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Got No Pot? Grow Tomatoes Right in the Bag!
Here in Humboldt County, it’s time to plant warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, zucchini and more. But some of us don’t have a plot of land to work, and sometimes, there’s not enough cash to buy a pot. I mean, have you seen the cost of pots these days? Some of them can run pretty steep.…
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The Worm Factory 360 and The Earth Moved (With Video!)
When I first bought my own home years ago, there was one fact that made me particularly happy: as a responsible grownup and a homeowner, I was now allowed to get any pets that I darn well wanted, so long as I could take good care of them. No landlords or reluctant parents to tell…
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Monday Miscellany: Monsanto Trial, Happy Honeybees, NWF Triumph and Some Awesome Contests
Monsanto Trial The normally non-political Margaret Roach of Martha Stewart Living fame and A Way to Garden has spoken up about the Monsanto trial that starts tomorrow. Why is this important? Because Monsanto’s been genetically engineering seeds for common crops like corn, wheat and alfalfa so that farmers can spray their rows with the herbicide…
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Holiday DIY: More Gifts to Make, Not Buy
Last week, I gave a few gift ideas for all you DIY types, and since then, I’ve seen more and more inspiration for fun crafts to do as Christmas or holiday gifts, or just for yourself for the heck of it. Starting us off, Debra Lee Baldwin over at Gardening Gone Wild shares her technique…
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Monday Miscellany: DIY Holiday Gifts
Finally! Thanksgiving has passed, and I can talk about the holidays without incurring the wrath of Nordstrom’s and everyone else who is tired of seeing the holiday décor turn up in August. Woot! I don’t know about all y’all, but I’m feeling a major push towards simplicity and homemade gifts this year. I mean, a…
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Monday Miscellany: DIY Garden Ideas and a Great Magazine
Well, the first rains have arrived here in Humboldt, which generally means – Christmas is coming! Yeah, I hear all the groans. But seriously folks, if you aren’t going to take the slacker route and get everybody gift cards, now’s the time to start making some crafts for people, so you have time to screw…
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Ditch the Sunhat: Sun Protection Tips You Probably Haven’t Heard Of
Hold up, don’t report me to the Melanoma Society just yet. You probably shouldn’t actually ditch your sun hat. But if you’re like me and have never been able to get into wearing hats while gardening, here are two odd things I do to get a bit more protection than the average “slather self in…
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Plant Natives in the Side Yard
If you’ve been wanting to incorporate more native plants into your garden, either for the wildlife benefit or simply for that touchpoint with your natural surroundings, it can feel like a challenge when you already have an existing garden. But the side yard, an often neglected area with tough conditions, can be an ideal place…
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Regional Flair: Bring it Home With Native Plants
***This is a bit of a local rant, but I do have a point that relates to designers and anyone who expresses themselves artistically in the garden.*** I’m lucky: my college town’s somehow managed to stay funky, cool, small and walkable, and above all, different from any other town in the world. Because us Arcata…
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Angela’s Garden Stylish Garden Gear
***Giveaway! Leave a comment below to win a Morning Glory hat, with matching green gloves and kneepads!*** EDIT: Barbara is the winner! Congrats, Barbara! Garden gear generally comes in two forms – functional and stylish, and usually not both at once. So imagine my delight to open a parcel from Angela’s Garden with a set…
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H. Potter Wardian Case: A Study in Kitties
When H. Potter first sent me a Wardian case to try out, I was thinking of it as a pretty way of making small seasonal displays, and possibly a nice way of also rooting cuttings while having things look attractive. Little did I know that its highest and best use is as a kitten-safe decorating…