Figs are a sweet treat that is usually grown in a warm climate. As cold climate gardeners, figs usually do not even cross our minds until someone shares on social media something about their figs. Growing figs in a cold climate is possible. We get asked a lot about how we grow figs, so here we share ...
Growing Food
Growing Edible Pine Nut Trees
Ever since we learned about edible pine nut trees, we wanted to grow some for ourselves. Most edible pine trees get very tall, so I included them in my permaculture design as a dual-purpose tree. They are part of the shelterbelt, and also of the food supply. We were inspired by the book series ...
All About Starting a Garden
The article "All about starting a garden" is to help especially new gardeners to a good start. If you are a new gardener or know someone who wants to learn more about growing food, please feel free to share it with them. All about starting a garden is a collection of blog articles that are ...
8 Years of Year-Round Growing in Zone 3 Review
We started with growing a four-season garden before passive solar greenhouses for year-round growing became popular. Instead, we converted part of an old garage into a food production place and experimented with growing food year-round. Here is an honest 8 years of year-round growing in zone 3 ...
How To Grow and Use Ground Cherries (With Recipe)
How to grow and use ground cherries is an older popular blog article that is time to refresh. We included our favorite ground cherry piroshki recipe. Try it and let us know how you like it. Ground cherries, also known as cape gooseberries, are little orange fruits resembling tomatillos, ...
Growing Legumes as Companion Plants
Companion plants are plants that have benefits for each other. They are better together than alone. As a gardener, you might have heard about the so-called nitrogen "fixing" plants. Now, that might sound very theoretical and only something for permaculturists. Growing legumes as nitrogen-fixing ...
Growing Fruit trees in cold climate Part 2
Growing fruit trees is one of our favorite things to do. We love fruit, and growing our own is the best way to have them. In fact, one of the reasons we wanted to have more space to grow was the desire to plant more fruit trees. In growing fruit trees in cold climate part 1, we cover what ...
Growing raspberries in a cold climate
Raspberries are one of my favorite berries. Growing raspberries in a cold climate is not difficult, because raspberries are quite hardy. Caring for the raspberry patch was one of the first tasks I learned in my childhood on my parent's homestead. If you did not have the opportunity to learn ...
Varieties of Berries for Zone 3 Garden
Berries are the best fruit cold climate gardeners can grow, the category of produce where we can shine. Here we share the varieties of berries that we grow in our zone 3 garden and some care and propagation tips. Growing berries in a permaculture cold climate garden. Why grow berries Of all ...
Homegrown Herbal Tea
Have a cup of homegrown herbal tea with me. And while we are enjoying its soft aroma, and gentle taste, let me tell you how simple it is to grow, preserve and prepare homegrown herbal tea. Why homegrown herbal tea We grow food, not lawn, on our 1/8 acre town lot. Not all plants are edible ...