Soil is the key to health, both for ourselves and for the animals and plants we depend on. But soil “in good heart,” as farmers used to say, is not something we can take for granted. For gardeners and farmers, caring for the soil must always be our first priority, and the process of building soil fertility is vast and complex.
The best question to ask is not “What is the best soil care...
If you live in an apartment or it is freezing and bitter outside, you can still garden under lights. The extra light and the growing plants help to take away the winter blues. Even if you don’t have a store-bought stand one can be made with a cast-off fixture, some cedar or treated lumber, screws, nails and cords. The best growth will occur under the maximum light you can provide. My stand has...
Sometimes garden writers make things involve more work and expense than necessary. Raised garden beds are one example. Your crops will grow fine whether your beds are level, raised or even sunken (a good choice in dry, windy regions).
Maintaining dedicated beds — where you plant crops — and dedicated pathways where you walk is the important piece.
Compacted soil is the enemy of...
Raised beds boost our vegetables above the often-waterlogged ground in the Organic Gardening test garden, which is located alongside a spring-fed stream. Not every gardener deals with a high water table, but there are other good reasons to plant in raised beds:
Article on the new farmers market in Yellowknife which appeared in EDGE in April 2013.
The NWT Association of Municipalities has developed this brochure which describes the role community gardens play in Integrated Community Sustainability Plans. Community Gardens are part of enhancing local food sources
Almost every ICSP in the NWT made reference to enhancing local food sources and in particular to community gardens. The Association is proud to highlight some community...
Here’s how to make your own newspaper pots in 6 easy steps... Go to: http://www.goindie.com/grow/index.cfm/make/article/id/3954832A-D16B-3152...
This is a 3-part series on what is permaculture....
What is Permaculture - Part 1: Ethics: http://www.permaculture.co.uk/articles/what-permaculture-part-1-ethics
What is Permaculture - Part 2: Principles: http://...
I just installed an eavesdrough in my greenhouse, the whole length of the greenhouse along the south side. I intend to plant some lettuce and radishes in there as soon in mid-April and to leave it up until the end of May. It's an experiment. I want to see if I can grow food in an eavesdrough! The plan is to remove it when I am transplanting the rest of the crops from the house into the...
Gardening guru Eliot Coleman asserts that “the basic cold frame is the most dependable, least exploited aid for the four-season harvest.” We couldn’t agree more. Last winter, my humble box built of 2-by-4s topped with an old shower door added a month to the front end of salad season, but the best part was being able to sow some of my spring seeds directly into the frame. This made more space...
Building Your Own Raised Bed Garden
If you have a limited land base, lack growing space or are interested in maximizing productivity and diversity, consider moving to a raised bed style of gardening. Popular with market gardeners (o