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Plant the Change - The Orta Blog

Easy, Zero-Waste Gifts from the Garden

Easy, Zero-Waste Gifts from the Garden

As more of us are aiming to live well with less waste, the garden can be a wonderful source of beautiful zero-waste gifts.  It probably can't repla...
Cool DIY transplant pot from salvaged fence wood

Cool DIY transplant pot from salvaged fence wood

I often get asked what containers you should plant seedlings into as they outgrow their Orta pots.  I just stumbled upon this excellent solution, a...
Free Seeds and New Friends: The Pandemic Seed Swap!

Free Seeds and New Friends: The Pandemic Seed Swap!

  Normally this time of year I'd be planning a seed and plant swap as a way to get gardeners together, meeting one another, learning about plants,...
Plant the Vote!

Plant the Vote!

I don't know about you, but I'm voting for these two: And by that I mean I'm not voting to elect them, but voting for their interests.  Their fut...
How to test if seeds are good: A germination test.

How to test if seeds are good: A germination test.

Have you ever come across an old packet of seeds and wondered if they'll still grow?  Or you're saving your own seeds, but not sure you're doing it...
Harvesting Zucchini Seeds

Harvesting Zucchini Seeds

To harvest zucchini seeds for next year's planting, you let the fruit ripen waaaaay past edible, collect the seeds, and then ferment and dry them...
Raising Caterpillars to Butterflies

Raising Caterpillars to Butterflies

Raising caterpillars to butterflies is a great activity for families, especially now as we parents try to figure out remote learning, inventing ed...
SSNO Part 4: Adapting Seeds to Your Microclimate

SSNO Part 4: Adapting Seeds to Your Microclimate

Wrapping up this 4-part series on seed saving, this last post focuses on how to save seeds that, over a few years, become adapted to the hyperlocal...
Seed Saving Nerd Out
SSNO part 3: Hand-Pollinating Zucchini for Pure Seed and Better Yields

SSNO part 3: Hand-Pollinating Zucchini for Pure Seed and Better Yields

If you remember from Seed Saving Nerd Out (SSNO) Part 2, two categories of plants require isolation for your saved seed to breed true:  Insect- and...
#plantthechange Seed Saving Nerd Out This Weekend
SSNO Part 2: Which Plants Are Best for Seed Saving?

SSNO Part 2: Which Plants Are Best for Seed Saving?

This is part 2 of the Seed Saving Nerd Out, SSNO for short.  Part 1 last week was a long description of plant reproduction to help you understand w...
Seed Saving Nerd Out
Seed Saving Nerd Out Part 1: Plant Reproduction

Seed Saving Nerd Out Part 1: Plant Reproduction

This is part 1 of a series that goes deeper than usual into the botany behind seeds to help you become a better seed saver. Mechanically speaking,...
Seed Saving Nerd Out
Tomato Disaster and Recovery (I hope)

Tomato Disaster and Recovery (I hope)

When we returned home from 2 nights of camping (the first time we've left home since February), the tomatoes had completely collapsed.  After about...
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