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.

Less Panic, More Preperation

First let me start by saying that I hope that you are doing well and staying safe.  The corona virus crisis has made life very different for all of us, and we are all trying to navigate the new normal that we are all in. My family and I are doing everything that we possibly can to stay home (per state recommendations) to minimize the risk of contracting the virus and spreading it to others. This has freed up lots of time for family, spring gardening, arts and crafts projects, organizing drawers and closets, catching up with friends via email, and, lastly, a bit of blogging.  I guess there is a silver lining somewhere in all of this.
One of things that has surprised me the most about all of this is the panic that ordinary people are feeling.  Yes, these are scary times.  Yes, we need to eat, drink, work, socialize, etc. Yes, we're all suffering from cabin fever and looking for an "essential" reason to go outside, however, spending time at the grocery store should not be your activity of the day.  Many stores are sold out of paper and sanitizing products, and people have had to search through multiple stores just to find everyday essentials. Hoarding seems to be the new normal.  And yet, there isn't a real food or paper shortage in the nation. We haven't run out of toilet paper, paper towels, soap, produce or most of the other things that we shop for each week.  It's more of a "panic hoarding" shortage.  We don't know how long this pandemic will last, or how much we will need to get through this.  Shopping for essentials seems to be the only control that we have, and people have embraced this control.  But the long lines of people at the grocery stores are defeating the "stay at home" directive.  Each trip to a crowded store increases your chance of coming in contact with the virus, and possibly sharing it to those who come in contact with you. Do we need to shop? Yes.  Do we need to stand in line so we can stock up on 36 packs of toilet paper?  Probably not. So, how do we get through this?  How about taking stock of what you have, for starters.  Start with your refrigerator and freezer.  If there is ANYTHING in it, you don't need to go to the market today.  Yep, you have a meal.  You can avoid the store one more day.  Do the same with your cupboards.  Think about the price you've paid for your grocery store purchases.  You drove to the store (time), bought the products ($), stored it in the refrigerator/freezer (energy cost) or cupboard, and it's sitting there, unused.  Do you really want to risk your health just because you'd rather have something else to eat? How about pretending you're on "Chopped" and make something out of your odds and ends.  Do you really need more hand sanitizer?  Many doctors say soap and water is all we need.  Hand sanitizer is great for when we are out and about and don't have another option, but it isn't a better option than soap and water.  More paper products??  Only you can answer that, but I'm using less and relying on the 12 pack I bought 2 weeks ago to last me until next week.
I know that we'll get through this, in time, but we all need to be prepared for the next emergency, whatever that emergency is.  Think about it...no matter where you live, there is potential for a life changing event.  Earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, oh my.  We all live in a potential danger zone.  In California (where I live) it's earthquakes.  After every earthquake, we are told to prepare.  We are reminded each year during "the great shake up" to be ready, that it's not "if" it's going to happen, but when.  We are told that "the big one" is coming.  We're told we need to Be Prepared!! For may of us, it falls on deaf ears.  Right now, the roads are clear, the stores are open, the shelves are (mostly) stocked.  If the "big one" hits, all that could change. We really do need to be prepared to the best of our physical and financial ability.  Don't wait for the next "big one" to start preparing.

Closet Pantry

Kitchen Pantry

Commonly used staples

And...

Most important of all

Grow a garden!

Be safe, be well and Happy Gardening!

REIGNING IN THE HOLIDAY WASTE

I love holidays!!  Whether it's new years eve, the winter solstice, Halloween or Christmas, any holiday is a reason to bring out the decorations, gather with friends and family, and make memories that last a lifetime.  Sadly, along with making those memories, we're making A LOT of trash.  While the amount of "extra" waste seems minimal during most of the months, December has the most holidays, the most consumption, and, the most waste.

According to NEEF (National Environmental Education Foundation), landfill waste increases approximately 25% during the month of December.  Of course, that's not much of a surprise.  More parties, more travel, more food, more presents.  How do we live mindfully in a consumption based month like December.  It's a struggle, to be sure, but it can be done with a little planning and some creativity.

Lets start with the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

GIFTS: Gift giving is expensive.  The time, money and thought that goes in to it drains our bank accounts and uses up much more energy than it's worth.  I start my holidays with a trip to my "gift" cupboard.  The gifts here are either items I've picked up during the year (usually on sale) or items I've received that I won't be keeping (REgifting).  It's easy to find a usable gift for a party hostess, a gift exchange, or as a last minute gift if you have a designated space for those extras that you've accumulated during the year.

No Peeking

Browse thrift stores.  Whether you're dropping in throughout the year (it's never too early or late to add to your gift cupboard) or at the holidays, you'd be surprised at the amount of new and barely used items that can be lovingly REgifted.

Gifts from the kitchen: Who doesn't love home cooking and baking??  Put on an apron and treat friends and family to homemade cookies, jam, or whatever your specialty happens to be.

Handmade reigns supreme!  I've made many of my gifts over the years, using recycled items, and I'm posting some of the pics below.  As a very "non-crafty" person, if I can make it, it's totally doable! Check out one of the many internet craft and idea sites for great crafting ideas for all of your REusable waste.

Handmade Paper Christmas Cards

with disposal instructions

Potpourri made with Lavender and 

Rose petals from my garden

Gifts from the garden

Homemade cookies in a

decorated thrift store vase

Decorating: How about a happy "natural" holiday?  Leaves, flowers, branches, pinecones, and many other outdoor finds are easy to find and easy to decorate with.  

REpurpose from your Recycling Bin.  Cans, bottles, cardboard, glass jars...just about everything in your recycling bin can be upcycled in to holiday decorations.  How about corks, bottle caps, and wine bottles...there's a holiday decorating tutorial for that, too.  Check out a crafting site and get in touch with your artistic side.

Mr. and Mrs. Snowman-crafted from recycled

items, cherished for over a decade

REuse: Not only will reusing your holiday decorations save you money, you'll get to enjoy the warm and fuzzy feelings associated with past holiday celebrations.

FOOD: December is a great time to start using up the food in your pantry, fridge or freezer.  Do you really want to store all those half used jars in your refrigerator door another year?  Are the "best by" dates on your pantry items looming close?  Get online, or pull out your recipe books and find some meals you can make without heading to the grocery store.

Have an "AFTER" holiday party.  Our  After Christmas party this year is December 27th.  Guests are asked to bring some leftovers for the potluck and to "regift" for the gift exchange.  It's a chance to clean out the pantry, the freezer, or the cookie jar.  It's a chance to reduce our extra stuff, reuse what we have, and make memories with friends and family.

Be Well and Happy Holidays

MILLIONS OF MAGAZINES

I love reading, and I’m a sucker for the magazines at the checkout line of the grocery store.  There’s always something that catches my eye. After all, who doesn’t want to delve deeper into how to lose 10 pounds in a week along with how to make the best chocolate cake ever?  But what do we do with the magazine AFTER we ate the cake and decided not to lose 10 pounds?  We could file it away for future use, referring to these amazing books of knowledge whenever needed, but will you really be able to find what you need, when you need it?  Do you have the room for all of that “extra” information?  I’ve cancelled all the subscriptions relying on my vast collection of magazines to provide new ideas, recipes, and projects for my home and garden.  If I see something I want to remember and keep, I copy it or take a picture of it with my phone and file it away in a labeled folder.  Hopefully I will live long enough to make it through my library and clear the clutter.  My strategy (though somewhat slowed down by my read, copy and file routine) has included the following methods.

Years of magazines to read 

and projects to plan

Read me!!

One of my favorite magazines 

for frugal ideas

1. Bring magazines with you when you know you'll have a wait (doctor, airport, DMV, etc.).  Finished with it?  Tear off the name and address label and leave it for a thankful recipient.
2. Donate to senior homes
3. Swap with neighbors
4. Leave a few in the car for unexpected waits
5. Use for school and art projects
6. Sell (check out online marketplaces)
7. Add to your recycling bin

Be well, be sustainable and happy gardening!!

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT

NEWSPAPERS

I stopped my newspaper delivery years ago, opting for the ease of other sources, but I still get a number of "free" deliveries (mail carrier, solicitors, etc.) that I'm unable to cancel. Fortunately, the amount isn't large and I have lots of great ways to reuse it here at home.

1. Shred and add to the compost bin

2. Use to smoother grass to make new garden beds

3. Use as a layer in your "Lasagna" garden (great book by Pat Lanza)

Shredded mixed paper in a new 

raised bed (blog 03-25-11)

4.  Use damp sheets to cover the worms in your bin

5. Make seed tapes

Seed tapes (blog 05-03-11)

Fun project for kids

6. Make "logs" for the fireplace.  Soak tightly rolled newspapers in water, allow to dry thoroughly 

    before burning.

7. Clean windows and mirrors

8. Wrap gifts

9. Use as packaging material when mailing items or storing holiday ornaments

10. Use at the bottom of your fruit and veggie drawer to absorb moisture and odors

11. Fruit ripening. Wrap pears and avocados in paper and store in a dark cupboard to ripen

12. Paper mache' craft projects 

13. Donate to animal shelters, schools, scouting troops and other groups

14. Craft projects (check out "Pinterest" for everything from baskets to wall art)

14. Dry wet shoes by stuffing them with crumpled newspaper

15. Use as a makeshift ironing board

16. Use crumbled wet newspapers to pick up the tiny pieces of broken glass after sweeping up the 

      big pieces

17. Unscrew a broken lightbulb.

18. Use tightly rolled up wet newspapers (wrap with a rubber band) to catch earwigs in the garden

19. Leave some newspapers in the trunk of your car for cleaning windows, providing traction in the snow, and laying in your trunk when shopping for plants and to protect your car from other messy containers

20. Start melon, cucumber and squash seeds in strawberry cages lined with newspapers.  Plant the seedlings, cage and all.  The paper will decompose and the roots will grow through the open spaces without being disturbed during the transplant.

Strawberry cage seed planting (03-24-11 Blog)

Sowing squash seeds

If all else fails, adds to your recycling bin.  It might be something great in it's next life!

Be well, be sustainable and happy gardening!!

PAPER WEIGHT

Years ago I set out to find the best way to get rid of all of the paper that I was accumulating.  From household bills, junk mail and wrapping paper, there's so much paper!  I had 2 large boxes to sort through and responsibly dispose of.  But, what was the most responsible way to do so??  When buying paper products I buy items with a high amount of "post consumer waste" so recycling seemed the best way to go, but I shred it as a "brown" component of my compost bin and layer it in my "Lasagna" garden raised beds, so composting seemed the better choice.  Needing real answers, I spent 2 days combing through the internet for research on the subject.  The most comprehensive list came out of the UK, breaking down each choice-pros and cons.
To sum it up, these are the best ways to dispose of your paper:

1. Compost it (shred paper first)
2. Recycle it (and buy recycled paper products)
3. Incinerate (use the ashes in your garden)
4. Send it to the landfill 😢

To stop receiving unwanted junk mail: www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference

Choose to have store receipts emailed to you as opposed to printed paper receipts.  Print out the receipts at home (if needed) on the 2nd side of already used paper.

Go paperless: Do your banking and bill paying on line and ditch the paper and envelopes.

Limit “One and done” purchases.  From diapers to paper towels, most of the “one and done” items we consume and toss every day have a “cloth” counterpart that’s a lot easier on the environment.  Even factoring in the use of water, detergent and, in some cases, bleach, cloth is still the best choice for the planet.

JUNK MAIL

Despite the above methods (and a no solicitors sign on my door)  I still end up with unwanted paper, and a stack accumulates in what seems like a breeding program.  Stacking it next to my shredder reminds me to use it before it takes over.   

Shredding Station

My spring garden has brought a lot of green material to the compost mix, but little in the way of brown (leaves) that my compost bin needs to balance things out, so much of my paper waste will be shredded and composted.  

Shredded junk mail and garden seed 

Christmas cards

If you're feeling crafty, try making homemade paper holiday cards.  This is a fun craft for adults and children, and a good reason to save your old cards.  Who can resist the fun of cutting up old cards and pasting the pieces on to the new ones?  

Instructions for eco-friendly

disposal

Adding seeds to the shredded paper is a fun way to share the beauty of your garden.  

One layer of my "Lasagna" bed

Old trashcans make great tomato pots (Blog 6-9-13)

with shredded paper

Kitchen waste

and potting soil

Check out my blog to see my plants!!

Add paper to your kitchen bin.

It'll absorb moisture from your

kitchen scraps and by the time 

you add it to your bin or pile it's 

already starting to break down.

If you're not able to reuse or compost your paper, please add it to your recycling bin. 

Every ton of recycled paper saves trees, energy and water, and, according to the EPA causes 35% less water pollution and 74% less air pollution than making paper from raw materials.  

Whether crafting or composting, reusing or recycling, lowering your paper waste is one of the easiest ways to go green.

Be well, be sustainable and happy gardening!!