Grow Your Own Food
Starting a garden is one of the best places to begin if you are new to homesteading and self-sufficiency. It's low risk (no live animals to worry about) and fairly inexpensive to get started. If you're an experienced gardener, I've got you covered, too! You'll gain access to my best tips and tricks for a bountiful harvest.
The Best (and Worst) Zucchini Companion Plants
Utilizing zucchini companion plants is an excellent way to maximize the productivity and health of your zucchini plant. Not only that, but picking the right plants could help deter pests like the awful squash vine borer! There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with that pest. Argh! Alternatively, there are certain plants that aren’t friends with

How to Test Seed Viability at Home
Have some old seeds lying around? You’re probably wondering if they are still good for planting or not. We’ve all been there! No one wants to wait around for dud seeds to fail when you’re following a seed-starting timeline. Not only is it disappointing, but as a zone 4A Minnesota gardener, our season is way
The 5 Best Vertical Garden Kits in 2025
Vertical gardening is rapidly becoming a popular way to grow food and utilizing vertical garden kits makes it easier than ever! Vertical garden kits are a great solution for those living in an apartment or city lot who are short on gardening space. It’s also ideal for avid gardeners (like me!) who like to keep
The 5 Best Soil pH Testers in 2025
If your garden plants are stunted and not growing well, then acquiring the best soil pH tester on the market is a great first step to diagnosing the issue! Many people forget about testing the pH of their garden soil, so make sure that you aren’t making this common mistake. Soil pH testers provide valuable
How to Plant, Grow, and Harvest Garlic
Garlic is a wonderful addition to the garden, and you’ll be surprised by how easy it is to plant and grow! As long as you follow the few key steps discussed in my article, your garlic will largely take care of itself until it’s time to harvest. I love a non-fussy plant! The best part
When to Harvest Butternut Squash
Your butternut squash is growing and looking great, but how do you know when it’s ready to harvest? Many first-time gardeners mistakenly pick their butternut squash too early (or too late!) and end up disappointed. Oh no! Picking butternut squash at the exact right time will ensure that they not only taste great but that