Hey there, Reader! Every year around this time, Dave and I find ourselves racing the first frost. The air turns crisp, the leaves start to fall, and we're beckoned with the challenge of how long we can keep the fall garden growing. The good news? With a little planning, you can protect your crops and harvest fresh greens even through winter. Here’s how we do it at Bethany Farm: ❄️ Start simple with cold frames. They’re like mini-greenhouses made from old windows or clear lids. A good cold...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader! Have you ever moved a seedling and watched it wilt the next day?That’s transplant shock, and it’s usually not your fault. Like it us for us humans, changing house for plants is hard! Here at Bethany Farm, Dave and I have been moving a few annuals like garlic and potatoes, mostly perennials and hardwood cuttings these past weeks. Every time we do, I’m reminded that transition, whether in gardens or in life, always needs tenderness. Dave starting fall seeds, trasnplanting...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hi friend, If you grow food in Virginia, we saved you a seat at Bethany Farm in Leesburg. Join us for a Farmers Soil Health Supper & Listening Session on Wednesday, Nov 12 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM I cannot tell you how excited and honored Dave and I are to co-host this event! Why come Share what is working and what is hard in your fields Swap practical soil health strategies with peers Connect with Brent Wills (VABF) and Beth Sastre (Virginia Cooperative Extension) and us (Dave and Nicky)...
27 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Join me live from Bethany Farm for a fall garden tour and Q&A. We’ll look at cut-and-come-again greens, simple season extension, and answer your questions. LIVE from Bethany Farm (Permaculture Gardens) | Fall Garden Tour + Q&A with Nicky SchauderWhen:Today — 11 AM PT / 12 PM MT / 1 PM CT / 2 PM ETWhere:Zoom (updated Zoom Link below) Join Zoom:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89122584258?pwd=aarHGNa7NhJWbbNDqNn2mwIEXRCxO9.1 Meeting ID: 891 2258 4258Passcode: The passcode is embedded in the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, When most of the garden begins to fade, there’s one group of plants that just keeps giving — cut-and-come-again greens. 🥬 These are the steady workers of the fall and winter garden: lettuces, kale, spinach, and mustard greens that you can harvest leaf by leaf, again and again. With just a little protection — a cold frame, hoop, or sunny windowsill — they’ll feed you long after your summer crops are gone. If you’ve ever wanted to stretch your growing season, this is the simplest...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey, Reader! “Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them.” – Genesis 41:29–31 As the height of the growing season winds down, now is the time to ask: how do we extend the harvest well into winter? Chefs who Preserve the Harvest Some chefs leave such a lasting impression on my husband Dave and me. Much like a good theater show, it takes several days of relishing an exemplar fine dining experience to truly absorb the impact...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hey, Reader! Let’s talk about composting. We believe the heart of a permaculture garden isn’t just the amazing trees, the beautiful guilds, or even the pollinators. It’s the humble compost bin. The compost bin: Brings life from death Transforms waste into nourishment Offers rich, fertile soil and endless garden possibilities Thanks to Grandad, we now have a 3-bin compost system in place! Grandad and kids setting up our new compost bin! “But I can’t compost…” Before you say, “I can’t compost...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader,This past weekend our family traveled to Athens, Ohio to celebrate all things pawpaw at the Ohio Pawpaw Festival—and we wanted to share some highlights with you! A pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the largest native fruit in North America. . It’s a survivor of the ice ages that still carries a tropical flavor, even while thriving in colder climates. Pawpaws need about 400 chilling hours (16 days) each year in order to set fruit. Here’s a “Jumbo” pawpaw variety from one of our...
2 months ago • 1 min read
How does your garden grow, this July, Reader? We've been quiet on the permaculture gardening education front this summer, mostly because Dave and I have been in the garden, getting bitten to shreds by mosquitoes, maintaining the abundant growth of raspberries, okra, and cucumbers, and battling the deer with the construction of phase 1 of our fence. 3 July Garden Tips That being said, there are a few things I wanted to share with you that might help your garden this month. July is the month...
4 months ago • 1 min read