Don Lewis’ Garden Guide

There is something about going to your cupboard and getting a jar of canned vegetables that you personally grew and preserved before winter set in.

Growing a garden may take a lot of work but it is something that you can enjoy all year long.

Canning and preserving everything you grow is not only safe but it can be very enjoyable and rewarding.

When you successfully hear all of the jars seal after they are done canning can give you a sense of accomplishment and can make you feel great about what your family eats. Continue Reading »

If you live in an area that is slightly parched of water, you know better than anyone that one of the things that decides whether a tree survives or not is your ability to supply it with sufficient water. Unfortunately, many people don’t take this in to account when buying a tree. They will just go for the nicest looking tree, and then wish they could give it more water. If you do a little planning before you rush out and buy a tree, you should be able to find trees that can survive on lower amounts of water.

Usually the most adaptable plants are the ones that are indigenous anyways. If you live in a zone that is suffering a water crisis, usually the only plants that survive are the ones that have been there all along. This is because they are used to the conditions and know how to survive. Just take a drive through the undeveloped regions of your city, and look at what trees are green. Find out their names, and buy them. They might not be the most attractive trees, but you rarely have to make any modifications to your soil to get them to grow. Continue Reading »

Many gardeners live in areas where almost anything can grow effortlessly. Just plant the seeds and water it for a few weeks, and you’ve got a beautifully lush plant. But if you live in somewhere like Colorado, you’ll understand what its like to have a slim selection of plants that naturally grow. It can be quite a challenge to facilitate the growth of a large variety of plants, especially when the very world you live in seems to be rooting against you.

Some people solve this problem by loading up their plants with every type of chemical and fertilizer known to man. This usually works, but to me it seems kind of unnatural to rely on man made materials to keep your plants alive. Also, if I’m growing fruits or vegetables, I don’t feel very comfortable eating something that is entirely composed of chemicals. Continue Reading »

Watching “Little House on the Prairie” gave us a sense of what life use to be like a long time ago when there was no grocery store to stop in at on your way home from work in the evening.

We would see Charles breaking the soil with a plow and his team of horses and almost fall asleep while eating his dinner.

Working hard to produce their food was necessary. If they didn’t work to produce their own garden they may not have enough food to get them through for the winter. Continue Reading »