we like it wild: bottle gardens As much as we love to garden, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to do it all. If there’s a way we can shorten our to-do list, we’ll take it. This week’s project, a no-fuss recycled windowsill herb garden, has knocked watering the plants off our list. Self-watering planters like these aren’t a new idea; we remember our own childhood craft books that taught us how to poke holes through Dixie cups or invert two liter plastic bottles to grow our own little bean garden. This grown-up version is much better looking and works great for small herbs and plants. We used beer bottles for ours, but you could make a larger garden with wine bottles too. Although this project may take a little more effort than your average windowsill garden initially, the pay off is worth it for us: we get to usefully recycle bottles, we get fresh herbs we don’t have to dote on, and we get a sparkling window display. CLICK HERE for the full (photo illustrated) project steps after the jump!
Cacao Nibs For Breakfast: 10 Delicious Rise-and-Shine Recipes Cacao nibs are the perfect addition to most morning recipes because they're not too sweet and add a complexity difficult to achieve with other more common flavors like maple syrup, nuts or fresh fruit. Here are a few tips to get you started on cacao nibs in the morning. We wrote about cacao nibs a few months back, noting that they're essentially unprocessed chocolate that is the result of roasted cacao beans that are separated into the husks, the nibs, and the germs: "The husks and the germs are used for other things, but the nibs will be ground up and made into the chocolate we know and love. Cacao nibs are wonderful in everything from hot cereals to pancakes and smoothies, so we gathered a few recipes from around the web to share with you. What's Your Favorite Way to Use Cacao Nibs? Related: New Favorite Oatmeal Topping: Cacao Nibs (Image: The Healthy Foodie)
Living Sculpture Website Template Printable PDF version Related videos: In turf works, we create living sculpture by shaping soil and covering it with grass or moss. These sculptures take on many shapes and sizes, from sod animals and other figures, to more abstract creations. One of the most popular forms is a very literal translation of the term “lawn furniture.” No matter what shape the sod seating takes, the basics of construction are the same. Design The sky’s the limit when it comes to design and there is plenty of inspiration in the home and lawn furniture that we encounter every day. Another design consideration is to carefully examine the space at hand. Almost any site with adequate drainage and sun exposure will work. Materials Soil Sod Shovels Water Ground staples A large, knife for cutting sod Hammer or mallet Some notes on materials: Soil quantity: The biggest question when it comes to soil is: how much do we need? Sod: You can expect to pay about $.40/square foot of sod from a sod farm. Construction
Growing Carrots In Plant Containers Makes For Easy Cultivation I love growing carrots... at least NOW I do! Disfigured, maggoty, muddy, stunted carrots - does that ring a bell with your experience. That was certainly my experience a lot of the time whilst growing carrots. Container Gardening Ideas Video - Planting Carrots in Containers Pots, troughs, growing bags etc. are one of the answers to growing vegetables in your garden if you haven't got the room for a large vegetable plot - like I haven't. It is the ONLY answer if have a balcony and no garden... and great for the kids to grow there own in them too. 263K+Save So now, growing carrots is a real pleasure, and that is because I do use plant containers. The advantages of growing carrots in containers are: No poor soil problems if using shop bought compost.No weeding and digging concerns.And no soil pest problems. What you do need to keep in mind though is a little more attention will need to be given to watering and feeding. What kind of plant containers are best for growing carrots?... Home Page
The Guerrilla Gardening Home Page Healthy, Homemade Granola Recipe, Easy Homemade Granola Recipe Welcome! Come join us as we find beauty amidst the bedlam of everyday life. Inspiration and encouragement for meal time, finances, home life, DIY and more. If you're new, you may like to subscribe for free updates. Subscribe via email to have new posts delivered directly to your inbox by email. One of the very first recipes I posted when I started my blog was homemade granola recipe, but since then, my recipe has evolved, and so has my recipe printable feature. Easy, yet healthy, homemade granola provides an incredibly frugal and delicious alternative to the store bought variety. This homemade granola recipe is incredibly forgiving and flexible. As I always recommend, make it once and then you will easily be able to adjust it to your preference. Start your family on the road to a great, healthy day with this yummy granola. Summary: This easy homemade granola recipe provides a delicious breakfast and snack treat that’s good for you and affordable.
slide to the right -> : string gardens ph-acid-alkaline-food-chart Testing your ph is done with what is called a pH strip. The proper strip to purchase for testing both saliva and urine is one that is a "NARROW " or "SHORT" range pH strip. This means that the calibration on the strip goes from about 4 to 9. An acidic pH can occur from, an acid forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, and/or immune reactions or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet, which is far too high in acid producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline producing foods like fresh vegetables. To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline forming foods and 40% acid forming foods. Generally, alkaline forming foods include: most fruits, green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, spices, herbs and seasonings, and seeds and nuts. Remember, the key here is BALANCE. Shifting Your pH Toward Alkaline...
Organic Gardening: Creating Natural Pest Barriers Deer and rabbits are beautiful creatures, but they can wreak havoc on your beautiful gardens and landscaping, and the damage can be expensive to fix. And while you may be tempted to use pesticides to keep insects from eating away at your plants, you could end up killing beneficial insects as well, throwing off the ecological balance of your yard. This video will show you how to create natural pest barriers using plants and beneficial natural predators that will deter the types of insects and animals that are harming your gardens. There are many options for pest barriers that target specific pests, from rabbits to stinkbugs. Deer can consume large amounts of foliage in a short period of time, leaving a jagged and torn surface on twigs and stems. Cotton balls soaked in peppermint oil are another easy, non-toxic way to keep rabbits from devouring your ornamental and edible plants. In addition to plants, you can encourage healthy populations of natural predators that prey on insect pests.
Thanksgiving Turkey Cake Recipe Whether this Thanksgiving centerpiece incites horror, amazement, or laughter when it’s served, it’s certain to evoke some kind of outburst. Warning: This dish is not recommended for people who require an inch of space between food groups. It’s a savory layer cake composed of an entire turkey dinner: ground turkey filling, mashed potato “icing,” with stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more. before you begin, you’ll need to make the mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sausage stuffing, and gravy before you begin; the sweet potatoes can be made ahead as well. This recipe was featured in our 6 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes, Traditional to Trippy.
Big Blog Of Gardening ~ organic gardening and organic lawn care