Chelsea Green Blog
Gardening
Weed Suppression: Choosing The Right Cover Crops & Living Mulches
Trying to figure out how to manage weeds in your garden beds? Use cover crops and living mulches for weed suppression while your garden flourishes! The following is an excerpt from The Ecological Farm by Helen Atthowe. It has been adapted for the web. Suppressing Weeds With Cover Crops: Getting Started Cover crops suppress weeds…
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9 Simple Steps to Sheet Mulching: Turn Barren Soil into Black Gold
To turn a barren lot into a permaculture paradise, you’ve got to start from the ground up — and sheet mulching is an easy way to start. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your soil with the power of sheet mulching! The following is an excerpt is from Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier. It…
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The Miyawaki Method: Imagining a Mini-Forest’s Potential
Want to witness the magic of the mini-forest? When you practice The Miyawaki Method, a unique approach to reforestation, you’ll see an empty lot or backyard transform into a biodiverse forest before your very eyes. The following is an excerpt from Mini-Forest Revolution by Hannah Lewis. It has been adapted for the web. Photo Credit:…
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Urban Gardening Tips: No Space? No Problem!
Do you want to learn how to transform your balconies and windowsills into productive vegetable gardens? Try urban gardening! Choosing the right crops based on climate and light conditions, along with creating a companion planting strategy to prevent pests and attract pollinators, can help maximize food production with limited space. The following is an excerpt…
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Creating A Plant Grouping: Edible Forest Gardens
Get one step closer to the edible forest garden of your dreams by creating a plant grouping! These arrangements of plants help contribute to a healthy, thriving food forest. The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for the web. Planning a Plant Grouping Deciding what plants to…
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Bring on the Birds: Attracting Birds to Your Garden
Birds: they’re beautiful, they sing sweet songs, AND they can help our gardens thrive. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of birds in gardens, and how you can attract more to your backyard! The following is an excerpt from The Healthy Vegetable Garden by Sally Morgan. It has been adapted for the web.…
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Grow Your Own Veg — Starting Plants from Seed
Growing your own vegetables may be easier than you think! All you need is an indoor or outdoor space & some seeds, and you’ll be starting plants in no time. The following is an excerpt from Fresh Food from Small Spaces by R. J. Ruppenthal. It has been adapted for the web. Starting Plants from Seed…
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5 Principles of Soil Health
Wondering how to make your soil (and plants) thrive? Use these principles of soil health to properly prepare your farm or garden to grow. The following excerpt is from Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown. It has been adapted for the web. (Photography curtesy of Gabe Brown.) The Importance of Soil Health Our lives depend on…
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How to Create Your Own Forest Garden
A forest garden provides a beautiful, bountiful edible landscape at any scale—whether only a few dozen square feet or if you have over an acre to spare. Ready to embark on your own forest garden adventure? Check out these articles for inspiration to get started. Featured image by Dani Baker. The Seven Layers of A…
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Permanent Beds: Designing An Efficient Garden
Permanent beds are going to change your gardening game. This type of garden bed helps improve soil health, ensures crop growth, and is extremely easy to design! The following is an excerpt from The Living Soil Handbook by Jesse Frost. It has been adapted for the web. Designing Permanent Beds The term permanent beds is…
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Preserving Seed Integrity: How Far is Far Enough?
While there is a lot of information out there about keeping the “purity” of seeds, the true “pure” seed is a myth. There are still best practices that any seed grower should keep in mind; but once they understand seed integrity and let cross-pollination happen, the real fun begins. The following is an excerpt from…
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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? Discover the most promising veggies to kickstart your harvest and get ready to grow a thriving garden!
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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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It All Starts with a Seed: The Art & Joy of Collecting Seeds
Gardening magic happens in the palm of your hand. Collecting seed is one of the great pleasures of the gardening year. Collect, nurture & watch the magic unfold!
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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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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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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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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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