How to Grow Basil, Summer’s Favorite Herb

You can Grow Your Own Way. All spring and summer, we’re playing in the vegetable garden; join us for step-by-step guides, highly recommended tools, backyard tours, juicy-ripe recipes, and then some. Let’s get our hands dirty.

One of the common goals…

You can Grow Your Own Way. All spring and summer, we’re playing in the vegetable garden; join us for step-by-step guides, highly recommended tools, backyard tours, juicy-ripe recipes, and then some. Let’s get our hands dirty.


One of the common goals of new and experienced gardeners alike is to grow an endless supply of herbs for cooking. Basil often finds itself high on that list because who doesn’t love the idea of plucking fragrant, beautifully cupped leaves and scattering them atop a homemade pizza or happy-hour cocktail?

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Those Handmade Whisk Brooms You Love? You Can DIY Them.

Can You Dig It is a new monthly series by Kristin Guy in which a real-life garden DIY is tackled with real style. Whether you’ve got an expansive outdoor plot or just a few houseplants, Kristin will inspire you to grow even more with easy-to-tackle pro…

Can You Dig It is a new monthly series by Kristin Guy in which a real-life garden DIY is tackled with real style. Whether you’ve got an expansive outdoor plot or just a few houseplants, Kristin will inspire you to grow even more with easy-to-tackle projects and horticultural know-how.


Confession time: I love brooms. Specifically, tiny handmade brooms. In fact, if you peeped into my greenhouse, you’d find not one, but four handcrafted brooms hanging on my workbench. There's something special about the care and detail spent on an object most find utilitarian. I like to think of it as an extension of my horticultural work—a beautiful object that plays an important part of my routine, and turns an ordinary act (in this case, cleaning) into an extraordinary celebration of completion.

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11 Essentials for First-Time Vegetable Gardeners

As a certified horticulturist and hobby homesteader, I’ve slowly built my garden up from an empty dirt lot, creating a thriving wildlife habitat and sustainably-minded ecosystem along with 12 raised beds, a greenhouse, and a micro orchard. Baby chicks …

As a certified horticulturist and hobby homesteader, I’ve slowly built my garden up from an empty dirt lot, creating a thriving wildlife habitat and sustainably-minded ecosystem along with 12 raised beds, a greenhouse, and a micro orchard. Baby chicks also just arrived last week! I’ve worked in the garden testing out tools and gadgets for years, so I’ve learned what works and what definitely does not.

As much as I like to have excuses for buying all the things, “accidental” seed and plant purchases included, it’s important to stay focused on the essentials—especially when starting up your first veggie garden. Whether you’re planning an expansive homestead with raised beds, or a curated collection of herbs on your patio, you’ll want to arm yourself with the right tools when dipping a trowel into the gardening world. The key is to start with a few of these stand-by staples that I've relied on for years, and then expand into more gadgets and frills as you better understand the needs of your specific plot.

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So, When Was the Last Time You Cleaned Your Gardening Tools?

Maintenance. Not a very glamorous word, is it? But, before you start running away, let me reassure you that this is going to be a totally doable part of your plant-care routine that will become as second nature as “accidentally” buying more plants than…

Maintenance. Not a very glamorous word, is it? But, before you start running away, let me reassure you that this is going to be a totally doable part of your plant-care routine that will become as second nature as “accidentally” buying more plants than you intended to. (This is a safe zone, no judgments. I’m right there with you.)

The spring and summer months are busy ones in the plant world. It’s peak plant-growing (and accumulation, ahem) season after all! So, now is the perfect time to take care of your hardest working tools before that green leafy distraction hits. This rings true whether you’re planning on harvesting tomatoes or simply pruning your indoor houseplants.

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A DIY Potting Tarp to Make Indoor Gardening Mess-Free

Can You Dig It is a new monthly series by Kristin Guy in which a real-life garden DIY is tackled with real style. Whether you’ve got an expansive outdoor plot or just a few houseplants, Kristin will inspire you to grow even more with easy-to-tackle pro…

Can You Dig It is a new monthly series by Kristin Guy in which a real-life garden DIY is tackled with real style. Whether you’ve got an expansive outdoor plot or just a few houseplants, Kristin will inspire you to grow even more with easy-to-tackle projects and horticultural know-how.


Spring is here, and with it the anticipation of more plant projects both indoors and out. With daylight lingering longer, no matter where you live, it’s hard to want to stay indoors any longer than you need to. Right now I’m harvesting the remainder of my winter greens and tinkering with them in the kitchen, starting seeds, and focusing on the new delicious season ahead (I see you, tomatoes!). I guess you could say for most gardeners it’s go time—aka, the most exciting (and busiest) time of the year.

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The Essential Spring Care Guide for Your Houseplants

Potted greenery is the perfect way to connect with nature when spending time indoors—my own green roommates have been wonderful company through the winter. Now that spring is here, it’s the best time to tend to your botanical buddie—whether you’ve got …

Potted greenery is the perfect way to connect with nature when spending time indoors—my own green roommates have been wonderful company through the winter. Now that spring is here, it’s the best time to tend to your botanical buddie—whether you’ve got a few or 100—before making a break for the actual outdoors. While proper watering and correct sun exposure are your first priorities when bringing home a plant, there are a few other ways to ensure that your plants continue to grow and thrive through the seasons: soil health, pest inspections, and even a little leaf management are all important habits to add to your seasonal care routines.

I know that tackling a huge to-do list, when all you want to do is head outdoors, can seem daunting, especially if your plants are in the multiples. Try carving out the time to make these tasks enjoyable—break them up into bite-sized goals that you can tend to realistically throughout the week, rather than in one fully loaded day. Turn on some music and put on a mud mask, making it an act of self-care for yourself, too! And who knows, once you’re through with your seasonal houseplant duties you might even find yourself in need of a larger pot—or one that needs filling. You’ve earned yourself a reward at the local plant store for all that hard work!

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