December 27, 2011

December 8, 2011

“Located in the former Home for the Blind in Berlin, the workshop which produces these brushes employs fifteen blind artisans using traditional craft techniques that the Institute for the Blind has developed over the last 120+ years.”

November 30, 2011

Introducing Beth DiCara’s Holiday Ornaments

Beth DiCara has been creating beautiful pottery for Smith & Chang General Goods and her hanging ‘fish head’ has been a favorite of ours. Now, her kiln in Jersey City has been literally on fire turning out a collection of beautiful and whimsical Holiday Ornaments. The collection includes owls, black & white sheep, beehive and birds of all colors.

November 7, 2011

Raised  Beds

Happily, raised bed gardens require very little maintenance. Each spring or fall, it’s a good idea to top dress with fresh compost and manure, or, if your bed only holds plants for part of the year, go ahead and dig the compost or manure into the top several inches of soil. As with any garden, mulching the top of the soil will help retain moisture and keep weeds down. Moisture retention is important, because raised beds tend to drain faster than conventional beds.

P.S. – Other thoughts & considerations

• Tall plants shade short plants – plant the tall and climbing vegetables like corn and cucumbers at the North end of your garden and in individual beds.

• For part shaded area – plant veggies that can tolerate less light and prefer cooler temperatures in the shady areas like lettuce and spinach.

• Rotate crops each year – plants in related families shouldn’t be planted in the same location – pests and nutrient needs are often common to the family and pests may remain for the 2nd year, while soil is sapped of nutrients.

• Consider ‘companion planting’ – planting herbs or other specific veggies alongside your vegetables to help repel insect and animal pests.