Read more about the article Let’s Go to Seed School – Part 1
Silver Edged pumpkin seeds

Let’s Go to Seed School – Part 1

Continue ReadingLet’s Go to Seed School – Part 1

I had the pleasure of participating in a 6-day workshop all about seeds, presented by the folks at Native Seeds/Search. More than 30 gardenerds gathered to learn as much as we could, and we were not disappointed. We covered everything from plant genetics (for breeding and plant purity) and plant sex (plant parts), to saving seeds (stomping and screens included) and starting seed libraries. What a ride! So here's a quick review of Part 1 - let's go to seed…

Read more about the article Shopping from your Garden
Make meals from the garden with a little planning ahead.

Shopping from your Garden

Continue ReadingShopping from your Garden

Today we are joined by Jeriann Watkins, our guest blogger. Jeriann is a writer and self-proclaimed chronic procrastinator who is trying to make her life more intentional by focusing on vegetable gardening, making her own cleaning products, and other frugal living tactics. She's come to Gardenerd to share her strategy for eating and shopping from the garden. Take it away Jeriann! Shopping from Your Garden This year I’ve decided to focus on living frugally and paying off my student loan…

Read more about the article YouTube: Rose Pruning in 4 Easy Steps
One of many roses and a lime geranium in flower

YouTube: Rose Pruning in 4 Easy Steps

Continue ReadingYouTube: Rose Pruning in 4 Easy Steps

Our latest video on rose pruning is live and ready to help you get your roses in shape for spring. We show you 4 easy steps to guide you through the process, ease fears and keep your roses healthy. While this video was shot in January, you can still take care of your rose pruning tasks in February, and even after they start sending out new growth if you're really behind. Just do it soon and you'll be rewarded with…

Read more about the article Winter’s Bounty: Harvesting Colors in Warm-Winter Climates
All-blue, russet and red potatoes are jewels from the garden.

Winter’s Bounty: Harvesting Colors in Warm-Winter Climates

Continue ReadingWinter’s Bounty: Harvesting Colors in Warm-Winter Climates

As much of the country is covered with snow, or too soggy to start spring gardening, the warm-winter gardener is reaping the blessings of mild temperatures. Winter's bounty is a basket of root crops, greens and peas. Take a look at what we're harvesting from this season's Test Garden (p.s. we're not bragging. There  have been plenty of failures due to drought conditions and heat waves, but these pictures are too colorful not to share). Our kale may be full…

Read more about the article Chicken Update – Round 2 is Going Well
Anabelle is the quiet one, and the low chicken in the pecking order

Chicken Update – Round 2 is Going Well

Continue ReadingChicken Update – Round 2 is Going Well

Some people have been asking for a chicken update, and since we haven't posted about them in awhile, it seemed like the perfect time. For those new to the blog, here's our original post about our new girls from last July. Meet the girls (from right to left): Wilma the Wellsummer, Anabelle the Americauna, and Sylvia the Silver-laced Wyandotte. These beautiful birds are, as you can see, quite full of personality. As they have grown we've enjoyed watching their quirks…

New Landscaping: Dog-friendly Oasis in the City

Continue ReadingNew Landscaping: Dog-friendly Oasis in the City

Every once in awhile someone hires Gardenerd to landscape their property, not to install a vegetable garden. This particular client already had a thriving vegetable garden, but wanted new landscaping to create an oasis in the city. Here were her issues: Her front yard consisted of lawn and a hodge podge of treasured plants discovered over the years. Many of the plants required more sun than was available, so they stretched out toward the light, making them leggy and sprawling.…

Read more about the article Winter Hand Therapy Giveaway
WomansWork hand cream soothes cracked and tired hands.

Winter Hand Therapy Giveaway

Continue ReadingWinter Hand Therapy Giveaway

Are your hands dry and cracked this winter? It seems like no amount of lotion will solve the problem, but maybe we just need the right lotion. You're in luck! Gardenerd has partnered with the strong women over at Womanswork to offer this winter hand therapy giveaway. We gardeners understand the demands of working with our hands, and we demand in return something that works for us. Womanswork Lavender Mint Shea Butter Hand Cream is designed by gardeners, for gardeners,…

YouTube: Best Seed Catalogs for 2014

Continue ReadingYouTube: Best Seed Catalogs for 2014

Warning: this video can lead to excessive spending and an overabundance of seeds in your collection. It's true, after making this video, I visited the websites for most of these seed catalogs and had a glorious time spending money on the best seeds for 2014. It's a weakness, but one with great rewards. After planning out this year's spring garden, you'll have a map to inform you of how much room you have (and therefore how many new crops/seeds you…

Read more about the article New Drought, or New Normal?
Shower essentials: A bucket and timer

New Drought, or New Normal?

Continue ReadingNew Drought, or New Normal?

Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency as California has yet another year of lower than average rainfall. In the case of 2013-2014, almost none. Not only is rainfall at an all-time low, temperatures have been at an all-time high. (Excuse me, 80° in January?) Is this just a new drought, or is it the new normal? There's no way to know for sure, but we all need to prepare for having less access to water. What can we do…

Recipe: Porcini Sea Salt (AKA cheating Williams-Sonoma)

Continue ReadingRecipe: Porcini Sea Salt (AKA cheating Williams-Sonoma)

In my 20s, when I had nothing, I drooled over Williams-Sonoma catalogs with wistful aspirations of "one day." Now many years later, stocked with a full set of cookware, I see WS for the overpriced eye-candy it is. Okay, principle aside, I still want everything in their Agrarian department ('cause it's pretty), but I have everything I need and can easily talk myself down. Or better  yet, make what they're selling for a lot less. Case in point: Wild Porcini…

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