Flea Market Ladder

I paid $15.00 for the old rickety ladder from the local indoor flea market.  I love it!  Today, I added  mums to all the pots and a few bird houses- and Voila!  A Flea Market Styled flower planter!  My sister, Connie gave me the wagon wheel to top it off!  I have a little Cherub hidden on the bottom rung.  Here is the before picture.

I can't wait until next year when I can put some Spring flowers that hang down the rungs!  I better stop wishing for next Spring now- it will surely be a long Winter!!

Flea Market Ladder : amazon

self watering transplant pots

• Keep seedlings growing strong until it's time to plant in the garden
• Supplies consistent moisture for healthy transplants
• Reusable year after year

Your seeds have germinated nicely, your plants are doing great, and it's time to repot. Here's how to ensure that seedlings thrive at this crucial stage: transplant into these pots that water themselves! The system includes a 1/2-gallon reservoir tray, a capillary mat that wicks water up to plants, transport tray(s) for carrying pots, and your choice of 40 round 2" pots, 18 round 3" pots, 18 square 3-1/2" pots or 12 round 4" pots.

self watering transplant pots : amazon

Recycling onions

REAL SIMPLE FOOD: GRILLED ONIONS

Peel and cut onion to remove the center bulb and its roots. Save center and toss onion pieces in a liberal amount of olive oil and place in a oven-proof pan. Bake in center of hot oven tossing occasionally. When the majority of the pieces are crisp on the edges–golden brown–turn out onto paper towel, dry off the majority of the oil, salt and serve hot. The photo below is of quartered onions in which the center was not removed. They hold together better but they are not always cooked consistently throughout. And then, of course, there is no recycling.

Recycling onions : Amazon

Planting seedlings in a pot

There are two seedlings in each tiny compartment of my seed tray. I snipped away the smaller ones with a manicure scissors —from the four seedling I planted (in the last blog). I pull out the plug of soil and seedling (doesn’t matter how) when their roots come out the bottom of the compartment. If they are too fragile to pull out, they are not yet ready to be repotted or they are spindly unhealthy plants. I cut the plants apart with a sharp knife, and put them into a pot of compost. And no, it’s not too rich. The compost costs me nothing and, because the growing season is more erratic than ever, I need to strengthen these plants faster than in years past. The cold hangs around later; the wind, when it comes up, is intense; and the drought begins earlier each year. When I plant them into the earth they will go into a deep hole filled with compost.

SUN SUN SUN: Once the tomato seedling (or any summer garden seedling) is separated into its own pot, it goes in as much sun as I can find. I have a flat of my first potted up tomatoes sitting outside. The air (above freezing) is still warmer than the soil. If the temps dip toward freezing or there is a strong cold wind, I bring the flat inside for the night.

Planting seedlings in a pot : amazon

Displaying air plants

1 : Spotted: Gorgeous air plants at The Gardener in Berkeley, hung simply by their roots. I love the simplicity.
2 : That said, there are some really lovely vessels for displaying these unique, low-maintenance Bromeliads these days.
3 : We just ordered some ceramic planters from Farrah Sit (first seen at the Renegade fair in Brooklyn) to hold ours.
4 : We also toyed with using these wall planters from West Elm.
5 : But the prize for most original display probably goes to gorgeous PetitBeast, where air plants masquerade as jellyfish.
Displaying air plants : AMAZON

How to transplant in a small bowl or bucket

 I drilled a small hole in the three buckets very near the bottom of the sides of the buckets for drainage purposes. For some reason that I am not sure about, before putting the soil/compost mix in the bucket, I covered that hole with a small stone and filled the bottom of the bucket to about one inch with sand. I suppose I did it to aid drainage!

The whole thing is now on the south-facing window ledge above the radiator.

 Bucket for planting : amazon
Pot for planting : amazon

Hydroponic window farm

The HOMEGROWN Village will feature food makers and food growers, as well as experts in modern homesteading topics like greywater catchment, vermicomposting, kombucha and eco-building methods. We’ll be highlighting some of the Makers here over the next few weeks.

We told you about Window Farms a couple of years back, and now their community of experimenters and urban farmers has documented quite an impressive collection of projects.

Bay Area Window Farmers will be on hand to share their knowledge and inspire others to grow in sunny windows.

Other posts that may be of interest: Makers in The HOMEGROWN Village at Maker Faire Bay Area 2009

Hydroponic window farm : amazon

How to Plant a Garden Using Recycled Wood Pallets

If you have a tiny backyard, poor soil or just want to make your husband nuts by tossing wood pallets all over the backyard, I highly suggest hunting down a few recycled wood pallets, {chemical free of course}. My wood pallet garden is still in early stages.  My plan is to weed the surrounding area, haul in a few wheelbarrows of dirt, and then plant a few perennial flowers around the tree trunks.  I wanted to show you the “before” picture now in case you wanted to implement this garden idea in your very own backyard.
All you really need to get this project off the ground is a wood pallet, bag of potting soil and a few seeds. Using a recycled wood pallet to start a garden can be a great space saver, plus as a bonus, there is no soil to til or weed. This is exactly the kind of project young children would love, especially if they could have their own wood pallet.

How to Plant a Garden Using Recycled Wood Pallets : amazon

How to make a pond in a small pot or bucket

How to make a pond in a small pot or bucket

materiel :

• Plastic Half Barrel
• Tuff Stuff Products KMT85
• Pond Plant Containers Lotus

Bamboo Grow Pot Rack Indoor Pots and Planters

This pot holder brings a modern feel to a very old tradition - herb growing. I never have the herbs I need when I need them. This leads me to go to the store to buy handfuls of those herbs that I can never fully use in time. A stylish solution is here.

If you do miss seeing some green around the house, these potted wheat grass plants are just right. They're healthy, easy and provide a beautiful shock of color.

Secret Garden Bed and Green Round 2013

Let’s just say that Karen Lampard of Café Paperie, Barbara Gray of Cottage White Interiors, Krista Niskanen and I left NO STONE unturned in our well-publicized, collaborative design effort staging Barbara’s magnificent ocean-front home, courtyard and pool area for the 14th annual ‘Secret Garden Tour of La Jolla’.
Our Dream Team worked for 3 solid months getting all of this perfectionner, sharing a common goal and a beautiful camaraderie along our creative journey and the end result was one of those rare
projects where the sum total was even greater than its parts.
Four designers working side by side, doing what we love in a seamless collaboration ~ and the beauty of it all?
We even amazed ourselves at what came forth.
That might just be the ‘secret’ to the Secret Garden Tour.
Enjoy.

Harper Trucks PM22Y-HDC Pot Mover

Harper Trucks PM22Y-HDC Pot Mover : amazon

Want it tomorrow, May 21? Order within 1 hr 20 mins and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
75-Pound capacity
Adjustable hook grabs the top of the pot
Accommodates various widths and shapes of pots
8-Inch flat free poly wheels
Made in the USA