Organizing seeds using bead containers
Aug 8, 2010 cheap, seed saving, seed storing
I first saw this idea on a garden mailing list at work but given most of you are not on that, I figured I should share with the rest of you. My problem was I had a big bag of seeds and it was always a pain to dif through and find the right seeds for the time of year I was planting.
Tags: seed
Making your own garlic powder
Aug 4, 2010 cheap, dehydrator, garlic bulbs
I like to use garlic powder for making my own BBQ rubs and in cooking where I am too lazy to cut up some fresh garlic. Whenever I go to buy garlic powder at the grocery store I normally end up convincing myself to get 11 ounces of garlic salt at $3.99 versus the $7.49 for a 9 ounce container of garlic powder. Though this not what I really wanted, the cheapness in me always wins. Given I picked up a fancy food dehydrator recently, this year I have opted to make my own.
Tags: garlic
Money-Saving Tips for the Organic Gardener–Guest Post
Jul 29, 2010 cheap, organic, recycle
Organic gardening is a hobby many find relaxing and rewarding, and you can take a bite out of your produce bills by eating the delicious fruits and vegetables your efforts yield. However, between the many different planting and gardening tools and supplies you’ll need, the costs can really add up, and anything you can do to save a buck or two here and there will help. Fortunately, there are all kinds of simple money-saving gardening tips for the organic gardener looking to keep expenses under control.
Save Money on Seeds and Planting
If you’re looking for plant trays, hold off before buying brand-new ones. Many garden centers and nurseries will be more than happy to give you their used ones, so be sure to ask if you’re heading out there to pick up seeds or supplies. You can use them as starting pots; they work especially well for kicking off a hardy plant’s growth cycle.
Reusing household items for your gardening whenever possible is one of the best ways to save a few bucks. For example, rather than purchasing seed storage containers, you can use empty film canisters, which you can label to ensure you know which seeds are which. Separating individually started seeds in yogurt containers, plastic bakery trays or ice cube trays is another strategy you can use.
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Create your own hydroponic window farm
Jul 12, 2010 cheap, hydroponics, recycle
If I didn’t have a big house blocking my southern exposed window, otherwise I would have completely tried this myself. The basic idea is to take come recycled plastic bottles, use an air pump and some tubing to create an air water pump to push the nutrients to the top and gravity takes care of the rest.
The great part of this is that it is an open design community making and sharing new innovations as they are discovered. Here are the complete instructions of the most recent (version 3) of their system. They also offer a complete kit, you just have to provide the recycled bottles.
Via LifeHacker [via Window Farms]
Garden Safe gift pack giveaway
Jun 16, 2010 cheap, free, free gardening tool, giveaway
Last week I was contacted by Garden Safe
Not wanting to share the love with my readers they also agreed to offer a gift pack to giveaway. Not only does it include the products pictured below but also a garden tote bag with a weeding fork, sprayer, hand rake, trowel, transplanter, and clipper AND $20 gift card to Lowe’s. I don’t know the exact retail value of this gift package but my back of the envelope estimate is at least $100.
Rules:
1. Enter one comment to enter
2. Mention this contest on your blog, enter another comment for another chance to win
3. Entries in by 06/25/2010 12:00PM Pacific Time
4. Become a fan on Facebook , enter another comment for another chance to win
5. Winner will be randomly chosen from comments on Saturday, 06/25/2010
Tags: contest
Build a ladybug house
Jun 1, 2010 aphids, cheap, kids, ladybugs
With a piece of cedar fence board and a few nails you can make your own ladybug house to give your army of aphid eaters I nice comfortable place to take shelter between battles
This project started with my youngest daughter (5 years old) has been asking every weekend, “Can we build something with wood?” Finally I came up with this project which we had a great time building.
Tags: aphids, little green bugs
