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 Marty and David Hanson, along with photographer, Michael Hanson, spent two months driving across America to chronicle the metropolitan agriculture trend. The resulting success stories from cities like Seattle, New Orleans, and New York City prove that fresh vegetables can indeed thrive among—or on top of—skyscrapers.
Breaking Through Concrete: Building an Urban Farm Revival-Amazon
People have always grown food in urban spaces--on windowsills and sidewalks, and in backyards and neighborhood parks--but today, urban farmers are leading an environmental and social movement that transforms our national food system. To explore this agricultural renaissance, brothers David and Michael Hanson and urban farmer Edwin Marty document twelve successful urban farm programs, from an alternative school for girls in Detroit, to a backyard food swap in New Orleans, to a restaurant supply garden on a rooftop in Brooklyn. Each beautifully illustrated essay offers practical advice for budding farmers, such as composting and keeping livestock in the city, decontaminating toxic soil, even changing zoning laws (Read More....) [...]
 Gardening does not have to be complex. Sometimes there are just plants that naturally go together. These plants can help prevent predation, help promote growth, or even complement each other in meals. The trick is to remember what plants do what. To help you out, here are some gardening tips that you may not know:
1. Plant lavender bushes around onions to prevent onion maggot and also around fruit trees to deter codling moth.
2. Rosemary planted near carrots deters carrot fly and bean beetle. Sprigs of rosemary kept with clothes will repel moths and silverfish.
3. Plant sage bushes near doorways to keep ants away. It is also believed to keep away mice.
4. Plant fennel near doorways and windows to repel flies and mosquitos. You can even place fresh leaves in your pets’ bedding and rub through your pets’ coats to ward off fleas.
5. Create an antifungal spray using chamomile flowers. Pour one liter of boiling water over two firmly packed cupfuls of fresh flowers, steep and then strain.
6. Protect cabbages, beans and tomatoes by planting basil nearby.
7. When making, using, or storing home-made pesticides wear gloves, goggles, long sleeved shirts, pants and waterproof shoes.
8. Citronella oil is a general insect repellent and can be used as bait to trap and drown codling moth, (Read More....) [...]
 Preparing food for an emergency situation means finding foods that have a long shelf life and require little preparation. Typically people really on highly processed convenience foods to fit the bill; this is largely because they’re stocked with preservatives and stay fresh and edible for much longer than traditional emergency staples. However your emergency supply doesn’t have to be filled with foods that lack nutrients. Include these foods in your emergency stock pile of food to ensure that you have some healthy options as well:
1. Low-sodium version of canned foods.
Canned foods are a hallmark of emergency food supplies, however they are typically packed with enough sodium for an entire day, which can leave you bloated and dehydrated. Instead opt for the low-sodium versions of soups and vegetables to help cut back on your salt intake.
2. Packaged tuna, chicken, and salmon.
You can buy salmon, tuna, and chicken in cans or in vacuum-sealed pouches, and both options make excellent choices for keeping in your emergency stash. They’ll last you a long time and provide you with a healthy source of protein that will keep you fuller for longer.
3. Dried fruits.
Chips and crackers may make good snack choices when you aren’t in an (Read More....) [...]
 Preserving fresh garden vegetables through home canning is a cost-effective way to have great tasting, nutritious food at your fingertips year around. If it grows, cultivated or wild, it can be preserved through canning and eaten later. With basic canning knowledge and a few favorite recipes, anyone can be successful at home canning.
Start Clean
No dirt or debris allowed, not even the tiniest particle or it could ruin an entire batch of home canned food. Sterilize all utensils in a boiling water bath: glass jars, lids, rings, funnels, ladles and any other utensil you’ll be using needs to be sterilized in boiling water for five minutes. Remove items from boiling water with sterilized tongs and place on clean, white towel to dry and cool. Cut out any bad spots in vegetables, wash vegetables thoroughly and set aside.
Vegetable Preparation
There are two types of vegetable preparation methods: cold pack and hot pack. Each type has it’s advantages and disadvantages, and simply comes down to which vegetable prep method you prefer.
In the cold pack method, vegetables are peeled, cut, etc. and placed inside the canning jars in their raw form and cooked during a long canning process. The hot pack method involves prepa (Read More....) [...]
 If you think you don’t have space for an herb garden then think again. In just a few simple steps that anyone can do, you can grow an herb garden in only inches of space, vertically. This wall garden is a great way to save on space and still grow your own herbs, flowers, fruits, or vegetables.
What you need:
· a pallet
· 2 large bags of potting soil
· 16 six packs of plants (one six pack per opening on the face of the pallet, and two six packs per opening on the top of the completed pallet garden)
· a small roll of landscape fabric
· a staple gun
· staples
· sand paper
First of all, make sure your pallet is clean and free from any splinters or protruding nails. Make sure the wood is not rotten and is tightly nailed together. Feel free to add some support if you think it is necessary and sand down any rough spots.
(Picture Credit One Hundred Dollars Per Month)
Next, roll out the landscape fabric. You want to cut a piece that is wide enough to cover the back and sides of the pallet and twice as long as the pallet so that you can double it over. Once it is cut, fold it in half lengthwise a (Read More....) [...]
 Many people would like to have their own herb garden, but they really don’t feel like they have the time to plant or maintain one. However, compared to the benefits growing your own herbs can bring, the initial effort involved in planting herbs and the small things you will need to do to regularly maintain your herb garden are very minimal. Here are some of the advantages of growing your own herbs that may convince you to take that first step to adding fresh herbs to your home and life.
PhotoCredit- Pinterest
1. Herb Gardens Are Some Of The Easiest Gardens To Plant And Maintain
Most herbs literally grow like weeds. I planted Thai Basil from seeds I harvested from a plant on the side of the road, and even now, 5 years later, I see little Thai basil plants popping up where I least expect them. Herbs are very easy to grow and are tolerant of many different soil and sunlight conditions. If you check with your local plant nursery, they may give you some advice on the ideal conditions for growing the herbs you choose, but these conditions are pretty basic I.e. enough water, sunlight, soil etc.
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