Last week I pulled the 2 basil plants I enjoyed all summer out of my garden and made a big batch of my favorite classic basil pesto recipe. Instead of enjoying the pesto I made for dinner that night, I decided to freeze it to enjoy…
“Local food is a handshake deal in a community gathering place. It involves farmers with first names, who show up week after week. It means an open-door policy on the fields, where neighborhood buyers are welcome to come have a look, and pick their food…
I didn’t plan on planting a fall garden. I mean, I did, but recent events had me making other plans that would delay getting seeds in the ground. I figured we’d skip ahead to next spring and I’d forego growing carrots, beets, fennel, and greens…
“With plants, obsession and passion are key, otherwise you don’t get anywhere. If you continue with traditional techniques, you will never push boundaries or make new discoveries. You have to become obsessed in order to progress.” Carlos Magdalena is a man obsessed with plants. Born…
As I write this, the Seed Saver’s Exchange catalog is spread across my coffee table along with a sketched out garden map as we begin preparations for our fall garden. When I first introduced The Amateur Garden, I mentioned that we had spent countless seasons…
“Farming for us is the foundation of a meaningful and happy life. It’s the ultimate expression of independence and self-sufficiency, but it’s also a deeply political act, one that has the power to build community and inspire others to action.” This quote from Brent Preston…
In my initial post about The Amateur Garden, I mentioned that I always envisioned myself growing and harvesting armfuls of veggies. Well, I am now 3 months into vegetable gardening, and I can tell you that my vision was a little bit off. The armfuls…
Every spring, as the weather becomes warmer and the days a bit longer, I dream of planting a garden and growing my own food. I think it’s natural that after months of cold, grey weather, spring appears around the corner and with it comes the…