Thistle House Farm

02/02/2026

Office mates can sometimes be annoying and disruptive at the office and when working from home. Good thing we have a good EDI policy! Everyone is welcome!

02/02/2026

01/31/2026

Looking forward to attending!

Come on out Saturday Feb. 7th and get inspired for SPRING!
Waterford Seedy Saturday Garden and Homestead Market
Seed savers, garden enthusiasts, homesteaders, guest speakers and more!

01/26/2026

Happy Robbie Burns day! Did anyone celebrate? We had fish and chips at the Duke on Park!

01/25/2026

Trying this later this year!

The "Potato High-Rise": How to Triple Your Yield in One Square Foot Without Digging

If you want a massive potato harvest but lack the space for long garden rows, the "Crate Tower" method is a game-changer. By abandoning the traditional in-ground planting method and going vertical, you can grow an astonishing amount of food in a footprint smaller than a doormat. The secret isn't just growing up; it's building a multi-story "apartment complex" for your vegetables where every single level produces a harvest. Best of all, this system completely eliminates the back-breaking work of digging potatoes out of the ground at the end of the season.

The "All-At-Once" Construction Strategy

Unlike other tower methods where you slowly add soil as the plants grow, this technique requires you to build the entire structure on day one. You will need standard plastic milk crates, which offer the perfect balance of structural strength and airflow. To keep your soil contained, line the bottom and sides of each crate with a thick layer of straw or hay. This natural liner acts like a nest, holding the potting mix in place while allowing excess water to drain freely, preventing the rot that often plagues plastic containers.

Planting in Layers for Maximum Yield

To get the lush, exploding look of a fully successful tower, you need to plant seed potatoes in every single crate. Fill your first straw-lined crate about halfway with a rich mix of potting soil and compost, place your seed potatoes, and cover them. Instead of waiting for them to grow, immediately prepare the second crate the exact same way and stack it directly on top of the first. Repeat this for a third or even fourth crate. By planting every level independently, you ensure that roots and tubers form throughout the entire height of the tower, rather than just at the top.

The "Side-Spray" Watering Technique

Vertical gardens have one major weakness: gravity. Water tends to rush through the top crate and drain out before it fully saturates the bottom levels. However, the open grid design of milk crates offers a unique solution. To keep your lower levels moist, use a garden hose with a spray nozzle set to a gentle "shower" or "mist" setting. Because the crates are open, you can direct the spray right through the plastic grid and straw lining of the lower crates. This allows you to inject water directly into the middle and bottom layers, ensuring the soil stays evenly moist from top to bottom without drowning the plants on the "penthouse" level.

The No-Shovel Harvest

When the vines yellow and die back at the end of the season, you are ready for the easiest harvest of your life. Forget about driving a garden fork into the ground and accidentally slicing your prize potatoes. With this system, you simply lift the crates off one by one and tip them over. The soil falls away, leaving you with piles of clean, undamaged potatoes. The straw and spent soil can be tossed straight into the compost bin, and the crates can be rinsed off and stored away for next year's crop.

01/24/2026

So we didn’t buy ski boots and puffy jackets but we did make a Chickdominium in our mudroom! Which is still freezing water but minus the wind!

01/08/2026

Not sure Toughnut was feeling very snuggly right about now!

01/08/2026

Did you know it’s National Snuggle a Chicken day? I dont think Toughnut was in a snuggly mood right now tho!

https://www.nationaldayarchives.com/day/national-snuggle-a-chicken-day/ #:~:text=National%20Snuggle%20a%20Chicken%20Day%20%2F%20Jan%208

01/04/2026

Happy 2026! Here hoping your year was as fun and adventurous as ours!

11/17/2025

Nailed it! Hahaha - this is what happens when you don’t use the right wire gauge for crafting macrame Christmas trees! Preparing for the craft sale fundraiser for THCF!

11/14/2025

Meet Henrietta! This lovely beaded chicken dangle was gifted to me and looks just like our Jackie by Knotty little beads! This was A LOT of handcrafted work! Thank you Sue from Knotty little beads!

10/28/2025

Kylo Ren meet Kylo Ren. The resemblance is uncanny! Hahaha