Has all your spinach long since bolted? Too hot to get new seedlings going? Hate the rising grocery store prices and constant E. coli scares? Yeah, me too. How about a free spinach alternative that you may already have growing in your backyard or garden? Sounds good to me…

Did you know picking berries is a learned skill? I often take this for granted since I’ve grown up around gardens, nature, and berry plants, but if my dog can learn how to pick raspberries without me consciously teaching her, anybody can! So let’s find some free berries!

A few weeks ago, we had a huge explosion of dandelions at my house – just fields and fields full of sunny yellow flowers. Now I know most people aren’t huge fans of dandelions popping up all over their lawns and gardens, but I actually kinda like them… Especially now that I know how to make syrup and jellies from the flowers that taste just like honey!

It’s finally indoor seed-starting season! In Michigan anyway. I always get excited this time of year because it means spring and green things will be here soon. It also means its time to start figuring out how to grow all the veggies and flower plants I want without spending all my money on them. But without sacrificing quality or quantity – because who wants a tomato plant that doesn’t produce any tomatoes? And we could all use a few extra bucks, right? Even if, as in my case, you often just…

Please welcome guest author: Carrie Spencer!

Finally, on to the good stuff – the wild grape jelly! In my last post I started writing about wild grape season being in full swing and collecting grapes for making jelly. We got through the grape collecting part and juicing the grapes, but didn’t get to the actual jelly making part… So here we go!

Its wild grape season here in southern Michigan and the vines are finally covered in little purplish-black berries. Technically, it’s actually been wild grape season since late August, but I’m only just getting around to picking and processing them lol. Good for me that they have a pretty long ripe season around here (about late August through October). That means that it’s also jelly making season!

Outside in the garden, or maybe walking through the weeds? Suddenly in excruciating pain? Think you’ve been stung by a wasp? Think again! You may have been meddling with a nettle 😦

Got a lot of mint in the garden you don’t know what to do with? Try making mint oil! It’s a great way to safely and organically remove ground-nesting wasp nests.

I love this time of year. Yes, it’s hot. Yes, it’s humid. But, there are fresh berries!