Chelsea Green Blog
Farming & Homesteading
Catnip! Good for Cats, Good for Humans
Many know the effects of catnip on our feline friends, but few realize that catnip has medicinal effects for humans. From stomach aches to reducing fevers, catnip is a versatile herb with many benefits. The next time you grow this plant for your cat you may end up taking a few cuttings for yourself! The…
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Become A Plant Breeder: The Seed Series
It’s time to take control of your seeds and become a plant breeder! Saving your seed allows you to grow and best traditional & regional varieties, and develop more of your own. The following excerpt is from Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Becoming A Plant…
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Weed Suppression: Choosing The Right Cover Crops & Living Mulches
Trying to figure out how to manage weeds in your garden beds? Use cover crops and living mulches for weed suppression while your garden flourishes! The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Farm by Helen Atthowe. It has been adapted for the web. Suppressing Weeds With Cover Crops: Getting Started Cover crops suppress weeds…
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How to Become a Shiitake Mushroom Farmer
Interested in becoming a mushroom farmer? Shiitake mushrooms are one of the easiest and most profitable places to start. The following is an excerpt from Farming the Woods by Steve Gabriel and Ken Mudge. It has been adapted for the web. (Photographs courtesy of Steve Gabriel and Ken Mudge unless otherwise noted.) The Stunning Shiitake…
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A Guide to Feeding Animals On Your Farm
One of the most essential parts of raising livestock is feeding your animals the right foods to keep them healthy and productive. Here are some tips for feeding animals on your farm to make it a bit easier! The following is an excerpt from Barefoot Biodynamics by Jeff Poppen. It has been adapted for the web.…
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9 Simple Steps to Sheet Mulching: Turn Barren Soil into Black Gold
To turn a barren lot into a permaculture paradise, you’ve got to start from the ground up — and sheet mulching is an easy way to start. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your soil with the power of sheet mulching! The following is an excerpt is from Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier. It…
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Choosing the Right Seed Crop: The Seed Series
How do you know if you’re picking the right seeds? Here are some easy tips on choosing the best seed crop for your environment. The following is an excerpt from The Organic Seed Grower by John Navazio. It has been adapted for the web. Seed Crop Characteristics There are a number of prominent characteristics of…
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The Miyawaki Method: Imagining a Mini-Forest’s Potential
Want to witness the magic of the mini-forest? When you practice The Miyawaki Method, a unique approach to reforestation, you’ll see an empty lot or backyard transform into a biodiverse forest before your very eyes. The following is an excerpt from Mini-Forest Revolution by Hannah Lewis. It has been adapted for the web. Photo Credit:…
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Testing Soil: Healthy Soil is Just A Test Away
Testing soil in your garden is the first step to a more bountiful harvest. It’s not as hard as you might imagine, either — simply take a small sample, get it examined, and you’ll be on your way to healthy soil and a promising harvest this season. The following is an excerpt from The Regenerative Grower’s…
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Creating A Plant Grouping: Edible Forest Gardens
Get one step closer to the edible forest garden of your dreams by creating a plant grouping! These arrangements of plants help contribute to a healthy, thriving food forest. The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for the web. Planning a Plant Grouping Deciding what plants to…
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Grow Your Own Veg — Starting Plants from Seed
Growing your own vegetables may be easier than you think! All you need is an indoor or outdoor space & some seeds, and you’ll be starting plants in no time. The following is an excerpt from Fresh Food from Small Spaces by R. J. Ruppenthal. It has been adapted for the web. Starting Plants from Seed…
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5 Principles of Soil Health
Wondering how to make your soil (and plants) thrive? Use these principles of soil health to properly prepare your farm or garden to grow. The following excerpt is from Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown. It has been adapted for the web. (Photography curtesy of Gabe Brown.) Prefer audio? Listen to the excerpt below from the…
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Permanent Beds: Designing An Efficient Garden
Permanent beds are going to change your gardening game. This type of garden bed helps improve soil health, ensures crop growth, and is extremely easy to design! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has been adapted for the web. Designing Permanent Beds The term permanent beds is…
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Simplify Farm Fieldwork: Stop Working So Hard
Looking to simplify fieldwork on your farm? The key is to act like a tree: stop working so hard and let nature do some of the work for you. The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs and…
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Preserving Seed Integrity: How Far is Far Enough?
While there is a lot of information out there about keeping the “purity” of seeds, the true “pure” seed is a myth. There are still best practices that any seed grower should keep in mind; but once they understand seed integrity and let cross-pollination happen, the real fun begins. The following is an excerpt from…
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Birch & Walnut Syrups: Beyond the Maple
Move aside, maple! We have two new syrups to add to the table. Check out this insight on tapping, selling, and eating syrup from walnut & birch trees. The following is an excerpt from Farming the Woods by Steve Gabriel and Ken Mudge. It has been adapted for the web. Walnut Syrup Walnut (Juglans spp.)…
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7 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Planting Site
With spring starting soon, now is the perfect time to start planning out your garden. For those new to gardening or homesteading, the location of your planting site is one of the first things to consider. The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been…
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How to Grow Mushrooms on Woodchip
These days, growing mushrooms is all the rage. It is extremely simple, and they will grow pretty much anywhere — from milk cartons to denim to the always-reliable woodchip. The following is an excerpt from The Woodchip Handbook by Ben Raskin. It has been adapted for the web. Grow Mushrooms On Woodchip Growing mushrooms on woodchip can…
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Garden Planning: The Most Promising Veggies
Getting ready to do some garden planning? Here are some of the most promising veggies that Eliot Coleman suggests to start with! The following is an excerpt from The New Organic Grower by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. A Guide to Garden Planning When I began farming full-time on my own…
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How to Plan the Best Garden Ever
When you plan out how you want your garden to look and operate, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success. Here are some helpful tips on how to plan the best garden this upcoming growing season! The following excerpt is from The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times by Carol Deppe. It has been…
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Good Fences and Gates Make for Great Goats
Wondering how to get your goats to stay in one place? The secret is all in choosing the right fences and gates to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. The following excerpt is from Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell. It has been adapted for the web. All photographs courtesy of Gianaclis Caldwell unless otherwise noted. Finding…
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Optimize Your Soil with Cover Cropping
Make use of these slow gardening months by preparing your soil for the year ahead! Cover cropping creates nutrient-rich soil for winter gardening AND provides an extra boost to your seedlings come springtime. The following is an excerpt from The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition by Ben Falk. It has been adapted…
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DIY Seed Bank: The Seed Series
A do-it-yourself seed bank is simply your own frozen stash of seeds set aside for long-term storage. The best seed banks are located in your own home or neighborhood and contain vigorous, regionally adapted varieties of the crops you already know how to grow and use. The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable…
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Growing Cold-Hardy Black Raspberries
Black raspberries are unique, delicious fruits that can be grown in almost any weather condition. Keep reading for tips & tricks on growing these delightful berries yourself! The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been adapted for the web. Growing Cold-Hardy Black Raspberries For many years…
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8 Seed Saving Myths
There is a lot of misinformation out there about how to save your seeds. Luckily, we’re here to bust the most popular myths and answer all your questions about seed saving! The following is an excerpt from The Tao of Vegetable Gardening by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Myth #1: You…
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