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How to Till No-till Gardens

How to Till No-till Gardens

by Harold Schrock | Jul 1, 2022 | 2022, 07 July, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dreamstime.com. Is our title an oxymoron? It appears to be a contradiction. Actually, to grow and maintain health, soil needs tillage. It just doesn’t need to be done with steel, iron, or aluminum. Healthy soil needs lots of pore space; at least fifty percent...
Solarization and Tarping

Solarization and Tarping

by Harold Schrock | Jun 6, 2022 | 2022, 06 June Readers' Issue, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dogwood Ridge. Plastic sheeting is a valuable tool for managing garden beds without tillage. There are two different types that we can use depending on the need. One type is clear plastic that is used in a process called solarization. The other type is black...
Raised Bed Considerations

Raised Bed Considerations

by Harold Schrock | May 1, 2022 | 2022, 05 May Story Contest, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dreamstime.com. How high should a raised bed be? I find 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) to be a very practical height for growing most crops. With less than six inches, you may start losing some of the benefits of drainage. Also, lower beds require that you bend over...
Raise Food? Raise Beds!

Raise Food? Raise Beds!

by Harold Schrock | Apr 7, 2022 | 2022, 04 April, Articles & Stories, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dreamstime.com. One of the best ways to reduce tillage and increase our enjoyment of gardening is to construct permanent beds. When we stop tilling, it is important to avoid compaction as much as possible. On a garden-sized scale, this means separating the...
Gardening without Tillage—Why?

Gardening without Tillage—Why?

by Harold Schrock | Mar 4, 2022 | 2022, 03 March, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dreamstime.com. I realize that having a garden without tilling might sound strange. My earliest memories of gardening include plowing, disking, and tilling. For many years I never knew there was any other way of preparing a garden. It was/is a system of garden...
The Other Most Important Nutrient

The Other Most Important Nutrient

by Harold Schrock | Feb 9, 2022 | 2022, 02 February, Answer Key, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Tree Fruits

Tree Fruits

by Harold Schrock | Dec 20, 2021 | 2021, 12 December, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Dreamstime.com. When are the two best times to plant a fruit tree? The best time was ten years ago! The second best time is this spring or fall, depending on your climate.If you want to enjoy the tastiest tree-ripened fruit, you probably have to grow it...
Storing the Bounty

Storing the Bounty

by Harold Schrock | Oct 22, 2021 | 2021, 10 October Bonus Reader's Issue, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

Photo © Olga Volodina/Dreamstime.com I am a strong proponent of extending the growing season whenever possible, and utilizing row covers, tunnels, and greenhouses to keep up the flow of fresh foods to our tables. However, most of us live far enough north that we...
Preparing Your Garden for Rest

Preparing Your Garden for Rest

by Harold Schrock | Sep 6, 2021 | 2021, 09 September, Articles & Stories, Gardening, Nature-Friendly Gardening, Plants & Fungi, Study Guide

One of the blessings most North American gardeners enjoy is the cyclical nature of the pastime. While I have written about the joy of season extension and greenhouse production, having a season of rest makes the garden that much more appealing as spring approaches....

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