My mother was an avid gardener. She insisted my little sister and I help with pulling weeds and feeding the veg patch. As a surly teenager, I complained a lot, totally missing the point. Gardening would not take hold with me until after the birth of my second daughter. When I asked my mother’s advice […]
Continue readingThe Herb Spiral – Tips and tricks from a new user!
On the heels of completing the initial sheet mulching steps of The kitchen Garden (formerly known as The Secret Garden), we began our herb spiral. The process is similar in that materials are layered to magically build soil. We began by placing rocks, all resourced from our property, in a spiral formation, and stacked them […]
Continue readingWinter produce
Last summer I planted some asparagus seed along the fence that cordons off The Secret Garden. While I’ve never attempted to grow them, I was already aware that I would not see asparagus that season. But the lacy, fern-like foliage made a beautiful display for the backyard recreational area. With winter upon us, I’ve mostly […]
Continue readingSheet Mulching for Spring
“Wait. Let me get this straight. You want me to throw all this trash in your garden.” That’s what Melvin said when I asked him to cover my little fenced area with cardboard boxes and a pile of fallen limbs. I decided at the end of the growing season that I was going to break […]
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