the REcycled garden...

A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.

 ~Gertrude Jekyll

Every year, at spring time, (or when the apple blossoms are in full glorious bloom, here is Michigan), a dear friend and I make our yearly pilgrimage to a local garden nursery for our stash of flowers and veggies. This trek always seems to fall right around my birthday and it usually falls right on or around the first day that this nursery opens for the year; promising us the bestest and brightest selection of our choosing. With camera's in hand and smiles on our faces, we head out for a fun days journey.

Right now as I stare out at the freshly fallen snow it is a bit hard to ponder a garden. But, I know that spring, and in turn summer, are right around the icy corner...so I better start getting my thinking cap on and my green-thumb a workin'.

Usually about this time I get to starting a few seeds indoors. Last year I planted WAY too many tomatoes...so note to self for this planting year! I didn't have enough beans or peppers, though..so "check" those on the list of to-add's.

I am always on the hunt for new ways to get the garden going. I hate spending money each year on those plastic seed trays that wind up breaking at a moments notice. Plus, being the thrifty gal I am, I am always in search of a free/cheaper method for the task. After doing some web-searching, I have found some nifty ways to get those garden seeds going in some rather crafty ways, at that.

Reduce -Reuse - Recycle

From the Desperate Gardener, here is a great way to reuse and repurpose a lot of items that would otherwise be sent out with the garbage. Here is a creative way for planting your seedlings using ordinary plastic bottles.

With all the toilet paper we use it is nice to finally find a way to reuse the empty rolls for a worthwhile project! I found this idea at Pickle Bums. Start saving those rolls (which won't take long in my house!)

Another garbage dump filler that can be repurposed is newspaper. At Cottage Hill I was taught how I can take ordinary newspaper and create pots for my seeds. Brilliant!

A simple thing as an egg shell can be given a new use as a container for seeds. Living Naturally in Louisiana gave me an egg-cellent idea with their egg shell seedlings! Love this!

After the eggs are gone use the container to plant in. Urban Farm Online found this great way to recycle that egg container in a fun simple way.

At Family Fun, I got this great idea for an indoor mini-greenhouse; using a used pop bottle.

Finally, at Cut Out and Keep, I saw a creative way to make garden markers for all the lovely plants you will have.

my thoughts on resale shops

I have recently come to realize there are two-types of people in this world. The ones that shops at "thrift" stores and the others who shops at "consignment" shops. I thought I would look a bit closer at this whole topic and give my 2¢ on it all.

The thrift store...
I have some people in my life that would never (ever) step one foot into a thrift store. You know the ones: Goodwill, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul. Not to mention all those local thrift stores that almost any town and city has readily available. I once asked an aquaintance of mine why she would never visit one to check it out. Her response was that it was "dirty and smelly" inside. Well, I will give her that! At times some of the thrift shops I have stepped foot in were borderline toxic smelling! But! That didn't seem to stop me from browsing around!!
Just today I went to our local Valueland thrift store. I was looking for some items in specific: '80's clothing for my daughters school play, and a long black skirt for my daughter Girl Scout function. As soon as I walked into the store I was welcomed with a "1/2 Off Everything" sign! Woo hoo!! Things were off to a grand start. I meandered up and down the aisles until I reached the girls clothing. I picked and sorted through almost everything until YES! I found the black skirt for my daughter! It was marked $2.99 and I got 1/2 off that. Next, I searched some more and I found a swell t-shirt, with tons of neon and '80's bling! Price: $1.49 ..plus an extra 1/2 off!! It was great finding the items I needed, and ever greater not having to pay full-price store prices!
Frequently when I visit our local Goodwill I see tons of items that are high-quality, name brand...many still with original price tag on them! Other items are in excellent condition and then there are those that are eh, not so grand. Overall, one can easily shop a thrift store and come out ahead, with bags filled with oodles of goodies, FAR below retail store prices.

Now, the consignment shop...
Basically the difference between the consignment shop and a regular thrift shop is the merchandise. These stores (ahem...shops) tend to cater to a more, how shall I say, unscaled clientele. Some upscale ladies consignment shops only offer designer labeled items. Others carry only children's clothing. Consignment shops are often way more expensive then your usual thrift store, mainly because the individual that brings in the clothing items gets a percentage of the selling price. Items are usually marked up to make it a win-win for both the seller and the store owner. I have shopped consignments in the past. Specifically if I was looking for a fancy dress or specific clothing item in a pinch.

There really is nothing wrong with either; the consignment shop or the thrift shop. It really ultimately comes down to the "perception" one places in their minds! When I come to think of it, upscale or not, doesn't it all come down to in the end that you are ...wearing someone else's clothing?!?

Here is a visual for you! Ok, I have two identical dresses (let's say...a designer Ralph Lauren..for the sake of an example). Exactly the same brand and condition. I go to the consignment shop and "hey, there it is!" It is marked thirty bucks. Now, I brave the smells and sights of my local Goodwill. There is the same dress, it is marked $4.99. Why is the Goodwill RL dress somehow "not as good" as the consignment one? Well, as I was saying before, it is about ones perception on it all.  PLUS, those kind souls that do donate to the Goowills, Salvation Army's, and so-on's are doing so out of the generousity of their hearts! No money gained (other than a nice tax break at the end of the year).

My point? Well, break those barriers people! A worn t-shirt, pair of jeans, or a RL dress is still a worn t-shirt, pair of jeans, or a RL dress! Regardless of where ya buy it!
 Get over it and get thrifting!

it's not easy being GREEN?

"It's not that easy being green...when green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why
Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful
And I think it's what I want to be."

Do you remember Kermit the Frog singing this song? I do. It had a different meaning back then, but somehow it could relate to this post, right now.

The world somehow became "green" overnight, didn't it? It came with a big bang. Everything, everywhere, and (it seems) everyone, is jumping on the green bandwagon. Being "green" = being earth friendly. Being conscious of our earth and what we can do to make it a better place to live in.

With Earth Day right around the corner (April 22nd) I thought I would share some of my favorite web sites that have some awesome information on all things green. Enjoy!


greenyour.com
about greening your life
lowimpactliving.com

http://www.laundrylist.org/
set up that clothes line!

www.catalogchoice.org/

stop the "paper" catalogs and browse online instead

RE-purposed cardboard

I found a new life for unloved corrugated cardboard!

-notepads.

- envelopes (with found driftwood)

-gift boxes

reusable sandwich bag..take 1

reduce, reuse, recycle!

I got inspired at the craft store the other day! It's been known to happen every now and again. I saw this fabric and I instantly loved it. I thought a reusable sandwich/snack bag would be a nice end project. I bought my yard and off I went.

I had a rough idea of what I was going to make. I pretty much went to it, though, and had fun along with way. I bought: the tree fabric, a grey nylon (on sale rack). I had: velcro, thread and machine. That is it!

This is a view of the inside of the bag.

It is my first attempt and I am pretty happy with the way it came out. Once I polish my sewing skills a bit it will be even better!

"I repeat," cried the Lorax,"I speak for the trees!" - The Lorax, Dr.Seuss