WriterByNature.com

April 23, 2008 8:36 am

If you look at the images on the top of this page, you’ll see photos of trout lily, ramps (wild leeks), and wild garlic, which thrive in the woods at this time of year.

One advantage gardening has over foraging is that I don’t have to worry about disturbing poison ivy. I got out to Harmony Farm early enough yesterday morning to harvest enough chickweed for a week’s worth of salads and side dishes.

The chickweed has engulfed the spinach that had been planted last autumn. Any farmer will tell you that a weed is a plant growing where you don’t want it to grow. No one ever told me weeds were not tasty and nutritious. I trimmed the tops of the chickweed with a scissors, but before I got down to uprooting them, my mentor showed up with more important work for me. (more…)

April 7, 2008 1:57 pm

What began as a lead on one really cool housing idea, led to the discovery of one of the most environmentally-aware websites I have seen in a long time.

A visit to Patti Moreno at GardenGirlTV is time well spent. Patti, a self described, generation xer, “gets it.” Even better, she puts the principles of small scale sustainable agriculture to work in Boston, Massachusetts and documents the results in words and video. (more…)

April 2, 2008 7:14 am

I’m a working member of two consumer supported agriculture (CSA) farms this year. One is established, with a paid staff and a member season that starts in June. The other is fledgling, with a member season that started yesterday. The farm lands are in two different ecosystems; both are organic.

I’m directly connected to the source of my food. And I get to observe and participate in two different CSA farm operations.

Under the expert mentoring of Sister Carole, at Harmony Farm CSA in Goshen, NY, I will become a better locavore. (more…)

March 12, 2008 6:49 am

Plants will grow in many different containers, given the right conditions. An advantage to using containers is that you can move them to maximize growing conditions.

Try adapting unusual containers such as milk cartons, baskets, canisters or plastic containers. Be sure to poke holes in the bottom of the container. Line the bottom with 2 to 3 inches of small gravel, then fill the container with topsoil.

Here are some things you can plant in spring and summer: (more…)

September 23, 2007 6:05 am

This is one of two days in a calendar year when the length of day and night are the same. In my neck of the woods, the official time is 5:51 EDT this morning. From here on, the nights will be getting longer. (more…)

September 4, 2007 11:39 am

Plants will grow in many different containers, given the right conditions. An advantage to using containers is that you can move them to maximize growing conditions.

Try adapting unusual containers such as milk cartons, baskets, canisters or plastic containers. Be sure to poke holes in the bottom of the container. Line the bottom with 2 to 3 inches of small gravel, then fill the container with topsoil.

Here are some things you can plant in late summer or early fall: (more…)

September 2, 2007 4:37 pm

I don’t know what made the rhododendron outside my apartment window bloom.

But it’s nice to see.

It has been a sunny, but cool and low-humidity day, making it perfect for a hike.

(more…)

August 13, 2007 3:53 am

Organizer Nicole Carman is a genius. This event brought 182 participants to Mt. Pisgah State Park to participate in events ranging from kayaking and horseback riding to firearms, ATV safety, and wild game cooking.

If you can do it in the outdoors, there was someone to teach you how in a mini-workshop. I learned about WITO from my friend, Bird Lady, who attended as a participant this year, rather than a presenter. (more…)

May 29, 2007 4:57 pm

There is so much to learn.Starting with mushrooms:

Dryads Saddles

(more…)

May 26, 2007 7:50 am

This is a wonderful way to plant a garden.

Instead of planting seeds in rows, create furrows in the shapes of the letters of your name and watch the magic grow!

Materials:

• A small patch of earth for planting
• Small stick or dowel
• Flower or vegetable seeds
• Shovel, hoe, rake
• Planting gloves, watering can

Procedure:
1. Choose an area large enough to make large letter-shaped furrows. Note amount of shade/sun that reaches the area.
2. Use the rake and/or hoe to prepare the soil for planting, if necessary.
3. Choose low-growing seeds that will grow in the amount of sun/shade available in your garden plot.
4. Use the stick or dowel to trace the letters large enough to see the shapes when the plants grow in.
5. Use the shovel to create a furrow - a small grove - in the letter shapes.
6. Plant the seeds in the furrows, cover and water according to the directions on the package.
7. Follow directions on package for watering instructions for young plants.
8. Watch the plants grow in the shape of the letters of your name.

NOTE: For quicker results, use seeds with a short germination time, that come up a week or so after planting. Radishes, marigolds and nasturtiums are good candidates.