Last summer I put two artichoke plants in my garden. They mostly sat there while my tomatoes took over everything, and sat there still while the pumpkins curled through the yard and then rotted where they grew because I had…
Panzanella Salad
With our bumper crop of little tomatoes, even Atti can’t eat them all. Despite his best efforts. So I needed a way I could gorge on them in actual meal form. Enter this perfect traditional bread salad from Italy. It’s…
Year of Pleasures: Tiny Tomatoes
My garden is going crazy this summer. I still haven’t had much success starting from seeds, but I’m not too shabby at the rest of it. I went out this morning to check on things and my little cherry tomato…
Year of Pleasures: Unlikely Tomatoes
I have a compost heap off to the side of the house, and since gardening and any kind of yard maitenance has been an absolute zero on my priority list, I never get over there. So imagine my surprise when…
DIY Dollar Store Hanging Baskets
These hanging baskets can’t get cheaper and add a gorgeous pop of color to your front porch. Today I’m sneaking in one last summer project before I turn my attention to the changing seasons. This move has changed everything about…
DIY Plant Stand out of Pallets
I did it! By the end of the day I was a sore, sweaty, mess. But in one day I built three pieces of outdoor furniture for absolutely nothing. And I did my part to save the planet by keeping…
DIY Compost Bin out of pallets
This backyard that I keep going on and on about, the backyard that has changed the way our family lives and made all of Atti’s dreams come true, also offered me a ton of projects to get done. I mean…
Year of Pleasures: Homegrown Broccoli
This batch of broccoli came from the community garden I planted with my pal Dave. Since I haven’t been on top of my game lately, he did all the work and I still get to enjoy the harvest. Smothered in…
Year of Pleasures: Community Garden
Next door to my church is a huge open lot. They’ve made a couple of attempts at some organized gardening, but this year they just left it open for a giant free for all. So my friend Dave and I…
Seedling Success
Never in my life have I been successful at starting seedlings. Well, I take that back. One time I was successful, but it was the great poppy explosion of ’08 that resulted from my dumping an entire package of seedlings…