Garden & farm

Testing bean seeds for viability.| Photo by Kate Garland With spring around the corner, you may be perusing seed catalogs to order your favorite fruit and vegetable varieties. But don’t be so quick to purchase new packets -- those…
Read more...

Is it time to order seeds yet? We chatted with experts to learn more about ordering, storing and planting seeds for the growing season. Photo by Micky Bedell Gardening season seems far off with the ground frozen and temperatures…
Read more...

Photo by Ashley Conti Your homestead is a living laboratory, and homesteaders are constantly conducting experiments and making observations. Getting involved with citizen science on your homestead takes that one step further by turning…
Read more...

If you want to keep bees, planning ahead is key to getting started. And that starts with knowing the answer to an important question: When should you order bees? Photo by Gabor Degre Winter is wrapping up and bee season is right…
Read more...

Growing your own food has obvious benefits: good flavorful produce, a connection to the land, etc. But did you know there are also therapeutic benefits of gardening? Photo by Linda Coan O'Kresik It is no secret that gardening is good…
Read more...

Questions. Concerns. Uncertainty. When you are new to something, these things are natural. For new farmers, there's help though in the form of organizations dedicated to supporting them. Photo by Gabor Degre Starting to farm can be…
Read more...

Pride of the Pantry Plots community garden in Cascade, Idaho, at an elevation of 4,760 feet above sea level. The community garden includes 40 raised beds with low tunnel hoop frames that was constructed at the food pantry to grow fresh…
Read more...

Do you have healthy garden soil? Ensuring that you do is a continuing task. Here's what you need to know. Photo by Gabor Degre Sure, it’s January and in many parts of the country spring is weeks -- even months -- away. But it’s never…
Read more...

Garden clippings on top of a backyard compost pile. Woody material can take a few cycles to break down. | Photo by Elizabeth Stanley Spoiled vegetables, banana peels, grass clippings and dead leaves -- these are the things that may…
Read more...

A future farmer checks out an electric powered farm tractor during a demonstration at the University of Oregon. |Lynn Kethum The familiar noisy and exhaust-spewing sights, sounds and smells of the traditional gas or diesel-powered farm…
Read more...

Photo by Gabor Degre If you’ve ever dreamed of homesteading but don’t know how to get started, farm apprenticeships are a great way to learn skills, meet experienced farmers and try your hand at the homesteading life. Here are 6 farm…
Read more...

Photo by Gabor Degre Starting a community garden can be a terrific way to grow vegetables and help people in your neighborhood. But before you pick up a spade or seed catalog, it’s a good idea to keep a few pointers in mind. 1.…
Read more...