Packed with practical advice, The Seed Farmer by Dan Brisebois is a guide to everything from choosing seed crops to harvesting and resale. In this excerpt, Brisebois shares smart strategies to manage seed crops without disrupting your farm’s flow. It’s all about working smarter, not harder!
Food & Gardening
Savor the Holiday with Zucchini Waffles
The book DIY Sourdough: The Beginner’s Guide to Crafting Starters, Bread, Snacks, and More, by John and Jessica Moody The book, DIY Sourdough: The Beginner’s Guide to Crafting Starters, Bread, Snacks, and More, by John and Jessica Moody, offers simple, time-saving recipes. Today’s blog features a sourdough zucchini waffle recipe that is both delicious and simple to make.
Interview with Robert Pavlis, author of Food Science for Gardeners
Robert Pavlis’s Food Science for Gardeners will help readers harness science to cultivate healthier, tastier fruits and veggies. We asked Robert five questions to learn why his new book is a must-read.
What You Need To Know: Is Organic Food Really Better?
In this excerpt from Robert Pavlis’ Food Science for Gardeners, Pavlis clarifies what organic really means, addresses common myths, and explores the differences between local and larger-scale farming.
Unleash Your Backyard’s Potential: A Complete A To Z Of Fruit
Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, adding perennial fruits to your garden can be a fantastic way to dramatically increase your harvests. And if you’re dreaming of harvesting fruits…
How to Cook Successfully for Large Numbers of People
Whether it’s a family reunion, a festive holiday meal, or a summer BBQ get-together, cooking for a crowd is all about planning ahead, getting creative, and keeping things organized. These tips from Hollyhock Cooks: Food to Nourish Body, Mind and Soil will help you to make your next big cooking adventure a delicious success!
How to Harvest and Use Wild Ginger
Did you know that you can forage for many delicious and important plants this early in the season? In Foraging As A Way Of Life, Mikaela Cannon outlines an entire year of foraging. In early spring, she looks to wild ginger, weeping willow, Norway maple, kinnikinnick and early blue violet. Today, we’re taking a look at the uses and harvesting of wild ginger.
Interview with Julia Shanks, author of The Farmer’s Office, Second Edition
Have you ever wondered what sets super successful farms apart from others? Julia Shanks knows (hint: it’s usually related to not fully understanding their finances). Today we asked her three burning questions that she addresses in The Farmer’s Office, The Second Edition.
The Easiest Recipe for Walnut Ricotta Ever!
Altering your favourite holiday dishes to make them dairy-free, vegan, or vegetarian might not be as difficult as you think. In The Art of Plant-Based Cheesemaking, Karen McAthy shares vegan recipes for many of your favourite (formerly dairy-based) cheeses. It doesn’t require a lot of preparation or effort, and will satisfy even the biggest cheese lovers. Don’t believe us? Try out her recipe for Walnut Ricotta and see for yourself.
The Best Cast Iron Skillet Sourdough Cinnamon Buns Ever
Did you know there are tons more recipes you can use your sourdough starter with? Whether it’s a cold evening or a lazy weekend morning, cast-iron skillet cinnamon buns are a fun and delicious way to use your starter.
How To Quickly Harvest and Store Your Produce
For Jean-Martin, efficient harvesting is paramount to a successful market business. In this excerpt from The Market Gardener, he shares his years of market farming experience and outlines some commonly grown crops, along with their most efficient methods of harvest.
How Does French Market Gardening Influences Current Gardening Techniques?
Throughout time farmers everywhere have found solutions to extend their harvest and growing season. It feels like a dream that someone could enjoy fresh snow and fresh produce simultaneously, yet Jean-Martin Fortier and Catherine Sylvestre have done just that and now you can too!
Why You Need Microbes and Bioinoculants For A Better Garden
Microscopic organisms are as important to plant growth as water and light. In Microbe Science for Gardeners, Robert Pavlis highlights the essential role of microbes in plant biosystems and soil health, while providing an objective, common-sense analysis of recently popularized practices such as controlling fungal-to-bacterial ratios and applying biostimulants, compost tea, or plant probiotics.
Pacific Northwest Planting Calendar for August, September, October and November
Do you know what you should be planting in your garden in August, September, October and November? Linda Gilkeson does! We’ve taken an excerpt from the book outlining what Linda recommends you should do in your garden in the Pacific Northwest from now until November.
August Planting for Autumn Feasting
Planting vegetables in the middle of summer seems wrong – but most temperate gardens can yield a second harvest in autumn. In August, try planting hardy greens along with root vegetables like beets and carrots, and enjoy another round of garden-fresh food through the fall.
No-till Methods for Sustainable Organic Market Farming – and Gardening Too!
In Practical No-till Farming, author Andrew Mefferd provides a quick-and-dirty guide to transitioning your farm or market garden to no-till methods, including a comprehensive look at the many benefits to doing so. No-till is a great option for sustainable organic vegetable and flower farming, saving time, improving soil health, and much more.
Can I Add Berries to My Garden or Farm?
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries…All these small fruits pack a big flavor punch, and are one of the most delicious signs of summer.
In The Berry Grower, author Blake Cothron demonstrates that berries can be an amazingly productive, profitable part of your market or home garden, for a surprisingly low financial or land investment.
11 Benefits of Two-wheel Tractors
With The Two-wheel Tractor Handbook, author Zack Loeks offers a strong case for these multi-use, efficient tools. To get you started, here are 11 benefits to incorporating a two-wheel tractor into your small farm, market garden, or home garden.
Permaculture for Beginners: Take it Slow!
Using permaculture design techniques in your home garden can seem overwhelming – especially if you’re a new gardener, with a small space. With Permaculture for the Rest of Us, author Jenni Blackmore breaks these methods down into small steps anyone can take, and enjoy an abundant garden the first year!
No-till Methods for Sustainable Organic Market Farming – and Gardening Too!
In Practical No-till Farming, author Andrew Mefferd provides a quick-and-dirty guide to transitioning your farm or market garden to no-till methods, including a comprehensive look at the many benefits to doing so. No-till is a great option for sustainable organic vegetable and flower farming, saving time, improving soil health, and much more.
Growing Berries for Food and Profit
In The Berry Grower, author Blake Cothron discusses why and how to maximize your berry and small fruit harvest – whether in your backyard, small farm, or as a relatively easy value-added product for your existing organic farm. In this excerpt, he makes a convincing case for adding small fruits and berries, whether you’re an experienced grower or a beginner.
Composting Questions Answered
In this interview, Robert Pavlis, author of Compost Science for Gardeners answers some interesting questions about composting, including a question that was asked by a reader on social media.
How Does Composting Affect Climate Change?
In Compost Science for Gardeners, author Robert Pavlis offers a science-based approach to help home gardeners choose the best method for their situation. For today’s blog, Robert looks at the climate benefits of home composting.
Author Interview with John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
Today’s blog is an Interview with John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, authors of Homemade for Sale, Second Edition, featuring a question that was asked by a reader on social media.
The Benefits of Composting
In Compost Science for Gardeners, author Robert Pavlis guides the reader through a comparison of all the common composting methods from a how-to perspective. Readers will come away from this book with a clear understanding of the benefits of composting – both for soil and climate health.
Garden Dreams in Winter
For most gardeners – and aspiring gardeners – winter is the perfect time to start planning and dreaming about next year’s garden. Whether it’s a few pots on a balcony, or a tiny backyard bed, a community garden plot, or even a small market garden, it’s exciting to think about spring and new plants, and delicious homegrown food.
Rise and Shine!
ne of the best things about holidays can be the gift of time – time to take it slow, savor each moment, and nourish the soul and the body. And instead of the hurried bite of toast or bowl of granola, slower times let us create and enjoy truly memorable meals, especially leisurely breakfasts. A warm, hearty breakfast on a cold morning is the perfect way to start the day.
Crumpets – From No-Knead to Sourdough
In Victoria Redhed Millers new book, From No-Knead to Sourdough: A Simper Approach to Handmade Bread she shows us how to create delicious, healthy breads in our own kitchen, no experience necessary.
Starting a Home-based Food Business
Homemade for Sale, Second Edition is the authoritative guide to launching a successful food enterprise from your kitchen. Available soon for purchase, It covers everything you need to get cooking for your customers, providing a clear road map to go from ideas and recipes to owning a food business.
Gardening in the Wake of Climate Change
Robert Pavlis, author of Plant Science for Gardeners, talks about the topic of gardening and how to do it in the context of climate change.
Understanding Roots
Plant Science for Gardeners by Robert Pavlis is an entertaining and accessible guide that empowers growers to analyze common problems, find solutions, and make better decisions in the garden for optimal plant health and productivity. Today, we wanted to share an excerpt from the book that explains more about roots and their basic structure.
Why You Can Grow Figs In Cold Climates
For some, the taste of a fresh, juicy fig brings memories of travel to warm, faraway places. However, if you live in a colder region – it’s possible to enjoy figs grown on your own property. In Growing Figs in Cold Climates: A Complete Guide, Lee Reich provides methods for cultivating figs in cold regions. Today, Lee explains why it’s entirely possible to grow figs in cold climates in an excerpt shared from his book.