Grow them for how they look, how they smell and certainly how they taste. Easy to grow, easy to store. Have an abundance of useful culinary herbs, in a relatively small space. Save money at the grocery store and open up new avenues along your culinary journey. Here is a […]
Johan Jelsma
52 posts
Today, we’re diving into the world of no-till gardening, the secret weapon for a flourishing summer with minimal effort (eventually). While it still takes time and tending, the garden space should ultimately become an easier place to work, with a lot less weeding, while building healthier soils. Why a no-till […]
Diversity of flora and fauna is a cornerstone of ecological resilience. So, let’s plant a bunch of different native/naturalized annual, biennial and perennial plants. In turn they can attract an abundance of species of insects that will pollinate your garden and help regulate other insect populations. Here’s a list of […]
Pruning your trees and shrubs is a gardening task that should be done on a fairly regular basis. It depends on the species of plants and your desired outcomes as to when and how much you’ll cut. Pruning can help “rehabilitate” plants, promote new growth, change the spacing between plants, […]
Plan plan plan. Although we know nothing ever goes according to plan, having a plan in place makes most things easier in the garden. Whether it’s one raised bed, a ½ acre homesteading garden or a biodiverse perennial garden. In order to begin planning your garden planting, go to the […]
Cleaning and carefully storing tools at the end of the growing season will protect them over the winter so that they are ready to go next spring! Before storing, make sure to rinse all tools and remove any excess dirt with a rag or bristle brush. Dry tools and use […]
Soil tests measure soil pH, and texture, as well as the abundance of various available nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Some tests can measure contaminants too. You can choose to either send your soil samples out to a lab for testing, or do it yourself with an at-home […]
Brrr! Winter is just around the corner-–it’s time to put your garden to bed before it gets too chilly. Harvest as much as you can before it’s too late, especially tender crops like tomatoes and zucchini, which do not tolerate frost well. Plants that can overwinter are fine to leave […]
Adding a hoop house over your garden bed can protect your plants from frost and help them get the sunlight they need during the colder months. You can make your own hoop house to suit your garden beds at little cost. Most DIY garden bed hoop houses are constructed with […]
Garlic is a delicious and hardy crop that requires relatively low effort to produce a bountiful harvest! Here’s a few important tips to remember when planting garlic: https://www.almanac.com/plant/garlic http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene568b.html#:~:text=In%20New%20York%2C%20plant%20from,been%20treated%20to%20discourage%20sprouting. https://www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2009/11/tip-of-the-week/tip-of-the-week-how-to-grow-garlic Join us at the VINES Urban Farm for our upcoming garlic planting green thumb workshop to get some hands-on experience!! […]