Marvelous Mache! »
This is an amazing green vegetable. We like to grow it in our hoop house each year. It’s very versatile, as it is good in salads, soups, stir-fries and as a substitute for lettuce in a nice sandwich. We use it on burritos as well. Here in Zone 5, I plant Mache in September and [Read More...]
The pleasures of a hoop house… »
Just a pretty picture… We’ve already had a little snow here… and the temps at night have been below freezing, and yet, I can walk out to the hoop house and bring in fixings for a fresh salad. What a blessing! This can be achieved in a simple cold frame, too, which can even be made [Read More...]
Don’t take a chance on old seeds… »
Another good day ~ I went out to the hoop house, pulled all the tiny little weeds out of the planting bed, and replanted in areas where things did not sprout. That is what I get for trying to save money by using old seeds. It was not worth it. Now our plant propagation is a month [Read More...]
Chickens Are Awesome. They’re Also Rude and Entitled. »
Okay, so my parents got chickens. To be clear, these chickens are not destined for noodle soup, General Tso, or barbecue sauce. Instead, it’s my parents’ way of getting cheaper, better eggs (and possibly replacements for their children now that most of us are out of the house). It’s actually something they’ve talked about for [Read More...]
Using the Hoop house as a drying shed »
Today was the day to harvest the onions. Most of them had fallen over, and many of the tops were brown. In our humid climate (Indiana) it doesn’t work very well to attempt to dry the onions outside before storage. Our Hoop House provides the perfect place. I have wooden benches along each side of [Read More...]
Serendipity in the Hoop House »
According to Wikipedia, “Serendipity means a ‘happy accident’ or ‘pleasant surprise’ ; specifically, the accident of finding something good or useful without looking for it.” Last year, at the end of summer, I found this in our hoop house ~ It is a first year mullein plant. Mullein is a very useful herb. It has [Read More...]
My Quick and Easy Cold Frame »
A garden project I did several years ago brings to mind how much I like to re-purpose things. In my opinion, Recycle and Re-purpose are must haves when it comes to gardening. The project was a cold frame I built in front of my house near the hot water heater outtake pipeline. Nothing inside the [Read More...]
Growing in a Winter Greenhouse »
As the weather turns cool, the greenhouse comes into its own, allowing you to safely grow plants that would otherwise die as the winter advances. To maximize your winter greenhouse gardening success, you’ll need to ascertain the temperature, humidity, light conditions, and available space for your winter garden. Read on to find out which plants [Read More...]
Prepare Your Greenhouse for Winter »
This seasonal pause, as the world catches its breath after harvest, is the ideal time to prepare your greenhouse for winter. One of the beauties of a permanent structure is the ability to grow and enjoy produce, herbs and flowers all year long. Read on for tips on moderating the cold inside your greenhouse. Clean [Read More...]
Factors to Consider Before Deciding on a Hobby Greenhouse »
Deciding on a hobby greenhouse is a big decision. There is a lot of information to consider when mulling over what can be a pretty large purchase. Below are some of the most common things we recommend to everyone considering a hobby greenhouse. Know your total hobby greenhouse budget! We have found that often a [Read More...]