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Welcome to Tough Kraut's Blog
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Here you will find my most recent blog posts. Tough Kraut guides you from city apartments to homesteads. Explore our categories:
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Homestead Chronicles: Follow our journey. Read “A Starter’s Guide” for basics or “Life on the Land” for real stories.
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Cultivate & Thrive: Grow food anywhere. Try “Homegrown Harvests” for balcony tips or “Building Soil” for yards.
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Self-Sufficient Living: Learn off-grid skills. Check “Water Conservation” or “Homesteading & DIY” for practical projects.
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Farm Companions: Use animals and plants smartly. Explore “Natural Pest Control” or “Foraging” for free resources.
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Permie Pantry: Cook and preserve. Start with “Garden-To-Table Recipes” or “Pickle & Preserve” for easy ideas.
November Garden Tasks: Final Preparations & Winter Readiness
November sneaks up fast in a Mediterranean garden. One moment you’re still harvesting late peppers and self-seeded tomatoes, and the next you’re watching the first frost creep across the terrace like it owns the place. This is the month when small, steady actions matter more than big projects. Clear the beds. Protect the roots. Drain the hoses. Trim what needs trimming and leave what helps wildlife. These steps don’t just tidy your garden — they set the foundation for resilie
Nov 24
Bare-Root Trees & Perennials: November Planting for Mediterranean
November brings a rare window of opportunity to Mediterranean gardeners. The first rains soften the soil, daytime warmth lingers, and the air smells of change. This is when roots want to move. On our land, this is also when we planted our first bare-root apple and cherry trees . The soil was still warm from summer, the sky generous with drizzle, and thanks to the granite stone house’s previous life as a goat and sheep stable, we had plenty of aged manure to mix into the plan
Nov 15
November planting guide for Zones 8–11: Your Last 3 Weeks to Plant 35+ Crops Before Winter Slows Growth
Short days. Cold nights. Empty beds. November can feel like the end of the road. In Mediterranean Zones 8–11, it is the opposite. You have about three weeks to lock in spinach, roots, alliums, favas, and even bare-root trees while the soil is still warm. Do this now and winter works for you. Skip it and growth stalls until spring. I have made both choices. The “plant now” choice wins every time. Golden autumn in the hills – Portugal’s quiet villages glow before winter settles
Nov 6
What to Plant in November: Complete Mediterranean Cool-Zone Planting Guide
Our Mediterranean garden rests and regenerates — November’s planting rhythm in full swing. November may sound like a time for rest, but in a Mediterranean garden it’s the quiet builder of next spring’s success. Soil still carries the last whispers of summer warmth, rains return in earnest, and every small task — from sowing hardy greens to protecting brassicas — adds resilience for the months ahead. On our own Portuguese hillside (Zone 8a), November is when the rhythm slows j
Nov 3
Mediterranean Autumn Flowers & Herbs: October Color Guide
October in a Mediterranean garden feels like an exhale. The harsh summer glare softens, rain teases the dust back into life, and the air finally smells of promise — damp soil, rosemary, and the first brave blooms of calendula. This is the quiet season when Mediterranean autumn flowers and herbs steal the stage, painting terraces with color while feeding the last bees before winter. On our Quinta, it’s the month of simple rituals: spreading mulch around new plantings, trimmin
Oct 28
Bulbs, Seeds & Storage: October Harvest and Planning Tasks
The last baskets of squash are stacked, the air smells faintly of earth and rain, and half-forgotten bulb packets stare at you from the shed shelf. October has that deceptive calm — harvest behind you, winter ahead — yet this is when quiet action shapes next year’s garden. Now’s the time to plant bulbs before the soil cools, gather and dry seeds while they’re still viable, and tuck cured roots and squash into cool corners. Label, store, and plan — these simple rituals keep ch
Oct 25
October Mediterranean Garden Tasks: Essential Garden Maintenance
October isn’t a time to hang up your garden gloves—it’s the month that quietly decides how well your garden will bounce back next spring. Mediterranean climates reward those who keep tending, mulching, pruning, and fine-tuning when others are winding down. By now, your summer crops have bowed out, your soil is thirsty for organic matter, and your irrigation system probably deserves a check-up. These are the October Mediterranean garden tasks that strengthen your ecosystem th
Oct 19
October Mediterranean Perennials Guide: Shrubs & Trees to Plant Now
October can be deceiving. The garden looks spent, the wallet feels the pinch, and many assume planting season is over. But here in our...
Oct 10
October Vegetable Planting: Mediterranean Cool-Season Crops
October doesn’t have to be the end of your garden. In Mediterranean climates, it’s the start of a second wave of abundance. While summer...
Oct 4
What to Plant in October: Complete Mediterranean Garden Guide (Zones 8-11)
October in the Mediterranean is not just another month on the calendar. It’s the sweet spot when summer’s heat finally loosens its grip...
Oct 1
Seasonal Strategies: Establishing Drought-Tolerant Plants for Long-Term Success
When I first landed on our little patch of land in Portugal, I thought the fastest path to a thriving food forest was to plant more...
Sep 25
Raised Garden Beds in Fall: 7 Steps for Winter Preparation
By the time autumn rolls in, many gardens are winding down. But for those with raised beds, fall isn’t the end — it’s the perfect time to...
Sep 19
Mediterranean Shrubs, Trees & Perennials to Plant in September
September is the month when Mediterranean gardens begin to shift gears. While vegetable beds slow down, it’s the shrubs, trees, and...
Sep 5
Flower and Herb Planting for Autumn Gardens
September is kind to gardeners in Zone 8a. Days stay warm, and nights cool the soil just enough. Flower and Herb Planting in September...
Sep 3
Vegetable Planting in September: Zone 8a Mediterranean Focus
September in Zone 8a is a month of transition. The blazing summer sun starts to ease, nights cool just enough, and the soil still holds...
Sep 2
What to Plant in September: Mediterranean Zone 8a Guide
September is the pivot month in a Mediterranean Zone 8a garden. Summer’s heat is finally loosening its grip, tomatoes and peppers are slowing down, and supermarket shelves are filling up with overpriced “fresh” produce that tastes like cardboard. This is the moment to step in with resilience. With the right choices now, your garden can keep producing food, medicine, and color long into autumn and even through winter. Kale, carrots, and cauliflower bring cool-season abundance.
Sep 1
Top 10 Drought-Tolerant Plants for Mediterranean Gardens
Mediterranean gardening is a dance with drought. Dry summers, intense sun, and rocky soils test even the hardiest of plants. But that...
Jul 28
Plant, Pick, Repeat: A Beginner’s Guide to Year-Round Vegetables in Zones 8–10
Fresh greens in February. Zucchini in June. Tomatoes long past the equinox. If you’re gardening in USDA Zones 8–10, you’ve got a secret...
Jul 19
Guides, tips, stories or recipes directly from our off-grid homestead. From newbie tips to pro hacks, our posts help you grow smarter, not harder.
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