Heartland Gardening bloggers
(left to right: Michael Leach, Debra Knapke and Teresa Woodard)
Michael Leach, Teresa Woodard, and I were in Indianapolis in 2011 attending a GWA – The Association of Garden Communicators – conference. After a garden writers workshop we went out to dinner. Not an easy thing to do in a city where three other conferences were also in session. Over the second bottle of wine, while waiting for our table, we decided to create a blog together. We not only launched the blog, Heartland Gardening, but developed deep friendships.
In June, 2021, Michael passed, Teresa became more involved with her writing – please look for her book American Roots and her next book, Garden to the Max which will be published in March 2025. And I became involved with projects that focus on care for the Earth and and all who live on it. Teresa and I felt that it was time to let our blog settle into an archive as a beautiful testament to three gardeners who shared their passion for plants, people, and collaboration.
Enjoy.
Snapshots: Snowy Spring
By Debra Knapke The forsythia is in bloom – here is the first of three snows! Actually, the snow is a protective cover on this cold morning. Tonight, the temperature is supposed to go down into the high 20’s. I will be covering my few cold hardy annuals, but the...
Trendspotting: Backyard Chickens
Do you need some garden help? By Teresa Woodard Meet our newest gardening crew – two black Java and two cuckoo Maran chickens. Yes, these hens are tilling, weeding and even fertilizing the soil as we prep our vegetable garden area. Plus, they’re laying beautiful...
Garden Happenings: Plant Sales
By Teresa Woodard The plant-buying frenzy is about to begin, and there’s no better place for one-of-a-kind plants and great gardening advice than a public garden’s plant sale. Besides, the sales generate significant...
Favorite Flora: Wild Ginger
Wild ginger (Asarum canadense): Edible… or not? By Debra Knapke The question: “Is it true that you can use it like ginger?” The answer: “well, yes and no”. This shade-loving, native perennial has a history of culinary use as a ginger substitute. The roots have been...
Snapshots: Spring Bulbs
Small signs of hope springing up everywhere By Michael Leach Spring aims tiny green spears in its fight against winter. Seemingly insignificant, the pointy shoots of snowdrops, crocus, daffodils, iris and other early bloomers take aim at winter's soft underbelly....
Happy Spring!
Spring Countdown: 1 day
How to grow a winter garden without raising the heating bill By Michael Leach Wearin’ o’ the green is one thing. I prefer eating greens, especially those fresh from the garden. With floating row cover, and a bit of Irish luck, this is doable on St. Patrick’s Day and...
Spring Countdown: 2 days
By Debra Knapke In keeping with the green-theme here is another set of books to consider. From bottom to top: Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening – I still have the original The Basic Book of Organic Gardening edited by Robert Rodale – a dense...
Spring Countdown: 3 days
By Debra Knapke Books are a pleasure for me; second to gardening with respect to de-stressing. There is something very comforting and settling about holding a book while drinking tea – or sipping wine. I love my IPad mini, but it doesn’t hold a candle to an engaging...