By now I’m pretty sure we’re all on board with the idea of reducing our waste, especially when it comes it food scraps. I mean, composting is so easy and provides such a better alternative to adding to the landfill it’s kind of a no-brainer, right? But finished compost takes a while and your garden …Read More about From Table to Garden
soil
Types of Mulch
Mulch is an important component to soil-based gardens. Whether you’re using raised planters or gardening directly in the ground, mulch plays a key role in the quality and health of your soil. But to know what mulch will work best for your situation we must explore the different types of mulch and how they work …Read More about Types of Mulch
How Plants Use N, P, K
We all need proper nutrition to be healthy. Proper nutrients allow our bodies and minds to function at their optimum levels, our bodies immune systems to fight off disease and heal from injury and encourage healthy rates of growth. The same is true for plants. NPK are the macronutrients that are most desired. Nutrients play …Read More about How Plants Use N, P, K
Soil Vocabulary in Context
Let’s talk about dirt! Everything we do in the garden starts with the soil. Building healthy, happy, living soil is one of the biggest components to successful gardening. So it’s only natural that conversations about the health, maintenance and condition of the soil in our gardens happen often. Understanding what makes “good” soil is …Read More about Soil Vocabulary in Context
The Effects of Poor Drainage
The root systems of the plants in our gardens are very sensitive to environmental conditions. Heat, moisture, aeration, soil composition and drainage all have a dramatic effect on the health and development of our plants. A garden bed with poor drainage can create an environment that is simply impossible to grow in. It is vitally …Read More about The Effects of Poor Drainage
Soil Microbe Identification
The world looks very different under a microscope. Healthy soil is the most diverse and prolific ecosystem on the planet and with the aid of a little technology we can see the living microscopic world at work in our own gardens. It is important to understand what life looks like below the surface and how …Read More about Soil Microbe Identification
DIY Soil pH Test
Is your soil more acidic or more alkaline? Testing the pH level of your soil can tell us a lot about what’s going on below the surface. Soil pH is measured on a scale from 0 to 14 with 7.0 equaling a balanced and neutral pH level. Above 7.0 on the scale is a more …Read More about DIY Soil pH Test
Soil Amendments and their Impact on pH
Not all soil is created equal. Many environmental factors can swing your soil’s pH out of balance one direction or the other. “pH” refers to potential hydrogen, or the hydrogen ion concentration of your soil. Using a scale from 1 to 14, it is a measurement of soil acidity. Neutral pH is 7.0. A soil …Read More about Soil Amendments and their Impact on pH
Seed Starting Mix
I started my seeds about a month ago because, well, I can. Living in Arizona means I can kinda get started whenever I want as long as we don’t have an unusual late-season cold snap. Even then, it’s not like we’ll have below zero temps down here in the Valley of the Sun. Yeah, it’s …Read More about Seed Starting Mix
9 Reasons Why You Should Compost
How many of you still need convincing? Creating a compost pile at home is an easy and effective way to reduce our impact on the environment and use our resources wisely. Even if you’re not using it in a garden, it still makes more sense to compost than to continue to feed your trash habit. …Read More about 9 Reasons Why You Should Compost