Ditch the seed heat mats and build your own low-cost DIY germination chamber to jumpstart your vegetable garden this year. This low-cost alternative requires no tools or special handyman skills to set up and can fit more flats than a single heat mat. A homemade germination chamber will set you up for seed starting success […]
DIY Germination Chamber – Low-cost alternative to seedling heat mats Read More »
The fall time change just occurred and us humans are getting adjusted to shorter days, but did you know that the amount of daylight affects plant growth? While daylight savings was theoretically created for the farmer, plants really don’t care what number you assign to the time on the clock. They are concerned about how
Did you know daylight affects plant growth? Read More »
Wanting to build a better composting system on a budget? The good news is a 3-bay pallet compost system is easy to build on a shoestring even with minimal building experience. This simple building project will level up your composting game without spending money on an expensive tumbler. Plus it has the bonus advantage of
3-Bay Pallet Compost System for cheap Read More »
Wondering how to save okra seed? Saving okra seed is as simple as benign neglect and is super easy, even for beginner gardeners. If you’ve ever grown okra before, you know that the pods grow quick and even when picking nearly everyday they can get large before you know it. While those pods will be
How to save okra seed in 3 easy steps Read More »
Wondering how to preserve onions now that the harvest is coming in? Some crops like onions are all ready at once and can feel overwhelming to process everything at once. Thankfully there are three simple methods for preserving onions no matter whether you grow long-day or short-day onions. Cure and Cellar This is by far
How to preserve onions 3 ways Read More »
Winter can be a challenging time for us gardeners and homesteaders. Cabin fever sets in and you itch to get back into the garden. While a season of rest and relaxation can be nice, there is actually a way to grow a garden in the winter. There are two key factors to keep in mind
Winter gardening in Zone 7B, 8A, and 8B Read More »
Have you struggled growing onions in the South? Wondering if there was a trick on how to grow onions in the southeast? You’re not alone! We grew our fair share of sad little bulbs for a couple years before we figured out what the onions wanted from us. Short day vs. Long day One of
How to grow onions in the southeast Read More »
Sometimes you just need a short list to get you started down the rabbit hole. All of these books are approachable, beginner-friendly, and are still ones we refer to frequently! Whether you live on acreage or still live in the suburbs or city all of these books will give you a great start on your
Top 5 homesteading books for beginners Read More »
We live right on the border between zones 7B and 8A. A mix of the heat of 8A with the frost dates of zone 7B. That summer heat of zone 8A makes growing a cooler spring vegetable garden so appealing! There’s no better time of year to grow quick bolting crops like leafy greens. To
Top 10 spring vegetables to grow in Zone 8a Read More »
A few years into trying to freeze enough green beans and can enough tomato sauce to last all winter, I had the realization…if I could just shift the base ingredients of all our recipes to homegrown our diet would be 30-50% closer to self-sufficient. What were those base ingredients? Onions, garlic, and carrots…all three things
Garden Menu Planning – How much to plant for a year’s worth of food Read More »