By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day, I was asked if I test my soil and my reply was yes and no.

I have not had the traditional, chemical analysis of my soil for many years.

One reason is the biggest excuse and that is I do not have the time.

The other reason is that the recommendations I receive are based on an acre and while I would like to have an acre size garden I do not.

Also, these recommendations are based on a monoculture garden design.

Since I do not farm on an acre nor garden in a monoculture style, I have to guess and reduce any fertilizer recommendations. But being a scientist, aggie, environmentalist and many other things, I decided to do another soil test this fall. But before jumping on the bandwagon, one must first plan it out.

Planning to take a soil test is Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

How well ones garden does is connected with the soil.

Soil is such a generic term that many individuals do not understand what the term really describes.

Soil is loosely defined as particles that are sand, silt or clay that are combined to create a certain mixture.

This mixture is dependent on the environment and is not limited to particles but also includes living organisms such as fungi, bacteria, worms, and other soil bound creatures.

To be an informed, responsible gardener, one must first Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day I was watching a movie about a coal miner and it made me think how life mimics the natural world.

This coal miner was trying to control an environment that he did not understand.

He felt that following the same path that his father had followed would lead him to a different conclusion.

We all know how that ends and the same applies to gardening.

When we see a pest, we seem to fall to the same habit that has caused so many problems.

This habit, one may ask, is chemical application. While this technique works quickly in the short term, it never works out in the long run. Which is where the movie comes into play along with the simple leaf miner.

The adult leaf miner attacks tomato plants by Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Growing up on a farm, I have always been physically active.

As a matter of fact, I mowed my family’s farm with not a tractor or riding lawn mower but a push mower.

I tell my father that it built character and a strong work ethic on my little 5-foot frame.

As I got older and took jobs outside of the farm, these traits benefited me in many ways.

An example of this is when I was a lifeguard. Many may feel that tanning in the sun all summer long is glamorous but I can tell you from first hand that it can be a challenge. The muscles that I developed through hard physical labor protected me more than a bodyguard.

As I got older and left home, my physical activity decreased and Read the rest of this entry »

By Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

Personally, I am always looking for new and exciting ways of displaying my plants.

I have numerous types of hanging baskets and planters that hold my favorite plants but when it comes to my herbs I am somewhat limited.

I have done a strawberry planter planted with herbs, a living, herbal wreath, and even a hanging basket.

But this year, I have decided to go back in time and create an herbal topiary with some of my herbs.

When it comes to herbal topiaries, there does exist two types.

The first type is referred to as Read the rest of this entry »