Brix levels indicate a plant’s growing conditions by measuring dissolved sugars, proteins, amino acids, essential oils, minerals and other solids. Plants with higher brix levels produce more fragrant flowers with greater concentrations of essential oils and grow better-tasting, more nutritious fruits and vegetables. Brix Levels and Soil Health Not surprisingly, plants grown in remineralized soil…
We know that composting is a smart thing to do. So is choosing organic produce over conventionally grown food to feed ourselves and our families. But the reality is that it’s not always possible for everyone to buy organic all the time. For some people, it’s not just a matter of availability but also a…
Throughout millennia, the forces of Mother Nature have been grinding down mineral-rich rocks into small particles. The result is healthy and fertile soil filled with a natural mix of nutrients that plants (and people) need to thrive. The problem is this: Mother Nature works slowly—while humankind destroys quickly. It takes nature 500 years to replace…
After months of outdoor gardening, our attention has turned indoors. Now is a good time to take stock of the health of our houseplants and to give them the TLC they need to thrive during the winter. The first thing to understand is that most of the plants that we consider houseplants come from tropical…
As we write this, an early Arctic blast is sweeping across the country bringing snow and freezing rain. Judging from the weather predictions, businesses, municipalities and homeowners will face a busy season of trying to prevent icy winter slips, slides and falls. The good news is that there are all-natural alternatives to rock salt and…
Conservation International has launched a stunning campaign called Nature Is Speaking (#NatureIsSpeaking). The campaign features the voices of famous actors speaking as nature. Visit the website to watch the series of short films and to learn more about CI’s “humanifesto.” (Essentially, nature doesn’t need us. We must take care of nature if we humans expect…
The leaves are falling fast from the trees and the season’s first frost doesn’t feel very far away. Suddenly, you realize that there isn’t much time left to put the garden to bed for winter. And so you furiously dig out your tools and start cleaning up and cutting back. You pull up weeds, remove…
Follow gardening boards on Pinterest and you’ll seen dozens of photos of eggshell starters—that is, eggshells being used as indoor growing pots for seeds before they are ready to be transplanted outdoors. Eggshells are great containers because they are full of calcium, a key nutrient for growing seedlings. Plus, you can plant the eggshells right…
Typical of this time of year, it is raining buckets here in the Pacific Northwest—and as the rain comes down, so do the leaves from the trees. As tempting as it is to stay inside (and drink mugs of hot tea all day long!), there is still plenty of work to be done in the…
As the days get shorter and drearier, it’s helpful to think about the bright and beautiful blooms of spring. It takes just a little bit of planning to ensure happy splashes of springtime color. Because spring flowering bulbs need to spend the winter outdoors, late October is an ideal time to prepare containers that can…
