Perennial Gardening

Top 5 Tips for Planting Blueberries

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My daughter is a notoriously picky eater, and my son will scarf just about anything. There is a consensus among them, though: they both ADORE blueberries. You know who else loves blueberries? Our livestock guardian dog: Sophia. In fact, before I’d picked the perfect blueberry bush placement, I’d kept them in a sunny spot on the patio. They were doing very well there as they grew into their initial containers, and they were loaded with unripe fruit. One day Sophia, our 80-pound 8-month-old Anatolian Shepherd, came bounding over with purple staining her lips, and I knew then I wasn’t battling …

Vegetable Gardening

My Greatest Tomato Yield Yet! Here’s Why:

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The bugs are bad in my Zone A Florida garden. We are warm and wet early on, and it’s a breeding ground for critters. For years, I’ve pulled my tomatoes off the vine well before their prime and ripened them in paper bags inside the house because I couldn’t bare the thought of those little bastards burrowing into the soft, juicy skin before I got to. This year is different, and I think I know why: MARIGOLDS. Companion planting is so genius, and it’s been around for ages. I fully attribute this combination of flowers and veg to my overall …

Raising Chickens

Upcycling Eggshells to Increase Egg Production

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Backyard chicken forums and Facebook groups are loaded with hen Moms and Dads seeking answers to the question: “Why are my chickens not laying enough eggs?” There’s a whole rabbit hole of reasons, including some pretty interesting conspiracy theories blaming major food producers. While I do dabble in that, I’m a problem-solution person, and I looked into the science behind the issue. The TOP 6 REASONS WHY A HEN MAY NOT LAY according to ye olde internet are: Age: Chickens typically start laying eggs when they are around 20 weeks old, but some breeds may start as early as 16 …