growing food

More palletable

by

Remember when we took that pact to avoid buying new stuff? Well, there are some issues from time to time. I’m not talking about…

What’s taters? Precious

by

When Fred Fussell read Jenn’s post from earlier this month on storing veg for the winter, it brought back some memories. Fred is probably best described…

Choke Hold

by

It’s easy to understand why Native Americans cultivated Jerusalem artichokes* for centuries. These sunflowers are perennial, drought-tolerant, neglect-loving, and storage-friendly. The real puzzle is…

Label maker

by

What good’s a kicky wine without a kicky label, right? So after we bottled up our batch of peapod wine, I wanted to put something…

Peapod wine

by

“You’re trying to make what?” the nice man asks again. “Peapod wine,” I says. “Peapod wine. Never heard of it,” says the nice man, who…

Berry Bonds

by

For Brad’s birthday one year, I surprised him with a blackberry bush, wanting to give something that would bring happiness long after the day…

My name is loofah

by

This little guy germinated forever before suddenly bursting to life this week. Good friends gave us a loofah sponge and it had a handful…

Sweet secrets

by

Spring-like weekend weather had both of us racing outdoors for a little yard work. While rotating soil from old container plantings, I discovered a…

2013: Year in Review

by

With trepidation, I peeked back at this year’s goals — and was pleasantly surprised by how many were accomplished. Certainly not all, but it…