The Free Regenerative Gardening Knowledge-Base

Finding grubs in your dirt and are wondering if grubs are good or bad for the soil and your garden? We'll demystify it here!

We're looking at methods for improving soil quality, as well as the different time scales over which it can happen

So you want to make your own seed-starting mixes and potting soils, huh? Get all the best custom soil mix recipes here.

Looking to get into cover crops but aren't sure which ones? We'll discuss how to determine the best cover crops for you.

Best cover crops for Tucson are and the timing for each, a rough seasonal guide for what cover crops to plant during each season in Tucson.

We'll look at what alkaline soil is, how to identify it, work with it, and how to fix it if you've got soil that's a bit too basic.

We're looking at nitrogen deficiency in plants - what it looks like, how to identify it, and what to do about it.

Seed-saving opens up a whole new realm of self-reliance in gardening and farming. Let's talk about how to save garden seeds here

Curious what to plant in Tucson in July? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in July in Tucson.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in June? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in June in Tucson.

An extensive list of plant families which are commonly cultivated as food crops, encompassing most edible species which gardeners grow.

Ever wonder whether you can still eat vegetables that are flowering? We'll talk about which veggies are still edible after bolting.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in April? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in April in Tucson.

Pollinators thrive when there is always something in bloom for them. This garden bloom timeline will help you know what to plant.

How to cure my compost: Composting is a fantastic way to turn food scraps and yard waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment for your garden

Curious what to plant in Tucson in September? This is a super busy month for Tucson gardeners! It's exciting and stressful simultaneous

Curious what to plant in Tucson in December? We say goodbye to the warm season. If the first frost hasn't come yet, it will any day now.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in February? Harvesting and planting of cool season root crops and leafy greens continues.

If you've ever asked yourself: why should I plant cover crops? You're not alone! Cover crops can be confusing, but we break it all down here

Why is crop rotation important? Crop rotation is an essential technique used by farmers and gardeners to maintain healthy soil...

Interested in learning about how to grow tomatoes in Arizona? This is your guide to growing tomatoes in AZ.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in May? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in May in Tucson.

Want to know what to plant each month in Tucson? Come check out these Tucson monthly planting guides for crops and timing.

Trap crops are grown to take some of the pest pressure off of your main crops, by being even more attractive to pests.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in March? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in March in Tucson

root-knot nematodes parasitize the roots of many plants, reducing their ability to uptake water and nutrients.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in January? January in the low desert is a great time. While the rest of the country is months away.

Curious what to plant in Tucson in November? This seasonal planting guide is your manual for November gardening!

Curious what to plant in Tucson in October? This is a really busy month for Tucson gardeners! Now we're officially into autumn...

If you're an organic gardener, you may have heard of the term "chop and drop" before. This approach to gardening is gaining popularity...

Your guide to growing swiss chard in your garden. We'll cover everything chard, all the way from seed to harvest!

Each of these common citrus varieties was a cross made by pairing two or more original landrace citrus varieties to create something...

Wondering how to get rid of mosquitoes in the garden? We know how annoying these little pests can be, and we've got tips and tricks to help!

Cabbage worms aren't worms at all! They're caterpillars and they absolutely LOVE cabbage and other brassicas. Let's look at how to deal...

...This guide to growing basil in Arizona. Let's talk desert basil for all you dryland gardeners.

If you're looking to learn more about growing dwarf blue curled kale, this is the place. I love this variety!

Let's take a closer look at these funny little isopods and delve into whether woodlice are good for the garden or not.

We'll talk about how to get your slips started, rooted, and growing. Let's jump right into how to grow sweet potato slips!

Curious about what compost ratio to use for seedlings, and whether too much compost can hurt your plants? Here's the scoop...

Curious how to attract beneficial insects? If you're an organic gardener, this is so important because they'll help to maintain balance.

Your guide to cover crops for compacted soil. Which covers to use, and how to utilize them for breaking up soil compaction

Curious about growing garlic in Arizona? Garlic grows well in AZ, and we're going to look at exactly how to grow it here.

Can you bury a plant stem? Wondering if you can bury a plant when transplanting? Want to know which plants you can bury stems? Find out here

Gophers are a burrowing rodent and might well show up as a garden pest. Let's talk about how you might deal with gophers in the garden.

Cover crops are grown specifically to improve soil health. Cover crops help to protect and enrich the soil in a number of ways...

While cover crops are incredible for improving soil and as forage for animals, some can also double as edible crops for us humans!

Looking to boost your organic garden's health without the use of pesticides? Learn all about beneficial insects for organic gardening

Your job is to gently guide your ecosystem in a healthy and sustainable direction. Let's jump into balancing your permaculture ecosystem.

As a gardener, you've likely experienced the frustration of seeing aphids feasting your favorite plants. These tiny, soft-bodied insects...

Curious what to plant in Tucson in August? It's a great time in the low desert! Let's talk about what you can grow in Tucson August

Got a case of ants in your garden soil? Before reaching for the insecticides, let's learn about the role these important critters play!

Considering growing alfalfa as a cover crop? Here's what you should know: growing the next layer of new nitrogen...

We've compiled every dang thing we know about successful garlic cultivation into this ultimate guide to growing garlic!

This is your guide to growing potatoes in the desert. If you're an avid desert gardener, you may be wondering if it's even possible...

Here we'll help you build the foundational desert gardening knowledge that will support your success as a drylands grower.

What exactly is soil organic matter content (SOM), and why is it so important for gardeners to understand? Let's talk about it.

Flea beetles can be a real pest in the garden, ravaging kale and cabbage, chard and turnips. Let's look at how to deal with flea beetles.

If you're curious how to reduce your garden inputs, this guide will help shift your mindset over to a more regenerative and self-sustaining

Want to learn how to start a regenerative garden? This one's for you. We'll look at all the regenerative techniques and how to get started.

Curious about Tucson garden soil? We'll look at the native soil, ways to improve it, and what to add to your garden dirt.

What is the problem with bird netting? Before you decide to use bird netting in your garden, make sure you understand the issues...

Cowpeas (aka black-eyed peas) are known for their tolerance of sandy soils and low rainfall. Keep reading to learn all about them!

Phosphorus is critical for food production, soil fertility, and crop yields. Let's look at how it cycles through agricultural systems.

To many gardeners, birds in the garden are only seen as an annoying nuisance. Let's learn to see birds as garden pest prevention though.

Curious about the relationship between regenerative gardening and systems thinking? Gardening is more than just planting seeds...

As an organic gardener, you may be wondering how to control pests naturally. We all love to see our plants thrive and grow healthy.

Sesame is often overlooked by home gardeners. Let's delve into this underutilized crop, and talk about how to grow your own sesame seeds.

Curious what plants you can propagate cuttings from in water? We're listing out every plant that'll grow roots in water.

Also known as tickseed, coreopsis is not just a beautiful flower and pollinator magnet - it also makes an amazing natural dye!

This is a simple test, yet its importance shouldn't be overlooked. So why should you test your garden soil pH? Let's dive into it.

Wondering if you can grow cover crops with cash crops, and why you might do that?Cover crops are an excellent way to improve soil health...

This amazing plant is often referred to as nature's medicine cabinet. We'll look at how to grow and use yarrow.

Want to learn more about the soil texture triangle and gain a better understanding of your soil composition? This guide is for you.

Take companion planting guides with a grain of salt, because truly the bro-science runs rampant within this topic.

Plant health directly correlates with biodiversity. Species are stronger together, and ecosystems need many creatures to attain equilibrium.

Having problems with slugs eating your veggies? Let's talk about how to get rid of slugs in the garden.

Wondering how to deal with garden or greenhouse thrips? We'll talk about what thrips are, what they do, and...

let's take a look at the mindset of seeing garden pests as indicators, rather than problems themselves. It can be temping to reach for...

If you've heard about no-till gardening or 'no-dig' and are wondering what the hype is about, this is for you.

Here in the Sonoran Desert, we've got a unique list of characters who will come to your aid and help keep your plants pollinated.

They can be a pain, but that doesn't mean we need to reach for harmful insecticides. Let's talk how to get rid of cucumber beetles naturally

The Natural Farming method, aka 'Do-Nothing Farming', and why this mindset is important for organic gardeners to understand

Regenerative agriculture revolves around the idea that we should build and improve soil quality over time, by giving more than we take.

Natural gardening takes traditional natural farming methods and scales them down for home-growers to utilize.

Want to learn how to start a garden in Arizona? Keep reading, we'll outline the basics of organic desert gardening here.

Fortunately, there are many Miracle-Gro alternatives that can help us achieve the same results without harming the environment.

If you're finding that the water just beads up or runs straight through, You're encountering the peat moss hydrophobic dilemma

Looking for how to clean grow bags between uses? We've got the sterilization and washing techniques you're looking for here.

Not only are they harmless to humans and pets, but black soldier fly larvae also play an important role in composting and soil-building.

sometimes a butternut squash will break off of the vine, and you'll be left wondering can you eat green butternut squash?

Whether you're just getting into seed-saving or you want to learn to properly store seeds you bought, let's talk about storing saved seeds.

Your guide to undercrop shorter covers underneath taller main crops. In a regenerative context, this often means low-growing cover crops..

In this guide on how to cure garlic for storage, we'll walk through how to tranform your hard-grown garlic into year-round flavor

Curious whether you can transplant corn? Let's talk about starting corn and what it will tolerate.

Growing strawberries in Arizona is possible! I've done it and are here to tell you all about how to grow AZ strawberries.

If you're getting into hügelkultur, you'll want to avoid these common hügelkultur mistakes to ensure success in your garden.

Oats can be a cornerstone for your winter cover and soil-building. If you're curious about using oats as a winter cover in Tucson...

I've included this glossary of terms as a way to acquaint yourself with the wonderful world of regenerative gardening.

If you've ever experienced an overabundance from the garden, we'll learn how to ferment garden veggies here!

Discover why the best soil can only be grown at home and how it will result in healthier plants. Say goodbye to expensive soil forever.

Just as there are a wide variety of decomposing mulches to cover and protect your soil, so too are there numerous living mulches to grow.

Intensive planting is a method of gardening that maximizes the use of space and time to produce the higher yields at increased density.

Let's talk about how plant cuttings can survive in just water, how long they can do that, and dive into the science behind it.

Korean Natural Farming (KNF) recognizes and stresses the important of diverse microbial populations for soil health.

Fermented plant juice is a concept derived from the Korean Natural Farming (KNF) method developed by Master Han Kyu Cho.

If you've grown your own vegetables and ended up with more than you can eat at once, curing & storage become important to understand.

It all comes down to the magical process of curing. We'll look at how to cure butternut squash for ultimate storage-readiness.

If you're looking for Tucson average first / last frost dates of the season for gardening, you're in the right place.

Hügelkultur is a German technique used by gardeners and farmers which involves filling plots, mounds, or raised beds primarily with wood...

Growing plants from seed is one of the most freeing parts of gardening. Let's jump into how to grow plants from seed indoors.

We're talking all things soil blocking here! We'll delve into the pros and cons of this efficient way to start seedlings and reduce waste.

Growing ginger is easy! Start with an organic hand of ginger from a farmers market or grocery store...

Never buy grocery store lettuce again! Growing lettuce is quick and easy, and we've got tons of tips and tricks for you.

Wondering how to deal with fungus gnats? We've got suggestions and tricks on how to get rid of these annoying little critters.

looking to get into starting your garden seedlings indoors? Let's talk about how to choose a grow light for seedlings.

Is gardening expensive? Whether you're new to gardening and curious about the cost, or looking for ways you can reduce your garden inputs...

Let's look at some of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your garden, and some things to be careful to avoid for their safety.

Acclimating seedlings is especially important when they're going out to harsh conditions. Let's look at how to harden them off successfully.

We're looking at a variety of covers, and some best methods for terminating cover crops.

many gardeners struggle with how to sow seeds into the cover crop residue. In this post, we will discuss how to sow in cover crop residue...

Nitrogen is crucial for food production, especially for vegetative growth. Let's look at how it cycles through agricultural systems.

Weeds tell you just about everything you need to know about your environment, climate, soil structure, texture, pH, and soil health.

Curious about the peat moss controversy and why you should or should not garden with peat moss? Learn more about the problems with peat here

Sandy soil can be difficult for gardeners and farmers to grow in, but we've got techniques and tips to help make it easy.

Worried when mushrooms pop up in garden beds? There's no cause for concern. Fungi are a sign that organic matter is being broken down.

Hornworms are notorious in gardens, especially on nightshades. We'll explore how to prevent hornworms with natural solutions.

These soil conglomerates, along with and the pores that they contain define the overall structure of our soil.

Whiteflies can be a huge pain for gardeners, but there are a ton of options for how to get rid of whiteflies naturally.

Your guide to building soil organically in your garden, and improving its quality over time.

Grasshoppers can be a real pain in gardens, eating up to half their body weight each day.

Did you know that the leaves of the strawberry plant are even more nutrient, rich and beneficial than the berries? That's right!

Today we're discussing how empiricism relates to gardening, and what that means for you as a gardener. Empiricism is an epistemological...

When your zucchini and summer squash tips turn brown and leathery before they're ripe, you may wonder what causes zucchini blossom end rot

What's wrong with using Miracle-Gro in the garden? Miracle-Gro is a popular brand of synthetic fertilizer that has been used for decades...

Napa cabbage is a resilient and heat-tolerant brassica that should have a place in your garden. Let's look at how to grow it, care, and uses

Compost and soil are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two very different things. While they are...

So you wanna know why people actually choose to garden in the desert? We might seem crazy, and us desert growers are a little crazy... but!

Composting IS gardening. If you know how to make incredible compost, plants will (almost) grow themselves!

Want to learn about the components of soil and understand what exactly dirt is comprised of? Read all about the components of soil here.

We'll cover the primary macronutrients and micronutrients required by plants to grow healthy, and common amendments which contain them.

Looking to learn how to grow this tasty radish in your garden? Jump into growing daikon here.

Gardeners looking to make their own calcium + magnesium mix can grab the organic calmag recipe for plants here.

In this guide, we'll explore some key considerations for small space composting, and provide tips for success when space is limited

If you've got limited space but still want to learn to garden, this guide is for you! Let's jump into gardening in small spaces here and...

So you grew some vegetables, but now they're flowering and you don't know why. Let's talk.

Learn how to make compost tea for your garden in this comprehensive guide. Discover the secrets of bubbling up a potent elixir.

If you've ever had a tray of seedlings that looked like this, you'll know exactly why it's important to know the seed germination times.

Choosing between hardneck and softneck garlic means understanding your climate. Let's look at hardneck vs. softneck garlic.

Let's talk vernalization - what it is, why it's important, and how to vernalize garlic

Looking for the best way to water planters? We've got watering tips and tricks for your container plants here!

Succession planting is the key to continual garden harvests all throughout the season. Master this technique with the tips and tricks here!

Interested in saving water in your Tucson organic garden? Water is a precious resource in the desert, but there are ways to conserve it.

Let's talk about how to prune a fruit tree the right way, and make sure you feel confident doing it. There are a few simple guidelines you..

Curious if you can make soil blocks using only compost? I tried it, and I've got the results here - check it out!

For a given batch of seeds, the germination rate represents the average viability rate of a sample of seeds - the average success rate...

If you've got an organic pepper from the grocery store and are wondering whether you can plant the seeds...

I know you're frustrated with the garden damage from these critters and wondering "how do I deal with ground squirrels in the garden?"

So you've got your hands on some mushroom block compost and want to know how to use it in the garden? We've got you.

Dealing with rats is a pain, especially when they're eating your produce. We'll talk about how to deal with rats in the garden.

Looking for instructions on how to sterilize soil? You found 'em! Let's talk about the whole process of renewing your soil.

Let's talk about some of the invasive plant species to be wary of in Arizona. If you're gardening or landscaping, be sure to avoid these.

Curious what hardiness zone Tucson is? It depends on what side of town you're on! Tucson encompasses a few different USDA hardiness zones...

There plenty of ways to build a narrow garden tunnel. If you need to span and narrower width like I had to (32"), you might find...

Looking for the best composting methods for the Arizona desert? Composting is an excellent way to reduce your environmental impact

Let's look at how to compost carboard, so you can recycle this free and abundant resource for use in your garden.

...growing organically or are interested in getting into it, we'll go over everything you need to know about growing with zero synthetics.

There are a few means of controlling compost bioactivity. You can utilize adjustments to moisture level, aeration, and additions all...

Here we're delving into the basics of Keyline Design, its applications, and how it can revolutionize your approach to agriculture.

Before it has fully transformed into something soil-like. While compost is not typically used before it's done, unfinished compost does...

...where water is more scarce and more expensive. A great way to combat this is through rainwater gardening.

If you're looking for how to deal with rabbits in the garden, you've come to the right place. We've got rabbit-repelling tips and advice.

By cultivating a garden, you get to bear witness to the interconnectedness of all things. The garden serves as a physical manifestation of..

Air layering is an easy propagation technique which works well on many trees, shrubs, and woody canes.

Curing converts some of the starches into sugars, which is where the "sweet" part comes in. Let's talk about how to cure sweet potatoes.

If you're growing just a few stalks, you might find the need to hand-pollinate your corn because the lack of volume could hinder pollination

How do you hand-pollinate plants, anyway? Let's talk about it!

Fermenting tomato seeds is a great way to increase your tomato seed germination rate and improve seed performance.

Did you know that soil is naturally hydrophobic? That's right, once soil dries out it it can become difficult to rehydrate.

Curious about leaf mould? We'll cover what it is, why you should make some, and how to do it here!

Are your seedlings falling over after sprouting? We've got some tips and tricks here for growing great seedlings without them leaning over.

Ever wonder if it's possible to grow chickpeas from store-bought? It absolutely is! Let's talk about how to do it...

If you've never used grow bags before, these can be a great way to increase your garden flexibility. Let's talk how to use grow bags!

Looking for an alternative to ollas? Let's talk about better options for watering your container & raised bed plants...

Alpine strawberries lend themselves particularly well to indoor growing, because of the long growing season required.

Curious about the signs and symptoms of frost damage on plants? Let's discuss how you know if your plants are frost-damaged...

Irrigation can be especially important if you garden in arid or semi-arid climates. This guide covers all things garden irrigation!

Some plants produce sugar which acts as a sort of antifreeze to help see them through frosts and freezes.

Curious whether seed-starting is worth the effort, or if it's better to buy seedlings? Let's dig into it.

Looking for food crops you can grow with low light requirements? We'll delve into all the low-light food crops here.

Walls of water can be a great way to extend your gardening season and protect susceptible plants from extreme temperature swings.

not all leeks have the white stem that we desire. In this article, we will explore how to get white stems on leeks organically

What exactly is a haploid, a diploid, a triploid, or even a tetraploid watermelon anyway? These represent the number of chromosome sets...

You may have heard the term "chill hours" in the context of fruit trees and also nut trees - but what even are chill hours?

Also known as vernalization, refrigerating seeds is an artificial way to fool them into "thinking" they've gone through winter.

Can you grow apricot from a root sucker? If so, what will it produce - will the fruit be the same fruit as the parent tree?

Are plants intelligent? That's a question that has been asked throughout the ages - but today modern science gives us new insight. Read here

There's less balance, less diversity, and less life when you farm a monocrop than when you grow a garden of allow native plants to thrive.