Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Grow Over 300 lbs Potatoes WITHOUT Digging, Watering Or Any Real Effort…

No dig potatoes

No matter whether you grow some vegetables in your back garden as a hobby or you grow vegetables on a larger-scale on your homestead, you will almost definitely grow some potatoes…

Growing potatoes in your garden on a small-scale is simple enough and fun. However, if you harbour any aims of being more self-sufficient you need to grow potatoes on a much larger scale and this can quickly become a whole load of effort and hard work. First, you must dig and prepare the soil and then plant all the seed potatoes, all of which is back-breaking work if you are planting lots of potatoes. This is only half of the work though… When the potatoes are ready, you have to then dig them all up!!!

Thankfully, there is an easier way. Much, much easier…  And the news gets even better as the good folks at Back To Reality have created an excellent video detailing how to this. I have included the video down below, so give it a watch.

They managed to grow over 300 lbs of potatoes with minimum effort. No digging/planting, no watering, and no digging/harvesting. All that is required is some hay. Tip –– you can often get hold of old or spoilt hay from local farmers for zero charges. They will likely just be happy for you to take it away. Additionally, if you ask and you are lucky, they might also be happy to provide a ready supply of manure or soiled animal bedding as well.

My recommendation – if you are not convinced by this method of growing potatoes — set aside an area to try it out this year. Grow your main crop of potatoes in the usual manner but try this no-dig, hay method on a smaller test crop. The results should speak for themselves.

BTW – after you have watched the video below, I highly recommend subscribing to Back to Reality’s YouTube channel. They produce some great homesteading, gardening and DIY videos.

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, Growing your Own, Homesteading

The Ultimate Tomato Growing Post — A Round-Up Of Experts’ Growing Tips

The Ultimate Tomato Growing Tips

This post is a round-up of smaller posts that were previously featured on Knowledge Weighs Nothing. (I am slowly going back through KWN and tidying things up and removing lots of old/dead posts etc). I have compiled several older tomato growing/preserving posts here in one place to make it simpler to find these excellent tomato growing and preserving tips and tricks. Take your tomato growing to the next level!

DIY Self Watering Alaska Grow Buckets

The Alaska Grow Bucket is the easiest self-watering container system that anyone can use to grow their own food. Alaska Grow Buckets use capillary action of a soil-less grow-medium to draw water from below up to the plant roots. The good thing about this design is there is no pumps, no electricity and best of all, you grow your own food. Become more self-reliant and build one this summer. Find out more here.

How To Grow 50-80 lbs Of Tomatoes Per Plant

That’s right – 50 – 80 pounds of tomatoes PER PLANT! That’s amazing, you could grow a huge amount of tomatoes in a really small space. This is useful for everyone regardless of how much space they have for growing food, but it is especially useful for people with limited growing space. Watch the video above and see how it’s done.

One Man’s Genius Idea For Growing A Huge Tomato Crop

tomatoesbumper

James over at hometalk.com has come up with an awesome way of growing bumper crops of tomatoes with very little effort. James came up with an innovative way to water and feed the tomatoes using a garbage bin. Not only does it result in huge tomato crops, but it is also a much easier way to grow tomatoes as you only have to water them every 2-3 days.

You could use this method to grow tomatoes outdoors or in a greenhouse (if you plant into the ground in your greenhouse). This method is genius in its simplicity, so head over to Home Talk on the link below and find out more… You could probably grow cucumbers and peppers using the same method too! Read James’s post here.

Combat Tomato Blight With Copper Coins

tomato blight

I refuse to use pesticide, insecticide and anti-fungal spray on my fruit and vegetables. If I want to eat foods containing these, I’ll just get them from the supermarket…

The problem is – my reluctance to use chemicals has cost me my entire tomato crop for the last two years! I also lost most of my potatoes last year as well. I lost both crops due to blight.  Most people don’t realize, but potato blight and tomato blight are exactly the same. The blight is the same fungus called: Phytophthora infestans.

Many people think that the coin/blight trick is a myth; I can tell you it is not. It works, but only if you use coins produced before 1982 as these have more copper in them and it is the copper that stops the blight. The copper/coin tip might not completely stop the blight, but it may slow it down long enough for your affected tomatoes to ripen. Read the post in full here.

Homemade Monster Tomato Fertilizer Recipe

Do you want to use natural fertilizer on your plants and vegetables? I know I do. I found a great article showing you the recipe for “monster tomato fertilizer” I know I will be trying this. It’s really simple to make and all-natural.I’m thinking about using this recipe on my flowers too, see if I can win any competitions. Find out more here.

How To Correctly Plant Tomato Plants To Get 8 Foot Plants

tomatoplant

I think it is fair to say that if you garden and grow your own food, you grow tomatoes. Problem is – if you’re like me, your tomatoes don’t always do as well as expected. Some years we have amazing crops of tomatoes and don’t know what to do with them all but last year, for example, we got hit badly by tomato/potato blight and we lost 90% of our crop.

Now whilst there isn’t a great deal you can do if it is a bad year for blight, there are things you can do when planting your tomato plants which will all but guarantee huge healthy plants with an abundance of fruit. Also, if you follow this method of planting, your tomato plants will be so much stronger and healthier, they may be able to resist the tomato blight fungus that little bit longer that could enable you to harvest the crop before it fails. Check out this link for this awesome tomato planting tutorial from ‘Love Apple Farms’.

How To Build The Ultimate Tomato Or Pepper Cage For Under $2….The Stake-A-Cage

The support of a 4′ long wooden stake – attached to an open-faced wire mesh grid. Strong and durable and cheap! It combines the durability of staking tomatoes with the ease of a cage.

 Better yet, by keeping the wire grid flat and not making a true cage – you can tie your tomatoes easily to the grid – and when it comes time to pick – you won’t have to reach through the cages to get to the goods. Click here to see the full article and see how you can make your own ” Stake A Cage”

Very Quick & Easy Way To Make Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Sun-dried tomatoes are delicious and they really do bring dishes and snacks alive. I am sure more of us would eat more sun-dried tomatoes if it wasn’t for the fact they cost a fortune at the store. Sure, some of you live in climates where you can actually sundry your tomatoes outdoors in the traditional way, but this method takes quite a bit of effort and takes days to completely dry out the tomatoes.

There is an easier way! You can make sun-dried tomatoes in a food dehydrator or an oven. Wait I hear several people shouting that these aren’t sun-dried tomatoes… Interestingly around 90% of sun-dried tomatoes from the store are not actually dried in the sun! I guarantee you that if you follow this tutorial, you’ll end up with the most delicious sun-dried tomatoes you have ever tried, AND you’ll save an absolute fortune over buying them from the store.

Dehydrating Tomatoes 101

tomatos
Dehydrated tomatoes taste amazing!  The problem is when you grow your own tomatoes the year usually goes like this – nothing, nothing, nothing and then loads of tomatoes in one go!

Tomatoes are so healthy, tasty and versatile it is a crime to ever waste them. Sure you can make sauces etc but I think one of the best ways to preserve tomatoes is to dehydrate them. If you don’t have a dehydrator because you think they are too expensive, then get one of these at just $35. For the price it has amazing reviews…

Here is an awesome tutorial on how to dehydrate tomatoes from Bev Cooks, check it out and the next time you have a glut of tomatoes or they are on offer at the store, get dehydrating!

(Original Images –Bev Cooks, Wikipedia, Love Apple Farms, Muffet, TheWalden Effect, Home Talk, LDSPrepper, oldworldgardenfarms.com, chateau-listeur.blogspot.ca)

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, Growing your Own, Homesteading, Self-Sufficiency

How To Grow Garlic From A ’50 Cent’ Supermarket Garlic Bulb

Growing garlic from store garlic

Ok, this is fairly simple, but it always surprises me how many people don’t know this, and also how many people don’t do it…

Garlic is one of the easiest crops to grow, as long as they don’t sit in soggy, wet ground, they rarely have any problems. Garlic does take a fair while to grow, but this is countered by the fact you can grow a year’s worth of garlic in around a meter square. Also once cropped and dried, garlic will keep for up to ten months.

Literally a dollar or two, and 10 minutes planting once a year, will provide a whole year’s worth of garlic! Also, you’ll never need to re-buy garlic bulbs to plant, as you can replant some of last years crop.

If possible, I recommend that you purchase organic garlic bulbs (to plant) from the market or supermarket.  If you can’t afford to buy organic garlic, don’t beat yourself up. Just get the regular garlic you can afford. We have had great success growing with cheap 50-cent garlic bulbs from the supermarket.

How To Grow Garlic With Garlic From The Supermarket

  1. Take one garlic bulb and pull off all the individual cloves. Each one of these cloves will grow into a whole new garlic bulb!
  2. Take the separated cloves out to the garden, to where you will be planting them. Make a hole in the soil with your finger that is just a tiny bit deeper than the garlic clove is high.
  3. Pop a garlic clove into the hole, with the pointy end of the clove pointing upwards. This is very important! If you plant the garlic cloves with the pointed ends down, they will not grow.
  4. Now just pinch the soil in around the clove and firm in a bit.  When done the top of the clove should be just below the surface of the soil.
  5. Now repeat the process, but leave a space of around 10 cm (4 inches) between each planted garlic clove.
  6. Water the garlic well, and now just wait for it to do its thing!

The best time to plant garlic is October/November, but you can also plant in the Spring. In fact, we have planted garlic at various different times and it usually grows pretty well, as you can pull and use garlic at any stage of its development really.

Additionally, if you ever find some store-bought garlic is starting to sprout in the cupboard, don’t throw it away, try to plant it up and see what happens…

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, Growing your Own, Homesteading

How To Grow Spirulina At Home

How To Grow Spirulina at home

A while back I was watching Doomsday Preppers and there was this guy, I think his name was Ryan Croft, who was growing spirulina in some tanks at home.  Ryan believed that as spirulina is so nutritionally dense and complete food, he could all but feed his family with it, with a few additions (earthworms were one I believe…). BTW – duckweed is another crop to consider growing as well.

I did a little research! For those that don’t know – spirulina is a green algae that is incredibly high in protein and other nutrients.  It is a full protein in that it provides the full range of essential amino acids required for health. It is also very high in iron and B vitamins. Many people suggest it is a complete food, and you could survive on just spirulina and one or two other foods to meet your nutritional needs. I’m not so sure about that. If nothing else, I don’t want to survive on algae alone!

I think growing spirulina is a good idea for preppers and folks that want to be more self-sufficient. Whilst it looks complicated, once you are set up, it’s not really.  Also, you can grow a huge amount (enough to feed a family) in very little space.  You do not need any outside space or land to grow spirulina. You could grow all you would need to fulfil your protein requirements in an apartment!

If you are interested in learning more about growing spirulina, the Algae Industry Magazine has written a great post detailing the equipment needed, plus instructions on how to grow spirulina.

Additionally, below is a very detailed video tutorial all about growing spirulina at home.

(Photo from Algae Industry Magazine)

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, General Prepping, Growing your Own, Homesteading

Re-Grow Scallions / Spring Onions On Your Windowsill – Buy 1 – Get 1 FREE!

Regrow Green Onions
Basically — buy one onion/grow one and get one FREE!

If you are like most people, when you prepare your green onions (or scallions & spring onions, whatever you call them) you chop off the root and throw it in the garbage. If you do this, you could be missing out on a second helping of free onions.

Here’s the thing – if you cut the root off a little higher, an inch is ideal (although you could try getting away with less), you can then place these root off-cuts in a jar or bowl of water on the windowsill and within a week or two your onions will have re-grown and they can be used again!

Sure the small downside to this technique is that you have to sacrifice a bit more of the white stem with the root from the first helping, but I think this is more than made up for by the fact you get an almost entirely new onion.

We do this all the time now. We always have a couple of small bowls of green onions at various stages of regrowth on the kitchen windowsill. Once you get in the habit of cutting the roots a little longer and placing them in some water you’ll never look back.

This is a great technique to try if you are trying to make your fresh produce go a little further. It is a no-brainer if you eat a lot of salads!

Apparently this also works with leeks, although I have not tried this yet.

(Photo by: JacindaWalker)

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, Growing your Own, Homesteading

DIY Plant-Pot Maker From Old Newspaper (Highly recommended)

Newspaper plant pot maker
I have had one of these for years and it is superb.  Not only do you get free plant pots for life, but they are also biodegradable and can be planted straight in the ground (in the pot) and the pot will break-down naturally in the soil.

We make and use 100s of these newspaper plant pots each year. I get the kids making them on mass in the springtime ready for the planting season. We place them in seeding trays which makes them easy to store and move.

These paper pots are suitable for use with all fruit, vegetables and flowering plants. As they are planted in the ground in the pot, it makes them especially useful for plants which don’t like root disturbance, such as beets and carrots, which allows you to start these off early indoors and get a head start on the growing season.

There are no issues with the ink in the newspaper these days and all newspapers are printed with a soy-based ink which is non-toxic.

I highly recommend you pick one up, it will last forever and save you a fortune. Additionally, it is a great way to recycle and use old newspapers.

Do-It-Yourself Plant PotMaker from Newspaper currently $13.95 on Amazon

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, Growing your Own, Self-Sufficiency, Tools & Gear

18 Cheap & Easy DIY Greenhouse — FREE Build Tutorials

Free DIY greenhouse tutorials

Below we have a round-up post comprising several shorter DIY greenhouse tutorial posts, we have done over the years. There are all together here in one post, so you don’t have to go searching for them.

13 Cheap & Easy DIY Greenhouses

DIY greenhouse
It’s the growing season again, hence all the gardening posts on K.W.N recently. There will be more emergency preparedness and survival posts shortly, but I am just too excited with the new growing season right now. Also now is obviously the best time to share gardening related stuff with you guys…

We have featured one or two of these DIY greenhouse tutorials already on K.W.N, but I just stumbled on this list of 13 cheap DIY greenhouse tutorials. Some of them are really cheap, so if you want a greenhouse on a budget, and you don’t mind a bit of DIY to make it happen, check out the list of tutorials below.

13 Cheap & Easy DIY Greenhouses

(Image from: Homemade Home Ideas)

Free Step By Step Plans To Build A Barn Style Greenhouse

Homemade greenhouse DIY

When I come across FREE plans I have to share them, this one in particular, took my eye because the step by step instructions are fantastic.

It is always a good idea to have a greenhouse because you can grow food better and stronger in one. This “barn style” is especially good because it has good strength and is solid because of the walls. This greenhouse is relativity cheap to build too, which is a plus.

Photo Credit: ana-white.com

Free Step By Step Plans To Build A Barn Style Greenhouse

How To Build A $50(ish) Greenhouse

Cheap homemade greenhouse

Ok, firstly I should clarify the cost of the greenhouse; David the guy who built it did if for $50, but he had a lot of stuff already laying around that he could reuse. If you are buying absolutely everything brand new, it will likely cost around $150, but that is still cheap for such a large 165 square foot greenhouse. If you can recycle and reuse some of the materials, you’ll be able to do it for much, much less. I think that given what I have laying around and what I can acquire cheaply or for free, I could build this greenhouse for around $70…

The original tutorial has several updates that David has added down the line.  These include things he would have done differently if starting over and some tweaks to the design. Make sure you read these before attempting to build.

How To Build A $50 Greenhouse

(Photo from: David LaFerney)

DIY Huge & Inexpensive Hoop-Style Greenhouse

DIY greenhouse

We have featured several DIY greenhouse tutorials in the past, from a quite expensive barn style greenhouse through to a cheap plastic sheet greenhouse. This tutorial from ‘Alberta Home Gardening’ is the first tutorial for a very big greenhouse, though. You could easily grow enough tender fruit and vegetables in a greenhouse of this size to feed the whole family. This greenhouse is the ideal size for a family homestead.

This DIY greenhouse is 12′ by 32′ and the total cost came in at under $400. $400 is a lot of money, but to purchase a greenhouse like this would cost $3000+, and a greenhouse of this size will allow you to grow a whole range of crops in large quantities. If you are serious about growing enough food for your family, I highly recommend getting a greenhouse around this size. Check out the awesome step-by-step tutorial below.

DIY Huge & Inexpensive Hoop-Style Greenhouse

(Image from: Alberta Home Gardening)

FREE DIY Plastic Bottle Greenhouse Plans

Plastic bottle DIY greenhouse

So this is pretty awesome, but I hear some of you saying – that’s a huge amount of soda to get through to build a greenhouse! And of course you are right, but I don’t for one moment expect anyone to be able to build this greenhouse with just the soda bottles they save… That would be crazy! But there are ways.

For example – my daughter’s school is building this greenhouse. Between all the staff and kids they managed to get all the plastic bottled they needed in a few weeks. You can ask friends and family to save their bottles, you could ask local businesses to save their bottles, you could even go to your local recycling center and see if you can take a load off their hands. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Download the FREE DIY build plans on the link below.

FREE DIY Plastic Bottle Greenhouse Plans

(Image from: Reap Scotland)

How To Build A 300 Square Foot Hoop House For Less Than $500

DIY hooped greenhouse

Our friends over at Natural Living Ideas have just created an amazing post/tutorial detailing how to build a huge 300 square foot greenhouse for less than $500. That’s right, 300 square feet of protected growing space for under $500! But that’s not all – this 12’x24’ hooped greenhouse has a ceiling height of 6’8” ceiling height and the design makes it pretty windproof as well.

This really is a high-quality tutorial – it includes detailed advice on choosing a location for the greenhouse, tips for preparing the ground, and step-by-step technical information on how to build the actual structure.

If you have ideas about living off-the-grid or being self-sufficient, you really want to be looking at building a hoop-style greenhouse around this sort of size, so you can feed your whole family and generate plenty of food to preserve and store as well.

How To Build A 300 Square Foot Hoop House For Less Than $500

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, DIY, Growing your Own, Self-Sufficiency

23 Gardening Hacks, Tricks, & Tips (Plus: 3 Gardening Mistakes To Avoid)

Gardening tips & hacks

For some, gardening comes naturally — for millions of others, it’s an endless array of trial-and-error. Whether or not you were born with an instinctual green thumb doesn’t mean you have to settle for a lackluster garden void of personality and beauty. If you’re searching for easy, innovative and amazing gardening tricks, continue reading for 23 insanely awesome hacks capable of turning your garden into an area of pride, beauty and fun!

The gardening tips, tricks, and hacks below are in no particular order. In fact, I think some of the best ones are further down the page!

Enhance Crop Yield with the Alaska Grow Bucket

There are few advancements in the art of growing that have gained quite as much attention as the Alaska Grow Bucket. This simple system utilized contained growing environments while delivering concentrated amounts of plant feed through a gravity fed vinyl tubing system. Moreover, this streamlined operation ensures plants are constantly watered, fed and drained through its self-watering irrigation system, which by the way does not require electricity. Through its unique design – and cost-effective materials – the Alaska Grow Bucket system can significantly improve the quantity and quality of crop yields without costing you an arm-and-a-leg.

Streamline Watering to Enhance Crop Yields

Tomatoes are one of the most common – and desired – vegetables for any home gardener. While these plants are relatively easy to cultivate, many find their annual yields disappointing. If you wish to dramatically enhance your overall yield, you must alter how you grow and water these delicious vegetables. This method, as outlined by Home Talk .

Begin by setting up a circular wire cage – typically for growing tomatoes. Next, drill three to five holes in large container, such as a garbage can, and place the container in the middle of the growing area. Plant your tomato plants around the can. Fill the garbage can with compost and fill with water. The water slowly leaks through the holes in the bottom of the container and feeds the root systems nutrient-rich water. Refill the container every two days and watch your tomato yield quadruple with this technique.

Grow Vertically – Simple and Yield Producing Strawberry Tube Planter

As strawberry season quickly approaches, many are looking for ways to maximise their fruit production. One of the biggest problems many gardeners face – especially those in urban environments – is space. However, with the vertical strawberry tube planter you can grow delicious strawberries within a fraction of the space required. How, you may ask? By growing vertically. With materials such as PCV downpipes, rubber tubing and duct tape, you’re able to create a stable vertical growing space ideal for strawberries. While these growing spaces are available for commercial purchase, making your own is cheap, easy and actually fun.

Grow Potatoes Anywhere with Huge Yields – Living Fence Posts

Potatoes are one of the most flexible vegetables, and also one of the easiest to grow. However, as many urban farmers and those with smaller yards understand, these delicious and versatile vegetables typically won’t grow in their allotted space. However, much like the strawberry hack listed above, you can grow a significantly potato harvest by choosing to go vertical.

The living fence post, as outlined by Growing Lots Urban Farm (unfortunately, this post is offline at the moment) showcases an easy and effective method for growing up to 25 pounds of potatoes within a wire cage no bigger than those used to grow tomato plants. By filling the cage with soil and surrounding it with hay, you can create the ideal growing environment for the potato plant. While this may be slightly on the advanced-side for new gardeners, after a few tries you’ll soon have a vibrant and successful potato harvest.

Vertical Barrel Planters – An Easy Guide for Maximum Crop Yields

For millions, the desire to maximize their gardening yield is very real; however, either due to space or financial reasons, they’re unable to plant the number of plants necessary for large harvests. However, the introduction of vertical gardening has literally changed the way countless gardeners approach gardening.

Vertical barrel planters are relatively easy to create, and due to its ability to maximize space, you can yield substantial harvests in a surprisingly little space. After reading this tutorial – watching its accompanying video – you’ll have the knowledge needed to delve into this effective way of maximizing yields, even in the smallest of yards.

Multiply Your Garlic Crop – With Only One Bulb

Transforming one garlic bulb into a thriving crop is far easier than you may think. Garlic is one of the most popular culinary ingredients; however, its use as a medicine is just as powerful – and supported by medical and Herbalism communities. Because of this, cultivating your own garlic crop should be a priority within your gardening list.

To start, simply take an organic garlic bulb and break it down to reveal its included garlic cloves. Each clove you see can be grown into a healthy garlic plant. Simply plant the garlic clove with the pointed tip pointing toward the sky. Now, cover the clove and watch your new supply of garlic grow!

Unleash Your Onions by Growing Vertically

As you can probably tell, vertical growing is one of the most effective ways to maximize harvests even in the smallest growing space. If you wish to increase your onion yields, then you should take a look at vertical growing as outlined by Fresh Organic Gardening. This method involves a plastic bottle filled with soil and onion sprouts. Throughout a simple process, you’ll soon have more fresh onions than you know what to do with.

Aquaponics System – An Easy and Effective Approach

Hydroponics is an advanced growing technique where plants thrive in water, not soil. If you’re looking to explore the next generation of farming, then this is an adventure for you. Aquaponic grow systems, as outlined by Five Gallon Ideas, is a fully organic way of growing almost any plant you can imagine. Because this method does not destroy soil, it’s a truly sustainable way to grow plants. While there are many hydroponic systems available on the open market, some of the most effective are those you make at home with common materials. Using the guide outlined in the aforementioned post, you’ll soon have a thriving hydroponic system without having to spend thousands on advanced products or technologies.

Biodegradable Planters Out of Old Toilet Paper Rolls

Looking for a way to enhance the appearance of your garden while simultaneously repurposing an everyday item? Click Here for step-by-step instructions on how to turn old toilet paper rolls into the perfect Earth-friendly planter.

Add Some Personality With Custom Moss Graffiti

For some, moss is a nuisance, while for many others, this small green growth can produce visually stunning results. Why not call upon the power of nature to invigorate your garden with personal messages or designs. All you need is a location with ample sunlight and an easy mixture of buttermilk, sugar and water (or even beer). Explore step-by-step directions Here.

Lemon Rind Seedlings

Wish there was an easy way to start a seedling without having to purchase additional products? You’re in luck! This simple guide shows you how to support healthy seedlings within a lemon rind.

Gallon Jug Watering Spot

Perfectly watering your garden can be difficult if you don’t have the proper tools. The most successful homesteading or urban farming ventures are those which repurpose everyday items – like a gallon water or milk jug. This simple guide shows you how to make the perfect watering can with gallon jugs.

Gallon Jug Transformation Into a Gardening Shovel

Need effective gardening tools, but you’re low on cash? No problem, A Farm of Your Home features a simple way to transform old plastic gallon jugs into gardening shovels, trays and plant tags.

Store Bought Basil Plant Cuttings

One of the most exciting qualities of freshly bought herbs is its ability to be replanted for homegrown herbs. None are as successful at this venture than freshly bought basil. This easy to follow guide clearly explains how to plant store-bought basil cuttings.

Shower Caddie Hanging Gardens

Don’t have a lot of space for traditional gardens? Time to go vertical! This guide details how to transform an everyday shower caddie into a vibrant and productive hanging garden.

Shoe Rack Vertical Gardening

Urban farmers and homesteaders must maximize every square inch of their garden. Vertical gardening is the way to go, and This easy-to-follow guide gives step-by-step instructions for transforming your shoe rack into a high-yielding vegetable garden.

Towel Garden Watering Technique

Going out of town for a few days (or feeling a little lazy)? Don’t let your plants suffer. This insanely clever trick helps keep your garden freshly watered while you’re away through the use of everyday paper towels.

Sweeten Tomatoes With Baking Soda

Taking the tartness out of homegrown tomatoes has never been easier – or more cost effective. The Gardening Cook offers a simple guide to sweeten tomatoes without the use of expensive, or toxic, ingredients.

Prepare Pots for Optimum Plant Health & Growth

So you’ve just bought several gorgeous planting pots to add a sense of drama and beauty to your backyard? Before you insert your delicate plants, it’s imperative to prepare the pots. Instead of using chemical treatments, reach for items you already have. Combine equal parts of water, rubbing alcohol and white vinegar into a spray bottle. Apply a liberal amount into the pot and thoroughly scrub to remove clay pot salt deposits. Place the wet pot in direct sunlight to dry. Once fully dry, insert your plants and watch them grow.

Protect Your Plants from Winter’s Frozen Grasp

Sudden frosts and freezing temperatures can literally destroy young and mature plants. While there are many ways to protect your plants from freezing temperatures, save time and money by using gardening items you already have. Simply place a bucket or clay pot over the plants to protect them from frost and freezing temperatures.

Feed Plants with Vegetable Soup

Vegetable soup is a wonderful addition to any Fall and Winter meal plan; however, did you know there’s an effective fertilizer derived from the very plants you wish to grow? Next time you boil your vegetables, don’t throw away the used water. Rather, allow the water to cool to room temperature and pour directly at the base of plants. The nutrients extracted from the boiling process work wonders to promote healthy growth and maximize fruit production.

Prevent Fungus With a Spot of Tea

Tired of fungus destroying your plants? Want an effective way to eliminate fungus without turning to synthetic and chemical treatments? If so, simply make a cup of chamomile tea. After brewing a batch of organic chamomile tea, pour the cooled tea into a spray bottle and apply directly along the base and branches of your plants. Perform this treatment once-a-week to ward off fungal growth. This is an especially effective gardening technique for young seedlings. Need a stronger anti-fungal treatment? Dissolve a single aspirin tablet in 1 quart of water and spray around the base of the plant or directly on fungus to immediately kill fungus spores while protecting the plant from future infection.

Keep Pot Soil Where It Belongs With Coffee Filters

If you’ve ever tried caring for potted plants, you’ve likely found the soil leakage to be a problem. If gone unchecked, essential nutrients can seep out of the pot holes, which results in weak and damaged plants; no good for any plant, but especially herbs and small vegetable plants. Prevent this situation with a common household ingredient – coffee filters. Place an appropriately sized coffee filter along the base of the pot before adding soil. The filter keeps soil in the pot while allowing water and wastes to easily drain.

BONUS Section: The Top 5 Gardening Mistakes

There’s a lot to learn about gardening, and while some people are naturally inclined with a green thumb, the rest of us learn through a never-ending series of trial-and-error. Although there are literally thousands of pages detailing what you must do to keep your garden healthy and happy, there aren’t very many resources detailing what you should never do.

If you’re just starting out in the world of gardening and wish to make this transition as seamless and productive as possible, then continue reading to uncover the top 3 most common gardening mistakes, which are guaranteed to ruin your garden.

Mistake #1 | Grand Visions Without Grand Knowledge

Perhaps one of the most common mistakes made by new gardeners is simply starting off too big. While you may have a grand vision of what you wish your garden to look like, without proper experience, equipment and knowledge, what starts off in good intentions will quickly lead to frustration, headaches and a garden that’s disappointing.

The best way to begin a gardening strategy is to start small within your first year. Use this as a growing opportunity, for not only your plants but also your knowledge. You’ll find honing your gardening skills to be far easier on a smaller scale. As you grow in your abilities, slowly add more plants and begin detailing the garden of your dreams.

Mistake #2 | Foregoing Sunlight Recommendations

Sure, there’s a little wiggle room when it comes to the exact amount of sunlight needed to grow healthy, vibrant plants. However, the most common mistake made by novice gardeners is to completely ignore light requirements. Every plant features unique light requirements, and if you do not actively work to satisfy these requirements, then you’ll soon find yourself standing among a garden of dead or ailing plants.

The first step in preventing this problem is to learn the layout of your garden. How much sunlight do specific areas receive? It’s only with this knowledge are you able to purchase plants and position them in the best location based upon their unique needs.

Mistake #3 | Over or Under-Fertilizing Your Plants

There are few mistakes capable of completely destroying the health and yield of your garden than over or under-fertilizing the plants. Although fertilizer is an essential component for a healthy and happy garden, misuse of its ingredients can literally burn plants at their core.

The variables that go into determining the best type of fertilizer are just as varied as the plants themselves. Too much, too little, incorrect timing and the wrong type of fertilizer will prove detrimental to the health of your garden. For example, all plants thrive on nitrogen to grow. Because of this, many fertilizers feature high-nitrogen content. While certain plants, such as lettuce, require high nitrogen fertilizers for optimum growth, the same amount of fertilizer will stimulate excessive top growth for other plants, which will reduce its fruiting potential.

Therefore, it’s imperative that you go easy on the fertilizer and do your research regarding the exact amounts needed for specific plants.

(Image from: Stacie)

Filed Under: A.K.W.N, General, Growing your Own, Homesteading

Seeds 101: A Round-Up Of Our Shorter Seed Posts

Seeds

Survival Seed Vault – Heirloom Emergency Survival Seeds – 20 Easy-to-grow Varieties

Could you feed your family from your garden if you *had* to? What if you simply decided you wanted to?

This emergency survival seed vault was created to serve that very purpose. With a large selection, this seed bank contains 20 varieties of easy-to-grow heirloom vegetable seeds. All seeds are packaged in jumbo-sized triple-layered foil packets. These packets have built in zip-lock, so they can be resealed once opened. Detailed planting, harvesting, and seed saving instructions are included!

  • Survival Garden Seeds Hermetically Stored For Greater Shelf Life
  • Heirloom Seeds Are Open Pollinated & 100% Non-GMO
  • Survival Seeds May Be Planted, Harvested, and Replanted Endlessly
  • Manufacturer Has Signed Safe Seed Pledge
  • Waterproof Emergency Seed Supply

Get it here: Survival Seed Vault – Heirloom Emergency Survival Seeds – 20 Easy-to-grow Varieties

Seed Saving 101 (FREE 30 Page Guide)

seedsaving

If you grow your own fruit and vegetables, I think saving seeds from successful crops is a no-brainer. It saves you money, allows you to be self-sufficient and it enables you to replant varieties which have already proven themselves to crop well and resist disease.  It just makes sense!

A lot of the time, seed saving is pretty simple – beans, for example, couldn’t be easier.  Just leave them on the plants until the pods start to shrivel and dry out; then just pop off the beans and store them somewhere dry until replanting. Things like carrots, cauliflower and cabbages are not quite as straightforward, but again, once you know how it is relatively simple.

Below is a link to download a FREE 30 page PDF guide from the Seed Alliance. It is a very detailed guide that covers everything you need to know about saving seeds for the most commonly grown plants. I highly recommend you download it and print it out. When you click on the link, it will open the PDF guide your browser. To save it, just right-click on the first page and choose ‘Save As’.

Seed Saving 101 (FREE 30 Page Guide)

(Photo from: Seed Alliance)

List Of 100+ Heirloom, Non-GMO & Organic Seed Companies

List-Of-Heirloom-Seed-Suppliers (1)

We all (should) know the benefits and advantages to using heirloom, non-GMO and organic seeds. Simply put, they are as nature intended and when you work with nature, rather than against it, you get the best long-term results…

There are currently 100+ heirloom, non-GMO and organic seed companies listed now, mainly across the US, Canada, UK/Ireland and Australia.  There are a few others elsewhere, but these are the main locations.

What I particularly like about this list, is that it is largely made up of small independent seed suppliers, rather than the huge seed/gardening companies.  Personally, I would much rather spend my money with a small, family run, ethical business, rather than a huge faceless international corporation. Check out the list and bookmark a few suppliers for next year’s seeds.

List Of 85+ Heirloom, Non-GMO & Organic Seed Companies

(Photo from: Off The Grid)

Seeds Explained: Heirloom, Hybrid, GMO (Includes Pros & Cons Of Each)

seedsinfographic_2013
When did choosing and purchasing fruit and vegetable seeds get so complicated?

Years ago seeds were just seeds and you purchased what the store had in stock.  These days you have heirloom, hybrid and GMO seeds to choose from…

If you are confused by all the terms, this great infographic from Dr J Renae Norton will help you make the right choice.

(Graphic from: Eating Disorder Pro)

A Prepper’s & Homesteader’s Guide to Buying Seeds

seeds-copy-Copy
It’s getting to that planning and planting time again and many folks are buying and planting seeds.

The things is, which seeds should you purchase? Organic, heirloom, hybrid or those cheap ones from the $1 store?  Well, it largely depends on your values/beliefs, your requirements, and your budget.

From a prepper, homestead and self-sufficient point of view, you will likely be interested in seed saving, that is – you harvest some of the seeds from this year’s crops for planting the following year.  To do this effectively you need to invest in the right seeds, to begin with.  Seed saving will save you money and enable you to be more self-sufficient in the longer term, so it is worth paying a little extra for these seeds now.

Jennifer from ‘Are We Crazy Or What’ has written a great guide on buying seeds, which breaks down the different kinds of seeds and the benefits of each.  It’s a great read, especially if you are going to be buying some seeds soon.

The “Dirt” on Seeds: A Prepper’s Guide to Buying Seeds

(Photo from: Are We Crazy Or What)

When To Plant Vegetable Seeds (2 EXCELLENT Printable Charts)

rootsnursery-seedbytemp
rootsnursery-germinate
Knowing when to plant seeds is crucial to successful germination and healthy plants.

I don’t know about you, but I am always eager to get sowing seeds indoors this time of year. Trouble is I always sow too many and too soon. They shoot up in the seed trays indoors and they are ready to be transplanted outdoors in no time. Problem is – it is still too cold outdoors to plant them out…

These two charts have been created by the lovely folks at Roots Nursery and I don’t need to tell you how useful the charts will be. If you are like me you’ll have them printed out in no time.

Do me a favour, though – if you like these charts as much as me, head over to the Roots Nursery Facebook page and ‘Like’ their Facebook page as way of a Thank You!

The Storage Life of Seeds

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Now is a good time to get out your seeds and take a look at the dates and storage conditions. If you are prepping, you may have stockpiled a mass of seeds but are those seeds still good to use?

Seeds of plants have different shelf lives which evolved under the conditions of the origination of the plant species. The seed coat that protects the seed also determines the length of time that the seed germ can stay alive and any conditions that must be met to stimulate germination.

The Storage Life of Seeds

(Picture Credit: garlandcannon)

5 Advantages Of Starting Seeds Indoors

tomato_seedlings
It’s getting to that time of year again when we are starting to think about planting, but you have to be so careful planting early, heavy rain, late snow, and frost can all spell disaster for germinating seeds and seedlings. Starting your seeds off indoors can give you a good head-start on the season, whilst also ensuring your plants aren’t at the mercy of early spring weather.

When starting seeds off indoors, the main thing you have to do is harden them off before planting outside. You can’t just move the plants from a heated environment and then put them straight outside in the cold. There has to be a period of adjustment for the plant, where you can place them outdoors during the daytime for a few days and bring them in overnight.  This way, when you do finally plant them out, it won’t be quite the shock to the system.

If you want to read more about starting seeds off early indoors, the Prep-Blog has written and article on the 5 advantages of doing so.

5 Advantages Of Starting Seeds Indoors

How to Sprout Seeds for Super Quick, Super Nutrition

The nutritious value of sprouts is nothing short of amazing. All sprouts contain a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals, proteins, enzymes, anti-oxidants and trace minerals  than when the plant is fully matured. When you add to this the fact they can be grown in a jar anywhere and they are ready to eat in 3-5 days, they are a no-brainer for preppers.

MRSs and tinned goods will keep you alive but you will not be in the best shape without getting some fresh fruit and vegetables into your diet as well.  Sprouting seeds are excellent for this as there are many varieties with different nutritional properties. Personally, I don’t feel sprouting seeds can be overlooked when it comes to prepping and self-sufficiency.

See:  How To Make Fresh Sprouts With Sprouting Seed

Build A Back Saving PVC Corn, Bean, Seed Planter

cornplanter

Do you know what, I am not even 40 yet and already my back already protests after a short while of bending over planting seeds/beans etc, so God knows the problems this must cause for folks in their 50s, 60s, 70s etc, and others with back and joint conditions such as arthritis.

I have not looked properly, but I don’t recall ever seeing a device like this planter in stores or advertised on the TV. This is surprising as it is immediately obvious that a great many gardeners would benefit from it. Anway, even if you can purchase them, there is not need as below is a tutorial from ‘Sensible Survival’ showing how to make your own back saving seed planter from PVC pipe.

How To Build A Back Saving PVC Corn, Bean, Seed Planter

(Image from: Sensible Survival)

Filed Under: Food & Water, General Prepping, Growing your Own, Homesteading, Self-Sufficiency

How To Grow Fruits All-Year Round in Your Backyard

Screenshot 2016-04-25 at 10.59.34 - Edited

Due to its many health advantages, having at least one serving of fruit during every meal is a must. However, not a lot of people have the access to fresh fruits every single day, all throughout the year.

Many believe that tending to a fruit garden helps provide all the fresh fruits you and your family need plus more. For one, growing fruits in the backyard gives you more control over the chemicals that touch your produce so you know that the one that gets into your table is safe. In addition, growing a garden also encourages more physical activity in one’s daily routine.

Fortunately, it isn’t as intimidating to grow backyard fruit trees and plants as what most people would think. In fact, you can grow them even with limited space, time or energy. Pots and vertical spaces can become your best friend and, once established, these plants should start providing a bountiful harvest every year.
So, how do you start with growing a fruit garden?

The best thing to do is to first figure out which fruit would grow best in the region you are in. Some plants could only tolerate certain types of climate and soil. There is even a best season to grow them although many can survive the winter months as long as they are wrapped or kept indoors. Knowing how much sunlight they need (full sun or partial shade) is also important in making sure that your plants grow well.

Beyond growing fruits, a good farmer should also know how to store their harvest properly so they can last long. Of course, it is great to share or even sell the produce but, for personal consumption, the guide below will tell you how long some fruits last inside a refrigerator or a freezer.

See? Planting fruits does not have to be that hard. As long as you have the right knowledge, starting your garden should be a breeze.

How to grow fruit all year round

How to grow fruit all year round by team at Happy to Survive.

Lisa Farland is a content writer in Happy to Survive – a blog that will help you thrive and survive, and offers articles about preparedness, and off-the-grid, self-reliant living. Lisa is an avid minimalist camper, prepper and survivalist.

Filed Under: Growing your Own, Homesteading, Self-Sufficiency

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