Featured Series

Seed Saving Part 3: Harvesting & Processing Seeds

Anne Gibson

This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK32 & US30. Saving seeds starts with growing and nurturing healthy plants, so the seeds are ripe and mature. The next steps are to harvest, dry, clean, and process the seeds, ready for storage until you’re ready to plant.  Harvesting Guidelines  Collect seeds only from the best…

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The Mighty Burdock Weed: A Cornucopia of Virtues

This article original appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK32 & US30. Many people are already familiar with burdock. It’s tall and robust, but what makes it stand out the most is its pesky burrs that cling to our clothing after a walk on the roadside, in fields or pastures.  It certainly takes some patience to…
December 23, 2019
Caroline Rivard

Seed Saving Part 2: Selecting Seeds and Controlling Pollination

This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK31 & US29. Our food security begins and ends with seeds. Heirloom and organic seeds, in particular, are under threat with the decrease in seed diversity. More growers are needed to develop and grow vegetables and continue sharing the skills and knowledge required for seed conservation. There…
November 20, 2019
Anne Gibson

Korean Natural Farming: Seed Soak Solution

Let’s face it; the early stages of life are most crucial for pretty much any species on Earth. If the start of your life is all stress and turmoil, chances are you’re going to suffer for it at various points throughout your life. On the flip side, if you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth and given all the opportunities you could ever desire, you are much more likely to become highly successful. Everyone might hate you for the unfair advantage you’ve had, but at least you will be warm and smug come winter while sleeping on your pile of money.
November 11, 2019
Nico Hill

Yarrow: From Garden Weed To Powerful Medicinal Plant

This hardy plant feels at ease pretty much everywhere and thrives in a wide range of climates and soil conditions. The poorer the soil it grows in, the stronger its potency and the scent of its oils will be. A garden weed by nature, it tends to spread quickly! If you are lucky enough to find yarrow growing in your gardens, think twice before throwing it on the compost pile. It is a powerful plant that has much to offer. 
November 4, 2019
Caroline Rivard

Seed Saving Part 1: The Lost Art of Seed Saving

This article originally appeared in Garden Culture Magazine UK30 & US28.  Ten years ago, at a local gardening group, I heard an elderly gardener extolling the importance of saving seeds with a great sense of urgency. At the time, I thought ‘why bother?’ when seeds are so cheaply available. However, the insights he provided that…
October 7, 2019
Anne Gibson