Bonus Issue: Mother Earth News Organic Gardening 2025
Beat the Garden Blues
Tailoring your garden to your area is an acquired skill. Here are five ways to rebound when plans go awry.
Plan a Garden to Feed Your Family
If you want a plot that’ll stock your larder for a year, figure on a few calculations before ordering seeds.
Design a Diversified Garden
With a little research and planning, you can grow a plot of fruits, vegetables, and herbs to match your family’s needs and tastes.
Introducing Children to the World of Gardening
Plant some seeds and help your youngsters discover the art of growing plants.
Transitioning to a Certified Organic Farm
If you’re considering organic certification for your farm, this expert advice can help you navigate the daunting process.
Early Sowings for Early Harvests
Plant crops with a fast turnaround time to savor your harvests just weeks after sowing.
Leaf Litter to the Rescue: Free Fertilizer from Your Backyard
A citizen science project reveals the “unbe-leaf-able” soil benefits of composted leaves and twigs.
DIY PLANS
Water-Resistant ‘Plybarrow’
Build a sturdy plywood wheelbarrow that can weather everyday work, come rain or shine.
DIY Garden Spiral
Boost your planting square footage and your garden’s visual appeal by building a spiraling structure in which herbs and flowers can flourish.
Build Reusable Seed Flats
Use handmade wooden flats to grow sturdy seedlings year after year.
Compost Enclosure
Construct a fence that can envelope your compost while bringing life and diversity to your property.
Protect Your Plants with a Raised Bed and Row Cover
Provide a haven for your vegetables when wildlife and insects want to take a bite out of your crops.
Solar Hothouse
Salvage recycled materials to build a hothouse that’ll keep you growing well into cold weather.
DIY Greenhouse
Learn how to build a lowcost, portable greenhouse.
PREPARE THE SOIL
Sow Success in Stony Soil
If your gardening goals are stuck between a rock and a hard place, don’t despair! Learn how to grow a bounty of crops despite rocky conditions.
To Mulch or Not to Mulch
Experienced gardener offers advice on what to use and why she recommends it.
Small-Scale Composting
A longtime composter offers techniques and tips that make recycling organic waste in cramped spaces not just possible but also accessible.
Bee Soil Improvement
Add nutrients to the soil while attracting pollinators to aid in plant growth.
To Till or Not to Till?
Dig into the pros and cons of each method to guide your soil-preparation choices.
Repair the Nitrogen Cycle in Your Garden
Restore your soil’s ability to circulate nutrients by cultivating the intricate and fascinating networks between plants and microbes.
PLANTING/SAVING SEEDS
It’s a Trap (Crop)
Lure insect pests away from your hard-earned harvest by planting a system of “traps” throughout your growing spaces.
Grow Up!
No space? No problem, when using hydroponic vertical-farming techniques for maximum yields.
The Next Step for Seed Savers
Now that you’ve saved your heirloom seeds, it is time to start a seed library to share with other seed savers.
Decode Growing Zones
To make the best plant selections, learn plants’ preferred conditions and how they adapt to new environments.
Radiant Radishes: A Fabulous Fall Crop
Learn how to grow crisp and juicy radishes that perfectly complement your dishes.
Growing Beans
Learn the basics of one of the easiest garden veggies to raise.
Add Garlic to Your Garden Lineup
This easy-going crop packs a flavorful punch that can’t be beat by store-bought options.
A Year of Tomatoes
A few tips to keep your favorite crop going all year long.
Outstanding Okra: A Succulent Summer Staple
Add this hardy and bountiful crop to your garden for stunning blooms and delicious produce.
Elderberries: A Wondrous and Wild Fruit
Elderberries are a healthy, flavorful addition to both your pantry and medicine cabinet.
The Curious Creeping Cucumber
This small but mighty cucurbit offers gardeners a unique food that requires minimal care to grow year after year.
Hurrah for Red Raspberries
Raspberry patches offer a sumptuous summer bounty year after year with minimal upkeep.
Growing Sweet Potatoes
Known for their rich, complex flavor, these colorful roots are surprisingly easy to grow in home gardens.
HARVEST
Preserving Herbs for Freshness Year-Round
Surprise your taste buds with garden-grown herbs that add flavor all year long.
Let’s Store the Harvest
Without a dedicated root cellar.
