How and Why I Brought Native Bees to my Garden
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Every year, I hand pollinate my tomatoes (hand pollinating a tomato means manually helping the plant transfer pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part so it can produce fruit). There’s something satisfying about knowing...
The Benefits of Raised Beds for Gardening (Hügelkultur)
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As you may know, my garden has three steel raised beds. In fact, two of my raised beds are almost three feet tall and would have needed a massive amount of soil to fill - but I used an alternative method that I'll share in this blog...
Seed Libraries Guide (How to Get Free Seeds!)
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.In 2025, I learned from one of my followers (shoutout Alyssa!) that you can often find free seeds at local public libraries.I was so intrigued that I checked out several libraries where I live. About half of the public libraries that I...
Welcome to Jeff’s Garden Shed
Step into Real Farmer Jeff’s Garden Shed—where small-space gardening meets big harvests. From tomatoes to turnips, I share urban farming tips, seasonal growing guides, and everything you need to turn your balcony, backyard, or patch of dirt into something delicious. I’m glad you’re here!
10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Garden Location
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Before planting a garden, one decision matters more than almost anything else: where you put it. Even great soil and fertilizer cannot fully compensate for a poor location. Sunlight, wind exposure, and accessibility all play a huge role...
How to Build My Favorite Tomato Trellis
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.As many of you know, my favorite garden vegetable/fruit to grow are tomatoes.I’m sure many of you have used the classic cone-shaped wire trellises. Unfortunately, they don’t work that well for tomatoes. There are several types of...
My Top Essential Garden Products
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here. My goal for this blog post is to save you money by explaining need-to-have's vs. nice-to-have's for gardening products so that you are prepared to create your own successful, luscious garden this year. Let's do this!These are all...
In-Ground vs. Container Gardening
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Choosing between in-ground and container gardening shapes how much you spend, how much effort you put in, and how your garden performs over time. Both methods can work but one may be preferable depending on your preference.In this blog...
How to Build a Homemade Trellis Using Cattle Panel
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.This season, I built homemade trellises made from cattle panel! I have the perfect corner in my garden to put them that is currently unused. They're a great way to support climbing plants like cucumbers, beans, peas, and even melons...
The 3 Best Garden Containers for Every Gardener
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.In this blog post I will share the 3 main types of garden containers that I use and recommend. Note that I use many types of containers, but these are my favorite ones!I will also list out the pros and cons of each so that you can...
Explore By Gardening Topic
Soil Health + Composting
Seed Starting + Transplanting
Containers + Raised Beds
DIY + Garden Prep
All About Tomatoes
Gardening Products I Love
The Tomato Zone
Fried Green Tomatoes
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Fried green tomatoes are made from firm, unripe tomatoes that are sliced, coated in a seasoned cornmeal or flour mixture, and fried until golden and crispy. They’re tangy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, often served as a...
My Top 6 Tomato Varieties of 2025
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you've been around a while, you know that tomatoes are my favorite crop to grow. In fact, each year I go a little overboard and grow about 30 tomato plants. This is so that I can grow not only my favorite varieties, but also...
How to Save Tomato Seeds
Saving seeds from your garden is one of the most rewarding ways to bring gardening full circle. It allows you to preserve your favorite varieties, save money, and grow plants that are better adapted to your local growing conditions. That being said, saving your own...
3 Ways to Freeze Tomatoes to Preserve Your Harvest
Canning is the classic method for preserving tomatoes, but here’s the catch: to make canning worth the time and effort, you usually need a large harvest all at once.Gathering enough tomatoes, prepping them, sterilizing equipment, and spending hours over a hot stove...
How to Prune Tomatoes for Maximum Harvest
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Pruning tomato plants correctly can do wonders for your garden. It boosts your harvest, improves airflow around the plant, and helps prevent common diseases like blight and powdery mildew.But before you start snipping away, it’s...
7 Ways to Hand Pollinate Tomatoes (Ranked Worst to Best)
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Tomato flowers are self-pollinating, but they still need movement to release pollen. This can come naturally from buzzing bees or wind. However, conditions may not be ideal in various situations that include, gardening indoors or not...
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The 3 Best Garden Containers for Every Gardener
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.In this blog post I will share the 3 main types of garden containers that I use and recommend. Note that I use many types of containers, but these are my favorite ones!I will also list out the pros and cons of each so that you can...
Comparing Grow Boxes: Garden Patch Grow Box vs. EarthBox
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I love grow boxes and have used them heavily for years! My grandparents were the first ones to introduce them to me many years ago. They're especially valuable for beginner gardeners, small space gardeners, people growing on decks or...
Reencle Indoor Composter: The Easiest Way to Turn Kitchen Scraps into Garden Gold
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by composting - tracking the right ratios, avoiding meat or dairy, or dealing with outdoor bins - I highly recommend the Reencle Indoor Composter. It is truly incredible how it can turn nearly all food...
Microgreens: A Complete Beginner-Friendly Guide
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Microgreens are young vegetable or herb seedlings harvested just after their first true leaves appear, usually around 1 - 3 inches tall. They’re grown densely, harvested quickly, and pack intense flavor and nutrients into small, tender...
5 Benefits of Gardening With a Greenhouse
Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.I recently got a greenhouse and I’m so excited about it! It's small, but mighty! In this blog post I will explain five key benefits of having a greenhouse that illustrate why they can be a worthy investment. Let's dive into it! Here...
My Honest Review of the Click and Grow Indoor Garden
From top to bottom (basil, lettuce, peppers). I planted all of them on April 7, and this photo was taken on May 10, just a month later. Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to give up on your gardening dreams. In fact, there are...
Jeff has a deep passion for gardening. Each year, he cultivates hundreds of pounds of vegetables—along with the occasional fruit—turning his garden into a thriving and productive space. Combined with Kyrié’s cooking, together, they create exciting meals using Jeff’s harvest.
