The Real Dirt

Imagine a healthy garden that grows, blooms, and produces food for you, your family and your neighbors, a garden that costs you very little money because everything it needs is already provided.

Summer is almost over, but it's not too soon to begin planning next summer's garden. Many bulbs flowering in late spring and summer should be planted this fall and winter: they are available at nurseries and online right now.

The following recommendations for safely clearing ash from outdoor surfaces, including ornamental and edible plants, come from the US EPA, Oregon State University Extension Service, Waste Management, and the Sacramento Bee. Basic Guidelines: Wait until air quality levels are safe for being outdoors.

Do you associate vegetable gardening with the heat of summer, like fireworks on the Fourth of July or the drone of air conditioners on an August afternoon?

Does growing a vegetable garden sound like something you'd like to do, but you don't feel confident or equipped to do it? Well, here's the deal: find some dirt, and then add plants. It's that simple.