On a Michiana Homestead

In late March, sunny blue skies had me thinking about planting spring wheat and barley. This 25 ft by 100 ft plot to plant spent two years planted with squash and melons on black plastic, heavily mulched with plant debris between the rows.  As we pulled up the plastic, we were pleased to see evidence of plenty of earthworm activity. The plant mulch was raked up and moved. I wanted to minimize disturbing the soil structure, so only very lightly tilled the top 2 inches before raking it level using a steel rake. In the spring, there is a period...

Awaiting germination of the largest seeds in our spring collection - American Buff seeds pampered with tender loving care...

Is it time yet? Spring is here. We've seen more of the sun. It's definitely warmer. If you are like me, you are eager to get the seeds for peas and other cool season crops in the ground, but is it really the right time yet? The primary determining factor is your soil temperature. We use an inexpensive cooking thermometer to assess soil readiness. Another invaluable tool is a chart from a reputable source, such as a university ag extension, that lists minimum germination temperatures for various crops. We like this chart because not only does it give minimum temperatures...

A week later same tune, different verse- oh the weather outside is frightful (again) but the beans inside (still) delightful - Ark of Taste variety White Marrowfat beans cooked with molasses, sriracha, and some pork belly... I love cooking with home-harvested pantry beans on a blustery Michigan day. White Marrowfat beans are an excellent choice for pantry staples. Holding their shape, they are satisfyingly "al-dente" yet they also puree well. Productive plants are low-maintenance and well worth space in your garden. No wonder this variety is aboard Slow Food's Ark of Taste!