All posts by Ashley

About Ashley

With a background in marketing communications, Ashley decided to take her interest in plants and gardening to the next level through The Alaska Urban Soil Project blog. As a newly self-proclaimed gardener, she's ready to blaze the trail for other wanna-be backyard vegetable gardeners and start an online community for fellow organic, local food lovers.

Ashley Taborsky planting apple tree

5 Considerations Before Planting Fruit Trees

Gardening

Many of us who grew up in rural areas have fond childhood memories of fruit trees.

Maybe it was watching the tree bloom each spring, with the sweet scent of blossoms filling the air. Or maybe it was experiencing the annual harvest, with the smallest kids climbing up and gently shaking tree limbs, while family & friends on the ground used a wide tarp to catch falling apples.

There’s no doubt that planting a hardy apple or cherry tree is planting the seed of future memories. But there are things to know before you grow. Before you start digging, there are 5 important factors to keep in mind that will help ensure a fruitful experience. Continue reading 5 Considerations Before Planting Fruit Trees →

two chickens by leaf pile during fall

Fall Leaves: nature’s free mulch, compost & animal bedding

Backyard Chickens, DIY, Gardening

Driving through neighborhoods during fall time, it’s common to see big black trash bags stuffed with raked leaves sitting on the curb, waiting for garbage day.

When your yard (or a nearby neighbor’s yard) is filled with leafy, deciduous trees, although it’s a chore to rake up falling leaves, you’re actually bagging up brown gold that you – or someone else – could re-purpose. Continue reading Fall Leaves: nature’s free mulch, compost & animal bedding →

young woman holding colored chicken egg

Brown eggs vs white eggs. Here’s what eggshell colors actually mean.

Backyard Chickens

While everyone has seen white eggs and light brown eggs, chicken eggs naturally exist in many, many different colors and shades – even light blues, greens & pinks.

Until just a few years ago, I assumed that brown eggs came from organic, well-treated chickens, whereas white eggs came from the cruel egg factories where PETA is always trying to get inside footage.

Turns out, I was super wrong. Continue reading Brown eggs vs white eggs. Here’s what eggshell colors actually mean. →

Black hen outdoors

The Downsides of Backyard Chickens: Things to consider before getting chickens

Backyard Chickens

Don’t get me wrong – I love having chickens.

But owning any animal comes with responsibilities and potential drawbacks you should be aware of. If you’re thinking about getting backyard chickens for the first time, here are some serious things to consider. Continue reading The Downsides of Backyard Chickens: Things to consider before getting chickens →

shrinking chicken comb discoloration

What’s Wrong With My Hen’s Comb? The Mystery of the Molting Chicken

Backyard Chickens

About two years ago, I noticed a strange change in one of my hen’s comb and waddle, the red-colored skin above and below a chicken’s beak.

Owl, a “backyard blend” (= chicken mutt breed) is an egg laying chicken in my urban backyard flock. I got her as a 3-day-old chick, and she was the first chicken to ever lay an egg for me, so she holds a special little place in my heart. <3 Continue reading What’s Wrong With My Hen’s Comb? The Mystery of the Molting Chicken →