Andrew

Hi, I’m Andrew. I grew up on a farm, so growing food has been part of my life for a long time. After Betty and I got married, we started growing and canning on our own land. More recently, when we bought our property, we put in 21 raised garden beds. We grew so much that we were able to can over 100 quart jars of produce. On this site, I write the kind of blog posts I wish I had when we were figuring it out.

Mushroom grow bags on a tray, one with oyster mushrooms and one with a large lion’s mane mushroom fruiting indoors.

Foraging, Gardening, Growing Indoors, Growing Plants, Homesteading

10 Types of Mushrooms to Grow at Home (Plus Easy Growing Methods for Beginners)

May 5, 2026

Mushrooms are one of the most rewarding crops you can grow at home — and ...

Mini pond with water lilies, aquatic plants, and a small waterfall feature.

Backyard, DIY, Ponds

How to Make a DIY Mini Pond in a Small Space (Easy and Budget Friendly)

May 4, 2026

A DIY mini pond is one of the easiest, most rewarding small-space projects you can ...

Backyard with a small curved pool, stone patio seating, dining set with umbrella, and lush trees surrounding a brick house.

Backyard, DIY, Garden Design, Patios

12 Cheap DIY Paver Patio Ideas That Look Seriously Good

May 4, 2026

A beautiful paver patio is one of those backyard upgrades that seems like it should ...

Close-up of a yellow-and-black wasp facing the camera on a light surface.

Backyard, DIY, Homesteading, Pest Control

Stop Wasps Fast: How to Get Rid of Them Outside Without the Hassle

May 1, 2026

Stepping into your backyard for a quiet morning coffee shouldn’t end with you sprinting back ...

Walkable ground cover of purple and white heather-like flowers forming a dense, low-growing carpet across a garden slope.

Gardening, Ground Cover Plants

11 Tough Yet Pretty Walkable Ground Covers You’ll Wish You Planted Sooner

April 30, 2026

If you’ve ever stared at the sad strip of grass running between your stepping stones ...

Neatly trimmed round green shrubs in a garden bed

Backyard, Garden Design, Homesteading

The Secret to a More Private Backyard? These Gorgeous Privacy Shrubs

April 30, 2026

If you’ve ever stepped into your backyard only to lock eyes with a neighbor across ...

Flower, Gardening

15 Stunning Summer Flowers for a Lively, Bloom-Filled Garden

April 29, 2026

Summer is arguably the most spectacular season in the garden. The days are long, the ...

White chicken perched on a roost inside a coop with wood shavings and nesting boxes.

Chicken Coop, Raising Chickens, Small Farm Animals

The Chicken Coop Poop Shelf Trick That Saves You So Much Time

April 28, 2026

If you keep backyard chickens, you already know the truth nobody mentions when you are ...

River rock landscaping with gravel yard, bordered edges, and wooden planters in a backyard setting.

Backyard, Garden Layout, Homesteading

11 Budget-Friendly River Rock Landscaping Ideas That Still Look High-End

April 27, 2026

River rocks are one of those landscaping materials that look like they cost a fortune ...

Lush indoor garden with dense green foliage, pink flowers, and hanging moss over rocks.

Garden Hacks, Gardening, Homesteading

How to Start Chaos Gardening for an Easy, Abundant Backyard Garden

April 24, 2026

If you’ve ever stood in a garden center staring at perfectly labeled seed packets, wondering ...