Gardening · Homesteading

Building A Food Forest With Edible Perennials

One of our long-term goals on our homestead has been building densely planted food forests, where most are perennial. Planting once and eating every year has been my goal for long-term sustainability. While we have carved out garden beds to grow in (because of deer) that are fenced, 2 of the biggest beds grow wild… Continue reading Building A Food Forest With Edible Perennials

Gardening · Homesteading

Never Stop Chasing New Ideas

A few weeks back, a long-time permaculture instructor gave a free talk on the island. She has decades of experience, and why wouldn't we want to explore it? It was enough that after attending the discussion, I attended the first two days of her 2-week long permaculture certification class. Taking the entire class wasn't within… Continue reading Never Stop Chasing New Ideas

Gardening · Homesteading

Cool Spring Still Leads To Growth

It's been awfully dreary this June in the PNW. But that is OK. It's not 2007 again, and summer will come again on the 20th of this month. In 2007 we called it the No-Summer, and it was so cold early on. June this year, so far, has been primarily wet and on the chilly… Continue reading Cool Spring Still Leads To Growth

Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Two Easy Garden Hacks To Keep You Organized

Anytime I can make my life easier when working in our gardens, so much the better. Call them gardening hacks, if you will. The first one has been in my possession for at least 8 years, and it still functions well. The used plastic coffee container: I got the tub for free, used. Washed with… Continue reading Two Easy Garden Hacks To Keep You Organized

Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Gardening: Getting The Tomatoes and Peppers In The Ground

In theory, Mother's Day Weekend is the typical tomato and pepper planting time in the Pacific Northwest. That depends on the weather, of course, but by then, we have passed the last frost date weeks before. This year has been special. For being in a "drought," it's been cool and rainy this May. Today, as… Continue reading Gardening: Getting The Tomatoes and Peppers In The Ground