Trees

The most exciting time of year for anyone who has a fruit tree is the period when harvest time rolls around. We have an orchard with a variety of different …

Fruit-bearing trees that are left to grow just as nature intended will become massive over time. Although beautiful, mature fruit trees with large spreading canopies and dense crowns will shade …

Good friends are hard to come by. But good neighbors? Harder still. So, when you’ve grown tired of staring out your kitchen window at the neighbor’s collection of “classic” cars, …

Biting into a perfect, tree-ripened peach could be the culinary highlight of your summer. That is, if you know the best varieties to plant: three to four years in advance. …

If you’re lucky enough to have your own fruit trees, then you know there is no comparison to the flavor and juiciness of a freshly picked peach or apple from …

Lemons are one of the most versatile fruits for cooking and baking, but did you know you can grow them at home? While most citrus trees need to grow outdoors …

The type of soil you have in your garden will have a big impact on the plants you are able to grow. One common soil type is clay, or heavy …

No fruit screams tropical summer paradise like a mango. Whether it’s the bright yellowy-orange color or the stunning green leaves with a touch of red, these trees are wonderful additions …

Foraging can be a great way to supplement a homegrown diet. When foraging, you may be surprised by some of the great wild edibles you can find. For example, did …

If you’ve been following the avocado’s steady rise to internet fame, I’m sure you’ve seen the viral trend of growing your own avocado tree from the seed or pit of the …

We always dreamed of establishing an orchard at Pencil Creek, our little farm in southcentral Pennsylvania, but for more than ten years, other projects took priority. It wasn’t until we …

Fear of drought. Worry over forest fires and flash floods. Concern over rapidly rising temperatures. Fretting about climate disasters that are beyond our control, to the likes we don’t even …

Sometimes life hands you lemons. Other times, we actively seek them by growing our own lemon trees. There really isn’t anything like having a citrus tree in your garden. They …

Removing a tree stump makes for a great weekend project – outdoor exercise combined with a profound lesson on how different trees grow different roots. Does your tree have a …

When planning out your homestead growing space, the vegetable garden tends to get most of the attention. However, you’re doing your family a disservice if you don’t prioritize learning how …

Apple, cherry, plum, and other fruit trees are always a splendid addition to the edible landscape. Gorgeous in every season, fruit trees put out a mesmerizing display of fragrant blooms …

We are a Christmas tree farm family. Each December, we head out to a local tree farm to pick out the perfect evergreen to grace our home for the holidays. …

There are few fall pleasures as profound as biting into a homegrown apple. However, apple trees cause far more than their fair share of stress for any home growers.   …

Growing trees in your garden is always a great idea. They can enrich your life in a huge range of ways, as well as sequestering carbon, cleaning the air, and …

Last year, I added a new plant to my forest garden – a Siberian pea tree or pea shrub (Caragana arborescens). In this article, I want to share my reasons …

The knowledge and ability to harvest elderflowers and elderberries for both food and medicine, will take you far on your journey to a self-reliant life. Naturally, you may be able …

Planting a new plum tree is an exciting experience. They say that the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, but the next best time is today. …

Diversification is key to making money on a homestead. And here are 35 ways to make a little – or a lot – of money from your homestead. One of …

Does the thought of pruning your beloved fruit trees make your palms sweat, and leave you searching online for videos or tutorials on how to do it correctly? Are you …