Welcome
My name is Lindsay. I am working on building a permaculture micro-farm and homestead. This blog is my online garden journal. I am writing to inspire, document and share. I write from my perspective as a Permaculturist, Homesteader, Landscape Designer, Food Enthusiast, Gardener and Mama.
Flickr Photos
-
Garden Friends
Without pollinators we wouldn’t have vegetables, fruit, flowers, honey, chocolate, coffee and the list goes on. These garden friends work symbiotically with nature, ebbing with seasonal patterns and evolving with flowers over the ages. Bees are the most well-known and effective pollinators but there are birds, bats, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, ants, and some vertebrate … Continue reading
Scapes
Local food is particularly special in the fact that it is fleeting. My favorite aspect is that in order to catch that perfect taste you must be in tune with the weather, season and farm. Garlic scapes are one of those fleeting seasonal foods. The scape of the garlic is the flower of the plant. … Continue reading
Catching Up
Our baby came 2 weeks early and caught us a little by surprise. I have been enjoying baby bliss and not blogging much. The gardens have continued to grow and spring is living up to all I hoped for. In pictures here are some of what I would have blogged about but instead will just … Continue reading
Season II Rooftop Farm Begins
It’s time for season two at Cornerstone Rooftop Farm! This micro-farm is making big waves in the local community and is setting a high bar for local foods and edible landscaping. In case you haven’t heard of this project – Cornerstone Rooftop Farms is a small-scale farm at 76th and Lyndale in Richfield MN located above a … Continue reading
Coffee Bags – the Urban Gardener’s Resource
The process of growing coffee and bringing it to your cup is a long journey that if done right can sustainably benefit millions of people around the world. I learned about the cultivation, harvesting and processing of coffee while living in a coffee culture in the highlands of Guatemala in 2002. It is amazing plant … Continue reading
Small Steps in Early Spring
Things are growing and it also keeps on snowing. Two steps forward, one step back. So far none of the weather has killed off tree buds, that’s a plus. This time of year in Minnesota can be painful for the gardeners who are desperate to get things going. (On the other hand, it also helps the … Continue reading
With a Little Help from My Friends
This past weekend we had a “help us out” in the garden day. Only six weeks till our baby arrives and our friends offered to help with the heavy lifting garden chores. I am a lucky gal and I know it! Saturday morning, April 16th, arrives and a blanket of white has covered our yard. … Continue reading
Grasp the Nettle
The Nettle plant often gets a bad rap – I guess you would too if your first name was stinging. Common Nettle or Stinging Nettle (Urtica diocia) is a herbaceous perennial. It is an amazing herb that can be used as food, fodder, medicine and fiber. I realize some people might shudder thinking of the … Continue reading
Brevity of Spring
Of all the seasons spring has a unique kind of brevity to it that makes it all the more special. This time of year tree and shrub buds quietly make an appearance and if you aren’t paying attention can be gone in a week or two. The Silver maple (acer saccharinum) is one of those … Continue reading
Seed Starting as Ritual
For the past 10 years I have been starting seeds in spring. It’s a spring activity that I’ve come to realize is not just practical but has become ritual. This includes my days renting, living abroad and in very small apartments. I’ve come to understand that for me it doesn’t matter how large of a … Continue reading
The Razor's Edge 