Interested in growing trees? Here are some tips on successfully planting, transplanting, and pruning trees to create a flourishing forest garden! The following is an excerpt from The Home-Scale Forest Garden by Dani Baker. It has been adapted for the web. Planting Potted Trees and Shrubs If you order potted trees, check with your supplier to find out where the plants were stored before being shipped. If they were kept in a heated greenhouse or another location with ambient temperatures significantly warmer than your outdoor conditions, you probably need to harden off the plants. Hardenin ..read more

Chances are, you’ve seen cattails growing on the edge of your local lake or stream at least once or twice. Instead of just passing these plants, try foraging for and cooking them to create delicious seasonal dishes! The following excerpt is from The New Wildcrafted Cuisine by Pascal Baudar. It has been adapted for the web. (Photos courtesy of Pascal Baudar unless otherwise noted.) What Are Cattails? Cattail (Typha latifolia) is one of the most versatile plants growing in the wild and can be found pretty much anywhere in the United States. This plant loves water and can be found growing on the ..read more

With the right strategies and practices, composting on a small farm is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Just follow these steps for making compost, and your farm will be thriving in no time! The following excerpt is from The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables by Ben Hartman. It has been adapted for the web. (All photographs by Ben Hartman and all illustrations by Emma Gerigscott unless otherwise noted.) Relying On Compost for Soil Fertility When we first started to rely heavily on compost for our soil fertility, we were unique in our area. Many farmers use compost, but not ..read more

Garlic mustard: while known as “invasive,” this plant can be consumed in its entirety and has great nutritional value. Plus, the garlic-flavor is a perfect addition to any recipe that calls for mustard! The following are excerpts from Beyond the War on Invasive Species by Tao Orion and The Wild Wisdom of Weeds by Katrina Blair. They have been adapted for the web. Garlic Mustard: What Is It? Classification: Alliaria petiolata Geographic location: Northeast, Midwest, Southeastern Canada Description: Garlic mustard is a herbaceous biennial plant growing from a thin, white taproot. In the first y ..read more

Peregrine falcons, while known as predators, are essential to our environment. These stunning birds have a rich history, an interesting present, and an uncertain future. The following is an excerpt from Feather Trails by Sophie A. H. Osborn. It has been adapted for the web. Who Are Peregrine Falcons? Though relatively uncommon wherever it occurs, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the most widely distributed, naturally occurring bird species in the world and one of the most widely occurring vertebrate animals on Earth. A top predator, it is found on every continent except Antarctica a ..read more

Want to see your crops thrive this upcoming growing season? The key is in soil fertility and health. Spend time maintaining your soil’s health to guarantee bigger and better crops come harvest time! The following is an excerpt from No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture by Bryan O’Hara. It has been adapted for the web. What Is Soil Fertility? Soil fertility refers to the overall ability of a soil to produce abundant healthful crops. As growers it is one of our primary duties to manage the soil to bring it into an increasing state of fertility. Factors that work against this effort incl ..read more

Introducing…your new favorite brunch dish! This whole broccoli frittata is packed with fresh, wildcrafted flavors that are bound to help you start your day off on the right foot. The following is an excerpt from The Forager Chef’s Book of Flora by Alan Bergo. It has been adapted for the web. RECIPE: Whole Broccoli Frittata Serves 4–6 as a light entrée The first time I walked through a garden growing broccoli, I noticed straightaway the large, collard-like leaves—something you never see in the store. Broccoli is more than just florets. The leaves are one of my favorite fall greens. Cousins ..read more

Many know the effects of catnip on our feline friends, but few realize that catnip has medicinal effects for humans. From stomach aches to reducing fevers, catnip is a versatile herb with many benefits. The next time you grow this plant for your cat you may end up taking a few cuttings for yourself! The following is an excerpt from The Organic Medicinal Herb Farmer by Jeff and Melanie Carpenter. It has been adapted for the web. Catnip. Photograph courtesy of Kate Clearlight Catnip – Nepeta Cataria Life Cycle Catnip is a short-lived herbaceous perennial that is hardy to USDA zones ..read more

It’s time to take control of your seeds and become a plant breeder! Saving your seed allows you to grow and best traditional & regional varieties, and develop more of your own. The following excerpt is from Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties by Carol Deppe. It has been adapted for the web. Becoming A Plant Breeder Developing new vegetables doesn’t require a specialized education, a lot of land, or even a lot of time. It can be done on any scale. It’s enjoyable. It’s deeply rewarding. You can get useful new varieties much faster than you might suppose. And you can eat your mistakes. Garden ..read more

Wondering where to forage for greens this spring? Look no further than hedges, which serve as natural havens for wild greens and herbs! The following is an excerpt from Hedgelands by Christopher Hart. It has been adapted for the web. Food from Hedges: Salads and Greens Let’s start by looking at all the wild foods and remedies available just in the hedge at Underhill. After blackberries, the green leafy abundance of the hedgerow in March is probably what most people are familiar with. And the choice on offer at this particular salad bar can be dazzling. The Underhill hedge alone, for instance ..read more