Thirty years ago, Kay Baxter and Bob Corker began seed-saving the heritage plant foods of New Zealand. They founded the Koanga Institute, where regenerative farmers come together to fulfill this mission, in Kotare Village, Nother Hawke’s Bay. Together, this seed-saving couple have collected over 800 heritage vegetable seeds and over 400 heritage fruit tree and berry seeds. ...
Gardeners have a lot to worry about. They have to contend with weather conditions, such as rain, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations, as well as neighborhood animals like rabbits, moles, or even deer who might try to use their garden as an all-you-can-eat buffet. One of the toughest battles gardeners have to face, however, come in...
We love showing you the coolest plants and flowers in the world, and today we’re bringing you mysterious owl orchids. The cool thing about flowers and plants alike, is that some of them tend to look like other things. Monkey orchids, opal succulents, and now there are owl orchids. This specific orchid is called a Miltoniopsis...
The choices you make for your spring garden could help save the bumblebees. Researchers have tested which flower species are most preferred by bees for honey production. By placing these flowers in your garden, you could help save bumblebees all spring and summer long. This research is particularly important if you are a landowner managing...
Sunflowers are a must-have for my garden every single year. For years now, without fail, I’ve planted sunflowers that tower over all of my plants and produce large, beautiful flowers. It’s not just their beauty that compels me to add them to my garden. They’re very good for local pollinators, providing an excellent food source...
Ferns in general are among my favorite indoor plants. They come in tons of different varieties and can take on a fairly exotic appearance. When I’m in a room full of ferns, I feel a bit like I’m on the canopy floor of a dense jungle. Ferns are prehistoric plants that date back up to...
Pineapple sage is perhaps one of the most fitting descriptions for a plant’s fragrance I’ve ever encountered. Gently rubbing the leaves of this plant produces that sweet, tangy citrus smell of pineapple with a hint of traditional sage aroma. It really is a plant out of this world, which is why I have five of...
Vermiculite – you probably hear that term tossed around quite a bit among garden websites. ‘Add some vermiculite to your soil,’ ‘plant in vermiculite,’ ‘don’t use too much vermiculite,’etc. But what exactly is this strange sounding gardening product and how is it used? What is vermiculite Vermiculite is an umbrella term given to hydrated laminar...
Calories are a big subject in the fitness world. If you’re trying to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain your current weight, tracking your calories and making sure you consume and burn the right amount every day is the ticket to success. It’s all about those calories! Your body burns calories in a number of...
Succulents are such beautiful plants, with surprisingly low maintenance needs. There are so many varieties to choose from, with so many different colors. Best of all, they are easy to propagate, which means growing new plants from clippings of other plant parts. Succulents in particular spawn very easily and numerously. Want to know how to...
Dill is one of my favorite herbs to grow for a number of reasons. It’s aromatic, produces beautiful flowers that the local bees can’t seem to get enough of, and are host to black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars, which are an absolutely beautiful butterfly. In this article, we’ll break down how to grow dill, when to...
Gardening is a great hobby. You get to spend time outside, it’s good exercise for you, and at the end of the growing season, you get beautiful, delicious vegetables! Building a straw bale garden is a great way to start a garden just about anywhere. There are some pros and cons to consider before you...
