In the West Sound growing climate, gardeners can often plant seeds and starts in July through September for late fall, winter and sometimes even early spring harvest. The most important thing to remember is soil temperatures and how much water is needed. Many gardeners extend the season even farther by using hoop houses and floating […]
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The West Sound Magazine blog is your destination for information and tips about living in West Sound — home, gardening, outdoor recreation, things to do and more.
Posted inAt Home, Blog
How to Make an Easy Summer Salsa from Fresh Ingredients
Great summer weather equals great vine-ripened tomatoes, and this summer is the poster child for both. Even if you aren’t growing your own tomatoes, you can find beautiful, local and delicious tomatoes ready to eat now at your local farmers market and store. It’s hard to describe the difference between a freshly picked, vine-ripened tomato […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Waxy Breakdown of Garlic
I love “Aha!” moments. I recently had one regarding the mysteries of garlic in storage. I had noticed that some years, my garlic stored without any trouble, lasting well into the summer, while other times many of the cloves shriveled up and were unusable. I could not pinpoint the cause until the garlic harvest this […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Bremerton Did-You-Knows
Bremerton is a city of surprises. Here are a few things about its history that you may not know. Oldtimers see Bremerton as a quiet but somewhat roughneck old city, pulling up its tattered bootstraps. Newcomers seem to see a newer, kitschy version.
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
What To Do with Your Garden Abundance
If you have a vegetable garden, you probably want all your produce to be used well. But there is a limit to how much produce one household can consume. Puget Sound gardeners get an average of 10 pounds of tomatoes from each plant (and as many as 25 pounds), according to The Brothers Greenhouses tomato […]
Posted inAt Home, Blog
How to Incorporate Your Books into Your Home Decor
If you have bookcases on each side of your fireplace and the shelves are deeper than the normal 10 to 12 inches, don’t push the books all the way back against the wall. In fact, you should do exactly the opposite. Line up all of the books with the front edge of the shelves. Leave […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Behind the Scenes with Musician Jim Valley
“Have you seen Jim Valley’s garden? You really need to see his garden.” This wasn’t the first time I’d heard Jim Valley’s name. I was standing at a party in Seattle, in a gathering of people who’d just seen “Her Aim is True,” an independent film about former Gig Harbor resident and renowned rock photographer […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
HAPPY Trails to You — The Benefits of Running Outdoors
Perhaps John Muir, the great American environmentalist, said it best: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” You probably know that exercise in general is good for us and that we are lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest, arguably the greatest area for trail endeavors in the United […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog
Gig Harbor Opens Brand New Visitor Center in Historic Waterfront Home
In 2002, following the death of Gig Harbor pioneers Antone and Vincent Skansie, the city of Gig Harbor acquired the historic waterfront Skansie Brothers home and property located in the heart of downtown. For 12 years, the park surrounding the house was improved but the house sat empty. Last month, following extensive renovation to bring […]