Garden Michigan

  • Cultivating Gratitude

    It’s been smoky here. Like ash falling down from the sky and collecting on the leaves-type smoky. Apocalyptic. It fucking sucks. I’m stuck inside and I’m grumpy about it. The Boss hasn’t missed a beat in the garden. He’s out… Continue reading

    Cultivating Gratitude
  • Big Snake Energy

    It gets really snakey around here in July. You would think we were running the Eden of Garden Snake Sanctuary. Snakes, mostly fox snakes (aka pine snakes), and a few garter snakes, converge from all over the woods to gather… Continue reading

    Big Snake Energy
  • Unsolicited Gardening Advice

    Here is our unsolicited number one tip for successful gardening: Don’t grow stupid shit. What do I mean by stupid shit? Exotic shit, shit that doesn’t grow well in your climate, experimental shit, shit that doesn’t produce well, shit that… Continue reading

    Unsolicited Gardening Advice
  • Winding Down, Sorta

    It’s mid September. When you ask a gardener how it’s going, they’ll answer 1) Things are really winding down or 2) I’m over it or 3) Both. In some ways I feel like we just got started. Growing season is… Continue reading

    Winding Down, Sorta
  • ‘Tis the Season

    Deck the counter with peppers and potatoes, fa la la la la, la la la la.Beans, and corn and ripe tomatoes. Fa la la la la, la la la la. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for gardeners.… Continue reading

    ‘Tis the Season
  • Prepping for Corn

    When the corn starts taseling, the Boss starts drooling. It means the time is near — Sweet Corn Season! When corn season hits, that’s all he will eat for dinner the entirety of the season. His goal is a 300-ear… Continue reading

    Prepping for Corn
  • Garden of Weedin’

    “What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson I wanted to title this post I hate weeding, but hate seems like a harsh word to use for gardening, so I’ll just say,… Continue reading

    Garden of Weedin’
  • Marathon May

    May is a butt kicker of a month for gardeners. Yes, I know it is June and that is my point. We were already rolling in abundance when we completed our eastward migration. YES! Cold frames filled with spinach. Three… Continue reading

    Marathon May
  • You Can Take the Man Out of Garden . . .

    Many Yoopers are snowbirds. They migrate to warmer climates and closer civilizations for the winter. Not us. We migrate laterally. People can’t wrap their brains around the idea that we go somewhere cold for the winter. We are skiers and… Continue reading

    You Can Take the Man Out of Garden . . .
  • Garlic Planting at the Eden of Garden

    We planted 1,248 cloves of garlic this year. Those cloves will most likely turn into 1,248 bulbs of garlic, at least a few hundreds pounds. That’s a lot of freaking garlic. And it’s a big task. We get asked a… Continue reading

    Garlic Planting at the Eden of Garden
  • Fall-ing

    “I’ve got my work cut out for me.” — The most common refrain you’ll hear this time of year around these parts. It’s busy. Everyday, putting up food. It’s bushel season. Everything is coming in extra large amounts. Apples, pears,… Continue reading

    Fall-ing
  • Copious Corn Consumption

    Corn. That’s what happening around here. The Boss has been waiting for this all year. He’s been carefully planning since browsing the seed catalog in February. Three hundred seeds. Three hundred opportunities for bi-colored deliciousness. You know corn season is… Continue reading

    Copious Corn Consumption
  • Awesome Amazing Abundant August

    August is the best month! “Sun is shining, the weather is sweet,” – Bob Marley. The weather is perfect. Abundant with sunshine and well-timed rain (the kind you can take off all your clothes and dance in). It’s warm enough… Continue reading

    Awesome Amazing Abundant August
  • Re-branding the Cucumber

    Is your garden overrun by cucumbers? Is the farmers market giving away free cucumbers with every purchase? Are your neighbors foisting their excess cucumbers on you? Sick of pickles? Then I’ve got a solution for you: spa cucumbers. Cucumbers have… Continue reading

    Re-branding the Cucumber
  • Recovery

    Gardening can seem like a lot of trouble and turmoil (hence, all the Boss’ war references), especially when everything is small and getting started. So vulnerable. Us gardeners can take is personally and “some of us” really let it get… Continue reading

    Recovery