The House Farmer’s Post

During the equinox, the #Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. This year, the alignment happens March 19 at 11:06 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the #equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The spring equinox holds great significance for #planting and #gardening practices across various cultures and regions. Here's how: Optimal Planting Time: The spring equinox signals the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the time when daylight hours become longer than nighttime hours. This transition triggers natural cues for plants to start growing and budding, making it an ideal time for planting seeds and seedlings in gardens. Balanced Energies: During the equinox, there is a balance of light and darkness, as day and night are of approximately equal length. This balance is believed to create harmonious conditions for planting, fostering healthy growth and development for crops and garden plants. Symbol of Renewal: The spring equinox represents renewal, rebirth, and the awakening of nature after the dormancy of winter. It symbolizes a fresh start and a time of regeneration, making it an auspicious period for sowing seeds and revitalizing gardens. Traditional Practices: Many cultural traditions and agricultural rituals are centered around the spring equinox. These may include ceremonies, blessings, and festivities dedicated to celebrating the arrival of spring and invoking blessings for a bountiful growing season. Connection to Nature's Rhythms: Planting and gardening in alignment with the spring equinox allows individuals to connect more deeply with the rhythms of nature. It fosters an appreciation for the cyclical changes of the seasons and the interconnectedness of all living beings with the natural world. Overall, the spring equinox holds profound significance for planting and gardening, serving as a time of opportunity, renewal, and connection with the earth's cycles. It represents a pivotal moment for gardeners to cultivate new beginnings, nurture growth, and celebrate the abundance of life in their gardens and landscapes.

Are you wanting to start a vegetable garden this year? 🥬🌽 Find all the tips and tricks that you need on our Pinterest board, "Vegetable Garden"! #VegetableGarden #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving

During the equinox, the #Earth's axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight. This year, the alignment happens March 19 at 11:06 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the #equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet. The spring equinox holds great significance for #planting and #gardening practices across various cultures and regions. Here's how: Optimal Planting Time: The spring equinox signals the official start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the time when daylight hours become longer than nighttime hours. This transition triggers natural cues for plants to start growing and budding, making it an ideal time for planting seeds and seedlings in gardens. Balanced Energies: During the equinox, there is a balance of light and darkness, as day and night are of approximately equal length. This balance is believed to create harmonious conditions for planting, fostering healthy growth and development for crops and garden plants. Symbol of Renewal: The spring equinox represents renewal, rebirth, and the awakening of nature after the dormancy of winter. It symbolizes a fresh start and a time of regeneration, making it an auspicious period for sowing seeds and revitalizing gardens. Traditional Practices: Many cultural traditions and agricultural rituals are centered around the spring equinox. These may include ceremonies, blessings, and festivities dedicated to celebrating the arrival of spring and invoking blessings for a bountiful growing season. Connection to Nature's Rhythms: Planting and gardening in alignment with the spring equinox allows individuals to connect more deeply with the rhythms of nature. It fosters an appreciation for the cyclical changes of the seasons and the interconnectedness of all living beings with the natural world. Overall, the spring equinox holds profound significance for planting and gardening, serving as a time of opportunity, renewal, and connection with the earth's cycles. It represents a pivotal moment for gardeners to cultivate new beginnings, nurture growth, and celebrate the abundance of life in their gardens and landscapes.

Are you wanting to start a vegetable garden this year? 🥬🌽 Find all the tips and tricks that you need on our Pinterest board, "Vegetable Garden"! #VegetableGarden #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving

Are you wanting to start a vegetable garden this year? 🥬🌽 Find all the tips and tricks that you need on our Pinterest board, "Vegetable Garden"! #VegetableGarden #EcoFriendly #SustainableLiving

So often, we get caught up in what we think a happy holiday season SHOULD look like, instead of what actually makes us feel happy. More on that unlearning process in a future post. If we're spending a holiday alone, planning an activity that gets us into our flow state can help. So, if you (like me) find joy when there's music in your ears, fresh air in your lungs and dirt on your hands, then why not make a date with yourself to spend the holidays gardening? It could be a good opportunity to strengthen your connection with yourself and with nature. Whether it's creating a potted indoor jungle or beautifying the backyard, planning is the key. Why not stop in at a plant shop this weekend and have a look at the possibilities? If you're new to it, you could ask some experienced gardeners you know for tips, or join a group online. You could even create a special Spotify playlist to soundtrack your work. If gardening isn't your thing, what project or activity might you like to sink your teeth into this holiday season? #holidays #Xmas #loneliness #flow #planning #gardening #whenua

🌼✨ Preparing Your Balcony and Terrace for Spring: A table set up for Wild Pollinators and Honeybees! 🌼✨ As the crisp autumn air settles in and winter approaches, it’s easy to forget about our outdoor spaces, especially our balconies and terraces. But now is the perfect time to start planning for spring, and here’s why! 🌷🐝 Just like setting a beautiful table for a delicious feast, preparing your outdoor spaces can create a vibrant haven for wild pollinators and honeybees. These essential creatures play a crucial role in our ecosystem, helping to pollinate the fruits, vegetables, and flowers that sustain us and our planet. 🌍💚 Here’s how you can turn your balcony or terrace into a welcoming restaurant for these vital pollinators: 1. Choose the Right Plants: Opt for a variety of native flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the spring and summer. Think of colorful dishes on a buffet table! 🌸🌺 2. Create Shelter: Provide cozy spots for pollinators to rest and nest. Consider adding bee hotels or leaving some areas a bit wild with natural materials. 🐝🏡 3. Avoid Chemicals: Keep your balcony chemical-free. Natural gardening practices ensure a safe environment for our buzzing friends, making your space a true sanctuary. 🌿🚫 4. Watering Stations: Set up shallow water dishes with stones for bees to perch on while drinking. Hydration is key, just like serving refreshing drinks at a table! 💦🍹 5. Educate and Inspire: Share your balcony transformation journey on social media to inspire others to join. Together, we can create a network of pollinator-friendly spaces! 📲🌍 As we prepare for winter, let’s not forget the impact we can have come springtime. By investing a little effort now, we will be rewarded with a flourishing ecosystem that supports our wild pollinators and honeybees when they need it most. 🌱💖 So, grab your gardening gloves and start planning! Let’s make our balconies and terraces the tastiest spots in town for our buzzing friends! 🌼🍽️ #PollinatorFriendly #UrbanGardening #SustainableLiving #BeeConscious #GreenSpaces #NatureLovers #GardeningGoals #SpringPreparation

🚀 Make the most of your growing space! Whether you have a balcony, raised beds, or a small green spacs, our interactive plant planner is designed to make planning easy and rewarding! ✔️ Tailored Recommendations: Get plant suggestions customized to your space, season, and sunlight. ✔️ User-Friendly Setup: Answer a few simple questions, explore tailored plans, and adjust to fit your preferences. ✔️ Smarter Gardening: Plan and grow like a pro, even if you're just starting out. Curious how it works? Our new blog post breaks it all down and shows you how our GrowAssist (including the planner (!)) can help you grow more and stress less: https://lnkd.in/edhnDd3D 🌟 Black Friday Alert: Starting this Friday, enjoy up to 50% off on all products, including GrowAssist! 💬 Know someone who’s dreaming of a veggie balcony or is looking for a green product/gift? Please tag them and share the post! #greenliving #gardeningforbeginners #sustainableliving #growyourownfood #gardeningtips #backfridaysale

This #WorldBeeDay and a WFH Monday, we look at the ecosystems in our own back gardens — from London to Devon 🐝 — Gemma Albone, South London A year into living near Sydenham Hill Woods, a London Wildlife Trust run ancient woodland, and we have red mason and leaf cutter bees nesting in our garden! These are native solitary bees and are the species we want to be encouraging over honey bees — the trend for urban beekeeping has been to the detriment of our native pollinators. Alongside planting a diverse mix of pollinator-friendly plants and undertaking non-chemical, low impact and organic gardening practices, providing space for solitary bees to shelter, nest and overwinter is key. This can be through specific ‘bee house’ products (ensuring they’re sustainably made and designed to appropriate specifications) or can be as simple as drilling holes in a post or providing sandy piles amongst your planting beds, always in sunny locations near to flowers. — Théo Grainzevelles, East Devon Pollinators love it here. The variety of flora means we get all sorts, from the apple and pear trees to flowering plants, the habitats are diverse and this gives pollinators a chance to thrive. The local bee keeping association has given us advice on the invasive Asian hornet which unfortunately we have in the local area. This time of year is crucial to prevent colonies from establishing, so we are using natural traps that my dad has. Natural Hornet Trap: 1/3 dry white wine, 1/3 brown beer, 1/3 Ribena. Cut a plastic bottle in half, flip the top and pour in the mixed liquid. Tape the cut bottle together and place near flowers — the bees and wasps don't like this, apparently they aren't partial to a dry white. This isn't scientific but has worked with my dad for the last 15 years, with many hornets captured and thankfully no bees. #WorldBeeDay #GardeningWithPurpose #bees #ecosystems #gardens

🌿 Give the Gift of a Salmon-Friendly Garden 🌿 This holiday season, why not give a gift that truly gives back? A salmon-friendly garden isn’t just a collection of beautiful plants; it’s a living, breathing promise to care for our environment and support the incredible ecosystems here in Washington. Here’s why this garden makes the perfect gift: 🐟 Protects Our Waters: These plants filter rainwater and reduce pollution, keeping our streams and rivers clean for the iconic salmon that define the PNW. 🌼 Native Beauty: With plants like Red-Osier Dogwood and Vine Maple, this garden offers year-round color and charm while thriving naturally in our climate. 🌱 Wildlife Haven: Birds, bees, and butterflies will flock to this space, creating a vibrant habitat full of life and wonder. 💧 Low-Maintenance & Sustainable: Native plants are easy to care for, needing less water, fertilizer, and fuss—perfect for seasoned gardeners or beginners alike. Imagine gifting a garden that grows love, connection, and stewardship for our precious environment. 🌎 Whether for a family member, a friend, or your community, a salmon-friendly garden is more than a gift—it's a legacy. Let’s nurture nature together. 💚 eco-restore.com/gardens #GiftAGarden #SpecialtyGardens #SalmonFriendlyGarden #GiftIdeas #EcoRestore