Though it’s often challenging to grow in our climate, one advantage is that we don’t have to deal with a lot of garden pests. Aphids, cabbage worms and flea beetles are usually the extent of the pests I’ll deal with in any given year and typically, they are never out of control. Flea beetles are […]
Q&A with Kareen – What to do about flea beetles… Read More »
There’s nothing more disappointing then putting your time and energy into growing veggies that don’t taste great. After a season of watering, weeding and fertilizing, you bite into that luscious cucumber and you immediately spit it out because it tastes so bitter. In my video today, I address Rachel’s question about how to prevent bitter
Q&A with Kareen – How do I prevent bitter cucumbers? Read More »
Chickens are one of the easier and more useful animals to have in your backyard gardens. In permaculture, they are often the example of “each element performing multiple functions.” In other words, having chickens as part of your backyard ecosystem accomplishes several functions at once. Not only can they provide you with eggs and meat
How I Use My Chickens to Prep New Garden Beds Read More »
Since planting season is underway, this week’s Q&A with Kareen is especially timely and all about native plants. Sam asks what native plants grow in a cold climate and I share some of the shrubs and wildflowers that I have growing in my front yard. Sam’s question is especially relevant since in April of 2023,
Q&A with Kareen – What native plants grow in a cold climate? Read More »
It’s May in the garden which means cool season crops are starting to get planted in the outdoor garden while things in the greenhouse have really taken off. May in Montana is always ‘go-time’ for planting, transplanting and more planting! My video today gives you a little peek into what I have growing in the
May Greenhouse Tour! Read More »
If you haven’t seen vole damage in your yard or garden this spring, consider yourself lucky! The sustained snow over our long winter created the perfect environment for these voracious rodents to nibble on shrubs, trees, and perennial plants with impunity! It’s definitely disheartening to see years of growth disappear over the winter. As I
Vole Damage? Here are some strategies… Read More »
Permaculture is definitely one of the most misunderstood and obscure terms in the sustainability and gardening field. Is it a technique? A way of gardening? A philosophy? Catherine Kirchner from Uncommon Pastures recently interviewed me about permaculture. Catherine owns a small, diverse, regenerative farm near Big Timber, MT where she raises grassfed & grass finished
What is Permaculture? Read More »
If you’re in a cold climate, having a greenhouse is a really effective way to extend your growing season on both ends. In March and April, greenhouses are great for early season greens and to grow out your seedlings. They also allow for additional growing time beyond our first frost date in the fall. With
Don’t want to heat your greenhouse? Here’s what to do instead… Read More »
This week’s ‘Q&A with Kareen’ is all about pears. In the video, I answer Elizabeth’s questions about what pears I grow, an explanation about the kitchen tool I use the most for pear preservation, and what to do about codling moths. The pears in my food forest are one of the yields that I look
This week’s ‘Q&A with Kareen’ is all about pill bugs. I answer Karen’s question about what role pill bugs play, if any, in a healthy garden. As she explains, they tend to flourish in her greenhouse and some of her outdoor garden beds. Pill bugs are very common in gardens and greenhouses. Because of their
Q&A with Kareen – How do pill bugs fit into a healthy garden? Read More »
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