Grow it as a cover crop, or grow it for the market stand. Spinach is a great early spring plant to sow directly in beds. As cover, it stabilizes soil, preventing weeds and erosion, while building soil ...

In March, winter is waning, even if your region has a long, cold season. In southern regions, March signals the end, whereas in the North, there may still be a few months of cold weather. Unless the ...

There are two images associated with the word compost. One is of a rotting, fly-infested cesspool of kitchen scraps that makes you gag if you get close. The other is rich, crumbly, pleasantly earthy ...

Welcome to the world of mutton busting, also known as wool riding. It’s a recreation that has been taking county fairs and rodeos by storm in which children reenact the rodeo ritual of bull riding in ...

And they’ll tell you, if it’s your first time, that licking your fingers between throws (you get two chances) will give you good luck and a better grip. I was invited to try my hand at throwing cow ...

It’s autumn in Stowe, Vermont. Fire-hued leaves are reaching their peak and the growing season is drawing to a close for most local farmers. But not for saffron grower Brian Leven. “I’m just starting ...

As Brian Paddock walks through his 12-and-a-half acres of almond trees, he’s taking in everything. Paddock, like a lot of farmers, is a details guy. He pays attention to each tree, to the soil ...

When Mary Dougherty first heard of the plan to build a 26,000-hog concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in her home of Bayfield, Wisconsin, she knew it was bad news. What she didn’t know was ...

It was hard enough just to get anything to grow in a time before pest control and fertilizers. Then there was the constant threat of roving brigands who had no qualms about stealing your livestock or ...

There are five key rules to follow when making bourbon whiskey. First, it must be distilled in the United States, and it must be a grain mixture with at least 51 percent corn mash. There can be no ...

If you peruse a seed catalog, especially one geared toward heirloom vegetables, you’ll quickly realize that the selection of tomato transplants in nurseries pales in comparison to the variety of seed ...