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Sustainable Gardening 101: How to Grow Your Own Organic Vegetables and Herbs

March 11, 2025 0

Mr. Sweet Greens (Jayson) and I are deep in it! Deep in what, you ask? Sustainable Gardening! There’s nothing quite like growing your own organic vegetables and herbs—not only does it provide fresh, chemical-free food for your family, but it also helps reduce waste, lower your carbon footprint, and support biodiversity. Plus, there’s something deeply rewarding about stepping outside and harvesting ingredients straight from your garden!

Sustainable gardening goes beyond just growing plants—it’s about working with nature, conserving resources, and making eco-friendly choices at every step. Whether you have a spacious backyard, a raised garden bed, or just a few pots on a balcony, this guide will help you create a thriving organic garden while keeping sustainability at the forefront.

🌱 Step 1: Plan Your Sustainable Garden

Before planting, take a moment to plan your garden thoughtfully. This will help you maximize space, conserve resources, and create a low-maintenance, high-yield garden.

Choose the Right Location

☀️ Sunlight – Most vegetables and herbs need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
💨 Wind Protection – Strong winds can dry out plants and damage delicate seedlings. Use natural barriers like shrubs, trellises, or fences for protection.
💦 Water Access – Place your garden near a water source to make irrigation easier and prevent water waste.

Opt for Raised Beds or Container Gardening

  • Mr. Sweet Greens built ours for a massive garden that we are putting in here at Clementine Cabin! (Photos coming soon!)
  • Vego Garden Raised Beds – These durable, metal raised beds are long-lasting and perfect for reducing soil erosion.
  • Fabric Grow Bags – A great alternative to plastic pots, these breathable grow bags promote strong root growth and reduce overwatering.

Raised beds and containers improve soil drainage, prevent weeds, and make gardening easier for beginners!

🌿 Step 2: Build Healthy, Organic Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of any sustainable garden. Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, nourish your soil naturally with compost, organic amendments, and regenerative techniques.

Create Your Own Compost

Composting reduces food waste and enriches soil with nutrients. Start a compost bin or pile with:
✔️ Green materials – Vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, grass clippings.
✔️ Brown materials – Dried leaves, cardboard, shredded newspaper.
✔️ Aeration – Turn the pile regularly to speed up decomposition.

Best Compost Bin Options:
♻️ We have an Aerobin Composter that we LOVE! It’s on sale right now too!
♻️ FCMP Outdoor Tumbling Composter – A compact, easy-to-use compost tumbler for beginners.
♻️ Worm Factory 360 Worm Composter – A vermicomposting system that turns food scraps into nutrient-rich worm castings.

🌼 Step 3: Choose the Best Organic Vegetables & Herbs

Not all plants are beginner-friendly! If you’re new to gardening, start with hardy, low-maintenance crops.

Best Organic Vegetables for Beginners

🥕 Carrots – Thrive in loose, well-drained soil.
🥬 Lettuce & Spinach – Quick-growing, great for containers.
🍅 Cherry Tomatoes – High-yield and easy to care for.
🥒 Cucumbers – Fast-growing and perfect for vertical gardening.
🌽 Zucchini & Squash – High-producers with minimal effort.

Best Herbs for Beginners

🌿 Basil – Loves warmth and full sun.
🌿 Mint – Thrives in containers (keeps it from spreading too much!).
🌿 Thyme – Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance.
🌿 Cilantro – Prefers cool weather; grows well in partial shade.
🌿 Rosemary – Hardy and thrives year-round in many climates.

Look for certified organic, non-GMO seeds to ensure your garden is free from synthetic pesticides and harmful chemicals.

Where to Buy Organic Seeds:
🌱 Seed Savers Exchange – Heirloom, non-GMO seeds that support biodiversity.
🌱 Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – High-quality, organic vegetable and herb seeds.
🌱 Johnny’s Selected Seeds – Trusted source for organic and heirloom varieties.

💧 Step 4: Water Efficiently

Conserving water is a key part of sustainable gardening. Instead of overwatering, follow these eco-friendly irrigation tips:

✔️ Water Early in the Morning or Late in the Evening – Reduces evaporation.
✔️ Use a Rain Barrel – Oatey Rainwater Collection System captures rainwater for free, eco-friendly irrigation.
✔️ Try Drip Irrigation – Raindrip Drip Irrigation Kit delivers water directly to plant roots, reducing waste.
✔️ Mulch to Retain Moisture – Use straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves to lock in moisture and suppress weeds.

🐝 Step 5: Encourage Pollinators & Natural Pest Control

A truly sustainable garden works with nature instead of against it! Encourage pollinators like bees and butterflies while keeping pests under control without harmful pesticides.

Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers

🐝 Hostas & Zinnas – Attracts hummingbirds and are adorable.
🐝 Lavender – Attracts bees and smells amazing.
🐝 Marigolds – Repel pests and bring color to your garden.
🐝 Sunflowers – A favorite for bees and butterflies.

Bee’s Wrap Pollinator Wildflower Seed Pack – Grow your own bee-friendly flower garden to support biodiversity.

Natural Pest Control Methods

🐞 Release Beneficial Insects – Ladybugs and praying mantises eat garden pests.
🐞 Use Neem Oil Spray – Organic Neem Oil naturally repels aphids and fungi.
🐞 Companion Planting – Basil repels mosquitoes, while marigolds keep aphids away.

🍽️ Step 6: Harvest & Enjoy Your Homegrown Food

The best part of gardening? Enjoying your harvest! Here are a few ways to make the most of your homegrown produce:

✔️ Use Fresh Herbs Daily – Add homegrown basil, mint, and rosemary to your meals.
✔️ Preserve the Bounty – Try freezing, drying, or fermenting vegetables to enjoy them year-round.
✔️ Make Your Own Tea – Dry chamomile, mint, or lavender for homemade herbal tea.

Sustainable gardening isn’t just about growing food—it’s about building a deeper connection to nature and living in harmony with the earth.

🌍 Grow Green & Make a Difference

Sustainable gardening is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact while enjoying fresh, organic food right from your backyard. By using compost, water-efficient techniques, organic seeds, and pollinator-friendly plants, you can create a thriving, eco-conscious garden that benefits both your family and the planet.

Are you growing your own vegetables and herbs this season? Share your gardening tips in the comments! 🌿💚

Go Forth and Forage: A Must-Have Guide for Mushroom Foraging

March 8, 2025 0

Spring is elusive here in the Appalachian forest. I’m excited for spring adventures being in full bloom! Living in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, I love exploring the woods. Still, this year, I have a new guide in hand to take my mushroom foraging skills to the next level—Go Forth and Forage: A Guide to Foraging Over 50 of the Most Common Edible & Medicinal North American Mushrooms by Whitney Johnson (a.k.a. the Appalachian Forager).

Foraging for wild foods has seen a huge rise in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason! There’s something incredibly rewarding about finding, harvesting, and preparing food straight from nature. Mushrooms, in particular, are fascinating—nutritious, delicious, and abundant in the right seasons. But for beginners and experienced foragers alike, the challenge has always been how to confidently and safely identify the right species. That’s where this book comes in.

A Personal Foraging First in the Rockies

The first time I ever went mushroom foraging, I was living in Colorado. A Russian friend took us deep into the Rocky Mountains and introduced us to the world of wild mushrooms, teaching us how to identify which ones were safe to eat and which to leave untouched. It was an unforgettable experience—wandering through alpine meadows and dense pine forests, filling our baskets with chanterelles and boletes. That adventure sparked a lifelong curiosity about foraging, and now, living in the Appalachian Mountains, I’m eager to expand my knowledge and put it to use in a whole new landscape.

A Season-by-Season Mushroom Foraging Guide

One of the standout features of Go Forth and Forage is how it walks readers through the process of mushroom hunting in all four seasons. From morels and woodears in spring, to black trumpets, chicken of the woods, and boletes in summer, and lion’s mane, oyster, and enoki mushrooms in fall and winter, this book is packed with detailed identification cues, full-color photos, and responsible harvesting tips to ensure you can forage safely and ethically.

Each mushroom profile includes:
✔ Easy-to-follow identification guides
✔ Tips for safe and responsible foraging
✔ Culinary preparation advice and recipes
✔ Guidance on medicinal uses, including tinctures and teas

More Than a Mushroom Guide—A Forager’s Handbook

Whitney Johnson’s signature down-to-earth and folksy tone makes Go Forth and Forage not just a reference book, but an enjoyable read that feels like learning from a trusted friend. Beyond identification, she dives into the skills every successful forager needs, including:

🍄 How to locate wild mushrooms (hint: tree identification is key!)
🍄 Understanding mushroom anatomy for better identification
🍄 Foraging gear recommendations—from knives and bags to clothing and boots
🍄 How to use spore prints for accurate species confirmation
🍄 Common mushroom myths debunked
🍄 The ethics of responsible foraging—because sustainability matters!

Meet the Appalachian Forager

If you haven’t come across Whitney Johnson yet, you’re in for a treat! She’s built an incredible online community with nearly 2 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook (@appalachian_forager), where she shares educational and quirky videos about foraging, Appalachian culture, and self-sufficiency. A proud Appalachian through and through, she’s not only a foraging expert, but also a wildcrafter, gardener, and cook who loves sharing her deep-rooted connection to the land.

Why This Book is a Must-Read for Aspiring and Seasoned Foragers

Whether you’re completely new to mushroom foraging or you’ve been exploring the woods for years, Go Forth and Forage is an invaluable resource that belongs on your bookshelf (or better yet, in your foraging bag!). The book strikes the perfect balance between science, tradition, and practicality, making it an essential guide for anyone eager to explore the wild world of mushrooms.

This spring, I can’t wait to put Whitney’s wisdom to the test, stepping into the Appalachian forest with a newfound confidence in identifying and harvesting mushrooms safely and ethically. If you’ve ever been curious about foraging, now’s the time to dive in—and this book is the perfect place to start!

📖 Go Forth and Forage is available now—grab your copy and get ready for a season of delicious discoveries!

Have you ever tried foraging for wild mushrooms? Drop a comment below and let’s chat about your favorite finds! 🍄✨

Living Naturally and Eco-Friendly: From Skincare to Cleaning House

December 16, 2024 0

Living an eco-friendly lifestyle has never been more important. From our skin care choices to how we clean our homes, small changes to daily habits can have significant effects on both ourselves and the planet. In this blog, we’ll look at practical tips and ideas on incorporating natural practices into everyday life to form cleaner, greener living environments.

Beeswax Is Versatile 

Beeswax, an all-natural and sustainable ingredient, boasts multiple uses in natural skincare and household products. With its waxy texture and unique properties, eco-conscious people have many ways to use natural wax from bees to incorporate sustainable practices into their lifestyle. DIY lip balm or candles can both use beeswax products as a base ingredient. Beeswax offers such benefits that prioritize both personal wellbeing as well as environmental consideration.

Natural Skincare Solutions

Cleanse, Nourish and Protect

When choosing skincare products that will benefit both you and the environment, look for natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on both. Use natural cleansers on your face, plant-based moisturizers to nourish skin from within, and mineral sunscreens as additional layers of defense from UV radiation.

DIY Beauty Treatments

Put your creativity to use in the kitchen and try creating your own natural beauty treatments at home. From homemade face masks using ingredients such as honey, yogurt, and avocado to body scrubs made with sugar and coconut oil, DIY beauty treatments not only give you greater control over what ingredients go into them but can help cut waste due to excessive packaging.

Sustainable Fashion Choices

Consider Secondhand and Vintage 

When it comes to fashion, consider opting for secondhand and vintage clothing as a smart way of saving both money and reducing textile waste by prolonging the life cycle of clothing production. Thrift stores, consignment shops and online marketplaces provide an abundance of unique finds at greatly reduced costs. This can help extend its useful life while simultaneously decreasing textile waste from production processes and lessening environmental impacts associated with the fashion industry.

Consider Sustainable Fabrics

When looking for clothing, opt for brands that prioritize sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, linen, hemp, or recycled materials, as these tend to offer superior comfort and durability while being eco-friendly.

Eco-Friendly Home Cleaning

Natural Cleaning Products

Opt for non-chemical cleaners like vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and essential oils for effective home cleaning solutions. You can easily create an all-purpose cleaner by mixing vinegar and water or make an aromatic citrus cleaner by combining lemon peels with vinegar.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Adopting sustainable cleaning practices also involves minimizing waste. Instead of disposable paper towels, try switching to reusable cleaning cloths. Consider refillable containers for cleaning products or purchasing bulk so as to limit packaging waste. Be sure to recycle whenever possible and search out eco-friendly options for items like plastic bottles or packaging materials.

Conclusion

By making intentional choices in our daily lives, we can all contribute to creating a more sustainable world. From using natural skincare from bees wax and sustainable fashion choices, to eco-friendly home cleaning practices, every small step counts towards building an eco-friendlier future. Commit yourself to living more naturally and sustainably.

5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Plan for Thanksgiving Dinner

November 15, 2024 2

Hello, Friends! I am pretty excited, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. To get you started, there are many eco-friendly ways to green your Thanksgiving dinner – all of which are easier to implement if you plan ahead. Many of these ideas will save you money and time while cutting down on the amount of waste that can accumulate from a big family dinner. Read on to learn my 5 favorite eco-friendly ways to plan your Thanksgiving dinner and start planning today!

1. Decorating 101
You don’t have to spend any money when decorating for Thanksgiving, instead use items that you already have or consider bringing natural items indoors. We always have a handful of pumpkins leftover from Halloween that we use as Thanksgiving decorations. And Eben and I like to take a nature walk to collect natural elements (pine-cones, acorns, branches, and leaves) to display as our Thanksgiving table centerpiece.

2. How Much is Enough?
It is really easy to go overboard when planning the Thanksgiving menu. Consider the dishes that you will be serving and ask yourself if you are making more than is necessary. Choose a few dishes that you are sure your guests will love and skip the rest. Also, consider which parts of Thanksgiving dinner you want to or can afford to purchase organic and whenever possible, avoid pre-packaged items.

3. Consider the Table
Do you have enough dinnerware for everyone at your dinner party? If not, consider borrowing place settings from close friends or family members instead of purchasing new. If you aren’t a china and tablecloth kind of family and choose to go with disposable place settings, choose a great compostable version that is made from 100% recycled materials.

4. Think Seasonal
When choosing fruits and vegetables for your Thanksgiving menu, think seasonal. You want to avoid purchasing produce that is imported from far away. You may consider joining a local CSA for the holiday season – not only will you have delicious, local foods to serve this Thanksgiving, but you will be supporting a local farm too.

5. Plan for Leftovers
What do you plan to do with the Thanksgiving dinner leftovers? If you are planning on sending goodies home with your guests, have glass reusable storage containers ready to go. If you made more than your family can consume, you could donate some of the leftovers to a local food bank, freeze them for later or have a menu plan for the days after Thanksgiving so all of the leftovers will be used.

How do you green your Thanksgiving dinner? I would love to hear – please share your thoughts in the comments!

How to Upcycle Wine Corks into Thanksgiving Place Card Holders

November 14, 2024 0


When Eben was little, I would encourage him to spend some time creating something fun for the Thanksgiving table. Over the years, he has made apple printed napkins, pine cone turkey centerpieces, and floral arrangements. Several years ago we really wanted to utilize the corks we have saved – so we started brainstorming fun crafts. We decided to use the corks along with a handful of other supplies from the recycling bin and craft closet to make turkey inspired place cards.

This project is super simple and will keep your child busy Thanksgiving morning while you are cooking, baking, cleaning, and getting ready for the big day. At the end of the project, your child will have these fun colorful place cards to offer as part of the Thanksgiving table decor. Then, as your guests leave after the feast, they can take their turkeys home with them as a memento of a cherished day together.

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