Thriftism

Onions are ubiquitous in our household being used at almost every meal. While onions are fairly inexpensive at the store, we figured we'd give it a go with growing them at home to save even more money on groceries as well as to use the companion planting benefits of this veggie. So whether you love onions or just want to keep some pests away from your other plants, let get growing! Planting Plant seeds or onion sets as soon as soil is workable in the spring in Northern climates or late fall to very early spring in warmer areas. Best temperatures for bulb and root formation are 55-75 degrees F or  13-24 C. Ideal soil will be easy draining and have a pH of 6.0-7.0. If your soil is not high in organic matter, spreading compost or apply fertilizer around plants after roots are established. Onions are a full sun plant. Planting from Seeds Choose a variety that is recommended for your growing zone. Most seed retailers will list recommended zone for each plan...

Mint is an easy herb to try if you're just starting out as it is can grow nearly everywhere, thought it prefers sun and it is easy to harvest. Mint can be used in a variety of recipes, teas, potpourri or have oil extracted for topical uses. Mint is  a great source of vitamins A, C, as well as calcium, magnesium, and iron. It can be used to freshen breath, may be able to reduce pain through topical or oral means, and helps to calm digestive complaints. We like it as it seems to keep the flying pests away and keeps the yard smelling fresh. Dried leaves may be used to repel rats and mice. It is often used tea or as a garnish, but pairs especially well with lamb, chicken or rice as well as many other dishes.One of my favorites is a mint & raspberry leaf tea or a standard mojito. Planting Plant seeds or plants after last frost of the year in easy draining, but moist soil (think river banks). Ideal soil will have a pH of 6.0-7.0, but mints will likely tolerate sligh...

Garlic is prolific in recipes as an easy flavor additive but has a multitude of other uses as well. It is thought to serve as a natural antibiotic and antiviral. This makes it wonderful for eating as well as potentially for use topically as it is thought to aid in overcoming skin infections. Some say it will help one overcome the common cold or even reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. It may help stabilize blood sugar, increase circulation, aid in intestinal discomfort and ridding oneself from worms (tape worm, roundworms, etc.), stop tooth pain, and treat burns. In addition it has many uses in the garden that we'll cover further on. This is a wide range and you should seek professional advice before using garlic as an implement in any of these, but it goes to show that it is a versatile herb. Garlic is a good source of B6, Manganese, Selenium, Vitamin C and is high in antioxidants. Growing Garlic Types Hardneck Better for cooler climates. This type should be plan...