New bamboo towels come in eco-friendly green — and white, too. Bamboo towels (60% bamboo, 40% cotton) are surprisingly plush. They feel cool to the touch because the bamboo fibers are so smooth that there’s little friction on the skin. I used to think towels were just towels. Well, it turns out that you can do better than the ones you got as a housewarming gift 12 years ago. Much better. Today, you can buy high- performance…
…;My family and I used to live in Japan, and I’m sure I saw something like it there. We now live on a small horse farm where 99 percent of the property is dedicated to the horses, but I have been able to secure the other 1 percent for me to try and recreate my love for everything Japanese. My husband and his friend are the carpenters; I’m just the idea woman. Although I got some strange looks when I dreamed up the entryway, it only too…
…Trellises fold for easy off-season storage. Reusable year after year, and they can also support tomatoes as well as cucumbers and other vining crops. This Pea Tunnel makes the most of tight garden spaces and fits nicely in a 3′ to 4′ raised bed. Plant a row of peas on each side and they’ll climb up and over. In the meantime, plant spinach and salad greens underneath — you’ll be done harvesting the greens by the time the peas are read…
…mal DNA. Many Americans are concerned about the negative effects of GMO use on the agricultural economy and small-scale and organic farming. Surveys show a wide majority of Americans support mandatory labeling. At least 21 countries and the European Union have established some form of mandatory labeling. Mandatory labeling will allow consumers to identify food products they want to avoid. So why not label? Well, here are some of the argu…
planting and overwintering experimentation. I created my first set of hoop houses, or tunnels, in September of 2009, using a wire cutter to cut segments from a roll of coated wire fencing (about 2×2.5″ mesh). The 36″-high roll provides a partially formed hoop shape and can be cut into segments customized for the height you want. For my low-growing crop of greens, I use a two-hoop design — essentially a tunnel within a tunnel….
I’m looking for a simple, attractive, 3 ft. (total above ground) fence to keep our dogs out of certain landscape beds. The iron fencing I’ve seen is too elaborate and costly. Cheap wire fencing looks cheap. Any ideas? -Kathleen Border Fence In looking through comments that appear on article about keeping dogs and cats out of the garden, I found this: I’m looking for a simple, attractive, 3 ft. (total above ground) fence…
It’s never too late to prop up a flopped perennial. Just move in with a little support. This aster (Aster oblongifolius ‘October Skies’) is a strong grower, but it tends to flop toward the end of the season. The grids provide good support. Even if you’re one of those super-organized gardeners who get all the flower supports in stalled before they’re needed, chances are good that at some point during the summ…
…r our beautiful southern California weather. I live in Sunset garden zone 18, in the San Fernando Valley. Piper What about the white fencing? Decorative or functional? The fencing was for one reason, and her name is Piper, my 3-pound (at the time) black poodle mix puppy. As soon as I put the fencing in and planted my strawberry plants, Piper stuck her head through the fence pulled out one of the plants and ran like hell! Well at least she stopped…
d tied everything together with twine. I am hoping this will be a successful low-cost (and last minute) way to help these plants get themselves established and actually put on some new growth next spring. Step 2: Cover with burlap. -Susan Romanoff Creative Director, Gardener’s Supply…
…ir own when it comes to standing up, there’s often a need for on-the-fly, just-passing-by, in-season fixes. For this I keep two different bundles of bamboo stakes right on my front porch. In many cases, a couple of the little 3-foot-high canes are just enough. They’re only about 3/8” thick, so they slip into the soil easily and don’t call attention to themselves. When the situation calls for a burlier support, I use the thicker, 5-foot-high canes…