Author Archives: Independence Gardens

‘Tis the time of year for work parties: a chance to harness people-power to make a really big difference, really fast, in your garden space. But sometimes the garden doesn’t get ready right on schedule for your big day. So, … Continue reading →

Mulch⎯that is, material (usually organic) laid on the soil surface⎯is a tremendous ally in the garden. It helps protect plants during the growing season and soil in the off-season and adds organic matter, over time increasing soil microbial activity and … Continue reading →

When you’re venturing out into the garden and you want to learn more, we would certainly love to help you. Although we’re not teaching a lot of classes right now, you can find many of our slideshows and handouts at … Continue reading →

Ever wondered when to sow seeds indoors so that you’ll have starts available when it’s time to transplant them outdoors? Check out this chart (which we created for 2012, but which is generally fairly accurate year-to-year!). This is designed to … Continue reading →

‘Tis the season for seed catalogues! We assume that most people who are checking out our website are Pacific Northwesterners. Probably Oregonians. Perhaps Portlanders. So here’s a list of local, organic, heirloom edible-focused seed companies that are suitable for gardeners … Continue reading →

Lasagna gardening (a.k.a. sheet mulching) is a slow composting method that is used to create and maintain planting areas. It is useful during the growing season for controlling weeds and keeping soil healthy, and it is an especially easy way … Continue reading →

Composting can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be! The first step in setting up a successful compost system (and the only step we’ll cover here) is knowing what you can put in your pile. You might be familiar … Continue reading →