Nurture the Bees, Please
Your garden can house and feed native bees
Any observant person with a garden knows that where there are flowers, there will also be bees. But bees are in trouble, and we can … Continue reading
Gardening
Back to Basics
A longtime rural gardener finds the secret to success is to aim low
Every year about this time, I look out at the garden that takes up a large swath of our property next to the house, and … Continue reading
Eugene Weekly Presents Our Annual Planting Guide
Prepare your gardens!
Planning is one of the most important elements of gardening. It is also one of the easiest steps to overlook, especially for the beginner. Knowing … Continue reading
Now’s the Time for Natives
Fall and winter may be the most important seasons for gardening in our area
According to the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it’s too late to reverse the damage already done to the Earth’s climate. … Continue reading
Winter Vegetables
Homegrown produce beyond summer
It happens every year. The glory of abundant produce from our gardens and the many wonderful farms that surround us in this valley starts to … Continue reading
Classic Jam
Equal parts sugar and fruit for real old-fashioned jam
I grew up in England with a yard loaded with fruit and a mother who was a bit of an overachiever in the jam department. Perhaps … Continue reading
Best Potted Plants (For) Ever
Large pots lead to long plant lives
Most gardeners know that when it comes to container gardening, large pots are best: for the plants, for the caregiver and for visual impact. Nice … Continue reading
Forget Farm Simulator, it’s time to grow for real
For the first two years of high school, I was active in Future Farmers of America. During that time, I raised two hogs, competed in … Continue reading
Bees, Birds & Beetles
Promote biodiversity with safe environmental practices in the home garden
Grim news: According to a 2019 study, bird populations in the U.S. and around the world have diminished by at least 30 percent since 1970. … Continue reading
The Handy Rice Knife
Have you discovered the rice knife?
I knew nothing about this handy, inexpensive tool until I joined the volunteers at Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden, where it is standard issue. It consists of … Continue reading