One of the easiest methods I've found is using a clean cement mixer to tumble the ears. The dry cobs roll around, hit the sides, bump into each other, and knock the kernels loose without much effort from you.

A cement mixer can knock dry sunflower seeds loose fast without the fuss of hand rubbing each head.

Year two is when a garden system stops feeling like a big experiment and starts showing you what actually works in your yard.

The first thing that jumped out during this garden tour was just how much growth had happened in a short amount of time.

The plants have taken off, the beds look fuller, and the whole garden has that exciting early-summer energy where you can almost see things growing from one day to the next.

On June 5, 2023, I walked through the garden to check on the plants, see what’s growing strong, and look at how the Mittleider gardening method is working so far this season.

A good potting bench doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be sturdy, useful, and cute enough that you actually want it sitting by the garden.

How to harvest without bruising the crop, how to cure potatoes properly, and the best way to store them once they’re out of the ground.

Pruning gives the plant a cleaner shape, improves airflow, makes harvesting easier, and helps direct energy toward fruit instead of endless leafy growth.

If you’re building from scratch, here’s how to set up a productive, tidy, easy-to-manage Mittleider Garden, from leveling the site to adding raised beds, custom soil, trellis posts, and wire.

Pruning a hazelnut tree is one of the most effective ways to boost its nut production and keep it healthy.

Pruning blueberry bushes is a key step to ensure healthy plants and a bountiful harvest. Without proper pruning, bushes can become overcrowded, leading to fewer berries and weaker growth. This guide explains when and how to prune blueberry bushes to boost their productivity and keep them thriving year after year.

Growing grapes can be rewarding, but without proper pruning, your vines may produce fewer grapes or become overgrown and unhealthy. Pruning grapevines helps control their shape, encourages strong growth, and improves fruit quality. This guide explains how to prune grapes effectively so you can enjoy a rich harvest year after year.

Pruning a pear tree is one of the most effective ways to boost its fruit production and keep it healthy. Without proper pruning, pear trees can become overgrown, produce fewer fruits, and suffer from diseases. Pruning your pear tree correctly will ensure a bountiful harvest year after year.

Pruning an apple tree is one of the most important tasks for any gardener who wants healthy trees and a bountiful harvest. Without proper pruning, apple trees can become overcrowded, weak, and less productive. Knowing how to prune an apple tree correctly helps improve air circulation, sunlight exposure, and fruit quality.

Raspberry plants can produce an abundance of sweet, juicy berries, but only if they are pruned correctly. Pruning is a crucial gardening task that helps maintain healthy plants, encourages strong growth, and boosts fruit production. Without proper pruning, raspberry bushes can become overgrown, tangled, and less productive. This explains how to prune raspberry plants effectively to get the best harvest possible.

Blackberry bushes can produce an abundance of delicious fruit, but without proper care, their yield can suffer. Pruning blackberry bushes is a crucial step to ensure healthy growth, prevent disease, and maximize fruit production. If you want to enjoy a bountiful blackberry harvest year after year, understanding how and why to prune is essential.

Knowing how to sterilize soil is important because there can be bacteria, fungus and weed seeds hiding in the soil.

The final step in building my greenhouse was finishing the interior of the greenhouse portion.

Building this reclaimed window greenhouse was our fall and winter project this year.