Ramon Gonzalez
Ramon is the original urban garden blogging male espousing a DIY philosophy to gardening and garden projects.
Better known online as MrBrownThumb, he’s been demystifying gardening secrets for average gardeners online since 2005. Besides writing the popular MrBrownThumb garden blog he’s co-founder of @SeedChat on Twitter, the creative director of One Seed Chicago, and founder of the Chicago Seed Library.
Whether it’s saving and growing your own plants from heirloom seeds, digging a garden, or trying to lead a life that is more harmonious with nature; he believes we can all do it-and it doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.
Besides writing for himself Ramon has been published in Lawn & Garden Retailer Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and writes Chicago Garden, a garden blog on The Chicago Tribune’s ChicagoNow website. In addition to his writings his photographs have been featured in publications like In These Times and Northern Gardener Magazine.
Oh, and what’s with the pseudonym? He believes that nobody really has a "black" or "green" thumb. Everyone kills plants -- the trick is finding the plants you don’t.
You can connect with him through Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or Google+ where you can ask him pertinent gardening questions, leave him a story idea or learn where he'll be speaking about urban gardening and events he's involved with.
Latest Stories from Ramon Gonzalez
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11 Clever Mason Jar Hacks and Mods
From cocktail shakers to terrariums, is there anything the mighty mason jar can't do? Rethink this humble vessel with new uses for an old standby.
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4 DIY Gifts for Gardeners You Can Make this Weekend
Gifting aint easy. Especially for gardeners who can be picky. Build them something they can use in the garden.
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Beatboxing Beets and Radishes That Moan (Video)
Technology and root crops are combined to form new, high tech musical instruments from the garden.
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NeighBirds: Brilliant, Modular Birdhouse Expands Into Bird Neighborhood (Photos)
NeighBirds birdhouses expand to keep bird families together and form a community.
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The Hobbit's Unexpected Vegetable Garden (Photos)
Horticulture students shares secrets of The Hobbit's working vegetable garden at Hobbiton.
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10 House Plants to Give During the Holidays
Air purifying houseplants are universally loved holiday gifts -- whether for mom or the host and hostess of your favorite holiday party.
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9 Garden Books to Give This Holiday Season
From flower porn, to guerrilla gardening, kids activities and growing your own food, a garden book is the perfect gift for more than just gardeners.
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Clif Bar's Seed Matters Puts Seed Saving in Public's Hands
The energy bar giant funds website that promotes heirloom seed saving, farmers, and organic seed production.
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The Apple Engineer Who Quit His Job to Propagate Plants (Interview)
Why would an engineer at Apple quit his job to design a product to help gardeners propagate plants?
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Biodegradable Toothbrush Gives a Smile to the Needy
Bogobrush is socially-minded, biodegradable toothbrush that gives back to the community.
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11 Holiday Gifts for Gardeners
From seed bombs to garden gloves and vegan boots, find the perfect gift to please the gardener on your list here.
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Airplane Upcycled into the Coolest Kindergarten Classroom (Video)
In the country of Georgia, a headmaster transformed an airplane into a classroom to engage kids.
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Cornell Installs Indoor Lawn to Soothe Students During Finals (Photos)
The university brings the outdoors in to help students relax and focus on studying.
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Environmental First Lady Honored by USPS with Forever Stamps
Lady Bird Johnson's commitment to making America more beautiful through plants and flower is commemorated in new stamps.
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Sick Greenpeace Anime Video Pushes For Fashion Biz 'Detox' (Video)
Greenpeace is using a viral campaign to push for toxic-free fashion.
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50 Forgotten Bird Songs Play in a Sydney Alley
An art installation in Australia reminds us of the destructive force of urbanization.
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Balance Bar Launches World's First Rainforest Alliance Certified Energy Bar
Get your dark chocolate fix with less guilt. Balance Bar introduces a new energy bar featuring sustainably farmed cocoa beans.
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Twinkie vs. Tomato: Will it Rot? (VIDEO)
Hostess Brands Inc. is officially dead. How long will your Twinkies last? Check out this time lapse rotting video for a clue.
