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Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford

Mary Jane Duford is a passionate gardener and well-acclaimed authority in the world of horticulture. As a certified Master Gardener and Permaculture Garden Designer with over a decade of hands-on experience, she has honed her skills to cultivate a deeper understanding of the natural world around us. Beyond her gardening prowess, Mary Jane holds a distinct edge as a Professional Engineer, an expertise that often intertwines with her gardening methodologies, bringing a unique perspective to her readers. She is the proud founder of the renowned gardening website, Home for the Harvest, a platform dedicated to helping fellow gardeners, both novice and experienced, find their green thumbs. Her gardening expertise hasn't gone unnoticed; she's been spotlighted as a go-to gardening expert by notable publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, Mother Earth News, Real Simple, and the National Garden Bureau. Delving deep into specific fields of study within horticulture, Mary Jane has an extensive knowledge base on sustainable gardening practices (including permaculture), soil science, and selecting cultivars well-suited to home gardeners. Her passion isn't just limited to plants; she's a staunch advocate for holistic, eco-friendly gardening techniques that benefit both flora and fauna. Currently residing in the picturesque Okanagan Valley, Mary Jane cherishes the time she spends with her family amidst nature, always exploring, learning, and growing both as a gardener and as an individual.

Gardening 101

Gardening 101

This guide to gardening covers all the basics of organic gardening; everything from starting your first garden all the way to sustainable gardening. Gardening is a hobby that always presents new opportunities to learn and new techniques to try out.…

Container herb garden

Detailed tutorial for planting an organic container herb garden that's both beautiful and delicious | home for the harvest

Culinary herbs are easy to grow, deliciously yummy, and pretty to look at. An organic container herb garden consists of a planter or group of small planters filled with high-quality organic potting soil and used to grow culinary herbs using natural…

Witch garden

Stinging nettles from witch garden in bare hands

Ready to create a witch garden for your very own? Ooooh is it ever time to cultivate some plant magick! Let’s get started on exactly how to go about nurturing sanctuary among the trees, flowers, and herbs that support our…

Backyard wedding

Simple backyard wedding ceremony and reception showing wedding party at home on porch

There is something so meaningful about backyard wedding ceremonies. For us, having a wedding ceremony at home let us celebrate how wonderful life already is instead of celebrating somewhere unfamiliar. I hope our simple backyard wedding ceremony will inspire you…

Where to find moss

Where to find moss in nature

Moss is a beautiful element in garden design, living art, and indoor gardens. Fortunately, it’s usually easy to find growing naturally in most climates. Moss is most commonly found in moist, shady environments. Check hard surfaces that stay out of…

Bare root tree tips

How to plant bare root trees - tutorial and printable instructions | home for the harvest

Have you ordered trees online before? If not, you may be wondering what it’s like to buy trees over the internet. Most trees and shrubs purchased over the internet are shipped to customers as bare-root trees. Bare root trees can be…

Seedy Saturday

What is seedy saturday? Learn all about seed swaps! | home for the harvest

Seed swaps are annual community events at which gardeners trade (and sometimes purchase) plant seeds from other local gardeners and farmers. Nicknamed Seedy Saturday, these events generally take place from January to March each year at a local community center. Seedy Saturday (or Seedy…

Permaculture

Permaculture basics

Ready to dive into learning about permaculture and permaculture principles? If you’re already an organic gardener and are looking for more advanced information and techniques, permaculture may be for you. This page will help you start your own permaculture garden…