Here's a fun project for a big garden: Grow pumpkins and give them away as Halloween gifts.By one recent count, 250 varieties are available to gardeners in North America. Jack Be Little, a bright-yellow two-inch-tall miniature, is popular. So is Rouge Vif d'Etampes, a red, 18-inch-wide French import with a flattened shape like Cinderella's pumpkin coach. Jarradale, a … [Read more...] about The gift you can grow
Gardening
Dig in and get fit with gardening
There's nothing like digging, hoeing and planting to build muscle and lower blood pressure. If you think gardening is for weaklings, try toting those big bags of mulch. While spending a couple of hours in the gym can quickly become tedious, the same time spent in the garden will keep you entirely entertained and burn about 340 calories an hour in the process (based on a … [Read more...] about Dig in and get fit with gardening
Want to eat fresh? Buy from the farmer
Buying meat directly from a farmer has been around as long as farming, but these days, the grocery store is about as close as most people get to the farm. For omnivores who want to keep their dollars local and don't mind the upfront investment, buying a share of a cow or pig might be a great and surprisingly accessible option, with potential savings and the convenience of … [Read more...] about Want to eat fresh? Buy from the farmer
Kid-friendly gardening tasks
With spring around the corner, there's no better time to get kids of any age involved with gardening. Whether they help with landscaping or complete their own small projects, there's always something to keep them busy.* Give kids a section to start their own plants from seed. Choose larger seeds for smaller fingers -- peas, beans, sunflowers and squash are great choices. * … [Read more...] about Kid-friendly gardening tasks
Gardeners can help pollinators in winter
Keeping the hive running is a year-round business for bees -- even during the winter, when no nectar-producing flowers are in bloom. For the most part, bees won't leave the nest when the temperature plunges and rely on their stockpiles to stay alive, but you may see a few flying around on warmer winter days. As autumn wanes into winter, you can turn your yard into a … [Read more...] about Gardeners can help pollinators in winter