Veggie Gardening Tips

28/11/2024

I'll continue to hype the incredible benefits of growing a fall veggie garden and here's the end result, fresh produce to enjoy and share at Thanksgiving and right into the winter! Last week's offerings at the Berea Gardens Farmers Market included; kale, mustard, and collard greens, oyster mushrooms, a spicy salad mix, radishes, sweet potatoes, turnips, cilantro, spinach, and beets. Too many gardeners miss out on the incredible and productive experience of growing their own fall vegetable garden.

01/09/2024

The drought has taken a toll on the garden this summer but I'm still managing to salvage some production out of it. Some crops were lost but the tomatoes, peppers, okra, and squash have done very well. Still have high hopes for the sweet potatoes and winter squash. And if the drought has ended I can still get a fall garden going and raise lots of greens and root crops!

30/07/2024

The honeybees are doing well this summer is spite of the lack of rain that we received. This Sunday afternoon I will be holding a beekeeping workshop in Big Bend, WV.

It will be a great opportunity to learn more about these fascinating creatures and to gain some hands-on experience working with them. You can get more info and register at the following link:

https://www.learn.coregardening.com/courses/august-4th-introduction-to-honeybees

13/05/2024

This Sunday I will be holding another COREgardening workshop at my property in WV! This time the topic will be on growing your own organic ginger and turmeric. Everyone is invited and you can find more details at www.coregardening.com.

All who attend will discover just how easy it is to grow ginger and turmeric in the garden or in containers, even if you don't live in tropical climate. You will also leave with ginger and turmeric plants to take home and get started with right away.

25/04/2024

If you enjoy eating gourmet mushrooms, here's an opportunity to learn how to grow them for yourself. I'm holding a hands-on workshop where you can see just how simple, easy, and fun it is to grow mushrooms, and you will wish that you had know these secrets a long time ago.

The workshop is Sunday April 28th from 1pm to 5pm in Big Bend, WV. You can get more information and register on my website at www.coregardening.com. We'll cover all of your favorites such as Shiitake, Morels, Oysters, and Lions Mane, and some less familiar ones like Blewits, Wine Caps, and Reishi. You'll learn both indoor and outdoor techniques, from blocks and containers, to garden beds, logs, and totems.

Registration is limited to 12 participants so sign up today and get ready to enjoy a great event! Everyone will leave the workshop with cultures of various mushroom spawn, inoculated logs, and plenty of ideas, along with the experience that you can use to grow your own culinary and medicinal mushrooms in your home, garden, or throughout the landscape.

09/05/2019

Here’s a closer view of the swarm cluster and the set up that I used to capture it.

09/05/2019

My first honeybee swarm of the season!

23/06/2018

A nice wild native Central Pennsylvania Reishi fungi growing out of a stump, these are medicinal and can be used to make teas, extracts, or tinctures.

12/01/2018

Up into the 60's today and warm enough to take a quick peek into one of the beehives. So far, so good, they made it past a bitterly cold stretch of weather and are another day closer to springtime. Still a long way to go before I'll feel comfortable about their chances of making it through this winter!

03/08/2017

The US Postal Service is paying tribute to pollinators with tomorrow's release of the Protect Pollinators Forever stamps. Featuring monarch butterflies and the honeybee along with plants such as coneflowers, asters, and goldenrods.

22/07/2017

Say hello to Monarda punctata, aka Spotted Bee Balm, my favorite new native plant. Just started growing it this season and at first I was like ho hum this monarda is pretty dull and boring. Then one afternoon it was Wow... all decked out with spotted flowers, variegated leaves, and amazing color saying "how do you like me now!" About that same time the beneficial insects and even a hummingbird began to take notice also.

22/07/2017

This bee is definitely a pollen carrier, it's a wonder she can still fly or even see where she is going!

29/06/2017

Below is my post on TroyBilt's FaceBook Page this morning , I'll be there all day passing along gardening tips and answering questions. Stop by to share your favorite herb or native plant and join in the sweepstakes to win a new TB240 Self Propelled Mower! http://bit.ly/2tk521e

What’s the most attractive herb or native plant that you’ve grown? Leave your answer in the comment section below by 11:59 p.m. EST today (6/29) for a chance to win a Troy-Bilt TB240 High Wheel Self-Propelled Mower as part of this month’s Q&A sweepstakes, hosted by organic gardener Kenny Point of Veggie Gardening Tips.

Official sweepstakes rules: http://bit.ly/2tkE3lO

29/06/2017

Another unusual edible from the veggie garden; Purple KohlRabi. A colorful, mild flavored, and easy to grow cool weather crop that can be grown during the spring or fall seasons.

28/06/2017

Strawberries aren't always red, these perennial Alpine types are ever-bearing, with a clumping habit rather than running, and come in an assortment of colors including white, yellow, and red. They also have a delicious tropical flavor.

19/06/2017

Some nice ideas for starting plants from seed. Not the way that I would treat the tomato seeds but if it works it works.

19/06/2017

It's blueberry season! They are ripening and I only have one bird competing with me for the harvest. I have a row of blueberry bushes along the side of the garage with Wintergreen growing underneath to provide double the color and fruit from the same area.

08/06/2017

Spent the afternoon on the campus of Millersville University at the Native Plants in the Landscape Conference. Propagated a variety of new plants with Amy and Victoria of North Creek Nurseries. Worked with tissue cultures, seeds, unrooted cuttings, bare root plants, and other divisions. Also touched on IPM and the use of beneficial insects to control pests. Left with lots of information and more native plants to use back at home!