Garden & farm

Sarah Walker Caron Fresh herbs can transform an everyday dinner into a special occasion, but herbs at the grocery store can be expensive and difficult to keep fresh. Starting an indoor herb garden is a relatively simple and compact…
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Next to the land itself, the most expensive thing a homesteader or small farm operator can purchase is a farm tractor. It can also be one of the most necessary purchases for a modern grower. Troy R. Bennett “Tractors do a lot of…
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Growing plants without soil? No, it’s not science fiction -- it’s hydroponics. Lettuce growing in deep flow hydroponics; a student is lifting up part of a Styrofoam board to reveal the roots and the water underneath. | David Wees …
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A garden journal, or garden record book, is a place to log the seeds you use, where and when you plant, the results and more. Here's how to create one. Sarah Walker Caron Every year, Ivonne Vazquez, a master gardener from Orono,…
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Worms held above a worm bin used for vermicompost. | Photo courtesy of Rhonda Sherman Even if worms make you squirm, the benefit that these squishy invertebrates have on gardens is undeniable. Worm waste, or “castings,” are incredibly…
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Most folks can’t get by without that cup of morning joe. But when you’re done brewing, don’t toss those used coffee grounds — they can be as useful as the brew itself. Some cities and municipalities have green recycling programs…
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Believe it or not, you don’t need a greenhouse to grow crops indoors. Whether you are a city dweller pressed for yard space or homesteader looking to add a little green to the winter months, you can easily start an indoor vegetable garden.…
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Ever wonder about bees in winter? One of the biggest challenges facing beekeepers in northern climates is keeping their bees alive during the cold months of winter — a process known as “overwintering.” Hives covered in snow at the Maine…
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Overwintering vegetables is a great way to extend the growing season. Here's how to get started. Overwintering kale, chard, and leeks on a farm in Belfast, Maine. | Abigail Curtis Growing vegetables during the winter is no feat of…
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©stocksolutions/Adobe Stock A cold frame brings summery warmth to your garden throughout the year, even as the cool days of fall turn to the cold days of winter. The simple apparatus, often made of glass and wood, locks in the sparse…
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Slithering around yards and hiding in dark, damp areas, snakes can startle people. How do you keep snakes out of your yard? And should you? A garter snake hides in the underbrush. | Aislinn Sarnacki From Harry Potter to Indiana…
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The relatively small scale of bee colonies makes urban beekeeping an ideal back-to-nature project for city dwellers. Here's how to start your first beehive. Sam Hill Since the media swarm around colony collapse disorder started in…
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