For the first time in 15 years of gardening I’ve installed drip irrigation. And perhaps I’m a johnny-come-lately to this technology that many people have already discovered, but even at that, it’s worth sharing the experience I’ve had converting my vegetable garden into a high-performance farm. It would never have happened had I not stumbled upon a farmer who preaches as gospel … [Read more...]
Oasis in the Desert – Desert Water Gardens
Craig Smith, a retired civil engineer, was walking along 900 East one day and came upon Desert Water Gardens. He stopped to take a look, started helping out, fell in love with the business and then bought it three years later. Desert Water Gardens offers the largest inventory of aquatic plants in the state, as well as pond design and construction and pond cleaning services. … [Read more...]
Sugar House Gardeners Seek Room to Grow
With the disappearance of the Sugar House Community Garden at 9th East, residents are asking if and where another garden might be started, and whether it will be ready for this growing season. The garden that began as an experiment on the abandoned tennis courts at Fairmont Park was dismantled last month. In expectation of redevelopment around the new Sugar House streetcar … [Read more...]
Fresh Produce Grown in Small Spaces
Living in an apartment but craving fresh home-grown tomatoes and vegetable? There is a solution. Dan Potts is the man to go to for answers. Dan started gardening when he was 8 years old with some popcorn from his mom’s pantry and some radish seeds. He started small on a plot by the side of his house that was too shady. He had a little success, but his life-long … [Read more...]
Kale: The Superfood
Utah’s celebrity fitness trainer and nutritionist Angela Martindale calls kale “the most amazing superfood.” The leafy-green vegetable is surprisingly easy to grow in our climate. Some may consider kale a cold weather crop, but it’s incredibly durable throughout the year. Loaded with micronutrients, kale is also high in iron and calcium (more than milk) and works as an … [Read more...]
How To Prune Your Fruit Trees In Utah
Even though it’s a winter month, February is a great time to start prepping your yard for the upcoming summer. With the ground and plants mostly thawed, it’s the best time of year to prune your fruit trees. “February is the best month because you can actually see the bare branches,” advises Thom Sawyer, tree expert with Millcreek Gardens. “You don’t want the sap to be … [Read more...]
Grow Wild: Garden Shop That Offers Hearty Native Plants
“Purveyor of ecological sound gardens,” is how Geoff Christensen describes himself. His nursery, Grow Wild, offers Utah native plants almost exclusively along with plants appropriate for Salt Lake City’s climate. Among the native plants offered at Grow Wild are oaks, maples, flowering shrubs, groundcovers and grasses native to the Wasatch Mountains. One of the flowers he … [Read more...]
Organic Gardening in Utah
Where to Draw the Line “Organic” may be a simple choice for shoppers but can be a bureaucratic nightmare for farmers. Becoming a certified organic farm takes years of time and mountains of record keeping. Fortunately, backyard gardeners can use environmentally friendly practices in their own gardens to produce healthier meals. There are chemical free alternatives to pest … [Read more...]
The Sugar House Community Garden
Until recently, the only thing growing in the abandoned tennis courts in Sugar House were weeds of neglect. But thanks to the nurturing care of Aimee Horman, Heidi Spence, Tamerin Smith and Mark Morris, The Sugar House Community Gardens have grown into a positive force for the neighborhoods around 2225 South and 900 East. Construction on the new street car in Sugar House … [Read more...]