Dig into all things gardening—whether you’re growing your first tomato plant or planning a full backyard garden. Here you’ll find tips, how-tos, and inspiration for growing fruits, veggies, herbs, flowers, and more. We’re all about getting our hands dirty, learning as we grow, and enjoying the harvest together.
Did you know that you can repel ticks naturally? Ticks are one of the less welcome realities of spending time outdoors. Whether you’re tending the garden, collecting eggs from the chicken coop, hiking through the woods, or simply enjoying your backyard, these tiny pests can quickly become a concern for families, pets, and livestock. But […]
10 Herbs That May Help Repel Ticks Naturally Around Your Home Read Post »
There’s something deeply satisfying about turning a fresh basil harvest into jars of dried herbs lined up in the pantry. Drying basil at home is one of those simple homestead skills that saves money, reduces waste, and keeps the flavor of summer close at hand all year long. Whether your basil comes from a backyard
How to Dry Basil at Home: Easy Methods That Actually Work Read Post »
Foraging for edible wild plants is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with nature while adding fresh, nutritious ingredients to your kitchen. From edible weeds growing in your yard to wild berries and herbs found along local trails, learning to identify and use wild edibles can be both practical and fun for the
Edible Wild Plants: A Beginner’s Guide to Safe Foraging Read Post »
How to plant and care for scarlet runner beans. Scarlet runner beans are cherished by gardeners for more than just their striking red flowers. Their bright blossoms attract pollinators, while the edible pods and mature beans provide a tasty harvest. These vigorous climbing plants also offer several advantages over regular pole beans, and with dozens
Scarlet Runner Beans: Planting and Care Basics Read Post »
Learn how to grow garlic at home with this beginner’s guide to planting and harvesting garlic. For many gardeners and homesteaders, garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, yet one of the most rewarding. Once you grow your own garlic, you’ll never go back to the grocery store kind again. There’s something incredibly
How to Grow Garlic: A Guide to Planting and Harvesting Read Post »
What to Do with an Overabundance of Eggplant is the question every gardener and home cook faces when those glossy purple beauties start taking over the kitchen. Luckily, there are so many delicious and creative ways to enjoy them. If you’re anything like me, there are times when your garden, or local farmers’ market, just
What to Do with an Overabundance of Eggplant Read Post »
Different Types of Eggplants offer a world of flavors, colors, and textures that can transform everything from simple stir fries to classic Italian dishes like eggplant parmesan. Eggplants are one of those vegetables that are as versatile as they are fascinating. From Italian eggplants in classic eggplant parmesan to slender Japanese eggplants perfect for stir-fries,
Different Types of Eggplants: Popular Varieties Read Post »
Many gardeners wonder: does eggplant need a trellis? The short answer is: it depends on your growing method, plant variety, and garden conditions. Let’s explore why support can be beneficial, when it’s optional, and the best ways to keep your eggplants healthy and productive. Eggplants are beautiful, productive plants that can produce delicious fruits throughout
Does Eggplant Need a Trellis to Grow? A Gardener’s Guide Read Post »
Let’s talk about planting and growing eggplant today so you can have a bountiful harvest in the fall. If you’ve ever admired the glossy purple skin of a freshly picked eggplant, you’ll know there’s something deeply satisfying about growing your own. Eggplants (also called aubergines) bring both beauty and bounty to the homestead garden. With
The Complete Guide to Planting and Growing Eggplant Read Post »
With this guide, you can use succession planting for fall and beyond to increase your harvest. This year, I’ve been watching my daughter plan, plant, and harvest her own garden. It’s been a joy to see her enthusiasm, but it’s also made me realize something: so many of the things I do in the garden
Guide to Succession Planting for Fall and Beyond Read Post »
We’ll show you how to harvest cabbage, so it keeps producing, the care it needs after cutting, and what to expect from your second harvest. Did you know there is a way to regrow cabbage? Many gardeners pull their cabbage plant from the ground after harvesting the main head. But if you’re looking to get
How to harvest cabbage so it keeps producing Read Post »
When to Harvest Cabbage for the Best Flavors and Yield isn’t just a question of dates. It’s about recognizing the right signs in your garden. Timing your harvest well means enjoying tender, crisp cabbage with maximum flavor and getting the most out of every head. At our house, we Love our cabbage. Growing cabbage in
When to harvest cabbage for the best flavors and yield Read Post »
In this guide, we’ll cover 3 Signs Your Cabbage Is Ready to Be Harvested from the Garden so you can enjoy full, flavorful heads at their peak. If you’re growing cabbage this season, knowing when to pick it is just as important as how you grow it. Whether you’re growing green, red, or Savoy cabbage,
3 Signs Your Cabbage Is Ready to Be Harvested from the Garden Read Post »
Did you know you should be picking your tomatoes at first blush, not the peak of ripeness? There’s nothing like the flavor of a homegrown, vine-ripened tomato. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve lost more than a few red tomatoes to curious critters, pecking birds, or splitting skins. Once that bright red color starts
How & Why Picking Tomatoes at First Blush Is Best Read Post »
Finding the best way to store fresh mint leaves is a good idea for every home cook or gardener with large harvests. If your herb garden is overflowing with mint plants this season, you’re not alone. We’re in the same boat! While mint is a versatile herb we love tossing into iced tea, mint pesto,
Expert Tips on How to Store Fresh Mint Leaves Read Post »
Let’s talk about 20 cool weather crops you can plant now to keep your garden thriving well into the crisp autumn months. As summer starts to wind down here in Wisconsin, many gardeners think it’s time to pull up the plants and pack up the tools. But for us homesteaders, this is actually the perfect
20 Cool Weather Crops to Plant Now for a Thriving Fall Garden Read Post »
Knowing when to water your garden and exactly how much water your garden needs can be a bit of a mystery. Even for seasoned gardeners. Water too much and you risk root rot and disease; water too little and your garden plants may dry up in the heat of the day. The good news? With
Expert Tips: Knowing When to Water Your Garden Read Post »
It always seems the dill is ready before my produce from my garden, so how do I store dill, so I have it for recipes and canning. Fresh dill is one of those aromatic herbs that brings bright, tangy flavor to everything from chicken salad to dill pickles. This works for fresh dill from the
Smart Ways to Store Dill for Maximum Freshness Read Post »
Learn how to keep your potatoes all winter with this storing potatoes 101 guide. Whether you’re stocking up on grocery store potatoes, bringing home a few bags from the farmers market, or storing a just-harvested crop from your backyard garden, knowing how to store potatoes the right way makes a big difference. The wrong environment,
Storing Potatoes 101: Cure and Keep them All Winter Read Post »
Not long ago, my daughter and I saw a video on social media on how to preserve flowers in bottles. It looked like such a fun way to keep blooms around longer. We just had to try it. We picked out a few flower stems from our garden. You can also use fresh flowers from
Easy Way to Preserve Flowers in Bottles with Baby Oil Read Post »
