___ Susan Vinskofski ___
Category Archives: Gardening – How to
Using Hay vs. Straw in the Garden
Search the internet for info on using hay vs. straw as mulch and you’ll see statements like these: “I’ve never made the mistake of using hay”, or “Straw makes great mulch — or, for that matter, a great addition to … Continue reading
Back to Eden
I absolutely love finding out about gardeners/farmers who are innovative and creative. They help me to realize that after almost 40 years of gardening, I’ve only begun to scratch the surface. I find that exciting! Our infinite God has created … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to, Gardening - Inspiration
Tagged Back to Eden, farming, gardening, homesteading, mulch, Paul Gautschi, wood chips
14 Comments
Why Rototillers May be More Harmful than Helpful in an Organic Garden
The most important thing you can do, in my opinion, to grow a healthy, disease and pest-free garden is to build your soil. Therefore, the most important thing you can do to keep your garden pesticide and chemical fertilizer free … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged organic gardening, rototillers, soil, soil organisms
38 Comments
Sour Mulch: I Learned This One the Hard Way
We had an old concolor fir on our property that was struggling from the day we bought this place. We tried for 8 years to save that tree. This year, we finally resolved ourselves to the fact that it had … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged adventitious root, concolor fir, dead tree, fungal disease, gardening, mulch, root rot, signs of stress, water meter
5 Comments
How to Save Seeds from Heirloom Tomatoes
One of the advantages to growing heirloom tomatoes, as opposed to hybrids, is that you may save the seeds and count on them producing true in the next generation. There are a few steps to saving tomato seeds, but it … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged garden, gardening, saving seed, seeds, tomato, tomato seeds
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A Great Big, Little Tomato
One of my absolutely favorite varieties of tomato is called Mexico Midget. (Mike says that he would have to take sensitivity classes at work if he talked about this tomato). This variety is a small, grape tomato, about 1/2″ in diameter. The plant, however, … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged grape tomato, Mexico Midget, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato, trellis
3 Comments
Bitter Lettuce
Probably the most frequent complaint about “homegrown” lettuce is that it is bitter. With a little attention, though, you can grow wonderful, crunchy, sweet lettuce. Lettuce, of course, is a cool weather crop. So starting it early will help to … Continue reading
Can’t Grow Your Own? Buy Local
If you are a gardener, and if, like me, you live in the northeast US, you are anxiously waiting to plant those tomato seedlings sitting under your grow lights. All winter, we have been eating pseudo-tomatoes. You know what I … Continue reading
Vegetable Gardening 101
When I was 8 years old, a neighbor gave me a johnny-jump up. I planted it alongside our house, watered it, weeded it and marveled at it. When it “died”, I pulled it out and was scolded by my neighbor/mentor. … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged 101, compost, composting, garden, gardening, lasagna garden, mulch, organic, ph, raised bed, soil, soil test, vegetables
1 Comment
Lasagna Gardening
What a wonderful day in the garden I’ve had! I’ve been interested in no-till gardening for years, since the 70’s when I was influenced by Ruth Stout. I’ve dug a garden all these years, but used lots of mulch as … Continue reading
Posted in Gardening - How to
Tagged blood meal, bone meal, compost, garden, hay, lasagna gardening, leaves, manure, raised beds, spring
22 Comments
learningandyearning 