The Tropical Fruit Tree Americans Forgot: The Pawpaw Tree
What if I told you that North America has an easy-to-grow native tropical fruit tree that you’ve never even heard of? The Pawpaw is our largest native fruit, and it tastes something like banana and mango with hints of vanilla (yum!). Nicknamed the “Appalachian Banana” or “poor man’s banana”, Pawpaws are the largest edible fruit […]
How Mullein Heals Forests After Fires & Other Healing Benefits of Invasive Plant Species
Invasive plants are non-native plants which thrive and spread aggressively, displacing other natural plants. They are usually introduced by people either accidentally or on purpose, into a region far from their native habitat making these plants non-native. Non-native plant species are those that occur outside their native ranges in a given place. Not all non-native […]
Why You Should Use Eggshells to Start Seeds
We’ve all seen the cute pics on Pinterest of seedlings in eggshells–but aside from cuteness, what’s the point? Eggshells as seed starters are actually really beneficial for your plants! Here’s why: They’re basically free, and a great way to reuse what you’ve already got. Once the seedlings are big enough to be planted, you just […]
Use Hot Peppers to Rid Your Garden of Stink Bugs and 3 Other Home Remedies
Halyomorpha halys, also known as brown marmorated stink bugs, have become a great headache for homeowners. These pests are half an inch long with an adult stink bug growing to be 1.7cm long, and have a shape that resembles a shield. Stink bugs mostly appear during the spring season, but are seen throughout the year […]
Salt, Vinegar, Eating, and Other Ways to Naturally Remove Weeds From Your Garden
Every Gardener knows the struggle of weeds invading their herbs, fruits, and veggies in their gardens. If you are using sprays to kill weeds, it’s important to know the damage herbicides actually cause. While most modern herbicides are designed and said to kill only plants and have little or no toxicity to humans, that is […]
A Simple Guide for Starting Difficult Seeds
Something I miss very much on my mountain here in Acapulco is the presence of a winter. Many consider coming from a cold temperate climate to be rough, but in all honesty after living in the subtropics for a over year I’ve come to the conclusion that a climate with a winter is much gentler. […]
The Tomato Leaf Myth: Debunking the Poisonous Lie
Have you ever heard that tomato leaves are poisonous!? What if I told you they not only aren’t poisonous but that they’re actually really tasty and medicinal! Like all vegetables, they contain alkaloids that help defend against overgrazing, but they aren’t the toxic menace they’ve been put off as! Nicotine and cocaine (not the street […]
Build a Barn Style Greenhouse With These Step By Step Instructions
If you live where winter temperatures are well below freezing, a greenhouse allows you to grow plants year-round. You can plant cool-weather fall and winter crops inside the greenhouse, such as lettuce or broccoli. All greenhouses have similar uses, whether they’re shaped like domes, A-frames or Quonset huts, constructed with plastic sheeting or glass and […]
Study Claims Plants Can Feel When They Are Being Eaten and They Don’t Like It!
A ground-breaking new study has found that plants can feel when they are being eaten, responding at times with defense mechanisms. The study, titled, “Plants respond to leaf vibrations caused by insect herbivore chewing”, was conducted by the Division of Biological Sciences at The University of Missouri. The study examined thale cress (Arabidopsis), a vegetable […]