Most gardeners think October is when gardening winds down. Put the tools away, throw some leaves on the beds, wait for spring. And for a certain kind of gardening, that’s accurate. But for anyone interested in getting more out of their garden — more flowers next spring, more food through fall and winter, stronger perennials...
Fruits And Vegetables
Living off grid is a term coined by Nick Rosen, an environmentalist. It’s defined as being independent of systems like utilities and other types of conveniences. Some consider it to be a sort of exile from society, others view it as being a more environmentally positive action, and technically, both are correct.
People who live off grid often have vastly simplified lifestyles. Buying stuff, convenience, and overconsumption take a back seat to more simplistic living. Lots of DIY, self improvement, and producing the things you need yourself.
Living off grid has numerous benefits. Off grid families tend to have a lower environmental footprint due to producing energy from clean tech sources like solar, less consumerism, and producing more food themselves. People who live off grid also experience a ton of personal satisfaction for the work they put in and what they get out.
Living off grid reportedly reduces stress and anxiety and improves health overall. The physical labor involved with off grid living is better for you than sitting at a desk in an office, and the food you grow yourself is often substantially healthier than what you would find in a grocery store.
Families who live off grid don’t just live frugally but can also make a little bit of money at it. Selling extra eggs, produce, and other things can help turn your off grid lifestyle into a net financial positive.
It’s not easy to be a fully off grid individual or family, but there are steps you can take to get you started without cutting off the world and living alone in a remote cabin.
The assumption that vegetable gardening stops in October is one of the more persistent myths in home gardening. It’s also wrong — at least partially. Winter gardening isn’t about growing everything year-round; it’s about understanding which vegetables have adapted to cold and growing those specifically. Do that, and you’ll be harvesting fresh food long after...
Every avocado pit that crosses a kitchen counter has, at some point, made a gardener think: could I grow this? The toothpick-in-a-glass-of-water setup is practically a rite of passage. And yet most of those little seedlings end up as leggy stems that eventually get thrown out, leaving the gardener vaguely disappointed. Here’s the thing —...
You eat a peach, it’s perfect — sweet, heavy, juice running down your arm — and you think: I’m going to plant this pit and grow one of these. It’s an extremely reasonable impulse. Growing a peach tree from seed is genuinely possible, and it’s a satisfying project. But there are two things worth knowing...
Every spring, millions of gardeners walk out of a garden center with a flat of zinnias or marigolds, plant them, love them all summer, and then watch them die come November — slightly confused about whether they did something wrong. They didn’t. That’s just what annuals do. Understanding annuals changes how you plan a garden....
Growing tomatoes is one of the greatest joys of gardening. There’s nothing quite like plucking a ripe, juicy tomato from the vine and savoring the fruits of your labor. But it can be incredibly frustrating when, just as your tomatoes are ripening, they start to split. I’ve been there, staring at those unsightly cracks and...
As fall creeps in and nighttime temps begin to dip, many gardeners find themselves with a frustratingly familiar problem: dozens of green tomatoes still clinging to the vine while cold weather approaches. Maybe you planted late. Maybe your summer was cooler than usual. Maybe you just have a stubborn variety. Either way, it’s the end...
If you’ve ever dreamed of brewing your own beer or simply growing a plant that looks spectacular while offering real utility, hops are the perfect choice. These climbing vines, known for their aromatic cones, are not only beautiful in the garden but also incredibly rewarding when it comes time to harvest. Many gardeners assume hops...
Garlic is one of those crops that rewards patience—you plant it months before you expect to harvest, and the anticipation makes pulling those fat, papery bulbs from the soil even more satisfying. While many gardeners plant garlic in fall for a mid-summer harvest, planting in August can give you a head start in areas with...
September is one of the most rewarding times to be in the garden. The beds are overflowing with produce you’ve been tending all season, and it’s finally time to bring in the bounty. But harvesting late summer crops isn’t just about picking them—it’s about knowing exactly when and how to gather each one so you...
August might feel like the tail end of the gardening season, but for those of us who can’t resist squeezing every bit of productivity out of our plots, it’s actually a golden window of opportunity. With a little strategy and the right crop choices, you can plant now and enjoy fresh harvests before the first...
Late August is a pivotal moment in the life of a tomato garden. You’ve likely been harvesting for weeks, but this is the time when plants either finish strong or start fading fast. The heat may still linger during the day, but nights are often cooler, which can slow ripening and invite a host of...