Gardening Tasks To Do in September

Seasons change, but the garden is still full of life. I love fall. Crisp morning air, apples and pumpkins, and kids in sweaters crunching through fallen leaves. But it’s a bittersweet time. The boisterous growth of the garden slows, the days grow shorter, and I sigh as I think of summer pleasures passed. Back on the bright side,…

Read More

Four Ways a Fall Garden Can Give You a Fresh Start

It was summer, and we felt like failures. The tomatoes were blighted, the beans were riddled by beetles, the cabbage split, and the pumpkins were hidden in a jungle of weeds. Our garden was NOT a place of beauty or serenity. One of us had a newborn baby and the other had a hernia. And…

Read More

A Gift from Above: 8 Ways To Use Fall Leaves

Fall is here and so are the leaves. Fall leaves in the yard can be a nuisance—something you have to clean off your yard so the grass doesn’t die. Bag ’em up and drag ’em to the curb. What a pain! At least, I used to think that way. 

Read More

Gardening Tasks To Do in October

Celebrating fall with pumpkins and compost!

We’ve stopped stop eating breakfast outside. After a summer of eating almost every meal outdoors, mornings are a little too cool for pajamas and bare feet. But once we put on jackets and shoes, these cool October days feel perfect for working and playing in the garden. Nature is getting ready for winter as monarchs migrate, plants…

Read More

How to Make Simple Plant Markers

Results of our kid-friendly plant marker tutorial!

Add a little pizzazz to your garden with homemade plant markers you and your kids can create in just a few hours. I love art in the garden. For me, art in our garden is almost as important as the plants. I have a particular obsession for plant markers.

Read More

How to Make a Bean Tipi

What do kids and beans have in common?  They both love to climb! In today’s tutorial, we’ll show you how to make a bean tipi (or teepee!) for beans to climb. The kids? They’ll be hiding inside in another month or so. 🙂 This was a big project (and a big tipi!), so we spread…

Read More

How to Make a Bee Waterer

Give your bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects a refreshing drink without inviting mosquitoes into your yard using this simple waterer. Summer’s here and it’s time for water play! Don’t you love that feeling of diving into the lake or wading in a cool creek or just sitting with your feet in the kiddie pool?

Read More

What Matters Most to You?

What kind of garden matters to you? Do you want to grow your own fresh, healthy food? Or create places where you can watch the butterflies and hummingbirds? Would you like to feel more grounded and connected to nature? It’s so easy to lose touch in today’s busy world. Maybe you want to see your…

Read More

Creating Gardens That Matter

Colby and Amy in the garden

Gardens matter. Whether big or small, in containers on a balcony or rows on a farm, gardens are important. They provide food and beauty. They enrich and enhance our lives in countless ways. So, why doesn’t everyone have their own garden? We think they should. Hello, and welcome to Gardens That Matter. Thanks for stopping…

Read More