Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you've ever thought about turning your kitchen scraps into garden gold, vermicomposting is a fun option. Not only is it a sustainable way to reduce waste, but it also produces one of the most nutrient-rich soil amendments available:...
Gardening
Back to the Garden ShedThe Ultimate Guide to Mulching Raised Bed Gardens
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Mulching your raised beds is one of the simplest, highest-impact things you can do for your garden. While it certainly enhances the garden’s appearance, the real benefits go far beyond aesthetics. For me, mulching is essential to...
How to Plant Tomatoes: Spacing, Depth, and Best Companion Plants
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding and popular crops to grow in a home garden. Their flavor, versatility in the kitchen, and wide variety make them a favorite for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. They definitely are a personal...
How to Choose the Best Vegetable Transplants for Your Garden
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Buying vegetable transplants from a nursery or garden center is a great way to jump-start your growing season. These young plants, often called “starts,” save you the time and effort of germinating seeds indoors or waiting for them to...
How to Start Seeds Outdoors: A Beginner Gardener’s Guide
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Starting seeds outdoors is an exciting time of the year!It's amazing how quickly vegetables spring to life with the right weather conditions. Additionally, it's so nice to not have to harden off plants that are started outside.This guide...
How to Achieve Ideal Soil Texture for Perfect Aeration and Drainage
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.The biggest point of learning that I’ve had this gardening season is the absolute importance of aeration in the soil. I haven't had a lot of struggles with this in the past, but this year has been different.Creating soil with the right...
Root Development: Supporting Early Growth and Hardening Off
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Roots might be out of sight, but they’re the most important part of a healthy plant.Understanding how roots develop during early growth can make all the difference when you're starting seeds or transplanting young plants. It’s not just...
Guide to Seed Libraries and Getting Free or Cheap Seeds
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I recently learned from one of my followers (shoutout Alyssa!) that you can sometimes find free seeds at local libraries.I was so intrigued that I checked out three libraries in my area. I found that one library didn’t have a seed...
Soil vs. Dirt: Understanding the Difference and How to Make Your Own Soil
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Whether you're a beginner gardener or a seasoned grower, understanding the foundation of plant health—soil—is crucial.Many people use the terms soil and dirt interchangeably, but in gardening and agriculture, they are very different...
Why Pollination Matters in Your Garden + How to Attract Bees
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.One of the essential ways to maximize yields in your garden is to have a high pollination percentage on the plants you are already growing. It's common practice to plant flowers specifically to bring in the pollinators and promote...
The Benefits of Hügelkultur Raised Beds for Gardening
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As you may know, my garden has two tall steel raised beds. In fact, my raised beds are almost three feet tall and would have needed a massive amount of soil to fill--but I used an alternative method that I'll share below. You may have...
How to Up-Pot Plants: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.In my time gardening, I have found that potting-up my plants once before planting outside is ideal for maximum harvests. I'll touch on why exactly in this blog post!I especially love doing this with my tomato plants because tomatoes are...
Protecting Your Garden from Wildlife: Deer, Squirrels, and More
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As an avid gardener, the number one question that I get is how I keep all the critters out.The truth is, I am very lucky to have very little animals coming into my garden. My biggest adversary is my neighbor’s cats that like to use my...
Six Ways to Protect Your Garden from the Frost
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Protecting my garden from freezing temperatures is a constant battle during the spring. I live in a part of Utah (Zone 7A) that is a sub desert, and so even though the days often get warm, the nighttime temperatures can drop by over 20...
My Experience with Vego’s Elevated Garden Bed
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.This last weekend I put together my new elevated garden bed from Vego. I thought it may be helpful to share my experience and list some tips that I learned along the way. First off, here are some of its key features listed on its...

Jeff has a deep passion for gardening. Each year, he cultivates hundreds of pounds of vegetables—along with the occasional fruit—turning his garden into a thriving and productive space. Combined with Kyrié’s cooking, together, they create exciting meals using Jeff’s harvest.