You know, I've never liked plastic. It has some excellent uses, sure - but still, I like to avoid most stuff that takes roughly a bazillion years to break down. When I started my home nursery business a year and a half ago, I did a lot of research into methods of controlling weeds. I thought about mulching an area for my potted plants and trees... considered using my parking … [Read more...] about Using Plastic in the Garden
Gardening Tools
How To Choose The Right Ax
I received an e-mail recently from a relative interested in finding a good ax. He was less than pleased with the selection at Tractor Supply and other local chain hardware stores. Rather than buying a piece of mass-produced subpar Chinese junk, he wanted something good. Problem: I'm no ax expert. I've never done much wood splitting, tree felling or log cabin building. In fact, … [Read more...] about How To Choose The Right Ax
Easy Gardening Solutions for Lazy Gardeners
Sometimes I wonder: does a person's garden follow his personality? Is the love of weeds, praise of borderline chaos and embracing of wild animals simply an outgrowth of a disordered mind? On the flip side: are perfect beds, straight lines and precisely timed plantings the result of latent OCD? (I once created a quiz on gardening personality types - you can take the quiz … [Read more...] about Easy Gardening Solutions for Lazy Gardeners
Tearing it up with a Ridging Hoe
For the survival-minded homesteader - or for those who simply wish to live a simpler existence - good hand tools are important. When you don't have a tractor or when gas gets too expensive (or disappears), meaning your tiller is dead in the field... it's good to have solid hand tools that will allow you and your family to keep farming. We've looked at some must-have gardening … [Read more...] about Tearing it up with a Ridging Hoe
Gardening Tasks for Fall
The air is crisp and the leaves are hanging tenuously on the branches. Even the weeds are starting to fade as the chill of fall sends its first tentative tendrils through the air to caress away the faded heat of summer. In some places - my condolences if I describe your home state - the weather is already freezing. Here in North Florida there's been a positive change from … [Read more...] about Gardening Tasks for Fall