Down Home Gardening with Buck
The Last Tomato Sandwich of the Year
November 9, 2026 · By Buck Harper
Mabel sliced the year's last tomato, and the kitchen smelled like August again — a sandwich worth slowing down for.
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Saving Seeds from the Fall Garden: Next Year’s Garden in a Paper Envelope
Mabel, Granny Mae’s envelopes, and a kitchen table full of dried pods: saving fall seeds for next spring’s garden.
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Seed Catalogs and Porch Planning: Dreaming Next Year’s Garden Before Winter
Mabel, Earl, and a stack of seed catalogs: porch planning for next year’s garden before winter settles in for good.
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The Garden Goes Quiet: A Southern Farewell to the Growing Season
Mama always said a quiet garden is still working. A farewell to the season, and why slowing down suits us.
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Pine Straw and Porch Talk: The Mulch That Smells Like Home
Buck explains why free pine straw beats bagged mulch, how to spread it right, and where it should never go.
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Best of Buck Harper: Down Home Gardening, Porch Talk and All
Pull up a chair on Buck Harper’s porch: twenty columns of seed saving, porch talk, and Southern garden wisdom.
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Good Fences Don’t Always Make Good Neighbors
Fences can keep folks apart, but they can also be a place to lean and catch up.
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When the Breeze Carries a Melody (Or a Nuisance)
Wind chimes are a lot like neighbors—some bring harmony and peace, others can be downright lively.
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Peonies and Memories: What Grows in a Southern Garden Lasts Forever
Peonies aren’t just flowers; they’re memories, blooming through generations, reminding us that family roots run deep and beautiful.
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Split, Share, and Bloom: The Southern Art of Perennial Generosity
Splitting perennials ain’t just good gardening—it’s Southern hospitality in bloom. Share your flowers, share your heart, and watch life grow.
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Scalped Lawns and Southern Woes: Why Your Grass Needs a Haircut, Not a Buzz Cut
Cutting your grass too short may seem smart, but it’s a surefire way to invite weeds, heat stress, and bald spots.
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The Sweet Stink of Success: Milorganite and the Art of Southern Gardening
Milorganite’s like a Southern summer—hot, messy, and worth every sweat-soaked minute. Hold your nose and let it grow.
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Garden Hoses: The Good, the Bad, and the Kinky
A garden hose is like a good pair of boots—cheap ones don’t last, but the right one can serve you for years.
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