You can create sun-dried tomatoes using an old world technique, without canning, freezing, or even the sun, and have the same authentic delectable taste as the expensive imported brands! Read More
Why don't all gardeners try to grow luffa gourds? There are so many uses for this sponge-filled novelty. The immature fruit is a healthy vegetable prepared like squash, it does not cross-pollinate outside it's species, and when fully grown, can be put to work scrubbing and cleaning, insulating and sound-proofing your tool shed, filtering and straining, and to create useful handcrafted items! Read More
A Keyhole Garden is a raised bed, lasagna garden, composting, and recycling system all rolled into one. The design creates a garden that uses recycled materials, less water and maintenance, and can be made handicap-accessible! Read More
There is a movement afoot calling for the eradication of several out-of-control nonnative species via knife, spoon, or fork! A human that hunts, harvests, and devours invasive species that threaten their local environment is known as an invasivore. I suppose that also makes them a locavore, and possibly an omnivore, if both plants and animals are on the menu! You can easily become an invasivore, too, if you know where to look and how to cook. Read More
There is a HUGE difference in the taste and texture of homemade pasta noodles compared to the prepackaged store-bought pastas. There is NO limit to what can be added to your own homemade pasta! As many herbs become ready to pick and use, let's spice up basic pasta dough with herbs. Get your taste buds set for some new bursting-full-of-flavor foods with healthy benefits! Read More
Some herbs do not like the fertilized loamy soil you plant them in. Despite their possible lush growth, their flavor, aroma, and medicinal strengths will suffer. Mediterranean herbs do best when allowed to struggle a little in the dry alkaline, and rocky soil of their origins, making them well suited for xeriscaping. Read More
Do you have hickory trees on or near your property? Then you may have a great food source; a necessary component for grilling and smoking meat and fish; recycling materials for the yard and garden, and with a little imagination, a bonus resource for craft projects. Read More
My family calls me a pack-rat, and I guess that is what I am. The reason for this obsession is, once I find a use for something; I see it as a raw material, not trash. I collect as much raw materials as possible and keep a check on the recycle bins, just like our midnight marauding skunk, to see what I have to work with before I start a project. Read More
When I say we have tons of leaves in our yard, I'm not exaggerating. How many leaves are actually in a ton? How many of those plastic bags will it take to collect them all? How many pickup truckloads to haul them off? How much compost will they produce if they're piled up? What about burning? Read More
Do you have too many pears with a pantry already full of the same old canned preserves? Then try this easy no-fuss recipe that uses a lot of pears, produces two very useful treats with one effort, and make great gifts too. "No honeybees were harmed in making this honey!" Read More
Man has been fermenting foods for thousands of years, but what is fermentation? How does it preserve foods? Is it a safe and healthy means to store our harvest? Read More
This article will discuss the sun clocks you can set up with free information available on the Internet. The interactive analemmatic "human" sun clock is the focus for my needs, but others will be listed for you to create a sun clock to suit the amount of space in your yard. Read More
Did your elders reminisce about the horrid-smelling acifidity bags they were made to wear during their childhood to protect them from the flu, disease, and evil spirits? Most did not know what was in the bags, but I do! Read More
I experimented with an arched trellis made with concrete re-mesh wire and metal fence posts for my tomatoes and pole beans last year. It was a great success despite the late tomato blight, so this year I wanted a more structurally sound arched trellis and the cattle panels were the perfect size, sturdy and easy to manage! Read More
Have you heard of autumn olives? Do they grow wild near you? Did you know they could help save your life? Read More
A few friends living in opposite directions of the county, called within minutes of each other to say that their sweet cherries were ripe, the birds were gathering, and rain was in the forecast! If we wanted cherries, we better hurry. We dropped what we were doing, gathered containers and a ladder, and headed out. The race for the cherries had begun! Read More
It is bad enough that the smelly brown invaders messed up our fruits, nuts, and vegetables this summer, but now they want to live with us for the winter! Read More
A sure cure for scurvy; a remedy for cold, flu, obesity, dementia, bladder, and kidney issues; antidepressant; anti-hypertensive; anti-tumor; render chemotherapy less toxic to patients, and many more potential health improvements and nutritional benefits, can all be found in the Christmas tree you dispose of yearly! Read More
My great-grandparents used to sprout potatoes for spring planting using leftover potatoes stored through the winter from the previous harvest. I have always prepared my store-bought seed potatoes in the same manner. I did not know this prep was called "chitting" until recently. In researching how to properly chit potatoes, I learned that there were a few common sense considerations despite the method. Read More
A good friend purchased cloth grow bags for her potato planting a few years ago. Being a frugal fixer (tightwad, penny-pincher, etc.), I thought I could make the same thing using a roll of old landscape cloth and my sewing machine for much less than she had paid. To my surprise, not only did they work beautifully, but I am still using them! Here is my "Tater Totes" tale and tips on non-sewing versions for others to consider! Read More