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How does your garden grow?

THE BENEFITS OF HOMEGROWN!

Homegrown vs store-bought; there is no comparison. Our homegrown vegetables are more flavorful, free of chemicals and pesticides, have much lower risks of contamination, and we eat foods that are in season (getting creative with recipes and storage). When the vegetables are prepared just hours after they have been pulled out of the ground, the nutrient values are at their peak and they TASTE SO GOOD! We eat a lot of vegetables and rarely do we have an over abundance that we can't utilize. But then, we have great neighbors that are always happy to take a few veggies off our hands. Freezing and canning can also extends the life of our bounty well in to the Winter months. 


Outdoor gardening can provide many health benefits:

  • Spending time in the outdoors can reduce stress, improve mood
  • Increase strength and range of motion
  • Sunshine and Vitamin D
  • Food security--direct access to healthy harvests that you can prepare for your family. 
  • Reduces food waste--whether I make homemade soup stock or drop scraps into the compost bin--nothing goes to waste. 
  • A sense of accomplishment with growing your own food!


If you don't have the time or space to grow your own garden, seek out local growers that use sustainable gardening practices, visit and participate in community gardens, or head to the weekly public markets during the growing season. 
 

SPRING 2026

Spring got off to a tricky start this year. A warm spell made it tempting to plant warm season crops early, but cooler weather has now returned with strong winds, rain, and lower temperatures. These conditions are challenging for many crops, though cool-season varieties are thriving. Right now, lettuces, beets, onions, snap peas, broccoli, radishes, and kale are doing especially well.


It’s an exciting time in the garden, with so much growth underway. The garlic is getting closer to harvest, the raspberries are covered in blossoms, but I’ll keep the young plants in the greenhouse for a couple more weeks until nighttime temperatures are consistently near 50 degrees. Last night dropped to 38 degrees, which cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons really dislike. I’m also thrilled that my neighbor will have honeybees again this year so we can continue our symbiotic relationship.

Happy Spring!