By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Every gardener has been in a situation where they wondered what they were thinking when they planted those 15 determinate tomato plants or those five squashes, or wondering how they were going to fit gardening into their day’s plan.

Well, planning is one way of preventing this situation but before jumping into the garden space let’s talk about some things that need to be considered.

Garden Requirements

Many people just go to the garden store and buy up what they like without considering what their garden is going to be used for and for how many. It is said that 16 plants will feed one individual for the season or if you are square foot gardening then one 4 by 4 foot bed will suffice.

Each additional person that you plan to serve will also need his or her own 16 plants or 4 by 4 foot garden space. Also, if you plan to preserve some of your produce you will need to add an additional 16 plants or 4 by 4 foot garden space for each person you plan to serve during the winter. Lastly, if you plan to donate some of your produce you will need to plan for additional plants.

Likes and Dislikes

The next thing that every gardener needs to consider is 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 »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

As I walk through the forest of my southern Indiana home, I realize how lucky I am to have these glorious, carbon producing time capsules.

Some of these trees provide me with nuts and fruits while other just supply me with pure beauty.

How I cannot imagine not having trees or having to pay a fee to see trees but without the Weeks Act this could have been the future.

March 1, 2011 was the centennial anniversary of this act that allowed the federal government the right to purchase private land so that headwaters and watersheds could be protected in the eastern United States. While the road through the governmental process was full of stumps, Massachusetts’ congressman John Weeks fought the fight and won. In 1911 President William Howard Taft signed the bill.

One may wonder why Read the rest of this entry »

By David Harbilas

This sauce gets my vote for the single best sauce made with the fewest ingredients.

My last post, about tomato-port wine glaze, was simple, but this sauce is simply sublime.

It is the very epitome of balance, between sweet, sour, salty, and the indefinite.

And the best thing about it is that it requires absolutely no special equipment or ingredients except time. Let me make this clear–you will not find a better sauce made anywhere. I am serious when I say this; as a fifteen-year professional chef, this may very well be the best sauce recipe I have ever come across.

It goes well with just about everything, especially pork. My personal favorite, which I have yet to actually make but which makes me hungry, is pan seared scallops with roasted cauliflower, raisins, this sauce, bacon, and brussel sprouts.

Makes about ½ gallon sauce

• 1 large can tomato juice
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 4 cups chicken stock Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The Backyard Homestead is an excellent reference source that combines farming advice with good old fashion recipes.

The Backyard Homestead provides knowledge that has been gleamed from the many books on self-sufficiency produced by Storey publishing.

The premise that The Backyard Homestead is based on is raising animals, fruits, grains, and vegetables on a quarter of an acre.

The Backyard Homestead claims that on this quarter of an acre an individual can harvest 1,400 eggs, 50 pounds wheat, 60 pounds of fruit, 2,000 pounds of vegetables, 280 pounds of pork, and 75 pounds of nuts.

The Backyard Homestead is divided into 7 chapters that cover the whole gamete of farming and more.

Chapter 1-The Home Vegetable Garden

This chapter provides the basic gardening knowledge. It covers planning, how to plan to reap more, container gardening, cool verses warm season crops, and vegetables A to Z. All in all The Backyard Homestead provides all the vegetable garden knowledge that is needed for a successful garden in the first chapter.

Chapter 2-Backyard Fruits and Nuts

In this chapter a full array of plants and care are Read the rest of this entry »