Interbay Mulch is a very popular method of gardening developed in Seattle and used in many communtiy gardens. It uses compost ingredients spread directly on the garden soil instead of waiting for the compost to mature in a bin or barrel. The layers are things like leaves, grass clippings, newspapers, used coffee grounds, vegetable … [Read more...]
April Deals and Warm Weather Plans
Spring is finally here, and the warm weather is like a tonic after the long winter we've had! I just want to go outside and play! Here are some ways to save money this Spring. Do as the French do & eat your lunch outdoors! Many Parisians enjoy a brown bag lunch on the steps of a monument or on a little patch of grass at a park. Pack a sandwich … [Read more...]
Growing Mushrooms on Used Coffee Grounds
Here are two guys who are thinking out of the box. We know that used coffee grounds make good compost and we know that you can grow mushrooms on all sorts of matter, including paper. They made a deal with a coffee shop to take their used grounds & now they grow mushrooms to sell on the grounds. Not such a leap of insight, but they actually did … [Read more...]
DIY Barrel Compost Tumbler
This gardener made a cool compost tumbler from a barrel, but he designed it to be easy to shovel the compost out. There are a lot of comments that are helpful too. One person said the door was the perfect size for him to put in the grass clippings from the grass catcher on his lawn mower.Click title for link at Instructables. … [Read more...]
A Master Gardener’s Zero Cost Composting Method with Almost Zero Work
My dad's passion was gardening. He was a certified Master Gardener and a winner of hundreds of first prizes for his roses. He was also a child of the Great Depression, so he knew how to save a buck. For his beloved roses he used a system that included using "manure tea" (google it) and made his own mulch with a chipper and fallen/pruned tree … [Read more...]
What to Make with Wooden Pallets
These people are creative! From free or cheap wooden pallets they made compost bins, grape arbors, animal pens, kids' playhouses, storage sheds, even furniture. Click title for link to article at Mother Earth News. The comments have most of the ideas. … [Read more...]