As summer ends and fall begins, it’s time to get the garden ready for the new season. There’s work to be done cleaning up the summer garden and removing all the dead plants. The hot season may be wrapping up but the garden is not quite done for the year. Here are some things I…
The idea of composting by saving food scraps is not new or original. Our grandparents have always found ways to improve their garden soil by letting the food scraps feed the dirt. But since many of us live in neighborhoods or have small backyard spaces, it is a little more challenging to find ways to…
I have a serious ‘black thumb’ when it comes to houseplants and am a forgetful gardener. I just seem to have a problem keeping houseplants thriving. Sometimes I over-water and other times I completely forget to take care of them. If you are like me and need some intervention, I’ve got some ideas and products…
Every summer we buy watermelons and eat the inside and toss the rind in the compost pile. But this year I decided to try something new. I decided to see what pickled watermelon rinds taste like. If you are a fan of sweet, crisp pickles, then you will probably love pickled watermelon rinds. They are…
Have you got your garden started this year? Many people are starting gardens and experimenting with planting new flowers and vegetables. If you are planning a garden for the first time, take a look at these tips and get started – one seed at a time! There are many ways you can start your first…
I love creating salves and jellies using things I grow in my own yard. Today I’m sharing 2 great salves using rose petals, mint leaves and pansies. For these two salves, I’m using almond oil, beeswax and shea butter but you can use any mix of basic salve ingredients that you have on hand. Do…
Last season I tried to grow potatoes in my garden the traditional way. I planted them in the ground, covered them up a couple times over the summer months and waited. It was a complete failure. I ended up with 5-6 small pebble sized potatoes. This year I decided to try something different. I am…
Our family loves canned pineapple for an easy lunch or late night snack but at $1.00 each that can start to add up. So when I see whole fresh pineapples on sale at the grocery store, I like to can my own. This past week my local Kroger had the the lowest price I have…