Latest Posts

An Introduction To Permaculture: Observing The Land

Regan Moran

I discovered the world of permaculture in Australia by listening to two wild surfing brothers talk about the Permaculture Design Program they were enrolled in at the local College. Several years later, a friend left a copy of Bill Mollison’s hefty book on my cabin floor; Permaculture, A Practical Guide for a Sustainable Future. I…

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New Naturalism: Building Natural Spaces and Gardens, No Matter Where You Live

While manicured lawns and perfect gardens are the norms in cookie-cutter neighborhoods, many people want more natural-looking landscapes these days. These gardens mimic wild spaces such as meadows, woodlands, and streamsides, are low-maintenance, and help increase plant and animal diversity; just what the doctor ordered!  New Naturalism (January 2, 2021, Cool Springs Press) is a…
January 20, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

How To Make Your Own Organic Gardening Soil

The rising popularity of organic gardening and a desire to naturally achieve big, bountiful, quality crops have many people looking to make homemade soils for use in their gardens. The best results require some forethought. What will the mix be made of and how can you formulate it for the specific plants being grown? Plants…
January 18, 2021
Cody J Garrett Tait

5 Plants That Can Be Toxic To Pets

We all love our pets. They are members of our family, and we want to keep them safe and healthy. However, we can’t watch them every second of the day, and anyone with a pet knows that they sometimes get into things they shouldn’t. If that “thing” is the toilet, it might be a little…
January 15, 2021
Jesse Singer

A Possible Solution To Food Deserts

Researchers in Montreal, Canada have come up with a way to help people living in food deserts access nutritious and affordable food. Food deserts are urban areas typically loaded with fast-food chains and bare-bones supermarkets. Meals in these areas are easy, cheap, and unhealthy. Furthermore, studies have found that food deserts are often located in…
January 13, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

Can Agriculture Fix The Climate Crisis? Farmers At Global Summit Say Yes

Thousands of small-scale farmers worldwide are banding together to send a clear message: agriculture is the solution to the current climate crisis. Not just any kind of agriculture; local, regenerative growing models will lead the way. In other words, real farming that focuses on agroecology and food sovereignty.  Oxford Real Farming Conference The group hails…
January 7, 2021
Catherine Sherriffs

How Humidity Affects Your Houseplants

Have you considered humidity and how it affects your houseplants? Some have argued that humidity isn’t a huge factor when taking care of plants, but I beg to differ. Most of our houseplants are from rainforests, where the moisture is dripping from the trees. Of course, our houseplants want a similar environment, which isn’t always…
January 6, 2021
Lisa Eldred Steinkopf

Top Garden Trends For 2021

The year 2020 has been one like no other. But one of the positives to come from these past months of isolation has been the increased interest in gardening, from seasoned gardeners expanding their growing to total newbies planting something for the very first time. Here’s a look ahead at the next growing season and…
January 1, 2021
Jesse Singer

Make 2021 A Bountiful Year In The Garden With These Resolutions

You’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who isn’t happy to leave 2020 behind. Let’s face it; 2021 can only be better! New Year’s resolutions usually involve promising to eat well or getting into better shape, but we’ve got some ideas gardeners might like to commit to for the upcoming year. These resolutions will not only…
December 30, 2020
Catherine Sherriffs

Plant Parenting Is Hard: 5 Challenging Houseplants

Raise your hand if you’ve killed more than one houseplant in your life. The good news is you aren’t alone. The even better news? Some of those houseplant mishaps could be because of the plants you chose and not because of your thumb color. Boston Fern The Boston Fern is a popular houseplant. However, if…
December 23, 2020
Jesse Singer

Get Cozy Over The Holidays: Great Gardening Books

The holidays are for relaxing at home and getting cozy. With the way things are going in our world, we have very little choice but to buckle down this year. Enjoy your quiet time by diving into some of these great gardening books. Prepare yourself for the many growing seasons ahead; each one of the…
December 21, 2020
Catherine Sherriffs

The Battle Of The Holiday Plants: Poinsettia Vs. Christmas Cactus

Ladies and gentlemen. Boys and girls. Welcome to the Battle of the Holiday Plants! This fight is scheduled for four rounds. In the red corner, standing between 2-13 feet tall with leaves reaching between 2.8-6.3 inches, it’s Euphorbia pulcherrima… Poinsettia! And in the green corner, standing up to 4 feet tall, with no leaves and…
December 18, 2020
Jesse Singer