Sugar House Joakim Orton moved into his Sugarhouse apartment in 2016, and since then he’s been cultivating a garden in an unlikely spot. Even though traditional gardening space is limited around his apartment building, he got creative and chose to utilize a long, thin strip of earth that lines the driveway—a spot most others would overlook. Before he began cul … [Read more...]
Wasps Can Be Wonderful
Everyone knows that honeybees are good for your garden. They are natural pollinators and all around good guys. But what about the other flying, buzzing garden visitors; wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets? Are they pests? If you have a garden, you might be surprised at the answer. Wasps get a bad rap. They can be persistent when they want to join your backyard BBQ, and they … [Read more...]
The World Beneath Our Feet: Organic Soil Supports a Rich Mix of Life
What do you see when you look at garden soil? If you simply see dirt, you may be surprised to learn that a single tablespoon of healthy soil contains more microorganisms than there are people on the planet. It’s true! A small handful of soil contains billions of bacteria, several yards of fungal filament, thousands of protozoa, and many nematodes—the smallest and most abundant a … [Read more...]
Liqui-Dirt: Grow Good Soil to Grow Good Crops
Most farmers in Utah have heard the old-fashioned term “dirt farmer”—it harkens back to the Great Depression when the plains lost most of their top soil, the greatest asset of any farmer. But Cory Sackett is, literally, a dirt farmer. The best word to describe Sackett is passionate. And not just about his product, but about saving the world, one garden at a time. After yea … [Read more...]
DIY Greenhouses: Get a Go on your Gardening
I have designed, built and managed a variety of different greenhouses over the past 40 years. All of them have been primarily intended for starting hundreds of transplants for many varieties of vegetables for our garden and many others. My wife and I have never actually used a greenhouse for growing food. Obviously, some folk do, although that would be more aligned to … [Read more...]
Backyard Urban Gardens Bring Garden Bounty Right to your Doorstep
B.U.G. Farms: Crusaders for Community Supported Agriculture “I thought she was crazy and that it would never work,” says Backyard Urban Gardens (B.U.G.) Farms’ co-owner Carly Gillespie of the organization’s creator, Sharon Leopardi. “She didn’t have any start-up capital, was a renter, and didn’t have any garden space. And, she wanted to stay in the city—not move to a small town … [Read more...]
Utah’s Changing Landscape
Taking my dogs running around Sugar House's main corridors offers a constantly changing landscape. First we run around Sugar House Park; then along the PRATT trail under 1300 East tunnel; we then go around Fairmont Park to the new dog park, then west along the S-Line Greenway to 700 East. Along this route we hear the constant pounding of nails, and sawing of boards, and witness … [Read more...]
Farms vs. Suburbia: Does Population Growth Mean the End of Family Farms?
The Wasatch Front has been growing out rather than up for years. Sprawl is now threatening Utah’s most successful family farms. Over eighty percent of Utah residents say they want more farms, open space, and locally produced food, but it appears that city, state and local leaders haven’t received the memo. As with most things political, it’s all about the money. Thayne Tagge … [Read more...]
How to Grow Your Herb Garden
Interview with Horticulturalist, Fritz Kollmann Fritz Kollmann has been Red Butte Gardens’ horticulturalist for almost nine years. He manages, cares for and designs certain areas of the Gardens. When speaking with Fritz, his positive energy and love for plants inspires. What herbs do you recommend people try other than the basics, such as basil and rosemary? I re … [Read more...]
Preparing Soil for Beautiful Gardens
It is spring, the crocuses are popping up and the air is warm and breezy. Most importantly the days are getting longer, grass is turning green and many of us are getting inspired to start plotting are vegetable gardens. No matter if you are planting in beds or pots, your first step is good soil. Many say the time to prepare your soil for the next season is in the fall. If … [Read more...]