Kale in the Basket, Cutworms in the Beans

A lot went right, a little went wrong, and all of it taught us something—here’s the week from The Grounded Homestead.

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The Grounded Homestead
July 22, 2025

Weekly roundup

A Full Week in the Garden: Pests, Progress, and Practical Fixes

This week at The Grounded Homestead, we saw the highs and lows that come with summer gardening, kale and cherry tomatoes filling the baskets, cutworms taking a bite out of our green beans, and dry soil pushing us to get more intentional about rebuilding our beds.

From pest patrol to pole bean planning, we’ve been sharpening our systems and sharing what’s working—and what’s not.

It’s all in this issue, plus a seasonal recipe that brings together roasted beets and fresh kale in one hearty, homestead-style salad.

Homestead Happenings

Cutworms at Work—and What They Taught Me

I walked the rows one morning with coffee in hand, and something didn’t sit right.
A few green bean seedlings were gone—just stems left behind like a warning.

Turns out, cutworms had moved in.
Quiet, efficient, and just under the soil.
I’ve dealt with them before, but they still get me fired up when they chew through new growth like that.

healthy green beans in our raised bed that were spared from cutworms

So I spent the next couple mornings doing what many of you likely have,
getting low, checking the base of every stem, and firming the soil with a little crushed eggshell and diatomaceous earth.

If you’ve had trouble too, or just want to know what to look out for,
here’s a practical breakdown of the worst offenders and how to deal with them:

Rebuilding Soil, One Bed at a Time

raised bed with nutrient difficient soil being amended with worm lechate, compost and local clay soil.

We’ve had spots this season where the soil just isn’t pulling its weight—compacted, low on organic matter, and struggling to hold water in these dry days.

I’ve been layering in compost, amending with worm castings and a little clay dust, and keeping a closer eye on soil structure than ever before.

If you’re doing the same, or thinking about overhauling a few beds this fall, don’t miss this new post:

Bush vs. Pole Beans

We’ve always grown both, bush for speed, pole for volume,
but this year, I’m leaning harder into the climbers.

The harvest window is longer, they take up less bed space,
and they’re easier on the back when it’s time to pick.

If you're deciding what to plant next,
or just want to rethink how your space is working,
this post lays it all out:

Season Veggie Recipe

Roasted Beet and Kale Salad with Feta and Walnuts

This one’s a staple in our house every July—sweet roasted beets, fresh kale from the morning harvest, and a simple vinaigrette. Add walnuts for crunch and a little feta for salt, and it’s a meal on its own.

That’s it for this week.

Check your green bean stems. Amend a tired bed. Make something simple with what you’ve got in season.
We’ll keep showing up with our hands in the dirt—and hope you will too.

Until next time,
The Grounded Homestead