Our Last Frost Date is April 13th, 2025... More on Our California Garden If you've read my previous posts you already know I'll be starting less of my garden from seeds this year than ever before. I moved to a new area and discovered that we have a large garden nursery nearby. I'm going to buy plant starts from them and only start a few things from seed.

Why It's Important to Look at Previous Garden Moments More on Our California Garden It's important to look back on previous gardens to determine what you'd like to replicate. I have loved growing holy basil (tulsi)! It can be used for tea but I do not typically use it for that purpose. In the past, the smell of holy basil when the wind blows brings me so much joy.

Identify Clay Soil Like This... MORE | Trying to Plant in Ground There are some simple things you can do to identify clay soil. The first is water logging. If you notice standing water, and wet spots that don't drain easily it can be a hit that you have clay soil. This was the first red flag for us that we are working in clay soil.

February 2025 Garden Candy Recap: A Little Bit of Traffic MORE | Our Urban Farm This month I saw an uptick in visitors to the Garden Candy Blog, and that was exciting. I was happy to see engagement as well. If you'd like more on those check out the Likes & Comments section. Over all I gained some followers on BlueSky and on Pinterest one pin gained tons of Likes & Saves (see social media section).

Trying to Strike a Balance MORE | Our Urban Farm Today I worked a full day, and afterward the last thing I felt like doing was gardening... or writing to be honest. But I've done a little of both today. It has been over 50 degrees for the past few days, so I decided to get outside and do some clean up.

Finches LOVE Ferns For Nests Soil Test Results Did you know that finches 💕ferns? We certainly didn't know. So it was a shock to me when both our ferns had finch nests in them within a month of buying them. I saw the bird activity and didn't think twice about it until I went to check the soil in one of my ferns and found a nest with eggs in it.

Snow is Pretty Until You're Ready to Start Gardening! MORE | Our Container Garden When my hubby and I discussed moving back to the Midwest we listed 'the seasons' as a clear benefit. We wanted snow, and cooler temperatures. Seeing the leaves change colors in the fall was something we both missed. I always equated Fall weather with school starting, seeing my friends and learning.

February Seed Starting For Our Deck Container Garden More on Our Container Garden There are so many seeds I'd LOVE to purchase this year. But we have to be frugal with our purchases. So I'm only going to purchase a few new spring season seeds. That makes it so much sweeter when it comes to picking the select few new veggies that I'll be growing.

Our Old Patio Garden: Containers, Pots & Boxes MORE | Our Urban Farm I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss our old patio garden in California. There were so many things to love about that space, yes it was 'cozy' but it was also completely unique and had many of the benefits that only California can provide. Ample sun (I'll get more into that below), mild winters, and essentially a year round growing climate.

Welcome to our Urban Farm & Home Garden MORE | Our Container Garden Food has been an obsession of mine since the moment I popped a handmade lobster ravioli square in my mouth at the age of 20. Ever since then I've been in love with the art of a great meal. Nothing compares to the intense pleasure food provides. It is one of my favorite things about being a human.

Zone 6b - East Facing Container Garden in Missouri More on Our Container Garden When we first moved to Missouri, I totally fell in love with our deck. The big blank canvas was a perfect step up from our itty-bitty patio in California. But now that I'm cleaning & sweeping it off in below freezing temps I am questioning my decisions!

Inherited a Massive Dog Kennel, OK... What Now? More on Our Urban Farm When we first viewed our property I had no idea what this fenced in box with a concrete base was used for. The concrete was actually covered in about 2-3 inches of really dense black soil. I was told it was a dog kennel and the previous owner had 2 dobermans that he kept outside I thought...

Leaf Mold From My Backyard | Tree Varieties MORE | Our Market Garden Our Missouri backyard has an insane amount of trees! They are all about 35-40 years old and there's a lot of variety. We have several maples, several birch, a crab apple, a pear tree and a couple black walnuts. Just a note on the black walnut trees. They are considered problematic because they produce a chemical called juglone which stunts the growth of other plants.

How BIG Is Our Micro Market Garden? Soil Test Results One of the reasons we purchased our home in Missouri was the large backyard. We lived in apartments with little to no in-ground garden space. So, most of our gardening was done in containers. Re-wilding, and/or regenerative agricultural methods were not an option. So, how BIG is our MICRO MARKET URBAN FARM?

Zone 10a - South Facing Container Garden in California More on Our California Garden When I lived in Northern California, my husband and I had a pretty little apartment in the city of Alameda. It had 2 patios that I grew veggies and fruits on. The patios were south facing and received full sun. It was SO easy to fall in love with gardening there.

Skim for the benefits of weekly farmers market routines Building a weekly farmers market routine isn’t just a fun outing—it’s a lifestyle upgrade. Imagine fresh, nutrient-packed produce that transforms your meals, meaningful connections with local growers, and the satisfaction of supporting your community. The benefits? Delicious food, a stronger local economy, and a chance to embrace the seasons through every bite.