By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Just recently, a friend of mine sent me a link.

This link leads me to a depressing reality that I see everyday but hope I am just imagining.

I hope I will wake up from this nightmare and find that this horror was just a dream.

But my experience tells me that is not so. One may wonder what this horror is and what it has to do with gardening. Hunger is the nightmare that never seems to die and gardening is the savior whose powers are diminished by urban sprawl.

What one may not realize is that 1 out of 4 children in the United States worry or do not know if there is going to be food. Food for dinner and/or breakfast is on their minds, not reading, writing and math. As President Obama has encouraged all parents to be involved in their children’s’ lives many are burdened by how to feed, clothe and keep a roof over their heads. Sometimes hard choices have to be made and sometimes food loses out to heat or rent.

Every one of us can change this situation. If you think that Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

My son loves carrots and as a matter of fact the only fight he ever got into was over, you guessed it, carrots.

In the past, when I have grown my own carrots I have always gotten forked roots.

Heavy clay soils and/or stones in the soil cause this root problem.

The confinement of the soil is what changes the shape of the root. If you have had the same problem, do not despair. There is a solution to this setback and it is as simple as a container.

Growing carrots in a container has its own challenge but this can be overcome. The first step in this process is selecting the correct container. The container needs to work with the variety of carrot you plan to grow. But to make life easier, always select a container that is 2-inches deeper than the mature size of the carrot variety.

Next consideration is the soil. Carrots require a Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Prevention is worth a pound of cure some say, and I believe this principle.

Many problems can be nipped in the butt from the start.

Many times though, we just skip over a simple step in hopes of getting to the prize sooner.

Gardening is no different.

This year I am making a resolution to nip a tomato problem in the butt from the very beginning. One may wonder what that problem is and the answer is simple. It is the notorious bottom rot.

While I know you may be thinking, just buy plants that are bottom rot resistant and be done with it. But I have philosophy about plant resistance. If Mother Nature felt plants needed to be immune to a certain disease it would have been made that way. While I have bought plants that are immune, I still like to stay with Mother Nature’s best.

Bottom rot is caused by Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Every gardener knows the heartache of checking on ones seedlings and finding them lying down on top of the soil.

The cause of this is a simple fungus that can build up in damp conditions.

The same conditions that seeds need to germinate but there are two solutions to this simple problem.

The first solution is one that is used when you first plant your seeds. To begin this process, simply plant your seeds as usual. If you plant your seeds in a row, this technique is easier to use but it can be used if you simply broadcast your seed.

Once the seed is planted sprinkle crushed sphagnum moss in between the rows. If you broadcast your seed, just sprinkle a thin layer of sphagnum moss on top of the soil. After this is done, care for your seeds as usual.

The second technique is one that should be used Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

As the New Year approached, I revisited my past New Year’s resolutions and discovered that I had done pretty well.

I met most of my goals and already had some new ones in mind.

These included improving on my diet and workout, finishing up my graduate degree and expanding on my business.

But like most people or I should say probably 99.9 of the world’s population, there just is not enough time in the day to fit everything in. I know what you are thinking excuses, excuses but I found a quote the other day that has spurred me to move past this concept.

Lao Tzu was a very insightful individual who understood human nature. He stated that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. How simple but how true this statement is so this year my motto for all my gardening projects is an adaptation of this quote. My motto is a garden that feeds a thousand begins with a single step.

This year’s gardening goals include personal and business gardening projects.

I plan to have my own garden at home, continue and expand on Read the rest of this entry »