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Gardening by the Moon is a great way to plan your garden. Many of our readers follow the age-old practice of planting by the Moon’s phase for a healthier, more productive garden. The basic idea behind Planting by the Moon is that cycles of the Moon affect plant growth. Just as the Moon’s gravitational pull causes tides to rise and […]

Tips for the Aging Gardener I have a confession to make…my body is aging! At this point in my life, I’m starting to think about ways to simplify gardening tasks and change things up so that I will never have to give up gardening. With aging in mind, I’ve pulled together a hearty list of

March Gardening Tips for the Pacific Northwest Winter’s long wait is almost over. Get busy outdoors. As the weather starts to warm, it’s time to dig in on planting, pruning, and pest control. Divide Perennials Early spring is the ideal time to divide crowded clumps of summer- and fall-blooming perennials. This includes purple coneflowers, Shasta

5 plants that can help heal your cold or flu It’s inevitable that you’ll catch a cold or flu from time to time, even if you eat well and wash your hands regularly. While colds don’t usually last more than a week, being sick is a universally miserable experience. The flu comes in a variety

Even with spring in sight, we are still stuck in the long dark tunnel of winter. Tom Smart suggests ways gardeners can distract themselves until spring arrives ‘There’s only one cure for cabin fever – get outside.’ Photograph: David Jones/PA Even with spring in sight, we’re still stuck in the long dark tunnel of winter.

Landscape Plan for Wet Areas What to Grow in These Challenging Areas By David Beaulieu   Picture of sample landscape plan for wet areas. David Beaulieu  If you have a soggy spot in the yard where nothing you plant does well, you may be tempted to give up and leave it unplanted. “I don’t want

Schools and community gardens are living classrooms with great potential for learning. In How to Grow a School Garden, Arden Buck-Sporer and Rachel Kathleen Pringle cite the following: Numerous studies point to school gardens as a means of improving academic achievement, promoting healthy lifestyles, demonstrating the principles of stewardship, encouraging community and social development, and

The Best Gardening tips always come from yourself! Save yourself some money every year by buying fewer seeds and learning what works. Garden Journals and Seed Binders: Seed Binders and garden journals make gardening more efficient By storing seeds this way, you are creating an environment which will promote seed viability.  The pockets lock out

The winter solstice falls on December 21, marking the official start of winter. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year. After the solstice, the days will start to get longer, and as the old adage says, ”When the days lengthen, the cold strengthens.” Even so, I appreciate seeing a brighter western horizon when

There are many practical, fun, and unique homestead uses for 55 gallon plastic barrels. Because of the recent popularity of these barrels, you frequently can find them for sale at a local store that collects from larger retailers. Often too, you can find them for a decent price online at Craigslist. Still, if you want the