getting started

i was in bed most of the week with a back that went out. i couldn't do much of anything, especially in the garden. i don't like lying around much so needless to say i was a bit grumpy. but to cheer me up a bit i ordered a large load of compost to be delivered in hopes that i would be mended and ready to go this weekend. my kitchen harvest, a local curbside organics collection and composting company makes all of it's compost right at hillside farm where i work. it felt so good to be using compost made with local kitchen and yard waste. a little contribution from many community members involved now helps my garden to grow!

 i was so happy to find that by friday i was feeling better. i headed straight for that pile of black gold and got started. we spread a majority of it throughout the garden as a feed/mulch but saved a bit for some flats of seeds. hannah chose several types of heirloom tomatoes,cucumbers and watermelon. we also made a new raised bed along the chicken coop. we planted lemon verbena and borage and planted some sweet pea seeds to grasp on to the wire. after the sweet peas are finished we will replace them with pole beans.

 by the end of the day my hands were stained black and my back ached just a little. i went to bed with a heating pad and a smile on my face.

diy pvc paper pot maker!

today i want to share with you a simple diy project for making paper pots! 

i work for a school garden-based education nonprofit & during this time of year, we are often outside planting seeds & transplanting seedlings with our students. we use our handmade pot maker that costs a little more than $3 each for making little newspaper pots. the pots are easily made by our elementary school students & biodegrade in the soil if you choose to plant the pot. it's an easy, affordable project for making paper pots rather than using it's plastic counterpart. 

supplies needed:

all pvc pieces can be found at most hardware stores

1- pvc circular cap for screwing onto #3

2- 2 in. pvc coupling

3- pvc end cap with threaded male end to fit #1

- newspaper

-tape (optional)

1. tear off a piece of newspaper that is about 1 1/2 in. longer than the pvc coupling (#2) & wraps completely around your coupling.

2. wrap your newspaper around the coupling.

3. once all of the newspaper is wrapped around the coupling, you may tape the side to secure the newspaper (optional).

4. turn your pot upside down & fold the excess newspaper inside the pvc coupling.

5. turn the pot right side up & press down on the top.

6. screw your pvc cap (#1) onto your pvc end cap (#3). i will refer to this as the "handle."

7. using your handle (#1 & #3) with the cap side down, place inside your pvc coupling & press down until the excess newspaper inside is pressed flat.

8. remove handle from coupling. remove pvc coupling from newspaper. you should have a sturdy newspaper pot!

9. fill with soil & a seed! 

10. place in a sunny window & watch as your plant grows!

do you have any other ideas for making your own pots? we would love to hear!