I have a few guilty pleasures – one is thrift stores, obsessively looking at seed catalogs and spending too much time on Pinterest. There are just so many ideas of things to make as gifts on Pinterest! I was searching for something to make with the little bit of beeswax I collected this summer from …
After a summer of tasty grape tomatoes, rows of lavender, beautiful dark green leaves on my prolific pepper plants and some healthy pumpkins I noticed my Victory Garden is looking a bit out of sorts. It truly looks like an ugly duckling. But there are reasons for the seasons and winter renewal is a valuable …
Hurricane season is still churning out hurricanes, the election is dragging on for days and mask wearing and social distancing seems like they are here to stay. My guess is that 2020 has been so strange that it is not surprising people are grasping at anything that might seem magical and normal. I see businesses …
The Victory Garden is the gift that, since it’s wartime inception, keeps on giving. So it’s no surprise that Victory Gardens are making a comeback now. As we head into the holiday season, I’m reminded that gardening and giving go hand in hand. Gardening plays an important role in bringing people together, helping the less …
If you are around me very long you know I love the lushness of a summer garden. But as the wheel of the year turns, I also enjoy the leaves changing colors, dropping to the ground and rustling in the wind. I’m fond of the drying out of plants and the emptiness of the garden …
Mushrooms are a mysterious bunch, frequently misunderstood in both fairytales and gardening communities. If you have only tried the ones wrapped in cellophane or from a can you have missed the delicious (and nutritious) varieties of one of my favorite foods! Scientists say they know of 10,000 varieties of mushroom in North America alone, and …
It’s an understatement to say that COVID-19 and the resulting quarantine changed our lives in many ways. If you were like me you figured a couple of weeks not working would be fun and then we’d be back to normal. Needless to say, that didn’t happen. The few weeks stretched into months and many took …
Pumpkins! What says fall more than these delightful globes growing in your Victory Garden! Yes, they take up garden space, but in my opinion, they are definitely worth it. And I’m not talking about your average Halloween carving pumpkin. My choices for planting are specialty heirlooms that have names like Cinderella, Musque de Provence and …
I love the special fragrances that fall brings – the smell of autumn leaves and the crisp bite of cool air in the morning, the scent of a fire in the backyard fire pit and smoke stinging your eyes and nose as the breeze blows your way; the earthy smell of pumpkins on the vine; …
A Census taker came to my door this week. It seemed strange since I had submitted my “count” online. We spoke for a bit and we got around to talking of reviving Spring Hope, NC (where I live). I even got an invitation to attend the next City Planning Committee Meeting. What a wonderful surprise …
Who doesn’t love a freshly baked potato loaded with butter, cheese, sour cream, and bacon bits! (No chives for me, please) So delicious! It’s one of my favorite meals. Hands down, my best tasting potatoes come from my Victory Garden.With the right amount of sun, a loose, slightly acidic soil, and some cool weather, you …
I am thinking of putting in some new Victory Garden areas in my yard. Right now, I have the time to plan it out and I was torn between creating a new raised bed, repot some empty containers, or just plant in the ground. What I wanted was the good, the bad, and the ugly …
Have you ever flipped over a seed package to learn more about it and felt like you were reading Greek? There are lots of numbers, perhaps a colorful map, and plenty of words you’ve never heard of. There might also be words there you think you know, but there’s still a niggling doubt in your …
Sweet summer is here and is a beautiful time in the Victory Garden! Many are firing up the grills and savoring the abundance that we’ve nurtured for the past few months. Of course, summer still has things to tend to, but it is also a perfect time to enjoy the fruits of our labors! Summer …
For many adults, just the mention of the word fireflies brings happy and carefree memories of childhood (they were Lightnin’ Bugs where I grew up in Texas). I remember grabbing glass jars and racing around my cousin’s neighborhood at night trying to catch the blinky, flying bugs. We didn’t catch many, but it seemed like …
I belong to several gardening groups and one of the most common complaints I see is “why do I have tons of flowers, but I don’t have any fruit?” This problem of having flowers but no fruit happens to both beginner and seasoned gardeners and can strike at any time. It also can happen to …
Read moreFlowers But No Fruit in the Victory Garden- And How To Fix It!
I’ve been fortunate to live and travel to several countries where I’ve noticed that garlic is used in many different types of cuisines. Even my grandmother kept several garlic bulbs blooming for use in the kitchen and as ornamental plants in her flower bed. There’s conflicting information about COVID but the benefits of superfoods is …
I’m so excited to share this with you! I was talking with my friend Jessica who writes The Rowdy Radish -a site dedicated to the belief that food is medicine, health and wellness come first and fat is delicious https://therowdyradish.com/. I was talking about how amazing garlic is. She said, “I use a lot of garlic because it is …
My friend said, “you’ve got to boil your radishes-it tastes just like potatoes!” (keep reading and I’ll let you know my verdict) I’ve always enjoyed radishes as garnish on my plate- their bright pink skin and creamy white centers are delightful to look at. Although I love their beauty, I’ve never been too fond of …
I grew up in Texas. We had pickles on our burgers, cabbage in our slaw, and fermentation in wine. I don’t remember knowing that probiotics, antioxidants and fermenting were something I needed. The Army moved us to Okinawa, Japan in the early 2000. I like to read about the places we are about to move …
Summer and ice cream seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly, bread and butter and fireworks on the 4th of July. I have eaten ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner as a stand alone meal- trust me, it’s divine! I will gladly skip cake for an extra scoop.. I have even stood …
Read moreIce Cream in the Victory Garden (Unique Flavors + Easy Recipes!)
I really enjoy giving gifts. Sunday, June 21st is just around the corner! With all the unease in the world right now, it’s easy to forget about holidays, breaks, and celebrating those we love. Though chaos and worry has plagued our minds, it’s the perfect time to rest – and say a sincere thank you …
Read more5 Father’s Day Gifts from your Victory Garden (That Any Dad Will Love!)
Even with my fails in the Victory Garden, I still love the adventure of seeing things sprout, bloom and grow (or not). This year my only tomato plant has produced teeny tiny tomatoes. I’ve been waiting and watering and wondering and now I know why it’s taken so long – I couldn’t see them! They …
I’m a huge fan of thrift stores. Some of my favorite things in my house and garden have come to me second hand. Since I have shopped in consignment stores their whole lives, my children and grandchildren don’t mind thrifting with me. Each child has an usual affection for certain items. My grandson has found …
Read moreInfusing in the Victory Garden: Herb Infusion – Drinks, Honey & More!
I really appreciate our teachers. They are often under-appreciated and underpaid. I am often waiting until the last minute (like I don’t know the school year is ending) and usually rush around and grab something useful but not meaningful. This year, I decided to ask a teacher and find things that would be unique, wanted, …
Read more5 UNIQUE TEACHER GIFTS THEY WILL REALLY LOVE FROM THE VICTORY GARDEN
WHY COMPOST? I love going to thrift stores. My favorite finds are taking someone’s discards and up-cycling them into my treasures. Composting is the ultimate up-cycle! What makes composting so amazing is that it’s easy and it is using stuff you plan on throwing away. I discovered the miracle of composting when we were living …
Read more4 EASY STEPS TO STARTING A COMPOST FOR YOUR VICTORY GARDEN
I’ve wanted bees for a long time. (If you go to the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro there’s an enclosed hive that makes me drool) When we lived in Germany my 5 and 6 year old would catch bees in empty 1 liter water bottles with the other neighborhood kids and then let them go. …
Read moreVictory Garden Gal The Urban Bee Keeper (Or What not to do when you first get bees)
When you’re in the mood for a little Spring – Spring planting of course not Spring cleaning! Then, now is the time to plan and plant that Victory Garden. I have been fortunate to have stepped foot in all 50 states and to have lived in 3 countries. I’m often asked where the prettiest place …
A garden without pollinators may have beautiful flowers on the vines but it will not set fruit. My first garden in Washington State suffered from a serious lack of pollinators. I would have vines and flowers and then nothing. It was fruitless (pun-get it?) and caused me a lot of sadness. I knew since I …
When the cold wind starts blowing and the Santas are ho-ho-hoing, even the most die-hard Victory Gardener may be thinking of other things. I talked with my favorite master gardener, Hillary, and got the run down on what she thinks are important in winter for a fabulous garden in spring. Cold weather growing Maybe you …
I lived in Germany in the 1990’s. The town I lived in was celebrating it’s 1,250 anniversary. It was hard to wrap my head around the town being almost one thousand years older than America. At least two major wars had been fought on Germany’s soil and yet the town was beautiful and filled with …