James Prigionni

Sustainability isn’t just about avoiding chemicals—it’s about creating a garden that thrives on its own. My approach? Start by building a resilient system, and nature will take care of the rest.

For me, sustainability means:
✅ Building soil, not depleting it – Compost, cover crops, and mulching with free wood chips from local arborists keep the soil alive.
✅ Creating a food forest – Planting perennials, fruit trees, nitrogen-fixers, and edible ground cover for a self-sustaining ecosystem.
✅ Maximizing space with square-foot gardening – More food per square foot, fewer weeds, and better use of every inch of space.

If you set up your garden the right way, it actually gets easier every year instead of harder.

1️⃣ Food Forest First – Mimic nature by layering your garden with fruit trees, shrubs, vines, and ground cover instead of just planting in rows.
2️⃣ Square-Foot Gardening for Efficiency – Raised beds packed with high-yield crops and strategic spacing reduce weed pressure and increase production.
3️⃣ Wood Chip Mulching – Free mulch from arborists feeds soil microbes, retains moisture, and eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers.
4️⃣ Natural Pest Control – Attract beneficial insects instead of spraying chemicals. Plant flowers, herbs, and trap crops to balance the ecosystem.
5️⃣ Perennials Over Annuals – Berries, asparagus, fruit trees, and herbs provide food every year with minimal effort.

I’ve been gardening for over a decade, and raised beds changed the game for me. I love them because they make gardening easier, more efficient, and more productive.

Why I trust Vego Garden’s raised beds:

✅ Durability – Unlike wooden beds that rot out, these metal beds last a lifetime.
✅ Soil Control – No weeds creeping in, and I can mix my perfect soil blend for high-yield growing.
✅ Square-Foot Gardening Perfection – Raised beds allow me to maximize every inch while keeping my soil healthy and productive.
✅ Less Weeding, More Growing – Beds prevent compaction, meaning better drainage and healthier roots.

Raised beds allow me to grow more food in less space, and paired with square-foot gardening, I can harvest a ton without wasting time or energy.

If you’re in Zone 7, you’ve got one of the best growing climates—long seasons and mild winters.

🔥 Best Crops for Zone 7:

· Spring & Fall: Kale, spinach, broccoli, beets, lettuce, radishes, peas
· Summer: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, melons, squash
· Perennials: Apples, blueberries, strawberries, asparagus, herbs

🌱 Zone 7 Growing Hacks:

· Start Seeds Indoors – Tomatoes & peppers do best when started early.
· Use Row Covers for Extended Harvests – Protect plants in spring & fall for year-round growing.
· Succession Planting – When one crop finishes, plant another to keep the garden producing all season long.

Instead of buying expensive materials, I reuse, repurpose, and work with nature to create a productive garden.

♻ Sustainable Gardening Hacks:

· Pallets for DIY garden beds – Strong, free, and long-lasting.
· Wood Chips from Local Arborists – Best mulch for food forests & large gardens, feeding the soil while suppressing weeds.
· Homemade Compost – The best way to build rich, living soil for free.
· Natural Structures – Bamboo, branches, and salvaged wood for trellises and fences.

By sourcing materials locally and using what nature provides, you’ll spend less, waste less, and grow more.

Pests are part of nature, but instead of reaching for sprays, I focus on creating balance in the garden.

🐞 Best Organic Pest Control Methods:

Companion Planting – Basil deters aphids, marigolds repel nematodes, and nasturtiums keep squash bugs away.
Trap Crops – Blue Hubbard Squash lures pests away from my main crops.
Beneficial Insects – Ladybugs, praying mantises, and lacewings eat pests naturally.
Floating Row Covers – Keep pests off your plants in the first place.
Kaolin Clay & BT – Organic deterrents that are non-toxic and protect harvests.

If you create a balanced ecosystem, pests won’t be a major problem.

A diverse garden is a resilient garden. The more variety you plant, the stronger your garden becomes.

🌿 How I Promote Biodiversity:
✅ Food Forest Layers – Mixing fruit trees, berry bushes, vines, herbs, and ground cover.
✅ Mixing Flowers & Vegetables – Flowers attract pollinators, while strong-scented herbs deter pests.
✅ Leaving Wild Areas – A small patch of native plants brings in beneficial insects and birds.
✅ Avoiding Chemicals – Pesticides kill everything, including good bugs. By keeping it organic, I let nature handle the balance.

A diverse garden mimics nature, making it low-maintenance and high-yielding.