Earth care

The Three Sisters Garden

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. The Three Sisters garden is a companion planting technique that maximizes the amount of food harvested, while organizing the plants in a way that gets them to

Perennials – plant just once, save money and work, and preserve soil structure

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. Every gardener asks the question, what should I plant now? Many of us end up planting lots of annuals: tomatoes, beans, peppers, corn, squash, to

This is a Good Time to Make Sauerkraut!

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. Some will focus on ways to deal with what you grow, and how to preserve your harvest. The garden is slowing down and it's getting cold outside,

On Memories, Social Media, and Falling in Love

My mother graced us with enormous creativity and talent. She sang in and directed operas, taught young singers how to act and direct, wrote a book about how to teach opera, and decorated her home with paintings she made and mosaic tables she assembled.  She loved vibrant colors everywhere, and huge vases full of

Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. It’s amazing to me that it’s almost winter! Where has the time gone? I just read that NOAA is predicting that my region, the Pacific Northwest, will

Designing a Permaculture Orchard: A Holistic Approach to Sustainable Food Systems

Permaculture, a system of agricultural and social design principles, emphasizes harmony with natural ecosystems. A permaculture orchard is not just a place to grow fruit; it's a thriving ecosystem designed to be self-sustaining and resilient. Let’s explore how to design a permaculture orchard step by step, blending nature’s principles with human needs.

How to Get Tomatoes to Ripen

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. Ripening tomatoes can sometimes feel like a waiting game, but with a few simple techniques, you can encourage your tomatoes to reach their full, juicy potential. Whether

What to Grow in Your Garden For Pollinators

This is part of a new series of blog posts for beginner gardeners. These posts may be a little shorter and more specific in nature. In recent years, the crucial role of pollinators in maintaining biodiversity and food security has become increasingly evident. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects and animals

Regrowing Lettuce From a Store Bought Head of Lettuce – Does it work?

The answer to that is “sometimes”. We’ve all seen those videos on social media about how you can save money and get free vegetables by saving the stumps from a head of lettuce that you’ve bought at the store and used in a salad. The same is apparently true for spring onions and

What Makes a Tree Guild Work? Hint: biodiversity of relationships, not just species.

How Do Plants Support Each Other in a Permaculture Tree Guild? Identifying the layers of tree guild plants is just the first step in designing a Permaculture tree guild. The second step, identifying the role that each plant plays, is just as important. Let’s examine the various functions that each plant can fulfill.

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