Got a bumper crop of sweet or bell peppers, and can’t possibly eat them all fresh before they start to go bad? Do you wish you could eat your lovely homegrown peppers all year ’round, not just when they’re in season? Do you have spare room in your freezer? If so, you might want to…
Learn how to turn the beautiful roses in your garden into a tasty and gorgeous rose petal jelly! It’s made with reduced sugar pectin, fresh rose petals, sugar, lemon juice, and water. That’s all you need to make this pretty floral treat. Rose petal jelly tastes very good too – somewhat like a mild grape-like…
Learn how to identify and sustainably harvest Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum), then how to turn it into a tincture. We’ll also cover how to cultivate Solomon’s Seal in your garden or on your own land! Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is a perennial woodland herb that’s native to the Eastern United States and Canada. It’s also…
Learn how to make all-natural lavender simple syrup – a sweet combination of sugar (or honey) and water, with a hint of lavender flavor. It can be used anywhere simple syrup is normally used such as homemade lemonade recipes, lattes, mocktails, sorbets, and more! It’s easy to make too – you just need: You may…
Ageratum, also known as flossflower, bluemink, and Mexican paintbrush, is an easy-to-grow, old fashioned favorite in cottage gardens and flowerbeds. Fluffy flowers in shades of blue, lavender, or white stand out in lovely contrast against the rich green foliage. Well loved by pollinators as well as people, this quick-to-bloom annual isn’t only beautiful in the…
Learn how to identify and forage Creeping Charlie, an edible spring weed, plus instructions to turn it into a tincture! Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) – also known by the common names “gill-over-the-ground”, “ale-hoof”, “run-away-robin” and “ground ivy” – is a fast-growing, perennial weed that grows low to the ground. Many gardeners find it the bane…
Learn when and how to harvest both new potatoes and storage potatoes, plus how to store them for a longer shelf life! You’ve sprouted your potatoes, planted them in the ground, hilled them up, and now they’re growing- but how do you tell when it’s time to harvest them? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!…
Now that you’ve chitted your potatoes, they’re ready to plant and grow in your garden! There are several ways to plant potatoes, including planting them in hay bales and containers. This article focusses on planting them directly in the ground. These instructions can also be used for planting potatoes in raised beds. Preparing the Soil…
Learn how to “chit” or sprout seed potatoes, to give them a good start in your home garden! It’s your first time trying to grow a potato patch, and you’ve got your sack of seed potatoes! The ground’s thawed out enough, you’ve prepared your soil, and now, you’ve got to get your seed potatoes ready…
Cleavers is a common edible weed that also has herbal benefits. Learn how to identify and forage cleavers, plus ways to use it! Cleavers (Galium aparine) is a widely found spring weed that you’re likely to find in your garden, flower beds, or while exploring the forest around you. Other common names for cleavers include:…
Snapdragons are a much-loved garden classic to grow! Both dwarf and tall versions of these colorful flowers make a beautiful, long-lasting floral show throughout the growing season, and are a favorite for cut flower displays. Boasting a wide range of colors to choose from, snapdragons come in both single-color and bicolored flower varieties. The blooms…
Are you hoping to forage some elusive morel mushrooms this year? These tips for hunting morels should be useful! 1. When to Start Searching Morel mushrooms (Morchella spp) are only around for a short window each spring, but it can be hard to know exactly when to begin your mushroom hunting. Morel mushroom hunting season…