Elder (Sambucus canadensis) is a perennial. We are cultivating several elderberry shrubs on our property. It’s more commonly wildcrafted than it is cultivated, but today, I’m going to give you tips on growing them. When planting elder, you’ll want to place it in an area where it will get full sun or partial shade. They’re …
We love growing garlic in our gardens. It adds some beauty, medicinal value, edible bulbs (as well as the scapes), plus it makes a great companion plant! Garlic has a strong, pungent smell, and many garden pests really don’t like it – thank you secondary metabolites! Plants that do better with garlic near or around …
Before you go and grab a can of insecticide to kill those pesky yellow jackets have you considered the fact that they eat aphids, flies, caterpillars and grasshoppers? In many ways they are beneficial. Their omnivorous nature lends itself well to eating the soft bodied structure of the dreaded aphid for example. They also help …
Nettles are a favorite spring treat. I know, you may not have fond memories of its stinging stems, neither do I, but the nutrients and health benefits it provides are pretty awesome. I’m fortunate enough to have a couple of very productive stands on our homestead that yield plenty of nettles for spring eating. I …
