Cover Crops

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The vintage-style image of red clover, capturing its distinctive pinkish-red flowers and lush green leaves.
Cover Crops

Is Red Clover A Good Cover Crop?

Red clover is indeed a beneficial cover crop. Cover crops are essential in sustainable gardening and farming as they improve soil health, manage pests, control weeds, and prevent erosion. Red clover is notable for its distinct advantages among the different cover crops. This blog post delves into the suitability and ...

Here is the vintage-style image of a garden cart full of green grass clippings.
Compost

What Is The Green Stuff In Compost?

While “browns” and “greens” are both vital for a balanced compost pile, the specific roles these components play are often a source of curiosity. We’ve already highlighted the importance of browns, and now it’s time to shift our focus to the crucial role of greens. Let’s look at what greens ...

The vintage-style image of a wheelbarrow full of freshly raked leaves.
Compost

Why Are There Browns In Compost?

Composting is a great way to turn yard waste and food scraps into soil that is full of nutrients. But why do the instructions always mention “browns” and “greens”? While greens provide essential nutrients, browns are just as important for creating a balanced compost pile. Let’s explore the role of browns in composting and ...

The vintage-style image depicting coffee grounds next to a healthy plant with a superimposed question mark.
Soil Health

Are Coffee Grounds Good For Your Garden?

Introduction Have you ever considered using your leftover coffee grounds to improve your garden? Many gardeners seek natural and sustainable ways to enhance soil quality and promote plant health, and coffee grounds could be one of those resources. This post will explore the benefits and things to consider when using ...

close up of hairy vetch
Cover Crops

Is Hairy Vetch A Good Cover Crop?

Is hairy vetch a good cover crop? Yes, it is. This climbing legume, known scientifically as Vicia villosa, is one of the vibrant green plants you might notice covering farmlands in the off-season. Hairy vetch is praised for its robust benefits to soil health and ecosystem support, making it an excellent ...

The vintage-style image of a rustic gardening work bench, featuring a burlap bag of biochar and other potting items.
Soil Health

How Do I Use Biochar In My Garden?

You may have heard about biochar if you’re an avid gardener or someone invested in sustainable living. It’s not a newfangled trend by any means; its roots stretch back centuries to practices in the Amazon Basin, where ancient civilizations enriched their fields with a material similar to what we now know ...

The vintage-style image featuring an open burlap sack with biochar inside and a scoop sticking in it.
Soil Health

What Is Biochar And What Is It Used For?

Organic waste is used to make biochar, a substance that is like charcoal. It can improve the health of the soil by making it more fertile, keeping water in, and supporting a healthy environment for microbes. Biochar is not meant to be used for grilling food like regular charcoal. Instead, it is used to improve the quality of the soil. I ...

The vintage-style image of a gardener mixing soil in a container, with the ingredients used in the mix displayed around the mixing area.
Soil Health

Making Homemade Potting Mix

Venturing into the realm of custom-mixed potting soil transforms container gardening into an adventure beyond the garden center shelves. Picture a container garden where the soil itself is a living, breathing world. This isn’t just any mix—it’s a vibrant ecosystem, meticulously crafted to offer roots the oxygen they crave and ...

A gardener brewing compost tea in a rustic setting, capturing the essence of sustainable gardening practices.
Compost

The Homemade Compost Tea Boost

Looking for a natural way to supercharge your garden’s growth and health? Compost tea might just be the secret ingredient your green space is missing. This easy-to-make, nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer not only improves soil health but also promotes vigorous plant growth. Below is a simple guide to making your very ...

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