Reviving the lost art of self-reliance, one small step at a time
Helping you decide what to plant in your vegetable garden or fruit orchard — and how to fit it all in!
Planning a vegetable garden means thinking about what you have, what you need, and what you want from your gardening efforts.
Starting a vegetable garden requires a bit of forethought. You could just toss seeds into the wind and hope for the best, but that’s unlikely to generate a worthwhile crop.
Understanding the needs of different crops will help you decide where to plant them. Or whether to plant them at all. Garden planning sometimes means compromising on what will grow well versus your ideals.
Navigate through the various posts about planning a garden below, or use the search function at the top of the page to find something specific.
Seed saving is something gardeners have been doing forever. It’s a great way to maintain a continuous supply of heirloom or open-pollinated seeds. Instead of depending on the nursery or your favorite seed catalog every year, you can save seeds from crops you grow and plant them again the following year.
Planting a front yard full of pretty edibles — annual and perennial vegetables — is a great way to use the most of your space.
Edible Front Yard Landscaping: Pretty Enough to Fool Your Homeowners AssociationRead More
Growing Swiss chard in containers is a great way for urbanites to grow some greens. Of course, Swiss chard is a great addition to a full-sized garden, too.
Growing Swiss Chard: Greens for Gardens and Container GrowingRead More
If you’re planting a garden, decide if you’re planting seeds or seedlings. Here’s what to know about seed germination & growing vegetables from seeds.
Growing Vegetables from Seeds: How to Get a Jump on Your GardenRead More
If you’re trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle but find the high cost of good food to be prohibitive, a kitchen garden plot might be the answer.
Choosing drought tolerant crops and using water wise methods when planting a vegetable garden can assure a harvest in harsh conditions. Drought conditions aren’t ideal, but there are some tactics you can take to create a drought tolerant garden that will produce a harvest for you.
Drought Resistant Crops & Water Wise Techniques for the Veggie GardenRead More
A lush green lawn has become a mandatory calling card in many communities. But your lawn might be making you sick. And it’s certainly not a sustainable solution. Here’s why you should consider ditching the grass for a healthier family and planet!
Five Reasons to Ditch the Lawn and Plant a Front Yard GardenRead More
Winter gardening: Time to choose your bare root fruit trees for your home orchard! You’ll have a better selection now, too, before trees leaf out.
What You Need to Know About Planting Bare Root Fruit TreesRead More
There are plenty of reasons to choose heirloom seeds instead of their hybrid cousins. Your vegetable garden will shine with some of these vintage varieties!
6 Reasons to Grow Heirloom Seeds in Your Garden for Fun and FlavorRead More
