Gardening articles from Common Sense Home. From finding the right seeds to preserving the harvest, we share tested tips and information.
I (Laurie) have been working the soil for over 50 years, since I was a toddler following my mom around in the dirt. We’ve tried a lot of different things, researched, and talked with friends to bring you real, practical information.
Gardening categories covered on the site include:
Getting Started – Soil Health and Fertilizers – Seed Starting – Vegetables – Tomatoes – Fruits – Herbs – Vertical Gardening – Tools and Equipment – Pest Control – Permaculture – Season Extension – Crop Storage – Preserving the Harvest – Inspiration – Book Reviews – Wildcrafting – Using Your Weeds
Keep an eye out for printable charts (featured in several different articles). We have a free garden planner for newsletter subscribers, and offer online gardening courses for more information.
Gooseberry plants make an interesting addition to the garden, and are delicious in jams, jellies, and desserts. The ripe berries are tasty raw, and a healthy snack, too. We’ll share growing tips, variety suggestions, and ways to use this unique fruit.
Using wood ash in the garden can be a good source of free fertilizer, but there are a few things you should know before you start spreading. We’ll share the benefits of wood ash, the right and wrong ways to apply it, and how to use it for pest control.
Selecting the right windbreak trees is important to create a long lasting shelterbelt. Windbreak trees can be part of a food forest, reduce heating and cooling costs, and more. How to Pick Trees for a Windbreak The best windbreak trees are those suited to your local environment. Check temperature range, acidity, altitude, moisture levels, diseases, infections…
The key elements of windbreak design are the purpose of your windbreak planting, species selection, and density. Once you determine your primary goals (plant, people, or livestock protection, for example) you base the rest of your design on these goals. One planting can provide many different benefits.
Windbreaks can provide amazing benefits – blocking cold winter winds and reducing wind erosion, moderating temperature and humidity, providing wildlife habitat, and more. We’ll share the the basics of how they work and why they make a great addition to larger yards and homesteads.