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Barefoot in the Garden, Growing Fruit, Growing Herbs, Growing Vegetables

Using banana peel fertilizer to add minerals and nutrients to specific plants in your garden is a great way to not only reduce waste but also to work with nature while being an active participant in the growing of your garden: and the bonus is you are saving money at the same time. It is so easy to go out and buy a “quick fix” but for the home gardener, who wants to derive pleasure from learning and growing, this…

Natural Ways to Lower the pH of Soil

June 11, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Growing Fruit, Growing Vegetables, Soil Care

Here are some plants that enjoy a more alkaline soil: blueberries asparagus leeks Lima beans Swiss chard artichokes spinach Mushrooms also grow well in alkaline soil, as do grape vines, oranges, cantaloupes, pecans, peach trees and some cherry varieties. Organic substances frequently used to reduce soil pH are – rotted manure rotted leaf compost shredded evergreen bark pine needles home-composted leaf and vegetable refuse coffee grounds (with the exception of asparagus) Be prepared for some trial-and-error with organic acidifiers. Test…

Glorious Leaf Mould

June 11, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Composting, Soil Care

Leaf Mold is the organic material left behind after leaves have undergone fungal decomposition. Leaf mold is the term used to describe the result of only decomposed leaves that haven’t had any other ingredients added. Letting leaves decompose separately from other organic matter yields a wonderfully beneficial soil conditioner that is dark brown to black, crumbly textured soil amendment with a pleasant earthy aroma. Leaves mixed in with compost take longer to decompose via aerobic bacterial action than other organic materials…

Roast Balsamic Beetroot with Honey & Rosemary

June 11, 2017

Creative at the Cottage, Recipes

Here is a beautiful, simple beetroot recipe that is great hot or cold. Of course, there is nothing better than using beetroot and rosemary fresh out the garden! Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 – 45 minutes (depending on size of vegetable chunks) Ingredients 6 cups washed beetroot cut into small chunks Balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons Olive oil 2 tablespoons Honey 2 tablespoons Crushed garlic 2 teaspoons 4-6 sprigs of fresh Rosemary Salt and pepper to taste Optional Extra…

Companion Planting with Leeks

June 11, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Guilds & Companion Planting

Leeks are part of the Allium family. For the purpose of companion planting, leeks should generally be treated like onions. Leeks are related to onions, garlic and chives. They prefer full sun though partial shade is tolerable. They require moderate water and nutrients. Companion Plants should have similar soil, sunlight and watering requirements as well as an additional attribute such as pest or disease suppression, flavor enhancement or so forth. Leeks, chives, onion and garlic all emit a pungent aroma…

From the Medicine Garden: Indigenous & Medicinal Lion’s Ear

June 9, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Growing Herbs, Herbal & Home Remedies

Leonurus leonotis aka Lion’s Ear is an annual indigenous plant that grows very tall very quickly and likes full sun. Flowers occur in globes which are slightly prickly to touch with thin leaves immediately underneath. Flowers are orange and tubular with four stamens with white filaments. The stem is very rigid and square. Lion’s Ear is common in fallow fields and is drought resistant and water wise. It likes a well drained soil but I have found it not to…

Introducing our Medicinal, Herb and Indigenous Garden

June 8, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Growing Herbs, Guilds & Companion Planting, Herbal & Home Remedies

Every garden deserves a wild place. Ours is filled with indigenous plants, medicinal herbs and healing plants. It wraps itself around the far corner and along the back wooden fence; closest to where we sit under the shade of the big bottle brush tree that is so often filled with birdsong. It is still new – everything lovingly placed with intention in carefully chosen places. All of these plants will act as companions to our entire garden as they attract…

The Medicine Garden: Mother-in-Law’s Tongue to Relieve Earrache

June 3, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Growing Herbs, Herbal & Home Remedies

A few years ago I attended a talk and demonstration by Master Herbalist, Peter M Von Maltitz who shared some of his (vast) knowledge of medicinal plants and herbs with us. It was fascinating and I took copious amounts of notes. He told us that in Nature, the problem is often the solution. A good example of this would be stinging nettle. It irritates the skin with thin, spiny bristles while at the same time it contains compounds in the…

New Garden, Dew Drops & Spiderwebs & Good Ol’ Manure ~ May ’17 Round Up

June 1, 2017

Barefoot in the Garden, Planning & Design