Organic, textural and highly ornamental, cabbage is an ideal crop to plant in your garden during those fall and winter months when falling leaves can be the only color abundant in the garden.

Planting rows of the cabbage was a great solution for my own raised veggie bed (below), which is very challenging to maintain this time of year. I long for pumpkins but we never seem to get them going in time.

A garden designer friend suggested the purple, low-water use option of the Cruciferea family (from the same family as cauliflower, broccoli, …

Tags: Cabbage , decor , design , fall crops , gardening , growing , healthy , home , house , houseplants , organic , outdoor , plants , raised beds , seeds , slaws , soup , succulent , water , winter crops

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Call it a succulent message in a bottle: terrariums that capsulize nature’s beauty and grace without requiring high maintenance and daily watering to thrive. You probably have the ideal vessel stashed some place with your vases. Get inspired and grow!

Pictured above: A Carnivorous Plant Terrarium from Apartment Therapy is showcasing a Pitcher Plant, which is rumored to feast on flies.

This Etsy Moss Terrarium, described as the “instant boyfriend” is simple to care for, involving  a glass container that …

Tags: air plants , fern , garden , gardening , glass , green , grow , indoor plants , moss , plants , succulents , terrarium , vase , water

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The collapse of the economy has had a curious effect on our culture. Shuttered chain stores and denuded neighborhoods have made us realize how unstable and unsustainable a society predicated on constant growth and fueled by the twin demon drugs of easy credit and cheap consumer goods can be. When the Circuit Cities go away and the lesser Starbucks close, we realize we didn’t really need them anyway.

All over the country, people are reconnecting with their communities, saving money, working cooperatively, bartering and living a less consumption-dominated life. …

Tags: bartering , buy handmade , Community , consumption , DIY , extraction , gardening , genuine , grassroots , greenwashing , localwashing , original , slow money , sustainability

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Say that six times fast, and then find your favorite pair of gardening gloves and let’s play with dirt. These pots are worthy of plenty of playtime.

Whether you want to grow your green indoors or out, the metal spun recycled aluminum Pod by PAD is the perfect planter. It’s sturdy, lightweight and powder coated in a choice of six sexy colors. (Say that six…never mind).

The Pod comes in two simple styles (both 16” D x 10” H). And if your space calls for it, choose one …

Tags: aluminum , decor , gardening , planter , plants , recycled

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Whether you’re looking to improve your home’s curb appeal, or to master a tomato and basil salad, testing your garden soil before planting is a wise, and low-cost investment.

The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides useful, practical and research-based information to interested parties from agricultural producers to home gardeners on subjects such as lawn care, home canning, financial management, frost dates, soil testing and weeds.

Contact your local office and test your soil’s pH, nutrient level, and soil type. …

Tags: CSREES , gardening , lead , pH , soil

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Could it be that astronauts of the future will be able to eat fresh and green while on the moon?

Sounds improbable, but US scientists involved in creating the first moon “greenhouse” think it”˜s possible. Paragon, an Arizona-based company, has been working with NASA and Odyssey Moon Ltd (the first contender in the Google Lunar X Prize) to create the “lunar oasis” – a miniature greenhouse for the moon.

This sealed bell jar-shaped greenhouse, encased in a 1.5 foot tall triangular aluminum frame, has been designed to land …

Tags: gardening , Google , growing plants on the moon , locavore , lunar greenhouse , lunar oasis , Lunar X , Odyssey , Paragon

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Looking for a comprehensive resource to guide you through spring gardening? Just in time for prime planting season, Better Homes and Gardens recently enhanced their Plant Encyclopedia, and searching this extensive database has never been easier.

Now, you can determine which plants are best for your garden based on climate and how much sunlight they require to flourish. Plus, you can discover which perennials, annuals, fruits, vegetables, herbs, bulbs, shrubs, trees, roses, vines, houseplants and water plants are most popular among avid gardeners. Under each specific listing, you’ll find …

Tags: BHG , gardening , Plant Encyclopedia

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Gardening is hot, hot, hot. And why not? Planting a few seeds on your deck or in your backyard yields delicious, organic results – and money savings, too. Besides, April is National Gardening Month! You know the basics of how to start your own vegetable garden, but where do you go from here? Here are some crops that even the least green thumbed among you can tackle, and tips on how to make them flourish.
Tomato
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Tags: easy to grow , food , gardening , home , howto , money , urban garden , vegetables

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Raise your hand if you a) lack a green thumb, b) care about the environment, c) care about your environment or, d) all of the above. Congratulations! You’re the perfect candidate for xeriscaping.

As a desert dweller, I know firsthand that this eco-friendly method of gardening conserves water, requires minimal upkeep, significantly reduces your water bills and yields stunning greenery and flowers. But, you don’t have to live in an arid region to get into this low maintenance style of gardening. To get you started, here’s a list of the …

Tags: bird of paradise , bougainvillea , fairy duster , gardening , lantana , lavender , oleander , poppy , sage , succulent , tillandsia , xeriscaping

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