How to Identify Fusarium Wilt and Septoria Leaf Spot in Tomatoes

I felt silly displaying a potted ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomato for the Urban Farm Tour since we already had 80 tomato plants in the ground but last week it paid us back with extra early ripe cherries. Now the garden is producing handfuls of medium-sized varieties, leading up to the bumper crop we’ll be able to sell to the public. I’m…

How to Prevent Squash Vine Borer and Powdery Mildew on Squash, Organically

Many organic gardeners who have grown squash in the southeast US will think this must be a practical joke. It’s not! There are chemical-free ways to grow as much squash as your “conventional” neighbors. Then you can finally participate in Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. No really, that’s an honest-to-goodness national holiday on August 8th every year….

How to Miss 21 Chickens (Even if They Were Living in Your Kitchen)

It’s chicken-mania at Appalachian Feet lately. We started with 27 chickens in early May with the goal of keeping 6 for our personal backyard flock. Yesterday, we said goodbye to 21 of them (they are destined for good, free-range farm homes with people we know). We’re glad to know these laying hens will be treated well, but that doesn’t make…

How to Tell if this Golden Polish is a Hen or Rooster?

Instead of being informative with this “How to,” I’m really asking. Is this golden Polish chicken a hen or a rooster (or right now, pullet or cockerel)? How long until I can tell for sure? I was hoping someone had experience with this breed in particular since it seems a lot different than our other chickens. *Edit* Here’s some more…

How to Name Six Chickens

Here’s a quick photo essay to introduce you to our little flock (now 5 weeks old). It’s amazing that it only took 5 weeks for them to go from this (the extra 21 chicks in this video go to some farming friends of ours): To this: Yay for our chickens!