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OCTOBER 2025
Backyard Briefings
LET’S TALK SeasonChanges
October already! Wow, we have been doing this for almost a year now. And I am loving every bit of it. As we navigate the changing seasons and the cooler weather, I wanted to talk about a very important topic that will definitely affect your garden and that is watering.
I know we talked about this already, but it’s important to know that you can both overwater and underwater your plants. Neither of these will result in bountiful harvests so it’s important to track how much water your plants are getting and how evenly they are being watered. Most cases you only need to water once or twice a week.
WATERING Schedules
In many areas in the midwest and the southern parts of the United States, fall means the end of the rain and the beginning of frost and snow. In other areas like the west coast, it’s the start of the rain and the end of the summer heat.
As the rain begins to pick up, outdoor gardens will start to get watered by the rain and thus lead to the potential of overwatering IF you maintain your current watering schedule.
If you live in an area that doesn’t get much rain, then you may still need to keep your watering schedule. I know when it’s over 100 degrees outside I tend to give my plants more water than they need. But what about when it rains? Well there is good news!
WATERING TIPSMoisturemeters
My county does water checks every once in a while, and we recently had to get our water tested for lead and rust in the pipes so the county gave us a jug to fill up for testing. After it was completed, they gave us a goody bag with a bunch of water saving products. One of which happened to be a moisture reader and let me tell you, it’s a game changer. If you don’t have one yet, I would highly encourage you to get one for your garden because it has made watering so much easier. One thing I noticed with the moisture reader is that my plants do not hold water evenly and that is a big factor when it comes to your watering schedule. Because some areas can get too much water.
WATERINGRain Catching RainCatching
Sometimes you can get away with only using the rain to water your plants, but during the dry season or even when the ground is frozen it is important to keep watering your plants as needed because it may just be dormant.
Even if you water plants daily and just use less water, it’s possible that they are still not getting enough water. Plants usually require a deep watering of the soil once or twice a week to thrive, but uneven watering could lead to underwatering.
Also remember your elevation because if you live on a hill, or you have your garden near a hill, water runoff can lead to uneven watering. This reason alone is why you should always check each plant individually before watering after a rain.
fix things AND GROW, BUILDhow to IS THEfoundation TO WEALTH
KNOWING
Joel Salatin
MOISTURE MorningDew
In the last few weeks, I have woken up to moisture in my garden. A tell tale sign that cold weather is approaching. This moisture can make it seem like the soil is wet, but it can quickly evaporate when temps rise so make sure you are measuring the soil moisture and not just the top layer. Plants are fed through their roots so knowing how much water the roots have is very important for keeping them happy and healthy. Measure a few inches below the surface with your finger. If it feels dry, give it some water, if not, check it again the next day. Morning dew does not count as water for your plants.
RECIPES SweetPotatoLasagnaSoup
Try out our new recipe from our recipe book coming soon!
Ingredients:
3 sweet potatoes
1lb of hamburger and Italian sausage
1 can tomato paste
1 can of beef broth
1 tablespoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of onion powder
1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
1 cup of parmesan cheese
1 half of a cup of Mozzarella
5 lasagna noodles
Directions: Wash and peel your sweet potatoes. Dice and boil in a pot of water. Cook your meat and drain fat. Once the potatoes are done, add them to your meat and stir in the tomato paste and broth. Add the seasonings and cheese to your liking and then place the uncooked noodles on top to boil for 20-30 minutes. Additional liquid may be needed, stir occasionally.
YOUR PUBLISHERMeetthepublisher
Alexis is passionate about self-sufficiency and the opportunities that come with being self-sufficient. She has been gardening for about 4 years; often experimenting with growing different kinds of food and propagating healthy cuttings for her small nursery.
In addition to homesteading, her experience expands over a variety of marketing skills including graphic design, web development, social media and email marketing, PR, and publishing. She’s also writing a book!
