RAIN, RECYCLING AND REEPING WHAT YOU SOW

I love dining in my garden.  A walk through the yard is much like a stroll around a salad bar.  A few "overwintered" tomatoes here, carrots there, lettuce and radishes crammed in to a long bed straddling our neighbors yard and Tuscan kale standing tall, bright and green. I love to nibble as I go, mentally preparing todays menu from my seasonal produce.
As I walk (and eat) my way through the garden, I also use the time to observe.  What's doing well, what's not doing well, what needs to be planted, transplanted, thinned, harvested or removed. Weeds?  Pests?  Disease?  How about an empty area, begging for a new tree or plant.  Could that old twisted branch be a garden art project?  I try and carry a pair of garden scissors with me, deadheading some plants and/or picking a bouquet while I walk. I'm never bored in the garden.

We've had rain for 5 days straight.  Yay!!  It was much needed.  It also meant that our current "stay at home" order meant I was literally stuck inside for most of that time.  Recently, I went dumpster diving in my recycling bin and recovered a lot of empty cans.  My husband spray painted them and drilled some drainage holes in the bottom.  Who needs to buy pots??  I quickly filled the pots with potting soil, planted seeds and let the rain give them a thorough soaking.

Painted Coffee Cans

Tomatoes and Peppers 

If all goes well I'll be drowning in salsa and marinara in no time at all!

Something ripped out half of my lettuce bed recently.  I'm not sure what it was, but I came outside and found a gaping hole in the middle of my bed.  UGH!  I ran out of time before the rain came to get it prepped and reseeded so I poked drainage holes in the bottom of a bag of potting soil and placed the whole bag of soil in the bed.  I ripped the top of the bag open and planted Spaghetti Squash directly in to the soil.  I've only planted this way once before and it was a great success. 

Potting Soil Spaghetti Squash

2 days of planting and a well watered garden mean that a well deserved break is due.  It might be time to stop and smell the Sweet Pea's.  

Sweet Pea Pathway

Whatever your plans this weekend, I hope that you spend some of it in the garden.

Be well, stay healthy and happy gardening.

Every seed sown and tree planted is a future meal

We Have Time...Now What We Should We Do With It??

Words can't describe the craziness of the Covid-19 pandemic.  To say it's unbelievable, surreal, or unprecedented is an understatement.  Most of us haven't experienced anything like it. Every day seems to bring new fears and new rules as we navigate this new normal.
My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone as we are all effected by this horrible virus, especially grocery store employees, health care workers and first responders. My most sincere thanks to all of those who are out there keeping us healthy, safe and fed.

As an introvert and a self described home body, I can usually be found in my home garden, but for those who aren't used to this lifestyle (my husband, for one), being told to stay home is not something that we're comfortable with.  Be that as it may, it's what many of us are doing, comfortable or not.  Due to the current situation, I am getting a lot of help at home and in the garden.  So what is the frugal garden girl doing to keep her garden growing during her forced "stay home"?


1.  MAKE COMPOST.   8 compost bins, 3 worm bins and 2 compost tumblers turn much of my household waste into a great soil amendment.  Kitchen scraps, junk paper, garden trimmings, grass clippings and unwanted plants (I have nasturtiums coming up EVERYWHERE) go into the compost bin.  Even some weeds have a place in one of my tumblers, I just don't release that compost into the garden.  Almost everything organic (once living) can be composted.  About the only things that I don't throw into the compost bins are diseased plants, clover and crab grass.

Black Gold

2.  AMEND YOUR SOIL.  Soil amendments such as compost, leaf mold, worm castings and manure (just to name a few) can work wonders for your garden soil. Adding amendments can be done any time, but I especially try to time it right before a good rain.

Amending the Raised Beds

3. PULL WEEDS.  I don't always like pulling weeds (although sometimes it kind of meditative), but weeds compete with your plants for water and nutrients.  Left alone, they'll take over quickly, so spend a few minutes every day eliminating these competitive garden culprits.

4.  PLANT SEEDS.  It's never too early (or too late) to plant seeds.  Some seeds can be started early in a sunny window or a warm spot inside.  Check with your local county extension to find out what's good to grow in your neck of the woods.

Toilet Paper Roll Swiss Chard

Yogurt Cup Peppers

Where to start?

5.  START CUTTINGS IN WATER.  Many plants can be rooted in water by cuttings.  Find a sunny spot and a few clean jars and your on your way to a pretty windowsill and rooted plants for spring planting.  I especially enjoy rooting herbs, both for quick kitchen use and garden planting.

6.  MAKE GARDEN LABELS.  I can't tell you how many times that I've planted something without a label, only to forget what it is.  There are many free and recycled ways to make labels for your plants.  Check out my posts, or go on one of the internet DIY sites for many great ideas.

Just a few of the plant labels I've

posted on frugalgardengirl

7. DIY GARDEN ART.  Scourer your yard, garage and craft cabinet for on hand supplies and search the internet for garden projects. You might have baskets, clay pots, smooth rocks, etc.  The supply list might be bigger than you realized.  Spend some time gathering everything in to a box so you have one place for it all.  Let your artistic imagination flow!!

Easy care succulents

Pizza box stepping stones

8.  MAKE HOLIDAY GIFTS.  Internet sites are a great source of inspiration for DIY gifts.  Painted food cans can be make in to garden lights or planters.  Driftwood, fishing line and beads look great  hanging from one of your trees.  Let the yard and your imagination lead you to your inner crafter.  

Homemade Rose &

Lavender Potpourri

Teacup Bird Feeder

9.  MAKE PLANS.  Start a list of your garden goals.  New beds? Seed starting?  Having a solid plan is the first step to a successful project. Where ever your garden desires take you, now's the time to put a pen to paper and plot your next move.  

10.  STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES.  Or Sweet Peas.  Pick a bouquet. Enjoy the beauty that is Mother Nature.  Remember...all will be well.

Be Well, Stay Safe and Happy Gardening.