Have you been thinking for a few years about starting a garden? What has stopped you? I asked the folks over on the Frugal Upstate Facebook page and got a variety of answers: Karina: Lack of information, bad soil and no idea how to fix it, fear of investing money/time/resources into something that will get… Keep Reading
Garden Tools by Black and Decker
For me summer means long, warm days, the kids running around the yard and, of course, gardening. I have had a vegetable garden for quite a few years now and try to grow as much of the produce that my family is going to eat as I can. I’m not totally there, but each year… Keep Reading
The final drying & storing of herbs
This summer’s herb garden did well. I grow most of my herbs in pots on a little strip about 3 feet wide that’s between my house and the driveway. Here’s what it looked like this spring: I’ve managed to cram in there Lovage , Chives, Sage, Parsley, Mint, Spearmint, Lemon Balm, Oregano, German Thyme, Rosemary,… Keep Reading
Multipling Your Harvest: Additional Cabbage heads
Do you grow cabbage in your garden? Well remember how last week I told you that you could multiply your broccoli production by harvesting side shoots? I’ve got another neat little trick to get more out of your cabbage! Once you’ve harvested your head of cabbage (I like growing these meal sized “Mini Gonzales” cabbages)…. Keep Reading
Mulching Your Garden Part 1 — Why Mulch Your Garden?
When you think of a vegetable garden, what do you think of? Beautiful long rows of vegetables with dark glossy soil in between? That is the classic vegetable garden: However that style of garden–while it might be beautiful to look at (or at least I think it is) it does have some issues. See all… Keep Reading
Removing Squash Bugs
The other day I was browsing through my garden, checking on the health and maturity of this crop and that when I flipped over a zucchini leaf and found these: Which will soon hatch and grow into THESE: Squash Bugs! I know that everything has a purpose-and I’m sure that something out there eats these… Keep Reading
How’s it Growin! Mid April Garden Update
Despite the wildly fluctuating weather (80 one day, 60 the next) the plants in Upstate New York are starting to grow! Let me give you a tour around the 1/3 acre Frugal Upstate Village Homestead and I’ll show you “How’s it Growin?”! Let’s start around the front porch! While that yellow green plant (who’s name… Keep Reading
The Return of the Early Spring Perennials
Ahh perennials-the frugal gardener’s friend. I just love planting an edible once and having it come back every year without any work from me. Here are the very early edible spring perennials that are up on the Frugal Upstate Village Homestead. Chives are a classic in many climates and dead simple to grow. With no… Keep Reading
New Gardener Primer: Why Grow a Garden?
This year one of my goals is to convince each and every one of you out there that you should grow at least some of your own food. On the surface growing your own food may seem pointless–maybe even ridiculous. Why bother? Our days are packed — there are so many things we have to… Keep Reading
Around the Web: Gardener’s Hand Scrub
I know there is snow on the ground–but I’m yearning for and thinking of my spring garden already! I’m a hands in the soil type of gardener who rarely remembers to put on gloves-so for much of the summer I’ve got dirt ground into my fingers! I found a tutorial online for making a great… Keep Reading
