The blog
Show notes, reviews, and what I got wrong.
Every video gets a post here with the chapters, the gear, and the questions I'm asking you. The reviews run long because I use things for years before I tell you what I think. If you're shopping for a metal bed, tap Birdies vs Vego below. Everything else is filed under Gardening.
Fall Garden in Northeast Florida: What to Clear, Keep, and Plant Next
Key takeaways Resetting a fall garden in Northeast Florida comes down to three simple steps that any gardener can follow. First, clear out spent summer crops, weeds, and unhealthy plants, while keeping healthy natives and seed heads for wildlife. Next, refresh the...
Michelle in the Meadow is live!
Support for Michelle in the Meadow If you're interested in any of the products we show on this channel, you can use the links below to find them and make a purchase. These links are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission when you make a purchase....
Summer Vegetables in September: Which Crops Should Stay and Which Should Go
Summary Summer vegetables in September fall into two clear groups for Zone 9 gardens. Heat-tolerant crops like okra, eggplant, sweet potatoes, southern peas, and hot peppers keep producing well into fall. Tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, bush beans, and melons...
The Second Growing Season: Why Fall Vegetable Gardening in Northeast Florida Beats Spring
Key takeaways: Northeast Florida's Zone 9B/9B climate offers a fall growing window that avoids the heat and pest pressure of spring. Cool-season crops such as broccoli, lettuce, carrots, and kale thrive in autumn conditions from September through October. Preparation...
How to Transition a Raised Bed From Summer Crops to Fall Vegetables
Summary Transitioning a raised bed from summer crops to fall vegetables involves three steps: clearing spent summer plants, refreshing the raised bed soil, and selecting cool-season crops suited to the region. In Northeast Florida's Zone 9B/9B gardens, this handoff...
Summer Rain or Too Much Water? Watering a Florida Garden in Summer
Summary Watering a Florida garden in summer requires reading both the sky and the soil. Rain often supplies enough moisture during the wet season, but overwatering causes real damage. Yellow lower leaves, wilting despite wet soil, and lingering puddles all point to...
Bee Fare Jacksonville Florida 2026 Honey Tasting and So Much More
Support for Michelle in the Meadow If you're interested in any of the products we show on this channel, you can use the links below to find them and make a purchase. These links are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission when you make a purchase....
Late Summer Care for a Pollinator Garden in Northeast Florida (Zone 9b)
Key takeaways Late summer challenges Northeast Florida pollinator gardens because heat, humidity, and a mid-season nectar lull can push bees and butterflies elsewhere for food. This guide covers three levers that keep a Zone 9b garden active from August through fall:...
Seed Saving in Florida: What to Collect From Your Summer Garden Now
Summary Seed saving in Florida gives gardeners a window each summer to collect locally adapted seeds. Crops like Everglades tomatoes, Datil peppers, southern peas, okra, and Seminole pumpkin reach peak maturity from July through September. Timing and storage make the...
Fall Garden in Northeast Florida: What to Clear, Keep, and Plant Next
Key takeaways Resetting a fall garden in Northeast Florida comes down to three simple steps that any gardener can follow. First, clear out spent summer crops, weeds, and unhealthy plants, while keeping healthy natives and seed heads for wildlife. Next, refresh the...
Michelle in the Meadow is live!
Support for Michelle in the Meadow If you're interested in any of the products we show on this channel, you can use the links below to find them and make a purchase. These links are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission when you make a purchase....
Summer Vegetables in September: Which Crops Should Stay and Which Should Go
Summary Summer vegetables in September fall into two clear groups for Zone 9 gardens. Heat-tolerant crops like okra, eggplant, sweet potatoes, southern peas, and hot peppers keep producing well into fall. Tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, bush beans, and melons...
The Second Growing Season: Why Fall Vegetable Gardening in Northeast Florida Beats Spring
Key takeaways: Northeast Florida's Zone 9B/9B climate offers a fall growing window that avoids the heat and pest pressure of spring. Cool-season crops such as broccoli, lettuce, carrots, and kale thrive in autumn conditions from September through October. Preparation...
How to Transition a Raised Bed From Summer Crops to Fall Vegetables
Summary Transitioning a raised bed from summer crops to fall vegetables involves three steps: clearing spent summer plants, refreshing the raised bed soil, and selecting cool-season crops suited to the region. In Northeast Florida's Zone 9B/9B gardens, this handoff...
Summer Rain or Too Much Water? Watering a Florida Garden in Summer
Summary Watering a Florida garden in summer requires reading both the sky and the soil. Rain often supplies enough moisture during the wet season, but overwatering causes real damage. Yellow lower leaves, wilting despite wet soil, and lingering puddles all point to...
Bee Fare Jacksonville Florida 2026 Honey Tasting and So Much More
Support for Michelle in the Meadow If you're interested in any of the products we show on this channel, you can use the links below to find them and make a purchase. These links are affiliate links, which means I'll earn a small commission when you make a purchase....
Late Summer Care for a Pollinator Garden in Northeast Florida (Zone 9b)
Key takeaways Late summer challenges Northeast Florida pollinator gardens because heat, humidity, and a mid-season nectar lull can push bees and butterflies elsewhere for food. This guide covers three levers that keep a Zone 9b garden active from August through fall:...
Seed Saving in Florida: What to Collect From Your Summer Garden Now
Summary Seed saving in Florida gives gardeners a window each summer to collect locally adapted seeds. Crops like Everglades tomatoes, Datil peppers, southern peas, okra, and Seminole pumpkin reach peak maturity from July through September. Timing and storage make the...
Want to know how the Birdies Raised Garden Beds and the Vego Metal Garden Beds compare? We’ll update you regularly with the progress in our garden.
60 Day Follow Up on the Vego & Birdies Metal Raised Garden Beds
It's time for another update and answers to more of your questions about these raised garden beds. One thing you wall wanted to know is which one is made from a thicker metal. Around the 5-minute mark, I break out the calipers, but I'm not one of those to make you...
Mulching with Pet Bedding in my Vego and Birdies Raised Garden Beds
https://youtu.be/FwQhNqu6KBM I needed an easier way to mulch around my plants in the raised garden beds while I'm recovering from shoulder surgery and have my arm in a sling. Straw was too hard to manage in between the compact rows. Shout out to @MIgardener for the...
Filling the Vego and Birdies Raised Garden Beds – Time Lapse and Tractor
https://youtu.be/HMnr1z0oCv4 Filling these tall raised garden beds was no easy task and I'm so glad I had help. We followed hugelkultur as best as possible to help reduce the cost of filling and give the garden bed longer-term quality soil as the components break...
Vego Garden Bed vs Birdies Raised Bed – 30 Days Later
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk2SW6SnmEA In 30 days, we don't really expect a lot of changes -- but you all have asked some great questions over the past month - so I captured as many of those answers as I could. And, as expected, so far so good on the beds.
Vego Garden vs Birdies Raised Beds
Are you trying to figure out if Vego Garden Beds or Birdies Beds are the right garden beds for you. Watch this video or continue reading below to find out my initial thoughts in assembling both beds. https://youtu.be/XNmBvZ0icjU Choosing A Raised Garden Bed When I was...
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Growing Spaghetti Squash From Seed to Harvest
Eating warm spaghetti squash on a cold winter night is a great way to stay comfortable. The squash got its name from the noodle-like shape of its insides. The flesh of the fruit is very similar to stringy pasta and is considered to be a healthy and gluten-free...
Grub Worm Control: How to Safely Get Rid of Grubs
Though some insects in your garden may harm your plants, most won't. However, if their population grows out of control, they may cause harm. The grub worm is a pest that affects homeowners with lawns. White grubs are larvae that damage lawn grass by eating the...
Growing Artichokes for Prickly Gardening Fun
We don’t give artichokes enough credit. Although they may be related to thistles and have an unusual name, these vegetables are actually quite interesting! Let’s take a look at the wonderfully weird features of this plant and you’ll soon be imaging it in your own...
Fertilizer Numbers: What They Mean and How to Use Them to Grow Better
New gardeners may find garden centers and nurseries to be confusing places. There are so many choices of fertilizer that it's overwhelming. What is the composition of those bags and bottles of fertilizer? What do the fertilizer numbers on the package mean? It might...
Basil Leaves Turning Yellow: 7 Reasons Why Basil Leaves Can Yellow
The basil plant is popular because it has a sweet-spicy flavor. From time to time, you may encounter a challenge with your basil leaves turning yellow. The most common complaints are overwatering, cool temperatures, or diseases like basil downy mildew. Keep...
Sesame Plant: Drought-Tolerant Seed Crop
Sesame is a tropical crop that is grown in hot, dry areas, like India and Africa. It is believed that the Chinese have been growing cabbage for over 5000 years. Tahini is a delicious paste made from ground sesame seeds. It is a popular food in the Mediterranean...
Snail Vs Slug: What’s The Difference?
We need to discuss the difference between snails and slugs. Snail vs slug – what’s that all about? Some things to consider within this topic are: For instance, are there differences in size? Are the shells the same among snails and slugs? We know there are land snails...
Sorghum Plant: Food, Silage, And More
Many gardeners may not have heard of the sorghum plant, though it is one of the most common and useful cereal crops! It is believed that the plant was first domesticated in the Niger River Valley of West Africa and then became an important crop for cultures all over...
Growing Arugula For Great Salad Success
They think that the word "arugula" comes from the word "oroth," which was a green leaf mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. This lovely plant was grown throughout the Mediterranean region during Roman times. The plant was also popular during the Middle...
Growing Lettuce Indoors For Salad Success
Lettuce can be easily grown as long as the temperature is not too high. Unfortunately, lettuce is NOT a tropical plant. You can only grow lettuce in the tropics during the cooler months. Lettuce does NOT like hot weather. Lettuce can be grown outdoors in warmer areas,...