Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they were administering the Alabama Agriculture Relief Program (AARP) to provide USDA relief funds to farmers who suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael in 2018. While the original deadline to apply was June 25th, they want to remind those who experienced necessary expenses related to losses of beef …
Suggestions for Squeezing a Garden onto a Small Deck or Patio
Some ways to squeeze a garden on to your small deck or patio. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Starting a garden can be a challenge if your deck or patio is the size of a postage stamp. The good news is that there are many clever, space-saving garden ideas where large backyards are not required. You may even …
Best Method to Change the Color of Your Hydrangeas
How to change the color of your Hydrangeas. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If purchasing a hydrangea for the first time and you want to change its natural hue, it is possible. But only if you buy the Bigleaf variety. Bigleaf hydrangeas’ changing colors are attributed to the pH of the soil they are grown in. If you …
Best Disease-Resistant and Easiest Roses to Grow
Some of the best disease-resistant and easiest roses to grow. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The easiest roses to grow are disease resistant and produce an abundance of flowers throughout the summer and into fall. Perhaps the best-known rose is the ‘Knock Out’ rose. It bears long-lasting masses of cherry-red blooms that have a very light fragrance. This high …
Plants That Take a Lot of Heat and Still Bloom Through Dry Spells
The plants that can take a lot of heat and still bloom through a dry spell. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When summer heat kicks in, its good to know you can rely on a number of drought-resistant flowering plants to hold their own and still produce beautiful blooms and foliage. Yarrow is one of them. The plant …
How to Use and Plant the Beneficial Weed Goosegrass
How to use and plant a beneficial weed. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Goosegrass is a weed with many names. Such as cleavers, grip grass, catchweed, stickweed, wait-a-minute, sticky jack, and quite a few more. Almost all of its names are related to the plant being able to hook into fur and clothing easily. But’s it’s not all …
High Tunnel System Grants Available in Florida
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is investing $300,000 in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). These are for high tunnel systems that improve weather resiliency and improve degraded plant conditions. Florida State Conservationist, Juan Hernandez, explains why CIG is a competitive grant. Grants will be awarded to applicants matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis from non-federal sources that can include cash or in-kind contributions. …
NRCS Providing Support for Urban Farming
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been assisting urban farmers for over 10 years. Since 2010, NRCS state offices have provided more than $18 million to 130 entities in the form of grants and agreements to support urban agriculture and conservation projects. From 2014 to 2019, NRCS completed more than 18,000 conservation practices totaling $41 million on urban farms …
How to Deadhead Roses to Keep Them Blooming
How to deadhead your roses so they’ll keep blooming. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Deadheading is a way of removing wilted blooms while encouraging your plants to produce new flowers. When it comes to your roses, the easiest way is to just snip off the spent rose at the end of its short stem, above any foliage. Removing …
Sunflowers are Bold, Beautiful Blooms Needed in the Garden
The bold, beautiful blooms you need in your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sunflowers commonly sprout up as buttery yellow and vibrant golds. But, another variety, with deep red petals that appear brown, is the Chocolate Sunflower. And, they provide show-stopping bold and beautiful blooms that you will want to add to your garden. They are great as …