Heather Buckner

Heather Buckner hails from amongst the glistening lakes of Minnesota, and now lives with her family on a beautiful homestead in the Vermont Mountains. She holds a bachelor of science degree in environmental science from Tufts University, and has traveled and worked in many roles in conservation and environmental advocacy, including creating and managing programs based around resource conservation, organic gardening, food security, and building leadership skills. Heather is a certified permaculture designer and student herbalist. She is also a fanatical gardener, and enjoys spending as much time covered in dirt as possible!

How to Grow and Use Lemon Balm

Herbs Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

A Melissa officinalis plant growing outdoors amongst other vegetation, pictured in bright sunlight.

Looking to add some life to your herb garden this year? Try growing lemon balm. This lovely perennial member of the mint family is a vigorous grower with a pleasant lemon-like flavor and a long list of medicinal, culinary, and other uses. Read more to learn how to grow and utilize this spirited herb.

Harvesting and Preserving Elderberry: A Fruit for Food and Medicine

On the right of the image, dark purple elderberries, still on the light purple stems, overflow from an enamel bowl onto a wooden surface. Soft focus leaves in the background.

Elderberry is truly an incredible plant, with a rich, complex history and a multitude of fascinating uses. It can be consumed in many forms including as a syrup, pie filling, or jam. Learn how to harvest and preserve the fruit of this shrub for medicine, food, or wine. Read more now.

Winter Mulching to Protect Cold Tolerant Crops

Build Your Soil, Tips & Hacks Fall, Winter

Want to help your garden rest well this winter? Winter mulching is a great way to prolong harvests, improve soil quality, and protect overwintering plants by insulating soil with organic materials. Learn how to use mulch to better support perennials and annual crops this winter. Read more now.

How to Grow and Harvest Bunching Onions

Vegetables Alliums, Amaryllidaceae, Onions

Close up of green bunching onions growing in a home veggie garden.

What is a bunching onion? Also known as green onions or scallions, these non-bulbing perennial alliums will add a punch of flavor to all of your favorite dishes. We provide expert guidance for planting, growing, and harvesting this deliciously flavorful crop, plus our favorite cooking tips! Read more now.

How to Use Elderflowers for Food and Medicine

Tips & Hacks, Woody Shrubs/Ornamentals Elderberries

Harvested elderflowers in a wooden bowl and a wooden mortar and pestle.

Did you know that like the berries, elderflowers are both edible and medicinal? These tiny aromatic blossoms have a myriad of interesting uses. Head to Gardener’s Path for harvesting tips, as well as suggestions on ways to prepare and use elderflowers. Read more now.

How to Plant and Grow Arugula: Make your Greens Shoot Up Like a Rocket

Vegetables Arugula, Mustard & Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae)

Close of green argula gowing in a veggie garden.

Zesty, nutritious, and delicious, Arugula is a “don’t miss” crop for the garden. This straightforward salad green is easy to grow, takes very little space, and is ready to eat in just a few short weeks! Learn all about growing and harvesting arugula now.

How to Plant and Grow Cabbage: A Fall and Spring Staple Crop

Vegetables Brassica oleracea, Cabbage, Cole Crops (Brassica), Fall, Mustard & Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae), Spring

A close up of a head of green cabbage growing in a vegetable garden..

Cabbage has been grown around the world for centuries for good reason. With so many different ways to cook, preserve, and eat cabbage, this nutrient rich crop is a must for every garden. Read more to learn how to grow and maintain cabbage plants.

Succession Planting: How to Grow Crops for a Continual Harvest

Tips & Hacks

A woman holds a box of fresh veggies she harvested from her garden. Torso shot of arms hold box of vegetables.

Want to increase your garden harvest? Succession planting, which involves staggering plantings of crops to produce a continual harvest, is an efficient way to increase yields and extend the gardening season. Read our in-depth guide to find out what you need to know now!

How to Plant and Grow Turnips for Roots and Greens

Vegetables Cole Crops (Brassica), Fall, Mustard & Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae), Root Crops, Spring, Turnip

Looking for a versatile, nutritious, and easy to grow cole crop to plant in your garden this season? There is a reason that the turnip has been a staple of the human diet for centuries! Learn more about how to grow and care for this historic crop right here on Gardener’s Path.

How to Stop Turnips from Bolting and Going to Seed

Vegetables Cole Crops (Brassica), Mustard & Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae), Turnip

Close up of a turnip forming a flower head to produce seed.

Can’t understand why your turnip crop keeps bolting? Bolting is caused by stress on plants and can be easily addressed with a few simple tricks. Learn what factors can cause bolting in turnips and explore some ways that you can prevent your turnip crop from bolting. Read more now.

12 Easy Ways to Extend the Harvest Season

Tips & Hacks Fall

Not quite ready to put your garden to bed for the season? Learn how to keep your garden growing strong all through the fall, and enjoy the benefit of fresh garden produce for longer than ever this year. Use our guide to check out some fun and easy ways to extend the harvest season. Read more now.

The 19 Best Cool-Weather Crops for a Productive Fall Garden

Vegetables Fall

Fall veggies freshly collected from a garden including carrots, beets, and kohlabri.

Are you itching to extend your growing season? Luckily, many crops are well suited for fall gardens and in fact, tend to be more productive and flavorful with cool temperatures. These 15 cold tolerant crops will keep your garden producing all throughout the fall season. Learn more now!