Category Archives: In The Garden

Book Review:The Vegetable Garden Pest Book by Susan Mulvihill

Let me start off by saying I really like this book. Although the info sheet that accompanies The Vegetable Garden Pest Bookby Susan Mulvihill talks about climate change and newly invasive pests that attack edibles, most of what’s inside are the same pests and the same problems I’ve been dealing with in my Mid-Atlantic vegetable garden for decades. But that’s a quibble with the info sheet rather than the book itself, which is a terrific tool for almost anyone who works to produce food from their little bit of earth. 

Planting Garlic in Faith

Two days ago, I planted half of the hardneck garlic I intend to put in this year. I had chosen a bed that hadn’t held any last season and yanked out the desiccated tomato plants (we picked our last green ones, which are turning red on the porch as I write, about five days ago)Continue reading “Planting Garlic in Faith”

A Buzzing Retirement Plan

My latest essay in The Christian Science Monitor’s Home Forum: My husband is outside our office, splitting wood. In between the rhythmic thwack! of the splitting maul, he’s singing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Except, he’s not singing words. He’s buzzing the melody. Buzz buzz buzz buzz (whack) buzz buzz buzz buzz (whack) buzz buzz buzz buzz buuuuzzzz bzContinue reading “A Buzzing Retirement Plan”

WHY Would You Graft Tomatoes?!

     When I first heard of grafted tomato plants, I thought: Grafting? Of annuals? Really? Grafting woody perennials, yes. The time, attention and effort required to produce a successful graft rewards us with years of fruit (trees) and/or beauty (think: roses). But all that work for the tender stems of tomato plants that only lastContinue reading “WHY Would You Graft Tomatoes?!”

Flowering Quince: A Spiky Spring Beauty

  Until we moved to an old house on two patchwork-planted acres, I had never seen a flowering quince. When I first inspected them in June, I was under-whelmed. Each was a thicket of twiggy, green-leafed branches armed with lethal spikes like something out of Br’er Rabbit’s briar patch. Expendable — or so I thought.Continue reading “Flowering Quince: A Spiky Spring Beauty”

Grow What You Love to Eat*

It’s slightly more complicated than your fourth grade biology project, but a whole lot more rewarding: starting your own garden plants from seed indoors. “It’s a lot of fun,” says veteran gardener Tina Beneman. “There’s nothing more exciting than seeing the seeds sprout, especially when everything outside is dormant and gray.” For years Beneman hasContinue reading “Grow What You Love to Eat*”

Do Real Men Get Flowers for Valentine’s Day?*

    For a long time, REAL MEN not only didn’t eat quiche, they didn’t get flowers. Imagine John Wayne on the receiving end of a dozen long-stemmed red roses. Enter bright-eyed delivery boy with the bouquet. Wayne, scowling: “Wal, whuddaya got THERE?” Delivery boy, wilting slightly: “Roses, Sir.” Wayne, leaning forward menacingly: “Wal, whoContinue reading “Do Real Men Get Flowers for Valentine’s Day?*”

Pulling Supper Off The Shelves

One of the reasons I love to can is the bounty you end up with in the dead of winter. As long as there are jars of last year’s produce safely tucked away on the pantry shelves, I feel safe (smug even) when the weatherman starts talking about Snowmageddon and urges everyone to rush outContinue reading “Pulling Supper Off The Shelves”

Late-Planted Hardneck Garlic

It’s a little late for garlic, planting-wise, but I’m looking at the garden and thinking I may still have a little time to shove in a few more cloves before we reach what is predicted to be a cold January and February. Since I first learned about hardneck garlic from Colchester CSA manager and grower,Continue reading “Late-Planted Hardneck Garlic”