The Potomac. Yes, that’s right- the Potomac provides 90% of the water we drink. Please join us in the effort to keep our drinking water clean by reducing the pollution and chemicals that enter the river from our yards. (New Pollutants in...
Read moreGreen Mulch? Yes, Green Mulch! Not because Saint Patrick’s Day is around the corner, and not because we’ve given up all our principles and recommend using one of those dyed mulches that leach scary chemicals into the ground… ‘Green mulch’ isn’t...
Read moreBelieve it or not, the snow in our region will be gone at some point. When the first warm Saturday comes around, you’ll probably notice some broken branches and a garden eager to be cleaned up for spring. Pruning is the first chore for this prep...
Read more1. Why to prune in February – Proper pruning helps ensure attractive, healthy, productive plants when spring arrives. 2. Get ready – Sharpen your tools. A sharp pruning cut is essential to a plant’s health. 3. Do your pruning right...
Read moreJohnny’s Seeds sent us our bare root strawberry plants at the ‘appropriate planting time for our region.’ Hoping today’s rain will wash away the last of the snow so we can plant them.
Read morePeas take nitrogen from the atmosphere and ‘fix’ it in the soil. Adding beneficial bacteria to the soil through an inoculant helps the peas do this extra efficiently. Here’s a good system for inoculating peas (and beans for that...
Read moreCheck out the barrier MD Extension Specialist Jon Traunfield built that has been successful at keeping deer (and rabbits and groundhogs) out for 3 successive years. GROW IT EAT IT BLOG
Read moreGetting ready to plant peas: apprentice gardener Kris learns how to pull winter weeds, add compost and turn the soil. Love this excuse to pass off the heavy lifting and just show up for the planting….
Read morePrecaution or Risk/Cost/Benefit Analysis???? Situation: A five dollar bill blows out of your hand and lands between the rails on the metro track. A train is coming in 5 minutes. Do you: A. Jump down and grab the bill because you’ve got...
Read morePrior to the 1930’s (pre- pesticides), US Agriculture lost 13% of crops to insects and disease. Currently, we lose 17% of our agricultural crops to pests and disease. Are these chemicals solving problems or creating new ones? Thanks to Chip...
Read moreYou can grow healthy plants without fertilizer. NOFA’s standards for soil offer a helpful description of the process and rationale: NOFA Soil Standards There are two approaches to matching soils and plants: 1. We can maximize the diversity...
Read moreThis garden around my house is both part of a natural system and an interruption of it. Take nature’s system of feeding the soil with fallen leaves- a perfect cycle that we interrupt every fall when we blow all those leaves into the street to...
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