these blog pages contain affiliate links which may earn Green and Prosperous a small commission if you click or purchase products using them. You can find our privacy statement here.
By mid-summer, most gardeners have a pretty good idea of what is thriving and what is struggling. At this time of year, with the excitement of spring planting having faded, you’ve likely been dealing with challenging weather days, and have found some of your crops producing abundantly while others seem determined to disappoint.
Read MoreMost of us water our gardens the way we always have — by hose, by habit, whenever we happen to remember. But a surprising amount of that water never does the plants any good at all. It evaporates into the air, runs off the surface, or sinks straight past the roots before a plant can use it. The good news is that with a few simple changes, you can grow a healthier, greener garden on far less water. Here is how to make every drop count.
Read MoreHave you ever walked out to your vegetable garden, found leaves full of gaping holes, and wondered what caused them? Chances are that caterpillars are the culprits. For many gardeners (including me), the immediate reaction is to find a way to eliminate them before they destroy an entire crop. And yes, they can do that very quickly, especially if you’re dealing with several hungry caterpillars in a small space.
Read MoreAlthough mid-summer tends to be unbearably hot and humid in my area, which means gardening only in the early morning and late afternoon, overall, summer is my favorite time of year to grow an edible garden. My plants are growing rapidly, vegetables are producing like crazy, the flowers I’ve planted all over the garden and in the landscaped areas of my yard are blooming, and all the pollinators are hard at work. Despite these upsides, summer is also the season when many gardeners can find themselves spending more time watering, weeding, pruning, and fighting pests than they expected.
Read MoreMy biggest problem in growing an edible food garden has long been not planting enough. While I always started my garden by planting a wide variety of vegetables, legumes, and flowers, by midsummer, some of my raised beds would always begin to look disappointingly sparse. When my early crops -- spinach, radishes, peas, bok choy and lettuce – finished producing and I pulled them, bare patches of soil were inevitably left behind. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a successful harvest, those empty spaces always struck me as a missed opportunity.
Read MoreHealthy soil is far more than dirt. Beneath the surface of every productive garden lies a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that help plants grow, resist disease, and access nutrients. Among the most important of these organisms are mycorrhizal fungi, microscopic soil fungi that form beneficial partnerships with plant roots.
Read MoreOne of the most common mistakes gardeners make is assuming that planting more vegetables in a small space will automatically produce a larger harvest. In reality, overcrowding often does the opposite. Plants that are packed too closely together compete for sunlight, water, nutrients, and airflow. The result is usually smaller harvests, increased disease pressure, and weaker plants.
Read MoreGrowing fresh vegetables doesn’t require a large backyard garden, and in fact, you can grow many varieties of veggies, fruits, and herbs in containers – enough to replace a significant portion of your grocery purchases. Bush beans are one vegetable that don’t readily come to mind as great candidates for a container garden, but in fact, they are one of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow in containers. They grow quickly, produce heavily, and are beginner-friendly, making them an excellent choice for patios, balconies, decks, and small-space gardens.
Read MoreRising food prices have been a major concern around the world with tariffs, conflicts in the Ukraine, Russia and the Middle East, and elevated costs of fertilizer being major causes of food inflation. Recent reporting by the USDA Economic Research Service, the UK’s National Farmer’s Union, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) concur that there’s little relief in sight and that food prices are likely to rise even further in late 2026 and into early 2027.
Read MoreHealthy soil is the foundation of every productive garden. When your soil is thriving, plants grow more vigorously, resist pests and diseases more effectively, and produce larger, healthier harvests. But when soil quality declines, even experienced gardeners can struggle with yellowing leaves, stunted growth, poor harvests, and constant pest problems.
Read MoreIf you have a small space for growing an edible food garden, every square foot matters.
Many people picture a sprawling area filled with rows and rows of vegetables, or a handful of raised beds. If that’s what you have to work with, that’s wonderful! But many gardeners with considerably less space than that are able to grow a productive, thriving food garden. With thoughtful planning, even a compact garden can produce an impressive harvest.
Read MoreTrees make your property more beautiful, provide shade, and even boost your home's value — but they need proper attention to stay healthy and safe. If you've just moved into a home with established trees, or you've recently planted new ones, this guide walks you through everything you need to know to keep them thriving year-round.
Read MoreThink you missed your chance to plant a spring garden? Well let me reassure you – you’re not late yet! The end of April can still be an excellent month to sow many cold-tolerant vegetables, especially crops that prefer cool soil and mild temperatures. In fact, some vegetables perform better when planted in April than they do earlier in late winter, because the soil has begun to warm and germination is often faster.
Read MoreDirect sowing seeds in spring is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to grow a productive garden. Instead of starting seeds indoors and transplanting them later, direct sowing means planting seeds straight into your garden soil, raised bed, or container where they will grow to maturity.
Read MoreHave you ever stepped outside one afternoon to find that your beautiful lettuce patch is suddenly shooting up tall stems and turning bitter? This is not unusual when the weather turns warmer. Bolting is one of the most frustrating challenges for home gardeners, especially in late spring and early summer, when weather conditions can change quickly.
Read MoreOUR MISSION
We are dedicated to sharing information about and strategies for healthy, eco-friendly living. As a consumer, you have power to minimize your exposure to toxins and change manufacturing practices that harm human and environmental health.
want some free resources to help you maintain your healthy lifestyle? Click the button above to sign up!
