Category Archives: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

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

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

Kale Chips – Sometimes a Matter of Necessity

Posted on December 11, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The Scarlet Kale in my counter top hydroponic system has been growing by leaps and bounds to the point that they are overshadowing the slower paced cilantro and parsley starts. I needed to trim some leaves to let more light … Continue reading →

Posted in Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Herbs, Hydroponics, Indoor growing, Kale, Kitchen Implements, Sustainable, Technology, Thinning | 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

Aero Garden Update – Day 46

Posted on November 13, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Day 46 of the prepackaged herb pack that came with my AeroBount and I have excellent basil growth, both genovese and thai.  The mint was just starting to grow and the cilantro, parsley and chives never really took off.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in AeroGarden, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Basil, Cilantro, Heirloom Varieties, Hydroponics, Inventions, Kale, Kitchen Implements, Non-GMO, Organic, Parsley, Sustainable, Technology, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

AeroGarden – Day 18

Posted on October 16, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

A quick update on the AeroGarden: Day 18, I topped off the water a couple of days ago when it was time to the second application of nutrients. The basils are doing great and the mint is beginning to peek … Continue reading →

Posted in AeroGarden, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Basil, Herbs, Hydroponics | 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

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

Big Finish – Glass Gem Corn

Posted on August 14, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

The Glass Gem Corn is winding down and I will have a couple more ears to harvest over the next few weeks but today was really the big finale with 4 ears harvested and two that were almost* entirely in … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Black Eyed Peas, Companion Planting, Corn, Flint Corn, Glass Gem Corn, Heirloom Varieties, Organic, Sustainable | Leave a comment

I Can’t Even – Glass Gem Corn Harvest

Posted on August 10, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Yes.  It is just that beautiful!

Posted in #Food(Growing)Porn, #NoFilters, Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Corn, Glass Gem Corn, Heirloom Varieties, Organic, Sustainable, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

July Garden Update

Posted on July 12, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Under the best of circumstances July is an awkward time for the garden. Spring greens (spinach, lettuce, cilantro) still in the garden have bolted or browned, strawberries have stopped producing anything but dozens of straggly runners and asparagus has transmogrified … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Cherry Tomatoes, Companion Planting, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry Tomato, Heirloom Varieties, Mortgage Lifter Tomato, Non-GMO, Organic, Paste Tomato, Raised Bed Gardening, Roma Tomato, Slicing Tomatoes, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Zucchini | Leave a comment

Food With a Story – Mortgage Lifter

Posted on June 28, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

When was the last time you ate a tomato and considered the intrigue and controversy surrounding it’s provenance? This big guy, sold by Baker Creek under the name Mortgage Lifter is almost ready to harvest and when I save the … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Farmer Facts, Heirloom Varieties, Mortgage Lifter Tomato, Non-GMO, Organic, Raised Bed Gardening, Slicing Tomatoes, Square Foot Gardening, Sustainable, Tomatoes, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

Last Frost Date

Posted on April 10, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

Last night was a low of 28 so the tomatoes were covered (again) and I am optimistic that it was the last night of freezing temps (again).  This time, at least, I have the Average Last Frost Date in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Acorn Squash, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, City Chickens, Container Gardening, French Breakfast Radishes, Kale, Lettuce, Lollo De Vino Lettuce, Radishes, Snow Peas, Sugar Snap Peas, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment

Paradigm Shift

Posted on March 19, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

I sometimes forget the prevailing notions people have related to growing food.  The most common mental images seem to center around long hours of back breaking labor spent tilling, planting, hoeing and weeding. I am quickly reminded of the current … Continue reading →

Posted in Backyard Gardening, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Lettuce, Raised Bed Gardening, Red Romaine Lettuce, Square Foot Gardening, Starting Seeds, Sustainable, Thrift, Urban Farming | Leave a comment

New Year’s Resolutions (Then and Now)

Posted on January 31, 2016 by NearlyHomeGrown.com

For 2015 I set two gardening goals for myself – begin keeping a garden log and saving seed and I did pretty well on both of them.  My 2015 garden log ended the year with 8 typed pages and containing … Continue reading →

Posted in Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Chili Peppers, Cilantro, Flowers, Garden Log, Kaizen, Mulch, Raised Bed Gardening, Saving Seed, Square Foot Gardening, Squash, Sustainable, Tomatoes | Leave a comment