I am obsessed with ducks. They were the first livestock animal I raised when I started homesteading. I’ve kept them for meat, for eggs, for their utility in improving soil, and for the sheer joy ...
How to Plan and Build a Permaculture Fruit Guild
A fruit guild is a planting method used in permaculture to create a mini-ecosystem that encourages disease-resistant, high-yielding gardens. Basically, it's a gardening technique that groups plants ...
Angelica: Varieties, Planting Guide, Care, Problems, and Harvest
Angelica (Angelica archangelica) isn't a well-known herb and it took me a while to find the seeds. That's a shame because angelica tastes amazing and is invaluable in the medicine cabinet. It deserves ...
The Complete Guide on Wintering Potted Plants Indoors
Each year as fall arrives and the temperature starts to dip, I’m left with a porch full of potted plants that I’m not sure what to do with. My usual strategy is to pull anything that’s beginning to ...
How to Plan an All-Purpose Herb Garden
Growing culinary herbs is a great way to get started with gardening. Most of the commonly used kitchen herbs are easy to grow. Plus, you can find plant starts and seeds at any home improvement or ...
How to Grow Popcorn Plant in Your Garden
I don't know anyone who doesn't go for a warm bowl of freshly-made popcorn now and then, but did you know that you could be growing popcorn in your own backyard? Until the last growing season, I had ...
The Best Native Plants for Erosion Control and How to Use Them
No one wants their yard or barnyard to be a muddy mess with streams of water flowing everywhere. Erosion control is important. Erosion causes loss of topsoil and nutrients as well as causing unsightly ...
How to Build a Dry Freestanding Stone Wall the Right Way
Freestanding stone walls are iconic. It's hard to imagine the rural fields of Europe or the farms of New England without them. Not only beautiful, they're also a way to add something that is practical ...
How to Deal With Winter Desiccation Burn in the Garden
Winter isn't an easy time - for humans and plants. It's cold and in some areas, even when there is snow on the ground, it's easy to get dehydrated thanks to brutal winds. For plants, it's easy to ...