Chelsea Green Blog
Farming & Homesteading
Is Your Greenhouse Winter-Ready? Dealing with Snow on Your Greenhouse
Want to keep your protected crops heated and healthy all season? Get your greenhouse ready for winter with these snow removal tips! The following is an excerpt from The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook by Andrew Mefferd. It has been adapted for the web. (Photographs courtesy of Andrew Mefferd unless otherwise noted.) Dealing with snow…
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Low Tunnel Tutorial: Winter Growing DIY
Want to grow year-round, but a greenhouse feels like a big investment? The low tunnel is here to help! Low tunnels are less expensive than greenhouses and allow you to adjust & respond to the climate outside the tunnel. When it comes to cost and flexibility, low tunnels are the all-around winners. The following is…
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10 Books to Gift the Homesteader in Your Life
These days, there are a record number of people growing their own food and other crops at home. Whether the homesteader in your life is new to the homesteading lifestyle or a seasoned pro, we’ve got your go-to gifts for anyone who grows everything themselves. In the first edition of The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer,…
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How To Create A Homemade Wreath
From clipping the proper branches to tying the right knots, building a wreath takes patience and precision. Create this holiday craft with your family to decorate your home, or spread the joy to others by gifting or selling your homemade wreath. The following is an excerpt from Carving Out a Living on the Land by…
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Wondrous Wintergreen: All About the Wintergreen Plant
Have you ever chewed on a piece of gum or used toothpaste and wondered where the minty taste comes from? It’s all in the wintergreen. Wintergreen, a vine that produces flavorful berries, is very easy to grow and harvest in your own garden or greenhouse. It is an unusual and beautiful evergreen groundcover plant that…
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A Guide to Pruning Protected Crops
Pruning is essential for keeping protected crops healthy & balanced through the winter months. Keep reading for some helpful tips on pruning greenhouse and hoophouse plants! The following is an excerpt from The Greenhouse and Hoophouse Grower’s Handbook by Andrew Mefferd. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs copyright © 2017…
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Keeping Seeds Organized: Saving & Storing
Storing seeds is the key to having a successful growing season. Follow these tips for keeping seeds organized so you’re ready to plant as soon as the time is right!
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Soil Is Alive: What Lives In Our Soil?
Ever wonder what worms and centipedes are doing as they crawl through your soil? They’re actually working to improve the soil’s health, which benefits the environment and all living things in the long run. The following is an excerpt from Farming on the Wild Side by Nancy J. Hayden and John P. Hayden. It has been adapted…
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Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in a Garage or Yard
Learn how to grow shiitake mushrooms in almost any environment, including your yard and even your garage!
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How to Extend the Growing Season
Winter may be coming, but that doesn’t mean you should put away those tools just yet! Extend the growing season past the first frost with a few modifications.
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The Endless Arugula Bed
What if we told you that there was a way to extend your growing season and save time & money? The answer is all in arugula. With quick hoops and greenhouse film, you’ll be on your way to harvesting sweet & flavorful arugula in no time. The following excerpt is from The Resilient Farm and…
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No-Till Arugula Start to Finish
Growing no-till arugula is a simple way to grow your own food. These greens can be used on pizzas, salads, and as a garnish on almost any dish.
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Brew Outside the Box: Making Mushroom-Infused Beer
For the adventurous brewer infusing mushrooms into brews is a great way to combine the medicinal benefits of fungi with one of the world’s most consumed drinks.
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Naturally Feeding Your Flock: Feed Poultry With Fresh Greens
Feeding your flock naturally wild wild greens comes with many benefits, from boosting poultry health to saving you money on feed bills.
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Garlic Growing 101: From Seed to Harvest
All hail the mighty garlic clove! Become a master at garlic growing with these simple tips for growing no-till garlic yourself from seed to harvest.
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Vermicast Structures: Worm Real Estate
Farmers rely on earthworms to create vermicomposting systems to improve seed germination, enhanced seedling growth and increased plant productivity.
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Building Your Own Root Cellar for the Fall Harvest
Building a root cellar is a great way to keep your harvest fresh through the cold months. With protection from weather and animals, these cellars can be just as good as a regular refrigerator. They can be built into a wall in your basement, dug into the ground, or simply buried. The following excerpt is…
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Composting as if it Mattered
Composting is more than a way to minimize waste and a garden supplement. It is a method, when practiced and perfected, can supply all the needs of your crops and soil.
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About Thyme: Growing, Harvesting, and Drying Thyme
Thyme is easy to grow and harvest in almost any condition. Follow these tips to get started growing, harvesting (and drying) thyme in your home or backyard!
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The Importance of Planting Cover Crops
If you want to improve your soil, one of the most important things you can do is to plant cover crops. But they need to be selected with a purpose.
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Weeding: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Weeds are the bane of every farmer and gardener’s existence. Before you go crusading against the weeds in your garden follow these tips and tricks!
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Preserving Veggies: Tips for Freezing Vegetables
Try your hand at preserving veggies by freezing them! Freezing vegetables is a quick, simple way to preserve them for winter meals.
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All About Cows: What has Four Legs, Says “Moo,” and Could Save the Planet?
Cows can help rebuild soil and restore land to its rightful state—improving carbon sequestration, natural water cycles, and soil fertility and nutrient density.
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Arid Agriculture: Strategies to Reduce Heat Stress in Crops and Livestock
Become more resilient when the temperatures are on the rise to reduce heat stress and produce food in even the most arid environments.
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A Guide to Great Compost From Eliot Coleman
Compost is the key to an abundant garden. Learn the basics of making compost from gardening expert Eliot Coleman, and enjoy the joy of growing your own food.
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