If your Trini herb garden is still thriving or for the most case alive, you are ready to up the ante and begin planting some vegetables. Either that or you just heard the budget and need to find some ways to cut back on your food bill. Either way, it’s time to plant your very own vegetable garden for fresh, organic and delicious produce! You will be amazed by the sweet, juicy flavors and vibrant textures that you will harvest!   Start by thinking about what you purchase in stores the most or what seems to be too expensive so you can save some money. For me, I love sweet peppers with my pasta, omelets and salads and pimentos in basically anything from my macaroni pie to homemade pizza so these were must haves for me!   Here are some popular selections: VEGETABLES Tomatoes Bell Peppers Pimentos Melongene/ Eggplant Lettuce Cabbage Kale Cucumber Cauliflower Broccoli Once you know what you want to plant, it’s time to make your vegetable ga...

The word ‘organic’ has become a buzz word when referring to eating healthier. We want organic fruits and vegetables but what exactly does this mean and how do we achieve this in our home gardens? WHAT IS ORGANIC GARDENING? Simply put, organic gardeners don't use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides on their plants. Ideally, organic gardening seeks to work with nature through replenishing resources as it makes use of them like using waste for compost or rotating crops to replenish nutrients in the soil, organic gardening. HOW DO YOU CONTROL PESTS AND DISEASE ORGANICALLY? While having an organic garden doesn’t mean that you have to live with worms in your produce, it does dictate that your garden may not be 100% pest free or look magazine ready. ORGANIC GARDENING TAKES THOUGHTFULLNESS, PLANNING, AND PATIENCE To keep your garden organic start with following the following steps. 1.      Be Observant - Check your garden often and get to know y...

Granny use to say “Make sure and check the Old Farmer’s Almanac before you plant anything’. As a child, I would be confused. Why would an almanac dictate when you would go outside and garden in your own yard? I would see her with the book but still, it just made no sense.   Fast forward 20 years and here I am cynically looking at, you’ve guessed it, the Old Farmer’s Almanac to determine when the next best day for planting would be. For those of you like me, had no clue what this Almanac is about, I’m about to blow your mind!   How Do They Predict the Weather? According to the Old Farmers’ Almanac, they derive their weather forecasts from a unique secret formula that was devised by the founder of the Almanac, Robert B. Thomas, in 1792. Thomas believed that weather on Earth was influenced by sunspots, which are magnetic storms on the surface of the Sun. (Mental Floss http://bit.ly/1zb4028 )   Is This Reliable Information? Apparently, the accuracy of th...

Have you ever seen those cute tiny gardens in a bottle? That’s a terrarium, a self-sustainable ecosystem with a living, growing plant inside a sealed bottle. Mind blown! As the owner of four cats, creating a terrarium may possibly be the only way to keep a plant indoors without it being chewed on or peed in…. Plus, if you are popular for inadvertently murdering plants, this artistic, low maintenance option may be your saving grace!    This year, I have decided that I will use my passion for gardening to create personalized terrariums for my friends and family as Christmas gifts. Making a terrarium is a pretty easy project and the plant growing inside can survive for decades without any watering or other care. So it’s the gift that keeps on giving. SUPPLIES Ø Glass bottle or jar with a lid - clear glass bottle, soft drink bottle and liquor bottles which tend to be a little fancier, and can make a beautiful enclosure. Recycled jam or pasta sauce jars can w...

Like most things in life, sometimes you need a little inspiration to get things done. While most days I want to garden, there are some days I wish the plants could water and maintain themselves. Those are the days I need a little extra push to get up and go outside. Inspirational quotes can help to reignite the passion gardeners have for making food grow and watching flowers bloom.   Here are 21 of the most thought-provoking gardening quotes. We must cultivate our own garden. When man was put in the Garden of Eden he was put there so that he should work, which proves that man was not born to rest. ~ Voltaire The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul. ~ Alfred Austin The garden suggests there might be a place where we can meet nature halfway. ~ Michael Pollan I like gardening — it's a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. ~Alice Sebold...

If you are reading this blog and you are from Trinidad and Tobago, you know the struggles we faced with our parents and grandparents having a plant in almost every room, even if it was made of plastic! (Yeah, I see you!)  Today, that dedication to positioning plants on walls and in corners can come in handy when gardening indoors, especially if you live in an apartment. Although gardening in apartments restricts planting huge trees, it forces you to come up with creative ways to plant your favorite herbs and vegetables that maximize the space that you do have. Many varieties of salad greens can also thrive indoors with any type of pot that has adequate drainage. Did You Know- Filling your indoor space with plants creates a relaxing environment and helps purify the air. The most important thing in apartment gardening is knowing what your sunlight exposure is in the various areas of your home. If you have a spot that gets full sunlight, then full sun plants can be...

Everything has a beginning, I mean even the chicken started with the egg, right? Your garden is no different, you need to start by sourcing seedlings or seeds. SEEDLINGS These seedlings can be affordably purchased at various plant shops throughout Trinidad and Tobago from as low as 50 ₵ ! So for example, a 50 ₵  investment in okra seedlings can earn you over $200 in crops when harvested. Selecting seedlings can make or break your garden so be sure that you: Check the foliage:  Leaves should be a consistent strong solid colour (usually     green). Avoid yellow leaves, it can mean that the seedling is lacking a nutrient.  Buds, not flowers:  Select flower seedlings or small potted plants that have more buds rather than already flowering – you’ll get to enjoy your flowers longer! Check for hitchhikers : Look carefully on the underside of leaves because common garden pests like whitefly, aphids, and mealybug like to hide out...

Like most things in my life, minus my ex, you need to know what you are doing; the same goes for gardening. The delectable crops and gorgeous flowers don’t arrange themselves, you need a plan! I call it ‘Strategic Gardening’ because this plan caters to both your short and long-term gardening needs and it sounds way fancier than ‘Garden Planning’. Here are some useful steps to help plan your garden no matter where you intend to start planting. This way you are more organized and are sure to get what you want out of your time and effort! Step 1- Identify Your Garden Space Determine where would be a great space for your garden. If it’s outdoors it must be located in an easily accessible area that is open to some sunlight. If you’re planting indoors identify the areas where you can easily accommodate flower pots for walls, floors or counters. For me, it’s my backyard. I have four cats so any plants placed indoors, even seedlings are left to the mercy of these savages! ...

  “You’re in the bush again?” I complained to my mother as I watched her labor in the yard sweating and digging in the dirt. When I was little I viewed plants as an inconvenience, another thing you would have to remember to keep alive. Well into my teenage years I felt this way and struggled to comprehend what was so great about gardening. That was until one day I stared into my blank backyard from my kitchen window and it dawned on me that it was a canvas for a gorgeous and peaceful retreat. Although at the time I knew nothing about gardening, I excitedly purchased and planted one sunflower and every time I washed the dishes over the five days that flower survived, I smiled. That was the beginning, during the next four years while I would be the cause of the demise of numerous flowers, I would discover the best 5 reasons why everyone should get down and dirty. #1: It’s peaceful AF! Yes, gardening provides a peaceful retreat away from life’s hectic demands. ...