Hartley Magazine

All the latest news, hints, tips and advice from our experts

In the Big Apple – Gardening with an Urban Twist

Recent years have seen renewed interest in vegetable gardening everywhere, but perhaps nowhere is this more pronounced than inside our larger cities. Despite the challenge of growing in the densely populated confines of city spaces—and subject to the often intense growing conditions within these microclimates, some New York City gardeners appear to embrace their limitations. […]

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Growing Something Beautiful from Wastewater

The Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York—most often associated with yoga and alternative philosophies — decided to apply mindfulness to a very practical matter. The Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL ) opened in 2009. At the heart of the OCSL is the Eco Machine ™, designed by John Todd Ecological Design. This water reclamation […]

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Meadowbrook – A Study in Plant Artistry

Meadowbrook, a 25 acre-estate in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, was designed and created by the floral artist, J. Liddon Pennock, Jr.  Mr. Pennock grew up in Philadelphia, where his family had operated a florist shop for over 100 years. He attended Cornell University, but was called home to help save the family business in 1933. That business […]

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Stenton- Beginnings of American Horticulture

America’s first horticultural library, a major breakthrough in plant science, and the founding of an important American cultural institution—all these and more occurred in the same spot, what was once a bucolic farm in North Philadelphia. The neighborhood has changed, but I was fortunate recently to participate in a day-long tour of Philadelphia sites that […]

Growing in a Hartley Glasshouse

In late 2010, when Chris Holbrook was looking at greenhouses for his yard, Hartley Glasshouses impressed him for a number of reasons. He noticed the careful construction and wide selection of models with their many special options. As a regular visitor to England, he also appreciated the connection a Hartley house provides to English gardening […]

Batali at NYBG

He’s the man with the scruffy red ponytail and baggy shorts. Croc markets the Bistro Mario Batali Edition of his signature footwear (in colors graphite and orange) to foodies everywhere. The co-proprietor of twenty-two restaurants world-wide from Hong Kong to Las Vegas, he’s a household name through TV and numerous—thirteen and counting–cookbooks. Beginning April 6th […]

The 2013 Seed Review

It’s the time of year for garden dreaming—and searching through catalogs. Whether you’re about to begin seeding in the greenhouse, or just planning ahead for the warmer days we’ll eventually enjoy outdoors, you might be interested in these recent catalog introductions. Serious set-backs in our tomato-patch last season have caused me to focus exclusively on […]

Call it a sign of the times

Call it a sign of the times—but gardening and farming projects have become an important part of school curriculums all across New York City. According to GreenThumb, a division of the City Parks Department that provides schools with technical support, the number of school-based gardens registered with the city jumped from 40 to 232 in […]