Resources & Tools

If you are still reading seed catalogs tagged with sticky notes, and trying to make a decision about what to order, you are not alone. You also have plenty of time. I dug into the pile this weekend, and have my seed order more or less narrowed down to just three catalogs: Select Seeds, Wild […]

Attending spring garden lectures always sparks my own garden design ideas, and ever since last years visit to North Hill Gardens, I’m drawn to designing with more green and whites, both flowers and foliage. Not only will these blend beautifully with nature, but there are more variations on the theme than I can possibly imagine, […]

Cooking for flavor or optimum health? I say both! Especially when it comes to cooking with alliums. Did you know that only two minutes in a frying pan can reduce garlic to little more than flavor and ruins its healing potency? When substances in garlic commingle, an enzyme reaction is triggered that creates the healing […]

A bench in the garden does not guarantee that a gardener will sit still for a moment, but it provides the opportunity as well as a welcome reminder to take a moment to reflect and enjoy the garden. There is nothing like a well placed bench when you’ve been toiling in the garden. I’ve always […]

This time of year I have a special thing for garden tools.  Having the right tool for the job is important, and I like to keep it simple with just a few hard working tools. No need clogging up the garden shed too much stuff. Pictured here are all my favorites: a large turning fork, […]

Most people don’t talk much about twine. But there is so much to know. For one thing, when looking for the ultimate garden twine for the garden, the key word should be “biodegradable”. Some twine contains nylon for extra strength, but it simply won’t break down in the compost pile at the end of the […]

Gardeners are naturally obsessive by nature. We can justify anything – plants or garden art. The key is to recognize our weakness before it takes over. Decorating the garden this time of year can be both dangerous and also uplifting. It is one way to bridge the gap between spring and mud season, and is a safer bet than buying plants.

Next to my desk is a cork board filled with photos and postcards, and while some items come and go, one image has remained in place for close to a decade: a photo of the herb garden at the Benjamin Powell House at Colonial Williamsburg. It was the source of inspiration for my own four […]

It’s not often that I am asked to be a food judge, so I jumped at the chance to evaluate dishes prepared by students at the Jr Iron Chef VT held in Essex, Vermont. Hosted by The Burlington School Food Project and Vermont Food Education Every Day (FEED)  a Farm to School program run as […]