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A garden is a magical place. Its a place of healing, wellness and inspiration. It's also one of the things I am most passionate about. A lot of what we eat comes from right here on our homestead. Pure, organic food is very important to us and a lot of what I do around here revolves around food. Gardeners are constantly being challenged by nature and to succeed we need to observe, learn and incorporate new ideas into our gardening strategies. I've been inspired by so many people and enjoy sharing our own knowledge in return.
This is a collection of some of my favourite gardening tips and ideas. I talk about things like:
- Eating sunflowers (the entire sunflower)
- Growing perennial vegetables that you plant once and enjoy for years
- Creating habitats for critters that help your garden thrive
- And so much more!
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” ~ Audrey Hepburn
Growing The Three Sisters
The three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash, have been planted together in traditional Native American gardens for centuries. The three sisters support each other and form an ecosystem that helps each other to grow. It's companion planting at its finest. Read it here!
Eat Your Sunflowers
Sunflowers are better known for their delicious seeds and cooking oil but they offer so much more! Did you know that you can eat the entire sunflower: stalk, leaves, petals & seeds? They are nutritious too. Nutrients vary by plant part but overall they are a good source of Vitamin E, Copper, B1 & protein. You can find a complete list of nutrients here.
Read it here
Creating Natural Habitat In Any Type of Garden
As an organic gardener, I need all the help I can get when it comes to pest control in the garden. One way that I achieve this is by making my gardens inviting to beneficial critters such as frogs & snakes. This works just as well in raised beds as it does flower beds, vegetables gardens and even greenhouses. Watch it here
Growing Peanuts In Cooler Climates
Did you know that peanuts are actually a legume and not a nut? I only discovered this a few years ago. Famous as a salty roasted treat, peanuts can be eaten fresh and cooked much the same way as you would prepare other legumes.They are really easy to grow! {read it here](@walkerland/growing-peanuts-in-cooler-climates)
Why You Should Grow Perennial Chives
n early spring when the ground is just thawing, chives are one of the first plants to emerge from the ground. They are also one of the first spring time flowers for bees. Chives are a hardy and easy to grow perennial in zone 3-10. Read it here
Perennial Vegetables: Jerusalem Artichokes
The Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)also known as Sunchoke, is a species of sunflower native to eastern North America. It is cultivated for the tuber which is treated as a root vegetable. The flower will grow 8-10' tall producing lovely sunflowers in August but unlike other sunflowers this species does not provide seed/oil and it used exclusively for the tuber.Read it here
Grow A Perennial Food Garden!
When it comes to establishing a self sufficient food landscape, perennial vegetables are impossible to beat. You'll thank yourself when food starts popping up out of the ground in early spring, with no effort on your part. Edible perennials are often hardy, reliable food crops that need very little care and attention. A lot of these plants can be invasive and spread, some might see this as a down side but to me that's the ultimate goal. Read it here
Hardneck Garlic: Scapes, Bulbils & Umbels
When you plant hardneck garlic they will develop what is called a scape (flower stalk). This is a thick curly stalk in the center of the leaves. You'll recognize the scape by its tubular shape and distinctive curl. Read it here
Cold Hardy Perennial Food Shrubs & Trees: What I'm Excited About Planting This Spring!
There is nothing better than perennial plants that produce food. They look beautiful, nourish you and best of all you only need to plant them once while reaping the benefits for years to come. There is also a cool factor. Just the idea of walking around our land while snacking on food gets my heart racing. Not to mention, some of these trees will be here long after we are gone. It's such a good feeling to know you are leaving behind a legacy. Read it here
Five Tasty Tomatoes You'll Want To Grow This Year
Did you know that there are over 20,000 varieties of tomatoes? They come in a full rainbow of hues: yellow, red, orange, green, black, purple, pink, blue and striped. Some are better eaten fresh, others are more ideal for sauces. Some are better suited for climates with a short growing season and others excel in more temperate locations. They all offer exciting and distinct flavours.Read it here
Building a greener, more beautiful world one seed at a time.
Homesteading | Gardening | Frugal Living | Preserving Food| From Scratch Cooking|
You can also find me at: walkerland.ca | Facebook
Photo copyright: @walkerland
