When I was a kid on the farm, gardening meant tilling — every spring the soil was turned, turned, and turned again. We did pile on plenty of horse manure, which kept things fertile, but the work was heavy and the weeds always seemed to bounce right back. When I moved to Ireland as an…
When I first started gardening, I thought neat rows and wide spaces were the goal. But nature doesn’t grow in straight lines — forests don’t leave bare soil between trees, and weeds are just plants rushing in to fill the gaps. These days, I’ve become a believer in planting close, letting roots and leaves support…
In the Spring, my kids know it’s time for our slightly odd tradition: tromping into the woods in gloves and long sleeves to pick a plant that will sting us if we’re careless. Nettles are one of those “why would anyone eat that?” foods until you taste them — earthy, mineral-rich, and a little like…
Winter meals are about survival — soups that bubble away for hours, and root vegetables that, if you forget them in the crisper too long, go from crisp to Gumby-flexible. (If you grew up in the ’80s like me, you know exactly what I mean. #IYKYK) But spring? Spring feels like the farmers market is…