A Day trip to Southard Lake
There is a lake way up in the mountains near where we live. At about half an acre, and a depth of only about three feet, it’s not really a lake so much as a large pond. Many, many years … Continue reading →
Lisa
The best pumpkin pie
Winter Luxury — even the name sounds decadent. I was introduced to this wonderful pumpkin several years ago while having a conversation with longtime Backwoods Home Magazine writer Jackie Clay-Atkinson about which pumpkin made the best pies. I ordered some … Continue reading →
Propagating grapes
We have three different varieties of grapes: Red Flame Seedless, Canadice, and a white grape (we don’t know the variety) that was given to us, but doesn’t produce very well. In our garden, if it’s not productive — out it … Continue reading →
A simple grape arbor
Did you know that grapes do not need to grow in the neat rows you see at wineries? We have three different types of grapes and with my haphazard gardening style, they are lucky if they get a pruning every … Continue reading →
What you need to know about growing potatoes
Did you know that just like tomatoes, potatoes can be determinate or indeterminate? People have told me how they tried to grow potatoes in “potato towers” but were not able to get the harvest they thought they would. What most … Continue reading →
Growing microgreens
We are lucky to live in the Coastal Northwest and can usually manage to keep a few vegetables going through the winter. However, the growth slows down considerably and I become impatient waiting for the lettuce, chard, and kale to … Continue reading →
Propagating rhododendrons by soil layering
We live in the Pacific Northwest where rhododendrons grow really well. So well, in fact, that one town along the coast (Florence, Oregon) has a rhododendron festival held the third weekend in May every year. The festival lasts for three … Continue reading →
Canning cranberry juice
Every year I order 75 pounds of cranberries. I started doing this after a friend gifted me with 100 pounds of cranberries. When I first saw all of those berries I was concerned about how I was going to use … Continue reading →
Gardening in clay soil
Gary and I have a small piece of property — one single, perfectly rectangular acre. However, although the price was great and the location was good when we purchased the property, there were not many flat spots other than where … Continue reading →
Making kitchen towels and wash cloths
I am notoriously cheap when it comes to buying things for myself and the house. I would rather save my money and spend it on the grandkids or on a vacation for the whole family. So when I recently needed … Continue reading →