Hi it’s Samantha with Planter! Welcome to my second journal entry. I’m talking about how my summer in my Pacific Northwest garden has been going. Our spring seemed a little drier, and parts of it were definitely hotter. So some of my cool-weather crops, like lettuce, didn’t do the best. In the beginning, I had nice and steady growth of my lettuce and peas. Then we got a random heat wave in May, and it caused some problems like bolting and wilting....
Part of why I turned to gardening was for resilience. That quiet confidence of knowing I’ll always have access to food. Understanding what it took from the earth, and what it gives back, tastes like freedom. Like peace, in a way. It also made me think more deeply about what nourishes me. And if there’s one nutrient the world seems fixated on right now, it’s protein. Every other product at the supermarket screams “high-protein” or “protein-packed”, gym culture has practically rebranded it as a religion, and new research keeps surfacing about how essential it is for our health....
While home fermentation is a natural and rewarding process, it does involve live bacteria. To keep things safe and delicious, be sure to follow the safety guidelines included at the end of this article. It’s peak harvest season, folks! If you’ve ever watched RedLeaf Ranch on YouTube, you can probably hear him yelling it already: “ABUNDANCE!” Because that’s exactly what many of us are experiencing in our gardens right now. The beds are bursting with produce and while it’s a blessing, it can also be a bit… overwhelming....
It’s been a dry year for the Southwest so far, though things are looking up with a fairly active monsoon season underway. I’ve been helping my garden adjust to the heat, use water more sustainably, and provide better habitat for local wildlife. I’ve lost some plants, but plenty have still thrived. Here’s a look at what I’ve been doing in my Sonoran Desert, zone 9a garden. Some plains coreopsis winning against the heat....
If you have a garden, chances are you have wildlife. So why do you need to “create” a wildlife garden, you might be wondering? Gardening for wildlife is more than just having plants; it’s thoughtful touches that help the local animals. Benefits of Wildlife in the Garden A garden with a diverse population of insects, birds, and even small mammals indicates healthy soil and a good ecosystem. If you can draw birds into your garden, they can help keep the pesky bug population in control....
Oh, summer. How I love you. It’s mid-July, and the breeze here in the mountains feels like a warm hug. Most folks are busy harvesting courgettes the size of baguettes and, no doubt, cursing their once-again runaway mint. I’m standing in my garden with a fresh cup of (yes, mint) tea and a question: What do I want to eat in the fall? Because while summer is in full swing, this is actually the secret season to sow again....
Growing up with fairytales, I came to believe that love is everywhere. Sometimes, you just have to look a little closer to notice it. It doesn’t always look the way we expect. It can take different shapes and happen in places we’d never think to look. Even… in your veggie patch. Let me explain. As you prepare for a season of abundance, you’ve been nurturing your zucchini plants for weeks. The vines are sprawling, the leaves are lush, and then: boom, flowers!...
We’ve all envisioned the perfect garden—neatly trimmed beds, clean lines, and not a leaf out of place. Perhaps you’ve admired the stunning show gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show, with their carefully curated designs and lush plantings (I have). These spaces are beautiful and attract a diverse range of wildlife. But step into a wild woodland, meadow, or desert wash, and you’ll notice something different: there’s litter. Twigs, seed pods, spent blooms, and fallen leaves carpet the ground....
2025 has been a year full of changes for my husband and I and our four kitties. We moved to a new home, took on renovations, and started a market garden (small-scale farm). Who doesn’t love a challenge?! We moved in the dead of winter, which in Ontario, Canada presents unique obstacles. For example, some of our furniture had to live in the garage until the snow drifts melted down enough to carry it in the (wider) back door!...
Using Woody Cuttings for Plant Trellis Many plants — beans, tomatoes, peas, and more — grow best with support. Trellises and supports can add up in cost, and it’s not always easy to find the right one. Here we’ll run through some tips and ideas for using woody plant cuttings (and plants themselves) as growing supports. If you don’t have any trees or shrubs in your garden, consider asking a neighbour or friend....