Compost, often referred to as "black gold" by gardeners, is a nutrient-rich soil conditioner that is invaluable for maintaining healthy plants and a thriving garden. It is essentially decomposed organic matter that enriches soil, promotes beneficial microorganisms, and helps retain moisture. Understanding composting, creating your own compost, and utilizing it effectively can … [Read more...] about From Stink to Soil: Turning a Rotten Situation into Compost Gold
Homestead
Shell-Abrate Diversity: Cracking the Colorful World of Egg Variety!
Going to the store and buying eggs is so passé, backyard micro farms is where it’s at. Those living out in the country have always known the benefits of raising your own brood for the freshest of eggs. Due to current economic circumstances the practice of micro farming is gaining momentum, even among people that would never have thought of themselves as a “farmer”. For my … [Read more...] about Shell-Abrate Diversity: Cracking the Colorful World of Egg Variety!
How To Render Lard
Harvest and butchering season is upon us. Given that, its a good time to brush up on some skills that may come in handy after the harvest, and maybe even learn some new ones. Lard has a number of uses as a cooking fat—from baking to frying, and everything in between. Ever wonder how to render it yourself? Read on for more. Kinds of Fat As everyone knows, lard is made from … [Read more...] about How To Render Lard
Pruning Summer Squash? Yea or Nay
Its about that time of year. The garden is starting to blossom, and among the sea of green and brown, you're starting to see little shoots of color popping up everywhere. If you've planted summer squash, large orange/yellow flowers will be among this sea of growth. But how best should you care for your growing greens, and most importantly, should you prune them when they start … [Read more...] about Pruning Summer Squash? Yea or Nay
Zeolite: Yay or Nay?
If you started reading this hoping for a definitive answer to the question above, I'm sorry to disappoint. I've been reading about Zeolitef for a while and--given the nature of the soil in my garden--decided to give it a go this year, working about 3 pounds into roughly 300 square feet of garden space as a test. I'll report back on the yields, but how well it works still … [Read more...] about Zeolite: Yay or Nay?
