Forks in the Dirt

21/06/2026

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE ☀️

I wish you a wonderful longest day of the year.I hope most of it gets to be spent outside with loved ones doing what you love.

Having lived in sweden for a few years, the summer solstice, or midsummer, hold a very special place in my heart.

I'm planting seeds for my fall garden today, a favorite Solstice ritual, do you have any favorite Solstice rituals?

Also, my husband is happily fishing in Canada on this Father's Day... Wishing all the daddies, papas and father's a wonderful day!

Garden Tour - Vegetable Gardening - Summer Solstice

18/06/2026

For me, being a 'Northern Gardener' means making the most out of every day of our growing season - from starting seeds early to stretching the season while the sun shines!

But... there are infinite ways to garden 💚 Where the Minnesota Horticultural Society really shines is in their collection of so many experts sharing their knowledge and passion all in one place.

Learn how you can get the Northern Gardener magazine and become part of this unique community of cold-climate gardeners at northerngardener.org/membership - Get 15% off membership + magazine issues with code NGSUMMER while checking out through 11:59pm on June 21st (I’ll link directly in my stories).

**For a chance to win a free “I’m a Northern Gardener” t-shirt, sticker and complimentary membership, comment why you love gardening in the north below!

And For the record, ‘Northern’ gardeners cover a lot of ground- from zone 2 (brr) to 5.

I’m proud to be a northern gardener and support the Minnesota Horticultural Society.

What questions do you have about joining?

Gardening - Community - Cold Climate Gardening - Giveaway

17/06/2026

Watch my recent segment from Minnesota Live on Dealing with Pests in the Garden 💚🐛🐞
MUCH more linked below on how to deal with pests- plus an article in the summer issue (out now) of Northern Gardener Magazine Northern Gardener
https://kstp.com/special-coverage/minnesota-live/keeping-critters-away-from-your-garden/

16/06/2026

Bitter Bites or Lettuce? Salad Solutions Linked 👇
https://michelleatforksinthedirt.substack.com/p/salad-solutions

16/06/2026

A great way to add another few plants to your garden lineup!

15/06/2026

As soon as the gardens start flourishing- so do the bugs! But remember, we need the bugs, it's about knowing which are the good guys and which are the bad guys

SO many ways to deal with pests organically -
JUST SAY NO TO TOXIC CHEMICALS!

1st Step - ID your Bugs- I love Seek and double checking with a search of the assumed bug name on a .edu or .ext website (no AI for me please) >>

When insects get out of control, you can use this non-toxic pest spray.
DIY Pest Spray:
In a 1 Qt bottle:
1-2Tbsp Castille Soap
1/4 Cup Olive (or other) Oil
Fill with water and 'swirl don't shake' to mix.
Spray on soft bodied insects to kill without harming other pollinators.

Use netting, handpick caterpillars, use cardboard collars around seedlings... and starting with the right plant in the right place also makes a huge difference...

I'll be talking about my favorite ways to use Integrated Pest Management steps tomorrow morning about 9am on the Minnesota Live show

If you just can't wait, I've got a blog all about smart Organic Pest Control at my website forksinthedirt.com 'Organic Garden Pest Control '

And for members of the Minnesota Horticultural Society Northern Gardener you can read my article on IPM and the most common veggie garden pests in this summer's issue of Northern Gardener Magazine.

09/06/2026

Where are my bicentennial babies at?

This is 50!

And it feels good and right and just in time. I’m slowly settling in and rising to the occasion. I’m on no one’s timeline but my own + Mother Nature’s. 

I got to spend time with friends and family and visit an orchard and have a farm to table brunch.And meander, in my garden and play with my chickens, get a massage from my kids, and chill with my hubby.

If you’re lucky enough to have something in bloom nearby, take a good long sniff. And marvel at how you get to benefit from pollinators and plants working together. 💐

So in spite of all the tragic human-lead evil in the world right now, I'm choosing to send joy, light and love - with a little extra Gemini sass thrown in for good measure. I really did leave all my Fs behind in my 40's.

Thanks for growing with me here, you guys have made the last 9 years so much more full of life, learning and love.

(Headshot was taken when I was 49 by the talented photographer,  )

Also, my b day is 6/7/76 – and my kids are over that I was “6/7” first 😉

Garden chat - birthday wishes - love over hate

08/06/2026

Gardeners can look for a balance when dealing with pests organically 💚

Integrated pest management is the gardener’s path to working with nature, not against it—because a healthy garden doesn’t aim to eradicate insects. Learn how with Michelle Bruhn in our summer issue.

📸: Forks in the Dirt

04/06/2026

It's time to 🌱Grow your own Groceries🌱 and start that vegetable garden!

Between unpredictable grocery prices and supply chain hiccups, it’s easy to feel a bit powerless when walking through the supermarket aisles.

But what if the ultimate security system wasn’t something you bought, but something you grew?

Growing your own food doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t need to grow everything. Just start with something!

Taking back your power starts with planting a few plants, using whatever space you have.

Link to full article at Forksintehdirt.com
"Growing Your Own Food" and In my stories.

This is how we keep planting the revolution 💚

Grow Your Own Food * Small-Scale Homesteading * Vegetable Garden Planning * Northern Gardening

01/06/2026

Wrapping up this month in the garden, and soon another decade with more passion for supporting this planet and all the life it supports than ever before.

And also, just no more time to mince words.

This gardener stands against the current regime and all the atrocities it is throwing at the world.

Let's stop fighting with each other and instead, take a page from nature and work together to fight the real problem - greedy billionaires.

You know they don't care about you. So let's start caring about each other.

Peas,
Michelle