Category Archives: gardening

Kiwis Refuse To Procreate

Posted on August 7, 2021 by Laura Grace Weldon

No, not New Zealanders. (Although their birth rates are reportedly lower than ever.) I’m talking about the hardy kiwis we planted seven years ago. These delicate grape tomato-sized fruits are said to be reliable producers. Unlike their cousins commonly found … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, repurposing | Tagged gardening', hardy kiwi, play, repurposing | 1 Comment

Yonder Basement Window Glows Strangely Pink

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Laura Grace Weldon

We have been starting seeds indoors for decades. There’s something enormously heartening about tucking tiny seeds into pots while March winds howl outside. In a few months those pale specks will result in glossy eggplants, huge squash, fiery peppers, and … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, seed starting | Tagged gardening, grow lights, leggy seedlings, seed starting, seedling starting problems | 8 Comments

Livestock Bedding As Garden Soil

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Laura Grace Weldon

Every year we noticed seeds sprout, grow, and mature in the piles of bedding and manure from our cow barn. Mostly squash and melon seeds — quite naturally those seeds were available after feeding cattle the leftover squash and melon from our gardens.

It got me thinking. Continue reading →

Posted in gardening | Tagged livestock bedding, overcoming squash diseases, planting in chicken poo, planting in hot bedding, squash | 6 Comments

Creating a Forest Garden

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Laura Grace Weldon

For years I’ve been fascinated by the concept of forest gardening. Elderberries grow in our woods, along with nut trees. But we’ve had little luck seeding logs with mushroom spores, getting ginseng to grow, or fostering the growth of berry … Continue reading →

Posted in agribusiness, gardening, permaculture | Tagged forest gardening, permaculture | 2 Comments

The Method Is The Mindset

Posted on August 29, 2016 by Laura Grace Weldon

After all these years of the most gentle approach possible, I seem to be shedding the hairshirt of idealism that has always made gardening so difficult. It’s pretty obvious that these methods are easier. Much, much easier. Continue reading →

Posted in animal relations, gardening, weeds | Tagged animal relations, easiest weed control, gardeners' hairshirt, gardening, to spray or not to spray, weed whacker gardening, weeds | 1 Comment

Year Round Indoor Salad Gardening, Fuss Free

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Laura Grace Weldon

Cold room, old seeds, and yet we’ve got tender flavorful salad greens thanks to the process Peter Burke’ shares in Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening. Continue reading →

Posted in gardening | Tagged better than sprouts, gardening, indoor gardening, Peter Burke, soil sprouts, Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening | 6 Comments

Indoor Seed Starting Problem Solved

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Laura Grace Weldon

We were shocked by a 95% non-germination rate. The few seedlings that emerged died within days. Continue reading →

Posted in gardening, seed starting, seeds, spring | Tagged gardening, germination problems, NK Seed Starter Pots, problem starting seeds indoors, seeds, spring, starting seeds indoors | 33 Comments

To Sunchoke Or Not To Sunchoke

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Laura Grace Weldon

Sunchokes, also known as Jerusalem artichokes. What you need to know about growing, cooking, and um, digesting them. Continue reading →

Posted in eating, gardening, kitchen arts | Tagged fartichokes, growing sunchokes, how to cook sunchokes, Jerusalem artichoke cooking, sunchoke digestion, sunchoke gardening | 12 Comments

Good Gardening Intentions Not So Evident

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Laura Grace Weldon

I mistake watermelon radish sprouts for weeds and pull them all out. The row I replanted, thinking the beets didn’t germinate, now contains both beets and arugula. Volunteer tomatillo plants plague me. Continue reading →