Raising Chickens and Urban Gardening
Every July, my inbox fills with messages from worried gardeners: “My blossoms are falling!” “My tomato cracked!” “Why is it still green?” “What is this black spot?” Most of the time, nothing is actually wrong. Tomatoes are the prima donnas of the vegetable garden, wearing their stress on the outside and reacting dramatically to weather, watering, and other environmental conditions….
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By mid-July, the excitement of planting season has faded into the daily rhythm of watering, harvesting, weeding, and wondering whether everything is growing as it should. The garden is no longer full of promise—it’s in full production. But just as we schedule annual checkups for ourselves, our gardens also benefit from a little midseason attention. A short walk through the…
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As we sink deeper into our North Idaho summer, the excitement of spring has given way to garden maintenance—an often not-so-much-fun time in the garden. While the tomatoes are reaching for the sky, zucchini plants are doubling overnight, and every weather forecast brings another string of 90-degree afternoons, we wonder how we’ll manage to keep the garden thriving. With hot…
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Most people’s idea of “edible gardening” involves growing vegetables and fruit like tomatoes, peppers, beans, and strawberries. However, some of the most intriguing foods in your garden may never reach your dinner plate—overlooked simply because you don’t realize they’re edible. From flowers that taste like cucumbers and oniony herb blossoms to plant parts that are often tossed away, there’s a…
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