Working toward better self reliance (if not 100% self sufficiency) is a continual effort of improving systems and trying new things on a little homestead.
Joel Salatin Talks About Just DOING It
Yes, yes, yes! Joel Salatin’s preamble here is spot on. NO we’re not going to get it right the first time! We are all learning as we go, each of us learning new skills. Watch and be inspired to dive in and try something new. You might make a mess of it, but you will [...]
Real Vegetable Gardens from Far and Wide
Beautiful magazine vegetable gardens are inspiring to see, but sometimes we need a reality check. These vegetable gardens come from all across the USA (plus one from Spain!) are the results of real people working the soil and growing food. Beautiful vegetable gardens are great, but REAL is fun to see, too.
Make a Wicking Bed – Great for Drought Gardens
Wicking beds are very water efficient. These self-contained planters have a reservoir of water at the bottom and a wicking medium that slowly pulls water up to the plant roots. The folks over at Bits Out the Back created this short tutorial on making a wicking bucket. The same technique can be applied to larger beds and [...]
Using Leaves in the Garden: 7 FREE Ways to Improve the Soil
Fall leaves are quite possibly the best resource for your garden. And people will just GIVE them to you! Take advantage of it!
Self Sufficient Living with The Resilient Gardener
Growing our own food in preparation for economic downturns or hard times is smart. Self sufficient living is a way to be prepared for what life throws us.
Cooperative Extension: Expert Help, (Mostly) No Charge
The cooperative extension system, affiliated with universities across the USA, are a great source of expert information for gardeners, canners, and cooks.
Chloramine in the Garden: Why Municipal Water Might Pose Problems
For years, municipalities have been adding chlorine to water supplies to make it safe for drinking. At a recent community event I learned that our municipal water provider has switched over to something called chloramine, and other municipalities are embracing chloramine as well.