Conventional gardening, as many people know it, can be back-breaking work. Long hours spent turning up the earth, enriching the soil and weeding endlessly. If someone asked me I would have to say that my least favorite part of gardening is the weeding, what seemed to me for many years, a painful but necessary part of a successful garden. However, when I discovered lasagna gardening,… [read more]

Epsom salt is comprised of hydrated magnesium sulfate, a naturally occurring mineral first found in the well waters of Epsom, England. Epsom salt has a variety of home remedy applications – the two most widely known being as a saline laxative and pain reliever. What many people don’t realize is that Epsom salt also has several uses in organic gardening for healthy plants. This article shares… [read more]

Travel across America today, and you’re likely to see more of a single plant species than any other. It’s not corn- Kentucky Bluegrass wins the award of being the country’s most cultivated crop. Grassy lawns take up more than three times the space of any other irrigated crop, covering a swath over 31 times as large as Delaware. Endless expanses of well-manicured grass might be… [read more]

I do love to garden, but there are a few pests out there I can do without. Even though I use many natural pest deterrent practices like companion planting, there are a few tenacious little creatures that will stop at nothing to get to my delicious fruits and veggies. A natural, yet effective way to keep pests out of your garden is to use hot peppers. Capsaicin, the same chemical… [read more]

Image used with permission from Tyrant Farms. Are you looking for a gardening strategy that reduces your water requirements, provides long-term soil fertility, and is a self-sustaining system once you set it up? If so, it’s time to learn more about hügelkultur, a traditional German gardening solution that relies on wood piles to grow healthier plants. Whether you’ve got a green thumb already or can… [read more]

Squash bugs are persistent and can bring devastation to crops. Although squash bugs get their name from their most desirous crop, squash, they can also rip apart a pumpkin crop in a short amount of time. They are often misidentified as stink bugs because they look similar, although stink bugs are wider and rounder than squash bugs, both give off a foul odor when squished.… [read more]

Chamomile is a common group name for a number of plants that are similar in nature to daisies and in the Asteraceae family. This well-loved and very ancient herb has earned a place of respect in traditional medicine for its mild and bittersweet taste and its ability to promote a sense of calm for the mind and body. You are probably most familiar with chamomile… [read more]

Now that summer is in full swing you may find yourself wanting to enjoy your outdoor spaces. Perhaps you like to swim, hike, garden, boat or just sit under a tree and read a book. Regardless of what your favorite summertime pursuit is, you may find that you are burdened by all sorts of insects including mosquitoes, fleas, spiders, moths, flies, ants, roaches and more.… [read more]