Starting a plant from seed is an extraordinarily satisfying experience. Although, besides a few second-grade attempts to grow daisies in a Dixie cup, it wasn’t until last year that I came to understand the full majesty that can unfold from a tiny seed.
How to Assemble Bee Hive Frames – The Green House
05.07.2009 – 10:48
Here’s a great video on setting up a bee hive frame, from The Green House. Not knowing this has been THE thing that has kept me from getting started with bees. Thank you Green House!
Homegrown Grains: The Key to Food Security
05.07.2009 – 8:21
With food shortages and rising grain prices in the news (and on the shelves in the bread aisle of your local supermarket), more and more people have begun thinking about growing their own grain alongside their homegrown fruits and vegetables. It’s easy to harvest and use—probably easier than you think—and a good step toward transitioning [...]
Microhydro Power in Your Backyard? How to Assess Your Site
05.06.2009 – 20:19
One of my coworkers dreams of owning a home with a little stream running through the yard helping to power his hybrid microhydro/photovoltaic and carbon-free home.
If you’re lucky enough to have access to your own stream, complete with a small waterfall, just think: you could be harnessing that energy for your own renewable electric system—via [...]
Garden: Q & A: Why is the last frost date important?
05.06.2009 – 11:58
Q The instructions on seed packets refer to starting seeds or transplanting seedlings a certain number of weeks before the last frost date. What is this?
A Gardeners mark the growing season according to the last spring and first fall frost dates for their area. The last spring frost date is the average date when temperatures dip below freezing for a particular area. It is a useful benchmark for timing when to start seeds so transplants will be ready to move to the garden at the proper time. The last spring frost date is also useful for timing transplanting: Cold-tolerant crops like cabbage can be transplanted to the garden several weeks before the last spring frost, whereas heat-loving plants like peppers shouldn’t be moved outdoors until several weeks after it. The first fall frost date is the date when temperatures typically dip below freezing for the first time. It is used to time sowing and planting for fall crops.
Keep in mind that these dates are based on averages, and the last spring or first fall frost in your garden in any given year may occur before or after the published dates for your area. Check the Internet or your local Cooperative Extension Service for information on your area.
Reprinted from The Veggie Gardener’s Answer Book
Copyright 2008 by Barbara W. Ellis, with permission from Storey Publishing.
