Proper gardening requires more than just soil and water. You also need the right tools to do the job. The amount that you spend on them doesn’t matter as long as they fit into one of these necessary categories: Preparing Your soil needs to be the right consistency and have the best chemical makeup before […]
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The Classic Square Foot Garden
Square foot gardening gained popularity in the 1980s, and it’s still very useful for people who want to plant a lot of crops, but have little space in their yards for a big garden. Setting up this type of garden is fairly easy, and it makes it keeping track of your crops simple. Let’s go […]
The Basics of Soil Enrichment
Soil is more than a medium to grow plants in; it’s filled with living organisms like fungi and bacteria that are necessary for the health of not only the soil itself, but for that of your garden as well. In order to maintain a healthy balance of these required organisms, you need to take care […]
Patio Herb Gardening
Fresh herbs are great to have any time of the year. You can grow them indoors, as well as outside on your patio. In fact, it’s easy to move them from one place to another so that no matter how chilly the weather, you’ll have a self-sufficient way to season your meals and infuse olive […]
Is There a Difference Between Heirloom and Heritage Seeds?
Dear BeSelfSufficient, I was recently looking to purchase organic seeds for my garden, but came across some labeled “heirloom.” Another packet said “heritage.” Is there a difference? What do these labels mean? Thank you, [name redacted] Most people know what the word “organic” means, particularly when it comes to fruits and vegetables. They are grown […]
Potatoes in a Bucket
If you don’t have any space outdoors to grow potatoes, or want to keep harvesting fresh vegetables when there’s two feet of snow on the ground, planting potatoes in a bucket is a great solution. You can grow perfectly edible potatoes this way, with very little difficulty. Gather Your Supplies In order to grow potatoes […]
Cold Season Vegetables
Just because the weather is cold, it doesn’t mean that you have to put your gardening plans on hold. You can still grow plenty of fresh vegetables, as long as they are the kind that thrive in cooler weather. Here are a few suggestions: Beets Beets prefer temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and higher, but […]
Indoor Gardening Ideas
There are certain times of the year where, no matter your climate, you’ll have a hard time getting vegetables to grow in your outdoor garden. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to go without fresh, home-grown veggies, or buy them from the grocery story. Instead, you can grow some vegetables indoors, wherever you have […]
Winter is Design Time: Garden Design Basics
The winter is a great time to redesign your garden. Not only are you not currently growing anything – unless you live in a very warm, tropical climate – but you are also planning which fruits and vegetables to plant this year. While you are making your choices and starting your seedlings, take the time […]
Getting to the Bottom of Root Vegetables
Root vegetables are both easy to grow and good for you, which is why they are an excellent addition to any garden. Usually the first thing that people think of when they hear the words “root vegetables” are potatoes, however, there are many other varieties that should not be forgotten about. The vegetables listed below […]
The Easiest Vegetable to Grow
Every gardener knows that some vegetables are easier to grow than others. Pickier plants need a lot of care and coaxing in order to grow and mature properly. Other plants simply need to be planted in the ground, watered when needed, and then, the next thing you know, you have ripe vegetables ready to harvest […]