We have two established grape vines in our fenced garden. One has Concord grapes, the other Niagara. The Concord grapes are fully ripe right now and we’re looking for any and every way to use them, because there are a TON of grapes. Enter: experimenting making grape juice!
Last weekend we did a quick project after stumbling upon these beautiful blue arrow junipers. We’ve been discussing ways to add both year-round color and a little more structure to our gardens. We’d considered planting and shaping boxwoods, yew or juniper by the entry posts to the kitchen garden, but on seeing the beautiful silver-blue of these junipers, we pulled the trigger.
Last week I took a long walk around our eight acres – which I really ought to do more often. I took a bunch of photos to give you an idea of our space, how we use (and fail to use) it, some antique curiosities around the place, as well as some projects that would be great to do.
Hard to believe that it’s almost time here in New England to plant garlic and shallots again. It seems like I just harvested them, but planting time is October, and lots of vendors sell out of fun varieties early.
I drew up this little map of what I’m doing this year:
A chicken update – our chicks that we bought as one-day-old hatchlings back in May have finally started laying!
One of the best things about gardening is being able to use unusual ingredients that you never see in the store (or even in restaurants)! One item I grow where you can truly use so much of the plant is fennel.
This was my first year growing fennel. We had incredibly dry weather, which, with our drip irrigation, the fennel loved. Then, over the last four weeks, we’ve been deluged. This is when I should have picked the fennel, because it immediately began to bolt (flower) and the bulb began to rot. I completely missed my window – or so I thought…
A few years in to having a several types of vegetable gardens, I’ve learned what are the easiest, lowest-maintenance, highest-reward veggies to grow, no matter your space – raised beds, right in the ground, even small-space container gardens.
Three things led me to try DIY organic weed killers: I didn’t want my chickens, who free range, to eat pesticides, I didn’t want my toddlers, who play everywhere and put even the most unexpected things in their mouths to be exposed to pesticides, and I hate (HATE) pulling weeds by hand.
Garlic is possibly the easiest, and certainly one of the most rewarding, items I grow in the garden. Here’s how to do it yourself …
We spend a lot of time outside. With two toddlers, chickens, edible gardens, flower gardens, trails and eight acres of property – things get M-E-S-S-Y. That’s why I am so grateful to have this mudroom/entryway in our home. This section of the house was added on in 2000, along with the garage, laundry room and master bedroom.