasks easier takes time and experience. So I’ve compiled a guide to share the gardening and foraging tools that I cannot work without. And I’ve shared what tasks I use them for, too.
Read MoreIn an effort to put a little pep in my step during these mid-winter blues, I decided to do a small project that might satiate my green thumb. And it’s true, I have learned that making a kokedama garden, while sipping on a cheery sunshine latte, is the best help for these mid-winter blues. Plus, a mood-lifting playlist while crafting only made this project that much better. I’m glad to admit that before long I found myself grooving to the music and wiggling out the grouch inside of me.
Read MoreThe primordial pull to gather, preserve, stock up, and nest before the first Winter storm is very strong. Autumn, with it’s cooler temperatures, presents the perfect time to do our best gardening work. It is the work that prepares our garden for the following growing season. Here are my fall gardening tips:
Read MoreIn springtime, the sound of trickling water signals the snow melting in the warmth of a brighter sun. The smell of damp earth indicates the thawing of the ground. The first fuzzy buds begin to form and shoots of green peek through the soil. The energy of life, and possibility, is palpable. Here are my spring gardening tips…
Read MoreAs we stride into high summer, I look forward to reveling in all the abundance that comes with a summer harvest. I’ll fill my basket until it’s heavy laden with ready garden ingredients. Then, I’ll dine al fresco on all of this delicious organic goodness. Here’s my midsummer garden harvest (and how I’ve grown them) that will soon be adorning my plates for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Read MoreEvery time I step into my garden, to begin my tasks of plant caregiving, I become aware that I am doing more than just manual labor for the benefit of my kitchen table - I’m doing deep internal work as well. Gardening is meditation in action. Here’s the lessons I’ve learned, from my garden, about celebrating and attracting abundance.
