In southwestern Wisconsin, this spring was wet and cool, while midsummer was hot and dry. What this meant to the backyard gardener or microfarmer was a slow start to the growing season. Once fruits and vegetables started to grow, recent dry weather quickly wilted plants. When rain did come, storms dropped a large amount of … More Rainwater Catchment Systems — From Contributor Eric McGlynn
Last year we carried out a potato study with market gardeners. We found that growing potatoes on the surface was a significant savings in labor with only a small sacrifice in yield by area (read more complete results here). One of our participants, the Parisi Family Farm, decided to scale this planting method up. We … More Potato Study Update — Parisi Family Farm
The hour-per-day gardening project is through mid-summer. Daily temps have come down to the mid-80°Fs, and regular rain is back. The weeds seem to be winning the battle, even in the plot where I used cardboard sheet mulch. My theory is that the wet spring rotted the cardboard quickly and then the weeds were able … More Hour-Per-Day Gardening Continues
Are you feeling overwhelmed by weeds this season? Have I got the garden tour for you to know you’re not alone. We’ll be hosting a group from the Sustainable Gardening Club out of Madison this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. You’re welcome to stop by. Stops on the Tour We’ll hit the highlights of the garden … More Garden Tour, Sunday, August 11, 3 p.m.
The hour-per-day gardening project is through mid-summer. Daily temps have come down to the mid-80°Fs, and regular rain is back. The weeds seem to be winning the battle, even in the plot where I used cardboard sheet mulch. My theory is that the wet spring rotted the cardboard quickly and then the weeds were able … More Hour-Per-Day Gardening Continues
The hour-per-day gardening project slogs on through the heat. Daily temps are at least in the high 80°Fs, and we haven’t had any significant rain for weeks. The wet spring and now-hot-and-dry conditions have thrown the garden for a loop. The Neighbor’s Plot Next door, my corn is growing high and the amaranth is quickly … More Hour-Per-Day Gardening Continues
Three months ago, I introduced my shirt-making project in a blog post. I had just planted 1/2 lb of Avian flax seeds in a field (it covered 200 ft², at 24 seeds/ft in 7-in rows) at that time. This last weekend I harvest the flax and thought it would be a good point to update … More Flax Shirt Update — 2 Hours for Plant and Harvest
Chickens are capable of producing a prodigious amount of manure. When concentrated into a confined area and trampled, this manure requires frequent removal. Additionally, chicken feet and plumage often carry remnants of manure. It is likely that the hobbyist and homesteader alike have lamented the smells, smears, and soiled conditions that can be common to … More Deep-Litter Method for Chicken Coops: Save and Repurpose! — From Contributor Eric McGlynn
The hour-per-day gardening project continues. I have gotten busy in the garden over the last two weeks, but once one gets behind, it is hard to catch up, except where one has thought ahead and used cardboard as sheet mulch! The Neighbor’s Plot The peas, oats, and flax are doing well, with the peas already … More Hour-Per-Day Gardening Continues
Every year I get an email from the Bee Informed Partnership. They’re asking for beekeepers to fill out a 20- to 30-minute survey on our practices and results in our bee yards. As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive and popular survey of beekeeping in the US, netting an estimated 11 percent … More Bee Informed Partnership Releases Study Results
