By Jannie Vaugh George Washington supposedly thought it was “disreputable” for farmers to buy seeds every year. If you want to save seeds from one year to the next, you need to grow open-pollinated varieties (not hybrids) and know if a plant is self-pollinated or wind or insect-pollinated. If it is self-pollinating, seeds are easy to save, and the plants next year will look like … Continue reading Seed Saving Is A Practice As Old As Humankind
By Jannie Vaught There are many people working together to bring biological diversity and food production together to bring food to our table and growing native forests and plants together for a truly sustainable healthy practice. For example here in our Texas farm ranching the use of planting Daikon radishes as a cover crops between seasonal crops using “No-Till” practices by simply using a seed … Continue reading Beyond Our Garden
By Jannie Vaught Fall is here and for this gardener “Most” of the planting is done. As I was reviewing the plan, I realized I’d forgotten the one staple we depend on the Turnip! Thankfully I still have room to plant a substantial amount. Let’s have a look at the Turnip. Turnip is also known as a white turnip. Family: Brassicaceae (mustard family) Genus: Brassica. … Continue reading Fall Is Here
By Jannie Vaught Welcome to Autumnal equinox also called Fall equinox. One of the two equinoxes, when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are equal length. And it ends on December 21. As we finally have a focus on finishing the Fall planting, I have to say due to the high temperatures and low moisture I have delayed my seed … Continue reading Autumn Is The Air
By Jannie Vaught We may get some rain if storms flow in our direction from the gulf. But you never know as this can change in a short time. Although we are in this part of late summer there is still much to do. My compost is finished and it has begun its journey into the raised beds and in-ground garden. I still have some … Continue reading The Heat And Dry Weather Are Intense
By Jannie Vaught I seem to have a fascination with all things Fall and it is August, the heat is on and harvesting is a daily event. As the season progresses, I see the fading of this spectacular garden. Yes, I always have a wistful sadness when the tomatoes begin to finish and the planning for fall begins. So here we go. Plan 2 seasons … Continue reading Planning The Fall Garden
Jannie Vaught Seeds for this gardener have very personal meanings. As a seed grower and a seed saver, I am constantly looking close at many varieties of seeds. And I have a great fondness for seeds that are very tiny. It seems that these tiny bundles of potential hold a big productive plant, producing large tubers or leaves. As a small child, I was given … Continue reading The Faith of The Humble Mustard Seed
By Jannie Vaught The leaves are falling. Just the other day there was a warm breeze and with it, the leaves began to tumble to the earth. There is a scent to Autumn and for this gardener, it is the drying of the leaves and the sound of them as I walk across the yard under the trees. That’s the scent of Autumn. With that, … Continue reading The Scent Of Autumn
By Jannie Vaught I would like to begin this week’s column by sharing a quote. ” When you have hope in the future you have power in the present.” John C. Maxwell American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books on leadership. This is at the core of Farming, ‘gardening, small or large grower and seed saver is for this gardener the grass … Continue reading The Core Of Gardening
By Jannie Vaught With cooler weather, my personal time outside has greatly increased. That means plants, feed the soil turn the compost, and plant the seeds. I am having some insect pressure and that just tells me that all of the living creatures are preparing for the winter. Pecans are falling and some leaves are turning. With that, the thought of turning on the oven … Continue reading This Autumn Is Looking To Be A Very Good Growing Season
Oxalis By Jannie Vaught I’m always eager for spring and the flush of much awaited Blue Bonnets and all the fantastic fields of flowers along with flowering trees like Red Bud and Mexican Plum, but I have to say this fall is bringing exceptional flowers. What I’m seeing now is Golden crownbeard or Cowpen daisy, Scarlet sage, and Turks cap. Along with Baby blue eyes. … Continue reading Fall Native Flowers Are Showing Their Beautiful Colors
Jannie Vaught, Along with rain and schoolhouse Lily, it has been a long hot dry summer. But as I remember Autumn is good here in the Hill Country. What I’m planting, it is “Roots and Shoots”. Beets, carrots, turnips, and rutabaga. garlic, bulbing onions, and Artichoke are coming back after their end of summer trim back. Greens are; Collards, mustard, kale, and lots of lettuce … Continue reading Autumn Has Arrived!!
Jannie Vaught In the northern hemisphere begins autumm on September 22. If you have noticed the ash and elm trees, even some of the mulberry trees are dropping leaves and are beginning to change from green to yellow. The light is shifting and our length of the day is shortening and with cooler temperatures, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll starts breaking down … Continue reading Autumn 2020
By Jannie Vaught “The beauty of seed is rivaled only by their purpose.” Seed Savers Exchange. Definitions that will clear up the usage of these terms. Sustainable: able to maintain at a certain rate or level. Renewable: not depleted when used. These are just two of the many descriptive words now used when someone is describing their “Natural ” lifestyle choice. I find this overuse, … Continue reading The Beauty Of The Seed
By Jannie Vaught It seems to be a daily challenge. we are expected to again dip in the low twenties by this weekend, then bounce up to the forty’s. Well, this makes more work of covering the fall garden plants and disconnecting hoses and covering the faucets. Or as many just shake their heads and let it freeze. As an “Old Woody in the Stem”gardener, … Continue reading The Ever-Changing Highs And Lows Of Our “Weird Weather”
Jannie Vaught The month of leaves, is this why it is called Fall? Anyway the bamboo leaf rake is out and the leaf re-distribution has begun. Don’t loose a single leaf! Break down thick layers of leaf accumulation in beds and lawn. Thick heavy matts can encourage mice, voles and pests. Break up the matted build up and take to your compost bin to be … Continue reading Welcome To The Month Of November
By Jannie Vaught Time to start planting and preparing for your fall and winter garden and flowers. Kale is a wonder green and will give your food and add to your flower beds through winter. Kale or leaf cabbage is one of certain cultivars grown for edible leaves, although some are used for ornamental purposes. The variety’s are many from curly leaf to … Continue reading It Is late October
By Jannie Vaught Just last week I received notice that the fruit trees are available for purchase in local nursery’s. Already? I’m surprised simple due to the ever oppressive heat and no rain for so long. Yet it is time for fall tree panting and early purchase gets the good ones. Would I plant them now? Personally I would wait and plant when these temperatures … Continue reading Surprised Fruit Trees
By Jannie Vaught Water, pull unwanted grass, plant some radishes and learn and plan for that cooler wet weather. Here’s whats growing in this permaculture garden, beets, radish, the peas that were supposedly OK to plant now died the baked inn the sun death. So more will go in next week, still trying, The stored rain water is coming out of storage this week, And … Continue reading When Its Extremely Hot And No Rain Is In Sight What Is A Gardener To Do?
By Jannie Vaught, With the intense heat and no rain every living thing is struggling to get through another day! The tomatoes are either done or the strong are actually slowly growing, with even a hint of ripening, they need consistent watering same amount same time everyday. Seems plants like consistency also! Yes, my fall garden is sprouted and the radish are the first to … Continue reading The Personal Garden Library
Dreamweaverarts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.