Category Archives: Backyard Gardening

Permaculture Is What Happens When You’re Busy Making Other Plans

Posted on April 16, 2022 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Spring is a yearly invitation t0 new beginnings, and an annual reminder of age-old renewal. It is the time of year that I am certain Khalil Gibran wrote the words “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your … Continue reading →

Posted in Arugula, Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Blackberries, Blueberries, Bok Choy, Cilantro, Container Gardening, Figs, Herbs, Parsley, Peaches, Rosemary, Spinach, Sustainable | Tagged | Leave a comment

Searching for Eden

Posted on April 5, 2020 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Long Island is entering the 4th week of Work From Home orders during the pandemic and “home” has suddenly become the center of many people’s lives in a way it has not been for a few generations. I am looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Fishing, Local Food, Organic, Permaculture, Raised Bed Gardening, Seafood, Sustainable | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

New Beginnings

Posted on April 20, 2019 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

This year, in particular, is full of new beginnings. I welcomed the New Year in with a toast and a cheer from my home in Apex, NC. Just a few months later, this native midwesterner calls Long Island, NY home. … Continue reading →

Posted in AeroGarden, Backyard Gardening, Basil, Cilantro, Hardiness Zone, Hydroponics, Indoor growing, Morel Mushrooms, Permaculture, Raised Bed Gardening, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Just Add Water

Posted on May 20, 2018 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

It has rained all day, every day for a week now and the sky has run itself out of water!  I stole this break in the rain to check on sown seeds and the herbs and berries. The back half … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Blueberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Chives, Cilantro, Container Gardening, Daikon Radishes, Herbs, Lettuce, Organic, Parsley, Raised Bed Gardening, Sage, Saving Seed, Serrano Peppers, Sustainable, Tomatoes | 2 Comments

First Day of Last Frost

Posted on April 14, 2018 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The last frost date for this area passed without incident on April 9th and today was my first day home to survey the perennials and sow some annuals. I’m just going to say it, my over-wintered herb garden is just … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Blueberries, Chives, Herbs, Lettuce, Oregano, Organic, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Strawberries, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Fallow Season

Posted on December 24, 2017 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Winter is a quiet time for the garden.  The cooler temperatures and shorter days signal a change and the earth changes orientation from growth to conservation.   The plants that continue to grow through the changing of the calendar year do … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Herbs, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme | 3 Comments

Permaculture Summer

Posted on June 26, 2017 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

To create your own permaculture summer: Start with a good variety of fruits, berries and herbs that pretty much take care of themselves year after year. Add to that background of growth, some tender green leaves (lettuce and spinach will … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Blackberries, Blueberries, Chives, Container Gardening, Figs, Herbs, Lettuce, Oregano, Parsley, Permaculture, Raised Bed Gardening, Spinach, Square Foot Gardening, Strawberries, Sustainable, Thyme, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Summer Already

Posted on June 4, 2017 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

After an early, false spring in February that fooled blueberries and peaches into blooming followed by the rest of a perfectly normal winter that felt like it lasted forever, spring finally did come and then go in a flash and … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Blackberries, Blackberry, Blueberries, Herbs, Lettuce, Peaches, Permaculture, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Laissez-faire Farming

Posted on April 17, 2017 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The threat of winter weather pushed right up to the last frost date for my area this year.  Add in my hectic schedule the past few weeks and the result is a late start on my spring garden, and some … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Lettuce, Oregano, Organic, Pro Tip, Raised Bed Gardening, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Thrift | Leave a comment

Spring Again (Maybe)

Posted on April 9, 2017 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The average last frost date for this area passed on April 4th but it has been an unusual spring with early season warming trends in February that encouraged strawberries and blueberries to bloom early followed by unsurprising freezes in early … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Herbs, Oregano, Parsley, Permaculture, Raised Bed Gardening, Sage, Strawberries, Sustainable | Leave a comment

Peeking at Presents

Posted on December 26, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

It is the day after Christmas and I wanted to peek at a couple of presents, patiently waiting their turn in the garden. We have had a few light freezes in the Raleigh area and at least one hard freeze … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Carrots, Heirloom Varieties, Parsnips, Raised Bed Gardening, Seasonal Eating, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Urban Farming, Victory Garden | Leave a comment

Autumn Recess

Posted on November 23, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Autumn has arrived in North Carolina, bringing with it the final harvest of bell peppers, roma tomatoes and serrano peppers. The herb garden has brushed off the first few light freezes and stands ready to make meals fragrant and savory … Continue reading →

Posted in AeroGarden, Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Basil, Bell Peppers, Carrots, Cilantro, Collards, French Tarragon, Herbs, Hydroponics, Indoor growing, Inventions, Kale, Kitchen Implements, Mulch, Non-GMO, Oregano, Organic, Parsley, Parsnips, Peppers, Pine Needles, Raised Bed Gardening, Roma Tomato, Sage, Seasonal Eating, Serrano Peppers, Square Foot Gardening, Sugar Snap Peas, Sustainable, Technology, Thyme, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Collards – From Garden to Table

Posted on October 4, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

This year I grew the heirloom collards called Georgia Southern Creole, a pre-1880 southern variety that has done quite well overall. Growing organically means that some of the leaves were ventilated by a mid-summer cross-striped cabbage worm invasion (treated with … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Collards, Food Preparation, Heirloom Varieties, Raised Bed Gardening, Recipe, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Fall Harvest Asparagus

Posted on October 2, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

This post comes after more than a year of researching every way I can think of and completely failing to find anything related to the matter at hand.  The matter at hand is the second growth of asparagus spears in … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Backyard Gardening, Chef John, Cherry Tomatoes, Food Preparation, Jersey Knight Asparagus, Kale, Morel Mushrooms, Mushrooms, Non-GMO, Permaculture, Purple Passion Asparagus, Raised Bed Gardening, Recipe, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Saving (Pretty) Seed – Glass Gem Corn

Posted on September 26, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

My Glass Gem Corn has been happily drying above my home office and today was the day to strip the cobs and put up the kernels for popcorn and next year’s planting.  If you have been following my blog for … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Corn, Drying, Flint Corn, Glass Gem Corn, Heirloom Varieties, Non-GMO, Organic, Saving Seed, Sustainable, Trench Composting, Urban Farming | Leave a comment