When I took my first BRIX reading on my farm—which had been an alfalfa field for over 20 years—we came in at a 7. A refractometer reading of 7 °BRIX means that the sugars in my plants’ sap were at about 7%. That number doesn’t mean much on its own unless you know your target. Most scientists agree that the ‘sweet spot’ —where plants reach optimal health and enjoy the greatest resistance to pests and diseases— is a BRIX level of 12 or higher. So how do you take that first read

I first heard about BRIX readings in an article by Joe Gardener. I’ve always been a sucker for ways to help my plants thrive naturally , so let's just say I was immediately intrigued. After years of studying and trying to implement permaculture practices on my Georgia farm (another post for another time), learning how to increase BRIX levels felt like the perfect next step in my nerdy fascination with plant health. Before I move on, I have a disclaimer...please hear me whe

Embracing the Beauty of Dahlias My first attempt at growing something was pitiful at best. I knew vegetables needed water to grow, so I watered them. And watered them. Eventually, I watered them to death. Even though it wasn't a successful attempt, my biggest takeaway that first season was that growing things (or at least trying to grow things) fed my soul. I was determined to keep at it! Trying some square foot gardening in our very first garden in Texas. Fast forward twelv