EncyGROWpedia

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EncyGROWpedia Grow journal of one man's epic backyard adventures on an urban orchard and a hobby farm in Atlanta, GA.

01/12/2025

Today is the last day to save on HenGear Rollout Nest Boxes. Save 10% on all of their rollout nest boxes during the final hours of today’s Cyber Monday Sale. Best of all, you can save an extra $15 on every order with the HenGear link in my profile or code “ENCYGROWPEDIA15”!

HenGear Rolliout Nest Boxes have made backyard chicken keeping so much more enjoyable for me. They’ve eliminated the chores of constantly dealing with broken eggs, washing p**p off eggs, and keeping nest boxes clean.

These nest boxes have been the best investment I've made for my chickens. They have literally paid for themselves by eliminating the neverending expense of replenishing nesting materials and loss of income due to broken and dirty eggs.

HenGear rarely has sales on their nest boxes, so don't miss this opportunity. Get a HenGear Nest Box and start enjoying your chickens instead of laboring over unproductive chicken chores!

17/11/2025

I recently expanded my fruit tree collection by adding a Brown Select Mandarin tree. This variety can only withstand below-freezing temps once it’s mature, so I needed a way to help this young tree survive its first few winters.

To accomplish this, I turned to Vego Garden's Self-watering Citrus Tree Planter. At 22 inches tall and 24 inches wide, this planter offers a whopping 45 gallons of capacity, plenty of space for the tree to develop a strong root system over the next few years.

With its large capacity, the planter can easily weigh over 500 lbs when filled with soil. Four heavy-duty caster wheels allow it to be moved effortlessly despite the tremendous weight. Once relocated, the wheel locks keep the planter firmly in place.

My favorite feature is the self-watering system. A bottom water reservoir continuously keeps the roots hydrated over an extended period. A built-in water gauge makes it easy to monitor the water level in the reservoir and know when it’s time to refill.

When the first frost hit in my area, I didn’t have to deal with the hassle of protecting my young mandarin tree with frost blankets, incandescent lights, or water jugs. I simply wheeled it into the garage and back out once temps warmed back up.

See link in profile for discounts on this time- and back-saving growing solution!

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15/11/2025

For most people, gardening is a spring-and-summer endeavor. However, from an efficiency and productivity standpoint, fall is the best-performing growth windows of the entire year.

Once late-August heat breaks, plants shift from surviving thermal stress to pure growth mode. Stable daytime temps improve photosynthetic efficiency while reducing water loss. In addition, cooler nights drive sugar concentration resulting in better flavor. At the same time, pest pressure collapses as insect metabolism slows and reproduction cycles stall, giving you cleaner harvests with almost no intervention.

And the best part? It’s simply a more enjoyable time to garden. Mild temperatures mean working outside without battling humidity, heat indexes, or swarms of summer insects.

My garden went from seeds on 8/26 to full, market-size vegetables in just 10 weeks. These results come from aligning planting with fall’s natural advantages: cooler soils, declining daylength, minimal pests, enhanced flavor, and weather that finally cooperates.

If you’re only gardening in the spring and summer seasons, you’re leaving performance, comfort, and flavor on the table. So if you've not tried fall gardening, consider giving it a go. You may very well find that you have been missing out on the easiest and most enjoyable growing season of all.

09/10/2025

For years, I've started seeds in commercial seed-starting flats. While I love their durability, they’re not ideal for home gardeners.

Seed-starting flats are designed for growing large quantities of seedlings of the same variety. When starting different varieties of seedlings in the same tray, it’s impossible for them to grow optimally, since each has different temperature and lighting needs, germination times, and growth rates.

I’ve been searching for a system that is durable and has the flexibility to meet home growers’ needs. I finally found it in Vego Garden's modular seed starting trays.

Made from heavy-duty PPE, these trays are built to last season after season. They come in three sizes and can be mixed and matched to fit in a single 1020 watering tray. Vego Garden offers humidity covers for each tray size for situations requiring precise humidity control.

The trays feature air-pruning slits, which promote strong, healthy roots. In addition, large drainage holes make seedlings easy to remove when potting up or transplanting to the garden.

If you’ve been frustrated with flimsy flats or have been looking for a better solution for home seed starting, these modular trays from Vego Garden are the perfect balance of strength, precision, and versatility. Save on your order with the Vego Garden link in profile!

08/09/2025

My garden has done great this year. Thanks to the Soil3 Veggie Mix organic compost that I filled my beds with at the beginning of spring, I had abundant harvests all through the spring and summer seasons.

To ensure the same great results for the fall and winter seasons, I am replenishing my garden with Soil3 Veggie Mix. To help home gardeners prep their garden for the best season of the year, Soil3 is currently offering $25 off on each cubic yard bag of Veggie Mix. What perfect timing!

Today’s the last day to take advantage of this sale. Don't miss out on this chance to save on high quality compost that sets your garden up for success and finish the year on a high note!

https://shop.soil3.com/discount/EncyGROWpedia25

30/05/2025

Elevate your indoor gardening with Vego Garden’s 4 Tier Grow Light Garden (Model: F4) – the stylish, hassle-free way to grow seedlings, microgreens, herbs, or houseplants in your home!

Ditch those clunky, industrial grow racks that clash with your home’s vibe. This sleek, modern system blends cutting-edge functionality with a chic design.

What makes the F4 a must-have for plant lovers:
- Four no-spill shelves (21.25" x 10.25" each) fit standard 1020 trays, with tray edges and a spill-catching reservoir for mess-free gardening.
- Intelligent grow lights with five smart preset modes (seeds, leafy greens, fruits, herbs, microgreens) auto-adjust light intensity and on/off schedules to suit the needs of each stage of development.
- Full-spectrum white LEDs replicate natural sunlight, ensuring vibrant plant growth while creating a warm, inviting glow in your interior space.
- Magnetic mounts with 40-degree rotation allow easy grow light installation and precise light angle adjustments for optimal plant coverage.
- Adjustable shelf heights accommodate plants of all sizes, from tiny seedlings to tall plants, with removable trays for added flexibility.
- Effortless setup – no DIY skills needed. Assemble in about 10 minutes, attach the lights, and start growing!
- Easy mobility with four wheels (two lockable) lets you effortlessly move your grow station to catch the perfect light or fit any space.
- Compact & elegant (24" W x 14" D x 66.3" H), it fits any space, from cozy apartments to spacious homes, without a “science lab” look.

The smart lighting takes the guesswork out of plant care, and the sleek design seamlessly blends into my living room. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned gardener, this system makes indoor growing a breeze, no matter the season.

Ready to transform your home with thriving plants? Tap the link in my bio to check out the 4 Tier Grow Light Garden and use my exclusive discount code to get yours today! Grow smarter with Vego Garden!

19/05/2025

My positive experience installing a Vego Garden Raised Garden Bed for dahlias inspired me to expand the garden further. This time, I chose their 2 ft x 8 ft Elevated Garden Bed. (Other available sizes include 2 ft x 4 ft and 2 ft x 6 ft.)

Vego Garden’s Elevated Garden Beds are made from the same high-quality VZ 2.0 material as the raised bed I previously installed, giving them the same impressive 20+ year expected lifespan.

What sets these beds apart is their 32-inch working height, offering true ergonomic comfort. And unlike a 32-inch raised bed that must be filled entirely with soil, the elevated design has a floor raised 20 inches off the ground—reducing soil requirements by over 60%.

When I opened the box, I could tell this project would be a bit more complex than the Raised Garden Bed, just based on the number of parts. While the assembly was more involved, I was still able to complete it quickly and easily.The instructions were clear, and all components were well-labeled, making it easy to follow along.

Once assembled, I was immediately impressed with how sturdy the frame felt. Clearly the advertised 1,400 pound soil capacity was no exaggeration. I also loved the storage shelf under the bed which allows tools and supplies to be kept within convenient reach.

This bed will serve as a nursery for fruit tree seedlings. For this use, there will be extended periods of time spent at the bed caring for a large number of seedlings. I’m looking forward to the comfort of tending them at standing height.

If you’re interested in Vego Garden’s Elevated Beds, get a 5% discount on their entire line with code ENCYGROWPEDIA5%:
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15/05/2025

After assembling my new Vego Garden 17" tall 10-in-1 Jumbo Modular Bed, it was time to get it installed in the garden.

I started by making sure the bed was perfectly level, both lengthwise and widthwise. It's important to take care of this before adding soil, since any adjustments are much easier to make at this stage. Once everything was level, the bed was ready to be filled.

At 17 inches tall, the bed required about 1.25 cubic yards of soil. Thankfully, I’d spent the winter months building up a healthy supply of homemade compost—so I was able to fill the entire bed with rich, organic material. Then I transplanted the overwintered dahlia bulbs into their new home.

Using a Vego Garden raised garden bed for this project proved to be a great choice. Assembly was quick and easy, which saved me a ton of time and effort compared to building something from scratch. That extra time allowed me to focus on other parts of the project—like designing and installing a custom trellis for the dahlias. I constructed one from electrical metallic tubing (EMT) and welded wire fence for strength and support.

Within a few weeks, the transplanted dahlias were thriving. They were already reaching up and using the new trellis — a sure sign that they were loving their new home. I’m considering this project a success and am looking forward to sharing an update once the dahlias are in bloom later this season.

If you’re looking to quickly and easily add more growing space to your garden, you can save $10 on your next Vego Garden order with the link below:

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14/05/2025

Spring season is passing by so quickly! Here’s a look at how much everything has grown over the past couple of months. The tremendous growth can be seen not just in the garden, but also in the orchard in the background.

I started my first batch of seeds for spring plantings in mid-February and began transplanting them in mid-March into my raised beds, which were filled with Soil³ Veggie Mix (https://shop.soil3.com/discount/EncyGROWpedia25)

Within a few weeks of transplanting, the harvests began rolling in—bok choys, peas, lettuces, chards, and kales. I’ve been harvesting more than enough for myself, the chickens, and the rabbits, and I still have extra to give away.

Still waiting on cabbages, cauliflowers, broccolis, and napa cabbages. They should be rolling in over the next couple of weeks!

13/05/2025

One of the projects I tackled earlier this year was adding a new raised bed to the garden. My wife’s dahlia collection had officially outgrown the space I’d carved out for her in my vegetable beds—so it was time she had her own dedicated plot.

With so many other projects underway, I needed something quick to assemble, built to last, and easy on the eyes. That’s where Vego Garden came in.

Their Classic Series Raised Garden Beds are made from their proprietary VZ 2.0 material, offering incredible durability and an expected lifespan of 20+ years. Best of all, the design is intuitive and fast to put together.

The beds come in a variety of sizes and colors to fit any space. I went with the 17" tall 10-in-1 Jumbo Modular Bed in Modern Gray—a perfect complement to the granite tones already in the garden.

The kit arrived well-packaged, with each piece clearly labeled and protected. Assembly took less than 30 minutes and was genuinely effortless thanks to the detailed instructions and modular panel system, which lets you choose from 10 different configurations to fit your space and needs. I chose the 2.5 ft x 9.5 ft configuration so that all plants will be easily within reach.

If you’re looking to expand your growing area this season, check out the Vego Garden link in my bio for discounts! 🌱

03/05/2025

While most people take the winter months off, I find they present the perfect opportunity to tackle projects that I don't have time for during the busy months.

My goal for off-season projects is to improve and streamline various aspects of my growing operation so that things run more efficiently and smoothly year after year.

As with every winter, I spent this past one making lots and lots of compost. This winter, I also made biochar to further enhance the compost for use in the garden and orchard.

Another major task each winter is moving massive amounts of mulch that gets accumulated throughout the year. I finally designed and had my trailer customized with an unloading contraption. I'm looking forward to this saving me lots of work going forward.

In the garden, the addition of a triple-sink wash station, and granite potting table will greatly simplify routine chores. The addition of new raised beds provides much needed space for flowers and fruit tree seedlings.

By far the most exciting improvement to the garden is the installation of an automatic irrigation system. No more burden of managing routine watering AND I can control it from my phone when I travel!

Speaking of traveling, in pursuit of perfecting the art of hoshigaki, I trekked across the country to a farm renowned for their exoertise. I got to see and learn their hoshigaki making process firsthand.

On the chicken front, I am entering spring chick season with a newly constructed chick brooder. I'm thrilled at the prospect of being able to raise chicks in an outdoor setup from now on.

In addition to making improvements to existing infrastructure, I also found time to learn some new skills. I experimented with creating my first pawpaw sorbet. I also now have mushroom log inoculation under my belt!

With these projects completed, I'm looking forward to even more growing success this year! Which of these projects would you like to learn more about?

30/04/2025

Today is the final day to save 10% on all HenGear Rollout Nest Boxes!

New to raising chickens this year or tired of cleaning nestboxes and dealing with broken and dirty eggs? Then check out HenGear’s Rollout Nest Boxes. It’s one of the best kept secrets of backyard chicken keeping.

With a rollout design, eggs are immediately directed to a separate collection tray as soon as they are laid. There they stay clean and protected until they are collected at the end of the day. This put an end to dirty and broken eggs and permanently relieved me of egg washing duties.

Even better, the nest box is lined with a rubber mat. The mat serves as a replacement for traditional nesting material. It eliminates the routine of refreshing the nest boxes and the constant expense of purchasing straw.

My HenGear Rollout Nest Box has made chicken keeping so much more enjoyable for me. This is why after 4 years, it is still by far my favorite tool and the best investment I’ve made for myself and my backyard flock.

Make your chicken keeping more enjoyable this year with a HenGear Rollout Nest Box! Take advantage of the final day of their 10% off sale. Plus, save even more by using the link below or code “ENCYGROWPEDIA15” to save an additional $15 on your order!

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Get yours now and thank me later when you see how much time and money it saves you!

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Tiny Urban Farm: A Journey in Self-Sufficiency

Ten years ago, I started a small raised bed in the side yard of my home in the city to provide access to fresh seasonal herbs. What started as a hobby blossomed over the years into serious food production. No longer am I gardening for fun and the hit-or-miss fancy of the occasional backyard produce. The backyard operation on my small 0.2 acre urban lot in Atlanta, Georgia has grown into an urban food oasis.

Over the decade, my growing space has increased nearly ten-folds as I explored growing a wide assortment of vegetables. As the source of more and more of my diet shifted from the grocery store to my yard, my curiosity led me to try my hand at animal husbandry for backyard meat production. Once I was producing my own vegetables and meat, I dreamed of growing my own fruits. This led to creation of an orchard on a 0.55 acre urban lot just 1.5 miles away.

The term garden is no longer a fitting description for the operation in my backyard and at my the orchard lot. The abundance of food production has transformed my endeavor into a tiny urban farm. Hence, the name for this website.

Growing one’s own food is the most liberating and rewarding of experiences. Most importantly, I believe that it is the single most impactful action that one can take to do their part to reverse the ecological onslaught that our modern, industrialized food system is waging against our Earth.