Author Archives: Debbie Rea - The Gardener Wife

Winter Sowing in a Snowy Winter Wonderland

WINTER SOWING TUTORIAL WHO could winter sow? Anyone! Yes, even if you’re a beginner gardener, you can start planting some seeds now. Even if it’s freezing cold where you live, you can plant seeds for your garden now. Even if you don’t have grow lights—which, trust me, are a must for most indoor seed starting—youContinue reading “Winter Sowing in a Snowy Winter Wonderland”

It Beets Me! – Making Borscht

It’s National Homemade Soup Day—plus Valentines Day is coming up—so I’m posting my Ukrainian family’s recipe for borscht, a beautiful red soup. I first shared this recipe with my newsletter readers a couple of years ago in mid-November. In the course of putting my kitchen garden to bed that fall, I had finally harvested theContinue reading “It Beets Me! – Making Borscht”

Snow on Show

Thinking about the gift of God’s love as I looked out on my deck this winter morning. . . In the Bleak Mid-Winter In the bleak mid-winterFrosty wind made moan;Earth stood hard as iron,Water like a stone;Snow had fallen, snow on snow,Snow on snow,In the bleak mid-winterLong ago. Our God, heaven cannot hold HimNor earthContinue reading “Snow on Show”

Sow What about Seed Swapping

January 30, 2021, was National Seed Swap Day. Don’t worry if you missed it because there are many seed swapping opportunities throughout the year. Gardeners have, of course, been swapping seeds for ages. And we certainly don’t limit this activity to one day a year! I wrote about making your own seed packets in my newsletterContinue reading “Sow What about Seed Swapping”

Finding Tomato Tastings

Going to a tomato tasting is a fun way to enjoy others’ gardens as well as your own. When I couldn’t find any after first reading about tomato tastings years ago, I held my own. I invited others to bring tomatoes, printed voters’ ballots and winners’ certificates, and made a party out of it. ThisContinue reading “Finding Tomato Tastings”

Open Garden Day + Tomato Tasting Contest

My big event last Saturday, the Open Garden Day + Tomato Tasting Contest, was fantastic! I had a blast preparing for it and then meeting and greeting visitors throughout the day. THANK YOU to each of you who came! I’m grateful for the publicity I got, too. Right before the event, the Ferry-Morse Seed CompanyContinue reading “Open Garden Day + Tomato Tasting Contest”

Simple Seasonings

Now that folks are harvesting tomatoes and cucumbers in my area, I’m going to tell you my favorite seasonings for eating them fresh.Cucumbers — Halve them lengthwise and sprinkle them with salt-free lemon pepper. This is exactly what I did on one of our Shakespeare picnics (shown above).Tomatoes — Cut them in wedges and sprinkle a little fleur de sel. NotContinue reading “Simple Seasonings”