Trellises are essential for vining plants, such as pole beans, peas, and some varieties of squashes or cucumbers. (Check the tag or the seed packet. Varieties that don’t need a trellis are usually called “bush” variety.)


Trellises are essential for vining plants, such as pole beans, peas, and some varieties of squashes or cucumbers. (Check the tag or the seed packet. Varieties that don’t need a trellis are usually called “bush” variety.)

This post is the final in a series of three that will help you start a home composting bin.
This post is the second in a series of three that will help you start a home composting bin.
This post is the first in a series of three that will help you start a home composting bin.
Fall traditionally ushers in the harvest season; a cornucopia overflowing with gifts from the earth is a traditional symbol of the bounty of autumn. For the backyard gardener, it’s just as important to celebrate the small harvests.
Cool weather doesn’t have to mean the end of gardening. In fact, in warmer climates fall and winter gardens can be more rewarding than their summer counterparts! Last year, my backyard garden in Austin, Texas, fed us leafy greens, broccoli and other brassicas from November until late March, when I finally had to pull them to make room for a summer crop. The cool weather kept the pests at bay and a wide variety of leafy greens helped keep things interesting — and that’s when I realized that fall and winter were my favorite gardening seasons.
If you’ve ever tried your hand at gardening, even of the container variety, chances are you’ve heard at least a little about the importance of compost. That’s for good reason: healthy compost mixed with soil will give your plants the nutrients they need to thrive.

Amber Pollei writes, cooks, and gardens in Austin, Texas, with her husband Ryan and their dog Fin. Read more about her backyard-farm-to-table adventures at sustainable-diet.com.

Amber Pollei writes, cooks, and gardens in Austin, Texas, with her husband Ryan and their dog Fin. Read more about her backyard-farm-to-table adventures at sustainable-diet.com.
Welcome to Whole Story, the official blog of Whole Foods Market. Don't know us? In a nutshell, we are the world’s leading natural and organic grocer and we’re passionate about healthy food and a healthy planet. Learn more about us.
We’re lucky to have a whole bunch of smart, passionate people doing incredible things in areas like organics, supporting local growers, green practices, fair trade, micro-lending and all kinds of food related stuff. We’ll use this blog to share some of the cool things going on around here.
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