Health, Hope & Happiness
There was a time when a conversation about weeds was generally about what chemical worked best to get rid of them. But the times they are a changin’. Slowly, but they are changin’. Continue reading “Weeds: Good for soil, and helpful indicators”
Every year I have a favorite part of the garden. Something that I’ve planted, or some sweet corner where everything just came together.
This year, my favorite part of the garden is the tomato bed on the shop roof, with the Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) hanging down. I absolutely love it. Continue reading “Nasturtiums: Companion Planting, Nutrition, Medicinal, and More”
What a wet and dreary June it has been so far. We have had some lovely days, but all in all, it’s been pretty grey and somewhat drizzly. And it’s the Summer Solstice, too!
It was drizzly this morning; but there was a little window in there without rain, so I went out and took photos of the garden, and other growing areas we have happening. And there is a lot happening! Continue reading “Summer Solstice 2020: Garden Update”
When Bill Mollison and David Holmgren were envisioning Permaculture, they worked out some very important and useful design principles. They wanted to give students and practitioners of Permaculture all the tools they would need to design systems that work with nature. Continue reading “What are Permaculture Principles, and how do I use them?”
If you are growing a food garden, and possibly feeding your family from it, the last thing you want to do is douse it in poison, right?
Well, if you use chemical pesticides, herbicides, and even some fertilizers, that’s exactly what you’re doing. And when you buy fruit and vegetables at the grocery store, it’s likely that it has been sprayed as well. Nasty. Continue reading “Natural pest control in the vegetable garden: Integrated Pest Management”
You won’t spend too much time in the company of permaculturists before you hear the word ‘swale’. It is a permaculture mainstay for some, and a point of contention for others.
For me, a swale is another useful tool in the permaculture tool box. So what is a swale? Read on, and I’ll give you a little introduction. Continue reading “What is a swale? An introduction to permaculture water harvesting swales”
Although the term ‘permaculture’ was coined over 30 years ago by Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, it is not exactly a household name. I only learned about it 4 years ago or so; and my friend Richard had never heard of it until I shared it with him last year. Continue reading “Permies forum review”
Most people think of life skills as learning to do your taxes, boil an egg, or change a tire. While these things can come in handy, if you’re into that sort of thing, my idea of life skills is a little different. This self-sufficiency skills list contains just the very basic things that a person needs to live. Continue reading “Self-sufficiency skills list: 11 basic life skills you need to survive”
The best time to start a garden is now. It doesn’t matter if it’s not spring – even if it’s the middle of summer, you can still start a garden, and get a harvest before the snow flies. Continue reading “When to plant a vegetable garden: it’s never too late to start”
The only thing better than natural soil amendments are FREE natural soil amendments! And I’m going to give you a list of the best garden soil amendments you can get for free, which will take your garden to the next level. Continue reading “8 best garden soil amendments you can get for free”