Garden time is coming

[Jimi]

Hello Urban Farmers & Friends, For those of us who grow food in apartments or small yards, or just want to bring a little garden indoors, we may not have the luxury of ample space. So how do we make the most out of what we have? This month, the Urban Farm Grower’s Guide focuses on how to best utilize small spaces when growing food. Here are a couple ideas: Grow fast and easy microgreens in a week with an easy technique called Indoor Salad Gardening. We have three ways to learn more: a podcast interview, a Garden Chat replay, and a blog article. Grow a variety of indoor vegetables with a Tower Garden (I've been using mine for years and love it!) - learn what it is and how I'm using mine. And, as a gift for being an Urban Farm U subscriber, I want to give you my Grow Wherever You Go eBook. This is a collection of stories that illustrate how others have grown food in unorthodox spaces so that you can see new potential in your growing environment. Click here to download Grow Wherever You Go (PDF).​

Greg Peterson Your Urban Farmer Janis Norton General Manager​

P.S. I'd like to spotlight one of my favorites courses we offer at Urban Farm U... Creating Your Permaculture City with Toby Hemenway (author of Gaia's Garden). Sadly, Toby is no longer with us. However, we were able to preserve this incredible course for your learning. Creating Your Permaculture City is perspective-changing and will expand your ideas about how permaculture can be applied to your yard and your life. Click Here to learn more.​

 

[Jimi]

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Watch now​ Survival gardening in the heat​ yes,there are plants that do well in the heat.​ Marjory Wildcraft Jul 5 ​ ​ ​ ​ READ IN APP ​ Oh my! this was shot many years, uh decades? ago. The great thing about survival is… it’s timeless. It’s appropriate no matter what age you live in. This video goes over several plants beyond the “okra, basil, sweet potatoes, and black eyed peas” standard advice. Watch these short videos and gain extremely useful knowledge that will come back to you need it most. Like next year? Oh yeah, that famine is coming. BTW this video is in the YouTube archives on the Legacy Drive Hard to believe that was my garden in August in Texas… you can tell I wanted to move to the tropics! I was always working to create lush green landscapes that didn’t need much support.​

 

[Jimi]

Near Death Experiences: What People Report If you've ever dismissed near-death experiences as vivid hallucinations or wishful thinking, philosopher Stafford Betty would ask you to sit with one question first… Why do they all look so similar? An elderly Baptist man from Alabama, a gay atheist from Madrid, and a Mormon housewife from Idaho all report leaving their bodies, moving toward a light, encountering deceased relatives, and coming into the presence of a Being of overwhelming love and knowledge. If these were hallucinations shaped by individual memory and expectation, they should look completely different from person to person. They don't, and that consistency is genuinely difficult to explain away. Betty also points to something most people don't know… NDErs (near-death experiencers) show no rapid eye movement during their experiences, the biological signature that always accompanies dreaming and hallucination. People who have experienced both hallucinations and NDEs consistently say the two feel nothing alike, and Betty argues we should take that seriously because they're the closest thing we have to actual witnesses. The evidence gets harder to dismiss from there. Studies of blind NDErs, including people blind from birth, show they report accurate visual experiences during their out-of-body state that match what was actually happening around their physical bodies at the time. Research comparing what NDErs described seeing during resuscitation to what control groups guessed had happened found that NDErs made virtually no errors while the control group missed almost everything. Betty is careful not to claim NDEs prove life after death with absolute certainty, but his conclusion is honest and grounded. The evidence makes it probable enough to take seriously. And the transformation these experiences produce in people, atheists losing their atheism, fearful people losing their fear of death entirely, regardless of what they believed going in, is the kind of change that hallucinations simply don't produce. Read the full philosophical dialogue and decide for yourself what the evidence points to >> We just shared what serious researchers are finding about near-death experiences and why the evidence for what lies beyond death is stronger than most people expect. This video takes everything we just discussed out of the academic world and into something far more immediate. A woman died, crossed into Heaven, and came back with a specific warning for Americans about what is still unfolding in 2026. The details aren't vague or symbolic. They're precise, they're urgent, and the people who walked into this video as committed skeptics are walking out of it completely changed. If the NDE research resonated with you, this is the natural next step. Watch the full video here >>

 

[gopher_byrd]

Today's harvest. Roma tomatoes and the first Arkansas Traveler to get close to ripe.



Some black cherry tomatoes, some jalapenos and a lone cayenne:

 

[Jimi]

Ok Here's my Pick of the Day for July 6

Got my first cuke of the year today (can't wait to have my breakfast salad)
The zuke is a black beauty zuke
A few grape maters
and a few onions that had been necked over for about a week
I'm seein lots of cukes startin
I knocked over the rest of the onions, be pullin them in a week or so
I did that to put in 6 more zukes, we use a lot of zuke in soups, baked, salads, so many uses so I want plenty for the winter

 

[gopher_byrd]

Some maters today 3 Roma and one Arkansas Traveler and some small red onions.

 

[Jimi]

Here's my Pick of the Day for July 7

Dug a few red taders, I was hungry for a real garden tader
A few radishes for my salad
A full size cuke, I already ate the other one
Some grape maters
a hot pepper for in in breakfast salad in the mornin
and my first 2 big maters (damsel)

 

[2WhiteWolves]

Had some tomatoes ready, was going to pick them off, went out there to get them and something already ate all of them !

Hopefully, nothing will get the green and red peppers when they are ready, and shall get next round of tomatoes.

 

[Jimi]

Ok here's my Pick of the day for July 9

Cukes did pretty good today, gonna have a couple for brunch
Got a couple small radishes
One of those Who Knows peppers and a jalapeno
some grape tomatoes
a couple damsel tomatoes
Had one of my Roma tomatoes layin on the ground so it should slow ripen
And some Broccoli side shoots




And you can't have cukes with out onions so I pulled a few that the critters knocked down

 

[Jimi]

Had some tomatoes ready, was going to pick them off, went out there to get them and something already ate all of them !

Hopefully, nothing will get the green and red peppers when they are ready, and shall get next round of tomatoes.

Awe sorry to hear that, usually either Raccoons, opossoms, or rabbits
Try gettin a small roll of rabbit fence, it won't stop the raccoons but it it will stop thwe rabbits and opossoms

 

[2WhiteWolves]

Awe sorry to hear that, usually either Raccoons, opossoms, or rabbits
Try gettin a small roll of rabbit fence, it won't stop the raccoons but it it will stop thwe rabbits and opossoms

Thank you! Yup, have to do this. Last year nothing ate them, lol. And there are plenty of these little critters running around here, lol.

 

[gopher_byrd]

Maters are starting to ripen in numbers. I'm gonna have to start canning some soon...

 

[Jimi]

Here's my Pick/Dig of the day for July 11

Today's pick
Got a few radishes
some of those who knows peppers
Some cukes, had more but SIL wanted a couple
some Jalapeno peppers some grape maters
A damsel mater (pink one)
And a green mater, every day for about a week now I have been findin green maters on the ground that are either bit on of mashed, takes some weight to mash a green mater, rabbit, raccoon, nope not heavy enough so today I seen what it was, seen deer tracks in the mud cause I watered last night, Deer are tough to keep out they jump fences.



Ok and here's my dig of the day
Red Viking taders, and it was tough dig, well maybe it's I am gettin older and just don't wanna admit it so the ground was tough and well settled is what I am sayin.
My taders didn't do well at all, my worst year ever
But still thankful for what I did get.
Oh in the middle are casualties, (ones I hit with the fork while diggin, those will get trimmed and ate tonight

 

[Jimi]

 

[Jimi]

Remove harmful PFAS chemicals, detox your soil, enrich with 90+ minerals, and create a thriving garden – all with one simple, powerful solution.​ stock up on this one! kept dry, cool and away from EMF's it's good for 5 years​ Remove harmful PFAS chemicals, detox your soil, enrich with 90+ minerals, and create a thriving garden – all with one simple, powerful solution. stock up on this one! kept dry, cool and away from EMF's it's good for 5 years marjorywildcraft.substack.com

 

[Jimi]

 

[Jimi]

Here's my Pick of the day for July 12

Not much today
a few radishes
one of my Roma type maters that the deer knocked down last night
One of my 2 bite yellow maters W. peach I love these, surprised they made it to a picture
A Damsel mater, Love those too, such a wonderful taste
3 cukes
And a couple spraigs of Dill, those are goin to end up in the bottom of a jar of ferminting cukes

 

[Jimi]

As gardeners, we know that growing food is about much more than what ends up on our plates. It begins with the soil beneath our feet. It connects us to the health of our communities, the resilience of our food system, and the future we’re helping create for the next generation. The Need To GROW is an inspiring, award-winning documentary about soil, food, and the innovative solutions that could help restore our planet. And right now, you can watch the full film for free. >> Watch The Need To GROW for free here

The film follows three remarkable people who are each working to create meaningful change: An eight-year-old activist challenging a powerful organization. A farmer pioneering more resource-efficient ways to grow food. And an inventor developing technology designed to help restore damaged soil. Their stories are moving, hopeful, and a powerful reminder that solutions already exist—and that each of us can play a part. We especially appreciate that this isn’t simply a film about everything that is going wrong. It is about what people are doing to make things better. Whether you grow a few herbs, tend a backyard garden, or are working toward greater food independence, we think you’ll come away feeling encouraged about the difference that growing, protecting our soil, and supporting a healthier food system can make. >> Watch the free screening of The Need To GROW today Set aside some time to watch it while the complimentary screening is still available. I think you’ll find it both eye-opening and deeply inspiring. To growing a healthier future, The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team P.S. The film is approximately 90 minutes long and is only available to watch free for a limited time. Start watching The Need To GROW now.

 

[Jimi]

Ok here's my Pick/Pull of the day

My pick
not much at all
4 cukes
Some grape maters
A Damsel mater ( pink one)
And 2 of my Roma type maters





Ok and now for my Pull of the day
Took out some of my onions




They didn't do as good as last year but for the year we are havin (Drought) I am still Very Thankful

 

[gopher_byrd]

Tomatoes, mostly Roma and a few Arkansas Travelers.

 

[gopher_byrd]

Chilies today. Hatch, Chili De Arbol, a lonely Shishito, and Cayenne.

 

[gopher_byrd]

Roma tomatoes today

 

[Jimi]

Your garden is always communicating. Sometimes it speaks through yellowing leaves, slow growth, pests, dry soil, or plants that seem to thrive without much effort at all. Other times, it speaks through the quiet moments when you step outside and notice what feels peaceful, what feels overwhelming, or what is asking for your attention. The more you learn to listen, the more gardening becomes less about doing everything perfectly and more about responding with curiosity. This week’s blog is a gentle reminder that your garden already has wisdom to share. You just have to slow down enough to notice it. >> Read Your Garden Is Already Talking to You May your garden surprise you with what it has to say, The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team P.S. This week’s comic is a reminder that your garden may have more to say than you think.

 

[Jimi]

Ok here's some of Jean's (my wife) picks from yesterday and Friday, I have been laid up and can't get out there, She had others but didn't take any pictures

Yesterday
Broccoli
Grape maters
Cukes
jalapeno peppers
A damsel mater
And one of my roma type maters




Friday

4 roma type maters
A Damsel mater
couple cukes
and grape maters

 

[Jimi]

​ ​

DID YOU KNOW? Bumblebees appear to play. When researchers at Queen Mary University of London gave them tiny wooden balls with no reward attached, the bees rolled them over and over anyway, some even somersaulting while they held on. Younger bees played the most, which is the same pattern you see in young mammals. This all contributes to the idea that these small pollinators have richer inner lives than anyone assumed.​

 

[Jimi]

Hello Urban Farmers and Friends, Maybe your garden isn't cutting it. Whether you are an aspiring gardener or are already growing a bounty, sometimes we need to supplement what we're growing. Unless we're applying permaculture on a large scale, it's not so easy to grow everything we need to eat. That's when I like to go to my local farmer's market to buy what I need that I'm not growing. I love supporting other farmers, ensuring that I'm still eating as freshly as possible, AND connecting with my local community. I love these related articles to get excited about the farmer's market: Urban Farm U team member Tayler on Where to Find Real Food Deanna Cook on 6 Ways to Create Farmer's Market Fun with Kids Already growing an abundance? Then maybe you want to sell your food at the market Enjoy!​

 

[gopher_byrd]

More Roma tomatoes

 

[Jimi]

I trimmed up my onions and lettin them sun for the day before puttin them in storage, here you can see them better

 

[Jimi]

Here's Jean's Pick of the Day for July 21

To start far right are some sweet peppers the two smaller green ones were rubbin the fence and made a spot so they had to come off, can't wait to have the red one in salads
Several maters there the pink ones are either damsel or blushing star
The red ones are mortgage lifters
The four bigger Roma type are Amish Paste, my favorite Roma type, sweet, very meaty, and very few seeds
One cuke, Deer have found my cuke vines and they like them
2 little yellow 2 bite maters, Love these too
5 of my other kinda Roma's
The big mater, looks like 2 but one that split when she picked it is a big Damsel, love those too
a few radishes between the Roma's and the Box









And the big Pick of the day is still comin,

 

[Jimi]

Ok now for the Big Pick of the day
While I trimmed the old onions for storage Jean pulled the rest of our onion crop
















I was honestly hopin to do better, looks like a lot of onions but we go through 2 to 3 a day, I can eat them like an apple these are so sweet

 

[Jimi]

Here's Jean's Pick of the Day for July22
Some assorted Jalapeno peppers



And
5 cukes, one was hid and got pretty big, looks like a juicer
2 amish paste maters
2 of the other smaller Roma type maters
One yellow 2 bite mater, was 2 but I ate 1
And the pink maters ate Damsel and Blushing star maters

 

[Jimi]

Here's Jean's Pick/Dig of the day
She got up feelin frisky and grabbed the fork and wanted me to show her how far away from the plant base to dig so she brought me a bucket out so I could foreman the project so to speak, I sat on the bucket and sifted for taders where she dug. here's what came up and there's a lot more to come. Not much today

First the Pick
Damsel maters (pink)
Roma type maters (red)
And a cuke, notch half way down was where it grew through the fence and it made a notch look but never broke the skin just deformed it a weee bit.



These are some of our Kennebec taders, they make great bakers and that was all I have to show today, well except for two very tired and sore old pharts

 

[Jimi]

Garden healing goes beyond the herbs you grow.​

​

Could planting and tending a garden be medicine in itself? When Brandon Ruiz joined Mimi Prunella and I on HerbMentor Radio this month, his stories transported us straight into the garden. We could almost smell the rich earth after rain, hear bees pollinating blossoms, and feel the healing that comes from getting our hands in the soil. If you've been craving a little more connection - to plants, to place, or to community - this conversation is for you. You'll be enchanted by stories of Brandon's grandparents’ gardens in Puerto Rico and inspired by the cultural richness of the Norris Square Neighborhood Project in Philadelphia where he now helps cultivate herbs, food, art, culture, and belonging. Brandon is a community herbalist, educator, urban farmer, and author whose work beautifully weaves gardening, foraging, and community. His work is deeply informed by his Puerto Rican heritage and his passion for connecting people to plants, place, and one another. Over the years, Brandon has led projects that expand access to herbal knowledge, culturally meaningful foods, and medicinal plants through community gardens and education. Today, he continues that work in North Philadelphia, supporting youth programs, public art, food cultivation, herbalism, and the celebration of Puerto Rican culture. His newest book, How to Forage for Medicinal Plants Without Dying, helps beginners safely and confidently build relationships with the healing plants growing all around them. In our interview with him you’ll learn about: What makes a garden a rich and healing space How plants and gardening can bring people together in unexpected ways Some of the many gifts of tulsi, mugwort, and other garden herbs Why it’s important to set an intention before you harvest This was one of those conversations that lingers long after it's over. Brandon's love of plants is deeply contagious, and don't be surprised if you find yourself planning a garden, wandering your neighborhood in search of herbs, or texting a friend to come help you dig a new garden bed before the episode ends. Happy gardening! Kimberly LearningHerbs

LISTEN NOW​

 

[Jimi]

Hi, Jimi, Trying to manage every garden pest by yourself can leave you working much harder than you need to. One way to invite more natural help is by adding plants that provide food and habitat for beneficial insects. But when garden space is limited, you may not want to give up valuable growing room just to plant flowers for insects. The good news is that you may not have to. Many of the plants beneficial insects love are also edible, so they can support your garden ecosystem while giving you something to harvest, too. And depending on your growing conditions, there may still be time to add some of them to your garden this season. >> Download the free Edible Plants for Beneficials guide HERE <<​

Inside the guide, you’ll discover: Eight keys to successfully encouraging beneficials in your garden How much of your growing space to include for beneficial-supporting plants More than 30 edible plants that beneficial insects love Herbs, flowers, and other plants that can serve both you and your garden Ideas you can use now or save for your next planting window You do not need to choose between growing food and supporting your garden’s natural protectors.

With thoughtful plant choices, the same space can help feed you while making your garden more welcoming to ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, predatory wasps, and other helpful visitors. >> See which edible plants can attract beneficials Start with just a few plants that fit your space and growing season. Even a small change can help you build a healthier, more balanced garden over time. To your abundant harvest! Grow Your Own Vegetables Team

P.S. Some of these plants may still fit into your garden this year. Others can help you plan your fall garden or choose what to grow next season. >> Download the Edible Plants for Beneficials guide >> Download the Edible Plants for Beneficials guide

 

[Jimi]

Here's my pick of the day for July 24

Not much today
Some grape maters (sugar rush)
a dwarf black zuke
2 yellow 2 bite maters
A cuke
Pink maters are Damsel
And an Amish Paste Roma type mater

 

[Jimi]

[Masterclass] Enjoy your harvest all year long​ ​

Food prices keep climbing, so if you're looking at a counter full of garden tomatoes or a farmer's market haul you can't eat fast enough, this one's for you.​

Too much of a good thing is a great problem to have, as long as you've got a plan. Otherwise that harvest ends up in the compost when it could've been pasta sauce in January. ​

That's why I want to point you toward a masterclass with my longtime friend and ally Stacey Murphy called 3 Strategies to Simplify Preserving and Storing the Harvest.​

>>> Access the Masterclass HERE​

Stacey teaches you to think like a restaurant owner, so fresh food becomes a stocked kitchen without eating up your whole weekend. Her Harvest into Meals system covers canning, fermenting, drying, dehydrating, pickling, meal planning, and storage, plus the flavor trick her dad taught her that turns basic garden ingredients into something you'll want to brag about.​

You'd be doing more than lining up jars of tomatoes. You'd be building meals that taste like August in the middle of February.​

>>> Grab your seat, and pick up the Quick eGuide for Preserving the Harvest while you're there​

 

[Jimi]

Your Garden Is Already a Farm... You Just Haven't Named It Yet​

What if your backyard is more than just a place to grow a few vegetables? Greg Peterson invites you to see your growing space in a completely new way. Whether you have containers on a patio, raised beds, or a larger backyard garden, the principles of an urban farm can help you create a space that is more productive, regenerative, and connected to the natural world. This isn't just about growing more food … it's about rethinking what's possible with the space you already have. If you're ready for a fresh perspective, this blog is a great place to start. ​

Read The Blog And Discover A New Way To See Your Garden​

​

Free Guide: Invite Nature's Best Garden Helpers​ ​

​ When pests show up, it's tempting to reach for a spray. But one of the most effective long-term solutions is to invite more of the right insects into your garden. Ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, and other beneficial insects work around the clock helping keep pest populations in check while supporting a healthy, balanced garden ecosystem. Diverse plantings and flowering herbs provide the food and habitat these helpful insects need to thrive, reducing the need for chemical controls. Our free 5 Keys to Invite Beneficials Into Your Garden guide shares simple, practical ways to make your garden a place these hardworking helpers want to call home.

Download Your Free Guide And Start Building A Healthier, More Resilient Garden​

​

Nurture Your Garden... and Yourself​

There's something special that happens when gardening becomes more than a checklist of tasks. It becomes a place to slow down, reconnect, and find joy in the process. If you've ever felt like your garden gives you more than just fresh food, Spirit Gardening explores that deeper connection. In this self-paced course, Stacey Murphy shares how tending a garden can also cultivate peace, purpose, gratitude, and resilience, helping you grow not only healthier plants, but a richer gardening experience. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by the season or simply want to rediscover the joy that first drew you to gardening, this course offers a refreshing perspective that many gardeners never realize they've been missing. ​

Learn More About Spirit Gardening And Begin Your Journey Today​

​

 

[Jimi]

In the Garden​ ​

This week has been full of little reminders that a thriving garden is about so much more than the vegetables we harvest. Watching bees busily visit the borage, walking the path into the garden each morning, and even taking a few quiet moments in the hammock to look up at the sky have reminded me that gardening isn't just something we do, it's something we get to experience. Sometimes the most rewarding part of the season is simply slowing down long enough to notice the life happening all around us.

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This Week's Garden Smile​

Your beneficial insects have been hard at work all season... we just gave one of them a cape.​

​

Whether you're harvesting your first tomato, welcoming pollinators into your garden, or simply taking a quiet moment to enjoy the view, we hope this week's newsletter inspires you to see your growing space in a new way. Every season offers an opportunity to learn, grow, and deepen your connection with the garden. Happy Gardening! The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team