Vermiculture, worm farming, and natural soil improvement. Raise worms, grow plants, build better soil. https://gardenandbloom.com en-us Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:23:42 +0000 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) https://gardenandbloom.com/files/images/branding/logo-nav-2021-v9.png https://gardenandbloom.com 225 50 https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/companion-planting-guide https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/companion-planting-guide Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) A practical guide to companion planting backed by science. The Three Sisters, tomato-basil pairings, marigold nematode control, and which plants to keep far apart. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/how-to-build-a-rain-garden https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/how-to-build-a-rain-garden Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Rain gardens capture stormwater, filter pollutants, and look great. How to site, size, dig, and plant one in your yard using native plants and an engineered soil mix. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/growing-mushrooms-at-home https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/growing-mushrooms-at-home Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) How to grow oyster, shiitake, wine cap, and lion's mane mushrooms at home using simple methods. Substrates, timelines, contamination prevention, and where to start. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/spring-soil-prep-guide https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/spring-soil-prep-guide Tue, 24 Mar 2026 10:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Spring soil prep done right starts with testing, not guessing. A structure-first amendment approach using worm castings, biochar, and targeted nutrients builds soil that feeds plants all season. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/coco-coir-soil-amendment-guide https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/coco-coir-soil-amendment-guide Tue, 24 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Coco coir holds 8-10x its weight in water and releases it slowly to roots. Here is how it compares to peat moss, the three forms you can buy, and the right mixing ratios for containers, raised beds, and seed starting. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/spring-container-garden-refresh https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/spring-container-garden-refresh Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Container soil degrades over winter through compaction, salt buildup, and organic matter breakdown. A simple evaluate-refresh-replace decision tree tells you exactly what each pot needs this spring. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings-biochar-potting-mix-science https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings-biochar-potting-mix-science Wed, 18 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) The science behind combining worm castings with biochar in potting mixes for maximum plant growth and soil health. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/biochar-worm-castings-in-your-garden https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/biochar-worm-castings-in-your-garden Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) How to use biochar and worm castings together in garden beds for improved soil structure, nutrient retention, and plant performance. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/from-bin-to-garden https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/from-bin-to-garden Sat, 14 Jun 2025 19:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Practical guide for harvesting and applying worm castings from your bin directly to your garden beds and containers. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings-biochar https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings-biochar Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:42:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Combining worm castings with biochar creates synergistic effects that outperform expensive organic fertilizers while building long-term soil health. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/worm-castings Sun, 07 Jan 2024 19:07:00 -0500 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Worm castings are the unsung heroes of a flourishing garden. This soil supercharger packs essential nutrients in an accessible form that roots love. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/npk-ratios https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/npk-ratios Mon, 05 Feb 2024 22:28:00 -0500 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Understanding NPK ratios and how nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium work together to fuel plant growth and build healthy soil. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/perfect-soil-mix https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/perfect-soil-mix Fri, 26 Jan 2024 23:10:00 -0500 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) The secret to lush, vibrant plants lies beneath the surface: the soil mix. Our essential ingredients for building the perfect growing medium. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/biochar-101 https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/biochar-101 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:00:00 -0500 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Everything you need to know about biochar: what it is, how it improves soil, and how to use it in your garden. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/setting-up-your-worm-bin https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/setting-up-your-worm-bin Sun, 07 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0500 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Step-by-step guide to setting up a worm bin for vermicomposting at home. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/container-gardening-for-beginners-a-complete-guide https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/container-gardening-for-beginners-a-complete-guide Wed, 08 Sep 2021 15:02:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Container gardening can be an amazing hobby. This complete guide explains the basics of container gardening for beginners. https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/pot-sizes-inches-to-gallon-conversion https://gardenandbloom.com/blog/pot-sizes-inches-to-gallon-conversion Wed, 08 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0400 john@gardenandbloom.com (John C. Derrick) Quick reference guide for converting pot sizes from inches to gallons.