The Amateur Farmer

Windowsill Salad Garden

Posted on by Jean Campbell

I'm ready for a big, hearty salad out of my own garden -- NOW! But my lettuces, although lovely and green, are still rather small. If I picked them all I could come up with one good chef's salad, but that would be it, and I'm impatient! What's a girl to do? Sprouts to the rescue! Sprouts of edible plants are packed full of goodness. In order to ensure the plants-to-be get a good start, sprouts begin life overloaded with nutrients. They contain significant amounts of vitamins A, C, and D,... Continue reading

Beekeeping in the ‘burbs

Posted on by Jean Campbell

I'd seen an ad for a meeting about beekeeping in the Homewood Star, a paper and online publication for news and entertainment in Homewood, our little community. The talk would be held at the new Sims Ecoscape site, a plot of land donated to the city of Homewood for ecological efforts by Catherine Sims for the use as a community park and outdoor classroom. It was a very chilly day, but the sun was shining and the information was interesting enough to almost not notice how cold it... Continue reading

The Chicken Lady

Posted on by Jean Campbell

I'd heard rumors of a woman living in unincorporated Jefferson County near Cahaba Heights who operates a chicken coop rental business. I've always enjoyed various types of pets, and as a novice urban farmer I decided to learn about the service; fresh eggs and ready-made fertilizer seem like a fabulous way for a pet to earn her keep! I got in touch with Melissa Allphin, also known as The Chicken Lady, and asked if I could see her setup. She was happy to show her wares and the fine ladies she... Continue reading

Shoe hanger garden

Posted on by Jean Campbell

This is my first year as an active winter gardener. My assumptions up until now were that winter was a time you just didn't garden. I've learned differently and now I'm trying a number of ways to keep production of homegrown foods and herbs going throughout the year. I came across a discarded shoe hanger, and after seeing a number of projects displaying herbs grown in vertical indoor containers, I thought I'd try my hand at a version with a bit of "sole". My intention was to overwinter herbs... Continue reading