Alys Fowler: My new rock star hero!

Alys Fowler, an English gardener, and writer, has a videos series called "The Edible Garden" that details farming in an urban setting. What an inspiration! Her work and ideas are the embodiment of Deluxe living! A woman after my own heart, she works with the land and what the environment provides. She created a veritable Eden in her own backyard! Check out the episode above entitled "Peas and Beans". If you've got even a hint of love for playing in the dirt, you will be hooked! I aspire to... Continue reading

Autumn arrangement

And you can eat it! Thanksgiving was bearing down on us — and fast! Richard, being the love he is, was readying to rush down to the nearby grocery store while I cooked and cleaned like a woman with a mission; this in hopes of having pies ready for Thursday’s meal and the house in shape for overnight company. As Richard headed out the door, a final addition to the list came to mind and I called out, “Buy me flowers!” And then I stopped to think. Now don’t get me wrong, I... Continue reading

Confessions of a NeoFarmer

Saved by the Collards I'm wrapping up my second summer's attempt at farming. How'd I do? I guess I'd give myself a C+. Ok, I really sucked. We definitely ate out of the garden so that's good, but this is trickier than I thought! My first issue was the blossom-end rot on my tomatoes. Just when my plants were looking full and lush, this began to occur. As per a few tips a gleaned from the internet, I sprinkled some Epsom salt and crumbled up eggshells and tooled that into the soil. Things... Continue reading