Merchantville's Backyard Chickens Facebook group was created for residents of Merchantville and dedicated to the discussion of raising backyard chickens in a suburban area along with care, feed, housing, fresh eggs, insect control and benefits they offer to your garden. They welcome discussions and constructive, relevant comments about all varieties of backyard fowl, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, guineas, peafowl, etc. A recent post they highlighted
Sowing Seeds Directly
When you direct sow seeds, you do exactly what it sounds like you would. That is, you sow seeds directly into soil. Whether it’s into a container on your balcony or into your backyard garden, direct sowing – or direct seeding – can be the quickest and easiest way to get plants started on their growing journey. Before you sow your seeds, make sure you’ve removed all the weeds and deep taproots. Plant seeds twice as deep as the seed is wide and pay attention
Edible Inspiration
The Incredible Edible Network recently published an article on urban food growing, often considered ‘fringe’ by authorities in the UK despite studies showing that the UK could grow up to 40% of its own fruit and vegetables by using urban green spaces and that urban agriculture positively contributes to subjective and objective measures of food security. However, looking across the pond to fellow food-justice fighters in the USA there are some amazing examples
Early Cabbage Growning
In a recent blog, Pam Dawling, the author of two books, Sustainable Market Farming and The Year-Round Hoophouse shared tips on successful Spring cabbage growing. Cabbages can be reliable workhorses, providing large harvests over long periods. In colder regions, cabbages are planted only in the spring and grow all summer, into the fall and winter, until cold weather kills them. In the South, they are a spring/early summer and a fall/overwintered crop,
Seeds to Solutions
In this long but informative article, Incredible Edible Network founder and IE Merchantville's inspiration, Pam Warhurst, explains why the small local actions of groups in the Incredible Edible network can make a huge difference to our response to many of the major global issues that we face. This article is a story and well worth the read - a story based on real people doing real things that are making a huge difference, not only in their communities, but across
Sweet Potatoes in Soil Bags
Sweet potatoes are a delectable and nutritious addition to your home garden. Their ease of cultivation and generous yield make them a splendid choice for gardeners of all levels. Whether you have limited space or poor soil conditions, the solution lies in growing sweet potatoes using soil bags. This all-inclusive guide will take you through the step-by-step process of successfully nurturing sweet potatoes in soil bags. Cultivating sweet potatoes in soil bags is an excellent
Check Seed Viability
It's that time of year when many of us are rummaging through our seed stash or browsing seed catalogues, all in anticipation for seed sowing in the spring. But what to do with 'expired' seed? Here at the Frome Seed Library, no seed is left behind! We occasionally get seeds past their use by date, or undated, but with a bit of damp kitchen towel and patience you can easily check the viability of seed, and save yourself the disappointment and effort of sowing dud seed.