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Some people want to grow a garden, but only have shade in their yards.  Shade is a blessing in almost every other way-  it often means trees are present, it keeps the soil from drying out, and keeps the house cool in the heat of the summer.  But for growing a vegetable garden, shade is tricky.  Most vegetables require 7-10 hours of full sun to thrive, flower, and set fruit.  However, if you only have shade and still want to grow at least some of your own food, you can!  As a general rule, many crops that we only eat...

What a treat, in a season when a lot of what we are eating has been frozen or canned, to bite into a sweet, cold, crunchy carrot. I juice, roast, and make soup stocks with them. Garden fresh carrots all winter long can be achieved under conditions many people already have in an ordinary garage, basement, or cold room and do not require a root cellar. Planning for fresh carrot storage begins the previous summer. Though I could plant carrots all spring and summer long, I plant the bulk of my carrots in the spring during spring rains. I really...

Making Mason Bee BoxesSolitary native bees like mason bees and leafcutter bees are crucial, but often overlooked, pollinators. As opposed to the European Honeybee (also an important pollinator) native solitary bees do not live in colonies.  Instead, individual females find-tunnel like structures to lay their eggs in.  These might be hollowed woody stems, woodpecker holes in trees, or human-made nesting structures like the photo above.  Inside each tunnel the bee creates partitioned chambers out of leaves and petals (leafcutter bees) or out of mud (mason bees.)  In each chamber she lays one egg and deposits a pollen patty she has collected...

We are also so excited to finally be offering Showy Milkweed!Showy milkweed is a Western native wildflower famous for being the host plant of the monarch butterfly. Host plant simply means that monarch mamas lay their eggs on or near milkweed plants so that hatching caterpillars can feed on the milkweed leaves. Milkweed leaves are slightly toxic and impart this toxicity to the feasting caterpillars- giving them their primary defense mechanism. Milkweed flowers are stunningly beautiful and attract a wide variety of pollinators- not just monarchs.  Being a native wildflower it is drought tolerant and appropriate for dry gardens.  Contrary to what...

Tomato Spotlight:  Old Fashioned "Green Shouldered" TomatoesGreen shoulders are typical of some progressively-ripening heirloom tomatoes.  This means there is a bit of green remaining near the stem end of the fruit even when the tomato is completely ripe.  Because chlorophyll is present in the fruit, photosynthesis is happening within the fruit right until its picked-  therefore enhancing flavor and nutrient profile of the ripe tomato. This trait has been bred out of many modern varieties, but the flavor of these outstanding heirlooms with their little green shoulders is unbeatable!Check out:  'Black Brandywine', 'Orange Brandywine', 'Mortgage Lifter', 'Pink Brandywine', 'Red Vernissage', and 'Green...