Our master bedroom garden was an unsightly mess. What it needed was an instant rusted corrugated metal fence, although it took me a while to figure that out. The space was initially designed as coyote-safe place for our small dogs and a sunny location for our raised bed gardens in galvanized stock tanks. But the native grasses had taken over, and the heavy-gauge open mesh fence offered no privacy. It was time for a serious landscaping remodel. Bee Zollo, my life partner, and I decided we wanted a space with a cleaner, more modern aesthetic than the over-grown “natural” look that we currently had. The most important element in the new garden was making it more private. This necessitated replacing the open mesh fencing with a new design. We considered a range of wood options, but finally decided we liked the contemporary appearance of a rusted corrugated metal fence using the existing redwood framing which was in very good shape. Inventing the Instant Rusted Corrugated Metal … [Read more...] about Build an Instant Rusted Corrugated Metal Fence
Homestead
Follow the Buzz: How to Start Beekeeping
It’s OK to admit it. You are wondering how to start beekeeping. You have been thinking about beekeeping for a long time. You’ve seen other people keeping bees. You've watched other beginners get into the beekeeping hobby. But you continue to put off beekeeping for another time when you are less stressed and busy. You are teetering on the edge of the beekeeping, and you love reading about the hobby of beekeeping. You read every “How to Start Beekeeping” story you can find. Clearly, you just need a gentle push to get you going and commit. If this sounds like you, it’s time for you to follow your inner buzz. It’s time to start keeping bees and become a actual beekeeper. Now is the perfect time to get your equipment and order your bees. How to Start Beekeeping Even beginners know that you can’t be a beekeeper unless you have bees. That means placing an order for the buzzing little bees that will be the beating heart of your beehive. Suppliers of bees are very … [Read more...] about Follow the Buzz: How to Start Beekeeping
9 Great Garden Catalogs in 2019
Another new year is here, and for thousands of us gardeners, that means a flood of exciting new garden catalogs for the 2019 growing season. And for those of us who are more inclined to buy online, a new gardening year means lots of great websites to peruse for new seeds and plants. The early part of the year is an ideal time for garden planning. The quiet days of winter are perfect for making lists, charting new garden beds and calculating sowing times. The early weeks of the year is also the time when mail-order garden catalogs arrive and online catalogs are posted, enticing us with dreams of a new growing season. Garden Catalogs in 2019 There are dozens of seed and plant catalogs and websites to choose from. If you don’t already have a stack of printed catalogs or a full email inbox with tantalizing new offers, here’s a list of some of our favorite places to buy heirlooms, hybrids, and everything that’s new and trending: Burpee Established in 1876, Burpee is one of the nation’s … [Read more...] about 9 Great Garden Catalogs in 2019
Great Summer Zucchini Recipes (Part 1)
What do you do with all the zucchini ripening in your garden? That’s a good question for backyard gardeners every summer. So the editors at Home, Garden and Homestead are on a quest to find the greatest, tastiest, and easiest recipes that use those delectable green zucchini squash that keep coming and coming. Zucchini is a popular backyard vegetable for many reasons. It’s easy to grow—even for beginners. Most insect pests (except maybe squash bugs) leave the hardy plants alone. And once the plants get into full production mode, the dark green fruits grow quickly and prolifically. That’s why you have to be ready with some go-to recipes to put all the zucchini from your garden to good use. Here’s the first zucchini recipe in a continuing series. This hearty zucchini and pasta dinner has been a favorite in my family for years. Italian Zucchini Pasta Ingredients 4-5 fresh zucchini, sliced 1 can (15 ounces) stewed or diced tomatoes 1-2 fresh tomatoes, diced 1 pound, sweet Italian … [Read more...] about Great Summer Zucchini Recipes (Part 1)
