Garden
The Tomatoing Begins
Our first two tomato harvests gave us 40lbs of Chef's Choice, Heinz, Roma and Tiren tomatoes, which are about to be processed and jarred as sauce to take us through the winter.
How to Tell When Onions are Ready to Harvest
Knowing when to harvest onions for peak flavor can be tricky, but with a few tips from a real onion farmer, they're super easy to perfectly pick and store.
Hanging Gourd Garden 2.0 – Early Summer
The gourd garden a month ago & today. These bottle, birdhouse, dipper and luffa vines shade this bed through the summer letting us grow cooler season crops.
So That’s Why It’s Called Bee Balm
After a two-year wait, the bergamot (monarda) finally flowered. I thought it would bring butterflies, but now I know why it's called "bee balm".
Summer with Sunflowers
Celebrating summer with a photo gallery of all the varieties of sunflowers growing on the Acre. (Links to the seed sources are included in the post.)
When is it too much Basil?
I think basil might not be bound by the laws of physics. I planted just six 4-inch pots where I planted 18 the year before. The results were the same.
Tapas Time!
Got a few extra veggies but don't know what to do? Make pinchos de encurtidos (a type of tapas). Easy & delicious, they're great with cheese and charcuterie.
Go Ahead, Pickle It!
Long before refrigeration pickling was the way to preserve food and keep it flavorful. Super simple, you can create any great pickled food yourself. Here's how
How to Make A Butterfly House
Sustainable gardens need pollinators. Encourage butterflies with flowers for food and get them to stay with a simple butterfly house you can make for only $3!
Ducks are Targeted Pest Control
Ducks are great organic gardeners. They're not particularly fond of spinach, but they do love young grasshopper. Judy the duck found this one, picked it off and left a little "fertilizer" as a bonus.