Chelsea Green Blog
Gardening
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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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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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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Starting & Growing A Flower Farm: What to Consider
Want to start a flower farm? Most of your decisions when starting and growing a farm are interdependent, so it can be hard to know where to start. The following is an excerpt from Flower Farming for Profit by Lennie Larkin. It has been adapted for the web. Featured photo by Molly DeCoudreaux. Take Stock…
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How to Grow a Year-Round Indoor Salad Garden
Does the cold weather have you dreaming about fresh greens and colorful salad? Grow and harvest sprouts indoors to make those dreams a reality! The following is an excerpt from Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening by Peter Burke. It has been adapted for the web. Soil sprouts, microgreens, sprouts, and baby greens are all different versions…
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The Art and Joy of Collecting Seeds
It all starts with a seed. Collecting seeds from your plants will propagate more life from what you already have. Different plant species require varied methods of seed collection. Below are some tips to help you understand plants’ specific wants and needs when collecting their seeds! The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Gardener by…
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Perennial Power: Why You Need Perennials in Your Garden
Keeping up with a garden can be a lot of work; luckily, there’s a secret weapon that will take away some of your stress. Perennials are the perfect addition to any garden, and only have to be planted once a decade! The following is from The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition by…
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Must-Have Tools for Successful Indoor Gardening
Who says cold weather has to stop you from gardening? With the right tools, you’ll be all set to create your own indoor garden at home. The following is an excerpt from Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening by Peter Burke. It has been adapted for the web. Tools for Indoor Gardening The list of tools you…
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Starting A Flower Farm: 7 Steps to Crop Planning
Thinking about starting your own flower farm? Before putting seeds in the ground, it’s important to plan out which crops you want to plant. The following is an excerpt from Flower Farming for Profit by Lennie Larkin. It has been adapted for the web. Crop Planning for A Flower Farm in 7 Steps Crop planning…
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Saving Dry vs. Wet Seeds: The Seed Series
Interested in seed saving? Before getting started, it’s important to know the difference between storing wet seeds and dry ones. The following excerpt is from Will Bonsall’s Essential Guide to Radical, Self-Reliant Gardening by Will Bonsall. It has been adapted for the web. (Unless otherwise noted, all photography courtesy of Will Bonsall.) Dry vs. Wet Seeds:…
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Build Your Own Cold Frame: Get a Jump on the Planting Season
Extend your planting season with a cold frame! Building your own cold frame is a simple way to keep growing plants all winter long. The following is an excerpt from Four-Season Harvest by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. What Is A Cold Frame? Gardeners should dedicate a monument to the cold…
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The Winter Harvest Project
Four-season farmer Eliot Coleman strikes again with inspiration for all you cold-loving farmers out there! A master of extending the growing season, Eliot explains his strategies for a successful winter harvest and greenhouse design. The following excerpt is from The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web.…
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6 Tips and Tricks for Indoor Gardening
Craving a fresh harvest during the winter months? Try indoor gardening to grow fresh greens and more year-round! Here are 6 articles to jump-start your indoor harvest and get you growing in no time. Must Have Tools for Successful Indoor Gardening The process of producing high-quality food inside requires time and attention, along with the…
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Winter Gardening Without Heated Greenhouses
Think you can’t enjoy winter gardening without a heated greenhouse? Think again. As long as you’re adding layers to keep your crops warm, you’ll be set to grow food all winter long! The following is an excerpt from The Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman. It has been adapted for the web. Winter Gardening Without…
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Sweet Winter Carrots: Growing & Harvesting
Want to keep growing great food during the cold months? Try growing winter carrots in your cold house! These carrots, which Eliot Coleman grows on his farm in the winter, are even sweeter and more flavorful than the more conventionally timed “spring carrots.” The following is an excerpt fromThe Winter Harvest Handbook by Eliot Coleman. It has…
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Laying Down Cover Crops in 7 Steps
Want to make the most of the slow gardening season? Lay cover crops to improve the health of your soil and plants! The following is an excerpt from The Celestial Garden by Jane Hawley Stevens. It has been adapted for the web. Benefits of Cover Crops Cover cropping is a management practice that benefits the…
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9 Books for Backyard Gardeners
Searching for the perfect book to give the gardener in your life? These books are great gifts for gardeners at any level. Head over to our Gardening page for even more great gardening reads! In The Home-Scale Forest Garden, Dani Baker shares what she learned as she became a forest gardener, providing a practical, in-depth…
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9 Vital Tools for Micro-Farming
Interested in micro-farming, but don’t know where to begin? Believe it or not, you only need 9 tools to get started. These easy-to-find tools for micro-farming will set the stage for productive growing! The following is an excerpt from The Lean Micro Farm by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. Unless otherwise noted, all…
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How to Protect Plants from Winter Elements
Living in a colder climate doesn’t mean you need to give up on more fragile plants. By adequately preparing your less-hardy plants for the winter, you’ll set them up to survive and thrive! The following is an excerpt from Cold-Hardy Fruits and Nuts by Scott Serrano and Allyson Levy. It has been adapted for the web. Protect…
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What is a Plant Guild?
What does the term “plant guild” actually mean? Technically, a plant guild is a beneficial grouping of plants that support humans, animals, and even one another. The key to creating a successful one is identifying the right design for your permaculture project. The following is an excerpt from Integrated Forest Gardening by Daniel Halsey, Bryce Ruddock,…
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October Garden Planning: 10 Tips for Success
Just because fall is here, that doesn’t mean gardening season is over! There’s still plenty of time to wrap up the season, prepare for next year, and tackle all of those pesky to-dos around the homestead. So without further ado, here’s your October garden planning cheat sheet. October Garden Planning: The Harvest 1. Pumpkins and…
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