Category: Free Resources
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Fig Trees Belong in Every Garden
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Barry’s Grove is a nonprofit organization founded in 2022 and based in the Village of Walden, New York, with a primary focus on the Hudson Valley region. The organization is dedicated to environmental stewardship through hands-on initiatives such as tree planting, stream stocking, and educational outreach that fosters a deeper connection between the community and…
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Hello, Roots! My First Fig Cutting of 2026
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I am not kidding when I say that every single year, the moment I spot my first rooted cutting, I get a little teary-eyed. It never gets old. This year, I’ve officially kicked off the rooting process with—drum roll, please—400 cuttings. But wait… there’s more. I’ve got another 200 cuttings tucked away in the crisper…
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Spread spent coffee grounds around your fig trees!
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I recently blogged about NPK (Ref 1, Ref 2), which stands for Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K), the three essential nutrients that are the backbone of any good fertilizer. In fact, these three numbers on a bag of fertilizer represent the percentage of each nutrient, in that exact order. For instance, a 5-5-5…
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Prepping Rooted Cuttings for the Monroe Free Library Program
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Yes, the moment has finally arrived! The long-awaited Fig Cultivation Program is set to bloom at the Monroe Free Library—and we’re ready to dig in (quite literally)! Each little figgy has been thoughtfully prepared: the bottom of every cup has been carefully removed, and the young plants have been gently coaxed out from their temporary…
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Up-Potting a rooted Fig
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Just look at these incredible roots! This rooted cutting is absolutely thriving and more than ready for a larger container. The roots have spread in every direction, eagerly searching for more space—it’s practically begging for a new home! This beauty is a Pastillière (though I’ve seen it spelled in various ways), a remarkable fig variety…
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Protecting Cuttings Rooting in Water
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If you’ve opted to root your cuttings in water, consider covering them with plastic bags like the ones commonly found at the supermarket. This simple step creates a makeshift greenhouse—a mini humidity dome that works wonders for propagation. By maintaining high humidity levels, the dome prevents the cuttings from drying out before they have a…
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Always Be Ready
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I was in New Paltz, New York, today for some business, and it was freezing cold. Naturally, I stopped at Starbucks and ordered a Frozen Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher! Yes, you read that right—it was freezing cold outside, and I ordered a frozen drink with, brace yourselves, extra ice. Why, you ask? Well, it’s a…
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Coast of Maine Potting Soil
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This year I witched to higher-quality potting soil called Coast of Maine and it was a great move, especially since some cheaper soils can harbor fungus gnat eggs. Sticky traps are also an effective way to monitor and reduce gnat populations, BUT they are expensive and you will have to change them every few days.…
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Getting Hay to Winterize Trees and Raised Beds
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Here I am transporting three bales of hay from the Orange County Arboretum for our suburban garden. I first received permission from the Arboretum officials in charge to make sure I wasn’t stealing. By the way, I buy all of our vegetable seedlings from them every year because they offer such high-quality varieties. I also…
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Wood Chips for your Garden
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I found this amazing mountain of wood chips off Route 208 in Orange County that has been sitting there unattended for a couple of years. Well, I go there once or twice a day with four buckets and a pair of gloves. I fill the buckets and take them home, where I use them to…