Organizing Your Yard and Garden

  
I found some terrific tips for organizing your outdoor space. Hope you enjoy them!

"In the warmer months, we find ourselves outside more often, enjoying nature while playing with the kids and maintaining our lawns. But this additional time spent outside means more home and garden tools and more opportunity for a mess.

Here are some simple tips to keep your outdoor spaces cleaner and more organized:

Storage bench — Use a storage bench to keep your gardening gloves, tools and children's outdoor toys. Available in a wide variety of sizes and styles, you can find the bench that fits your decor. Plus, they offer an extra seating area when you have company.

Bundle cords — No one likes the unsightly appearance or hazard of cords. Before your gatherings, bundle together stereo and electronic cords that are exposed, as well as any cords that run across the lawn. Helpful products, such as Velcro One Wrap ties, keep your items bound tight and out of sight.

Paver pots — Use old pavers to create plant containers. Simply stack the pavers together making a square shape. The heavy weight of the pavers keeps the dirt and plant contained together.

Deck space — Use the space under your deck for additional, out-of-sight storage. Tuck plastic lidded storage containers underneath for easy access to children's sporting goods and toys.

Mesh bags — Pool toys, rafts and inner tubes need a space to dry off. Use mesh bags so these summer toys properly are properly dried, preventing mildew or molding.

Proper plant care — Stock up on essentials for a healthy garden, including the tools to make plant seedlings thrive, such as Velcro Peel Away seed pots. These pots make it easy to remove the pots without disturbing the roots, making transitions from pot to flower bed flawless.

Repurpose furniture — Turn old furniture pieces, such as old filing cabinets, into instant garage storage solutions. Take out the drawers of the cabinet and turn it on its side. Each empty drawer area provides a spot for large items like brooms, shovels and rakes.

Fence storage — Turn old coffee or paint cans into storage bins for smaller gardening tools like hand shovels and pruning shears. For easy access while in the garden, cut holes and use rope to hang around a close-by fence post.

Tires — Stack old tires on top of each other for an outdoor toy container that kids can easily access. Paint the outside to match the color of your house or whatever color you fancy."

Makes me want to go play outside - what about you?



More on organizing solutions:
Get Your House in Order - A Great Wintertime Project
Entry Closet Door Organizer
3 Steps to Organizing Your Closet

Gardening - Recycling, Repurposing

 
I planted my herb and tomato seeds a couple of days ago. We have a wonderful sun room at the front of our house, which will allow my seedlings to grow in an area that is warm enough.

I decided to recycle my cardboard egg crates and use them as my little planters rather than buy plastic starter kits. I planted basil, cilantro, dill, parsley and a couple of types of tomatoes.

 

I filled the egg crates with potting soil, put 3 or 4 seeds in each cavity. Then I covered the seeds with about 1/4 inch of potting soil, and watered.  

Next, I repurposed one of our boot trays upon which I placed my two egg cartons. Now I can water in my sun room without making a mess.

My seeds will take around three weeks to grow large enough to replant. I'll continue to keep the herbs indoors for ease of accessibility. We'll plant the tomatoes in the garden when the ground is warm enough. Can't wait until they grow! And I'm glad to have used things on hand rather than buy them. 

More on gardening:

Organizing Your Spring Garden

Tips from a Master Gardener - Watering, Mulch

Tip on Daffodils from my Master Gardener

Getting Organized for Gardening - Sorting Your Seed Packets

       
I have a gorgeous sun room on the front of my house. The thought of starting my herbs from seeds in this room, was one of the many enticing reasons to choose this house! I can hardly wait to plant some herbs!

Here in Montana, we'll probably get a later start than the rest of you, but I'm eager to get going! 

I thought this article that appeared in last week's The Oregonian by Kim Pokorney on how to get ready for planting your garden was quite helpful, especially for beginner gardeners.

"Start by separating all your packets of seed into two piles: those that will be 'direct-sown' (planted right in the garden) and those that will be started indoors. Put a rubber band around whatever seeds you'll be planting outdoors and set them aside. 

Now spread out your 'sow indoors' pile and start reading the back of the seed packets. On the back you should find something like, 'For earliest bloom or fruit production, start six to eight weeks before last frost date.' 

Sort your packets into piles according to these recommendations, making separate piles for five, seven, nine weeks and so on. Some packets, especially those for perennials, may only tell you how long it takes the seeds to germinate. If that's all you have to go on, take that figure (which is usually a range) and add six weeks. Then put the packet into the appropriate pile."

More on gardening:

Tools to Make Gardening More Efficient

Organizing Your Spring Garden

Organizing My Herb Garden 2010

      

A Delicious Way to Use Up Your Extra Fresh Herbs - So Efficient!!

     
Doesn't it kill you to throw away those expensive fresh herbs? I often have used them in a recipe, and then forget about them until they're soggy and nasty.

I found a delicious pesto recipe that uses a combination of herbs and fresh spinach. You can mix and match what you have on hand. 

I'm not a super fan of regular pesto because of the strong basil taste. But I fell in love with the following recipe, which I adapted from another recipe. We had it over pasta and garlic chicken. Strawberries rounded out the meal. Here's the recipe:

Herb Pesto

2 garlic cloves
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves (I used curly, and it was fine)
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
1/2 cup pistachios
1 pinch salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste
juice from one lime
1/2 cup olive oil

Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Four generous servings over both meat and pasta. To store, cover with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation. 

I'm never going to let fresh herbs go to waste again! And it's perfect for your summer herb garden. 


More on efficient cooking:

Double or Triple a Recipe

Piggy-Back Dinners

Cook a turkey!

 

Local Recycling of Plastic Garden Containers

           
Today is my husband's and my 36th anniversary! It's hard to believe it! We are celebrating by taking an island-hopping cruise on Lake Erie. Now, on to our post for today ... what to do with those plastic garden containers without putting them in the landfill:

On June 18th from 9:00 – 4:00 Graf Growers Garden Center will be hosting their first Recycle Day where they will be collecting empty plastic garden containers. All sizes and shapes of flower pots, flats, packs, tags, and nursery pots will be accepted. Participants need to knock any clumps of dirt out of them before bringing them on that day. Graf’s is located at 1015 White Pond Drive, just off Interstate 77. 

Staff members and volunteers will help to unload vehicles and sort the plastics. Graf Growers Garden Center is offering this program as a service to the greater Akron community as part of their commitment to the environment. Plastics accepted will be recycled by a local company and used to manufacture plastic household items.

Refreshments will be served and Free Reusable Shopping Bags will be given to participants. (while supplies last).   

More on recycling:

A Refresher on Recycling Plastics

Recycling Compact Fluorescent Lamps (Lightbulbs)

Recycling VHS Tapes

 

Tools to Make Gardening More Efficient

     
I'm not a big-time gardener, but by being organized and efficient I can get more done when I garden. If you're just starting out or have been gardening for years, the following products might help you stay organized, save time, or be more productive: 

Greenhouses

 

 

Carts

 

Tool Storage

Hose Storage

Dispenser for Bird Seed, Pet Food, Fertilizer, Ice Melt

 

What products help you garden effectively?

 

More on gardening:

Using Your Snow Shovel Year Round - Another Gardening Tip

An Attractive Way to Organize Your Garden Hose

Tips from a Master Gardener

 

Spring Cleaning the Garage - Storing Hazardous Materials

    
It's sunny today - a welcome respite after more snow over the weekend! My husband and I bought a planter kit for my herbs and a grow light, so I'm excited to get going on my herb garden. I'm going to try growing them from seed this year, trying to stagger some of them so I'll have them all summer. We'll set up a place in our garage for them to grow when it's not sunny. Speaking of garages, here's a rerun of a post from the past ....
    
Spring is the time to clean out the garage, swapping out winter items for summer ones. As you attempt this task, here are a few pointers from Don Townson of the Vancouver Sun about storing hazardous materials:

"If you have to keep hazardous materials in the garage, follow these rules:

- Store products in their original containers with their labels

- Never mix products

- Keep gasoline in an approved container

- Do not store gasoline or volatile solvents near water heaters or other appliances with pilot lights

- Keep flammables away from outlets, electric tools and appliances

- Store all hazards out of reach of children and pets; use a locked cabinet

- Buy containers with child-resistant caps

- Dispose of hazardous materials appropriately."


More blogs on spring cleaning the garage:

Shadow Boarding the Tools in Your Garage

It's that Time Again - Swapping Out Your Seasonal Tools

Storage for Your Garage

 

Organizing Your Spring Garden

   
We had a lovely day yesterday - sunny and above freezing! Almost shorts weather. :) Makes me want to plant herbs! And I'm further inspired by our post today ...

Joe Lamp'l is a master gardener, author and host of "Growing a Greener World" on PBS. In the following article, he offers advice on planning your garden. Whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned gardener, I'm sure you'll find his ideas helpful. 

"A few hours of organizing and preparing now can save you money and yield a more manageable and efficient garden come spring.

But first things first. Make note of the locations where plants did well and where they didn't thrive. Which vegetables were successful and which disappointed? Read some garden books and improve your gardening skills where necessary; then spend time considering exactly what you want to plant. 

If you're into salsa, for example, plan lots of space for peppers, onions and tomatoes. Do your research. By now, you should have quite a collection of seed catalogs. Use them and the Internet to sort through information on the varieties you're interested in growing.

Order seeds as soon as possible. The earlier you get your order in, the better your chances of getting all the varieties you're looking for. Once they're ordered, you can create a growing time line. Work backward from the last average frost date in your area and start seeds indoors so they'll be ready to set out when the temperature warms enough in the garden.

To begin, just use soilless sterile seed-starting mix and something to contain it. Plastic or paper cups, pizza boxes, takeout containers, soda bottles or just about anything else you can think of will work. Poke a few small drainage holes in the bottom, add the soil and then plant the seeds according to the package's directions. 

Hang up a grow light, like a fluorescent shop light, over the plants. Attach a simple timer that allows the light to remain on 16 hours each day. Adding a plastic or clear covering over your container will help hold moisture in, which is very important for seeds to germinate. But, you can skip this step as long as you make sure you supply the necessary moisture. This could be every day.

Although it's probably too cold for the compost to be actively working, keep tossing eggshells, coffee grounds, vegetable waste and other kitchen scraps (except proteins and fats) into the pile. When the weather starts warming up, add water and soil, and soon you'll have some great compost to add to your garden soil. It's the best soil amendment you can ever provide, and any time is the right time for adding compost.

Maintain your tools. Clean them up, oil wooden handles and repaint metal surfaces. Sharpen shovels, pruning shears and other edged tools. Once spring arrives, they'll be ready to go and you can head right out into the garden. Start getting together all the miscellaneous items you'll need, too: sturdy wire for trellises and black plastic or other covers to start warming the soil and killing weed seeds.

How about covering the garden with several layers of newspapers? Topped with a layer of straw or any type of mulch (leaving openings for plants to come through), they're a great way to keep weeds at bay. I did this often in my large vegetable-garden set of "Fresh from the Garden" on DIY Network. It worked great and was a super way to recycle those newspapers. Just be sure to wet down the paper as you spread it out. This weighs it down and helps keep it from blowing away until you get the mulch on top. This technique is also great between your planting beds and in paths as well.

Finally, use last year's bounty to inspire you. Remember the satisfaction you felt when those shrubs and trees started breaking their buds, and the sweet peas started poking through the soil? Gardening is about promise and anticipation. And winter is the best time to make plans and get motivated for the coming spring, while you still have a little time."

More on gardening:

Organizing My Herb Garden 2010

Tips from a Master Gardener - Watering, Mulch

Managing Invasive Herbs

 

Efficient Leaf Raking

   
This is the week the city is coming by to collect our leaves from the curb. If you live in a warmer climate where the leaves don't change, you're missing out!!

My husband and I have a few days off as foster parents, which has mixed blessings. We have a break, but unfortunately, we didn't manage to fit leaf raking into our schedule while our four foster daughters were at home, so the leaf raking falls to us!

Today and the rest of the week has a forecast of rain, so last night was our chance. My husband made quick work of it, even though we have a very large yard. He started on the outside edges of the yard and mowed in circles with the mower blowing toward the middle of the yard. Not only did he give the lawn its final cut for the year, but all the leaves were blown toward the middle of yard.

He and I then raked the leaves onto a tarp, folded it up burrito-style so the leaves wouldn't fall out, and dragged it to the curb. Thankfully, a hurricane-type wind had already blown most of the leaves away in our front yard, so all that was left was our back and side yards. 

Instead of breaking your back with hours of raking, try my husband's method of circling the leaves. So efficient!

More on getting organized for winter:

Using Your Snow Shovel Year Round - Another Gardening Tip

Getting Organized for Winter - Trees and Gutters

Getting Organized for Winter - Your Garage

 

Organizing Lawn Care - Fall Projects

     
We're already seeing leaves fall from the trees. It doesn't seem we are going to have very pretty fall colors due to the dry summer we had. Last year our next door neighbor's red maples were so beautiful - I'll be sad if we don't get to see them in all their glory! 

Fall is a wonderful time to get your lawn and garden ready for the winter and spring. We are doing some major weeding at our house today! Here's a post from the past on that subject:
Plan ahead now to get that wonderful garden and lawn in the spring! Especially, if you're planning to put your house on the market next spring, this will give you a head start on your curb appeal.

My husband just put Scott's Turf Builder Winterguard on our lawn to beef up the grass over the winter. It comes in varieties that get rid of weeds and other pesky problems. For some reason crab grass has become very obnoxious this year in our lawn.

Another suggestion from Scott's: don't bother raking your leaves. Go over them two or three times with the mower until they are dime-sized. Next, feed your lawn. And the nitrogen and microbes will take care of the recycling. Sounds good to me!

Scott's website has helpful information, including a schedule for lawn care according to your zip code.

This is also the time of year to plant those tulips, narcissus, and other bulbs that look so inviting in the spring. A couple of years ago, we dug up our entire front garden, mapped it out, and planted perennials so we would have blooms the entire spring and summer.

One of those perennials, however, took over much of the garden and I'm not happy with the color, either. And not enough tulips and narcissus came up. So we're going to redo it again. I'm not so sure I would be motivated to do it again so soon, but we are having the drainage system redug because it is leaking into our basement. So if we are going to have to dig up the garden anyway, we may as well be intentional about it.

By now, I know what I like in the garden and what I don't want to see again. I've also learned what grows well here and what doesn't. A lot of it is trial and error, isn't it? I had the idea that once we mapped it all out, it would all grow just as we planned and I would love it. But some didn't come up and some grew too much and some I'm tired of. It's a lot of work, but it sure pays off when flowers pop up each year and it makes our house look so cute!

What do you do in the fall to prepare your lawn and garden for spring?


Related Posts:
Using Your Snow Shovel Year Round - Another Gardening Tip
Winterizing your Garden
 

Organizing My Herb Garden 2010

  

Since we moved last September, I had to start over with my herb garden. I especially miss my perennial mint and chives. It was so nice to have them already growing in the spring without us doing anything!

Both of these come back with a vengeance, and spread, so you have to be careful where you plant them. My husband planted my mint (spearmint and peppermint) at the end of our deck so I can just walk out and pick it when I want to make some mint tea.

He planted (I have hip and knee issues - isn't he wonderful?) basil, parsley, dill, chives, and cilantro in another area, close to the house so I can go snipping at will.

We discovered some tomato plants that had started growing on their own this spring in that area, so we made room for them to grow among the herbs.  

In previous years, I planted way more herbs than I knew what to do with. But it was fun to experiment. Now I have settled down to the ones I use most, and it's easier to manage. 

I bought a very interest package of all different kinds and colors of little tomatoes at BJ's the other day, so maybe I'll add a little breschetta or tomato basil salad tonight for dinner tonight.


More on herbs:

Herb Recipes

Dinner in 10 - Herbed Tilapia

Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 4 - Using Your Herbs for Healing 

An Attractive Way to Organize Your Garden Hose

  
We've all seen equipment that stores garden hoses. Here's something that does the job but in an attractive way: hose pots. They look like garden pots, but make your hose available to you without being unsightly.


Here are a couple of examples:

Most garden centers and hardware stores carry hose pots, starting at around $40.


More on gardening:

Organizing Your Garden - Creating Your Own Compost

Using Your Snow Shovel Year Round - Another Gardening Tip

Organizing Your Herb Garden

 

Got Cucumbers? Skin Care Rx

Good Morning! It has been a busy time with our foster girls this week - 4th of July parade and fireworks, Amish country, some great discussions, crafts, and more! Hope you're having a good week so far. :)

Here's some interesting cucumber information I found and thought might come in handy sometime ...


Besides being a refreshing veggie loaded with vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and dietary fiber, cucumbers have healing properties for your skin!

You've heard the expression "Cool as a Cucumber" - it's no joke! The inside of a cucumber is up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside.

That's why it feels so good to put cucumber slices over your eyes to reduce puffiness. You can also use them to put on minor burns or other skin irritations. How does it work? Cucumbers contain a natural astringent which causes blood vessels to constrict, decreasing swelling.

For skin rashes, insect bites, sunburns, and minor aches, chop cucumber skin and flesh in your blender and spread the paste over the affected area. This paste can also be used to make a homemade skin mask - it brings out the natural shine and beauty of your skin.

Aren't cucumbers amazing?

(Resources: Better Homes and Gardens, February 2009, p. 106. Uses for Cucumbers. The Many Uses of Cucumbers)

Comments? Click here to comment on the original blog.


Similar topics:
Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 4 - Using Your Herbs for Healing
Reduce Anxiety with These Foods
Mouthwash and Mosquitoes

Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 4 - Using Your Herbs for Healing

I did a series on herbs last summer and decided to add to it today. I came across this article about the healing properties of herbs by Dr. Mao. While I do not embrace everything he stands for, I thought this article was very helpful.

"Herbs have been part of every culture and medical tradition since the earliest humans walked the earth for treatment of everything from colds to digestive issues to depression. You may be surprised to learn that the herbs you have been regularly using to infuse your food with appetizing flavors also have amazing healing abilities. They are easily grown in your own home so you can have them on hand to use whenever the urge to cook strikes you. Read on to find the healing health benefits of these commonly used herbs.

1. Rosemary
Rosemary has been used as a brain tonic in Chinese traditional medicine for thousands of years. Rosemary contains volatile oils that help stimulate brain activities and increase brain alertness. One compound it contains, cineole, has been found to enhance the ability of rat to navigate mazes. So skip the harsh coffee and spice up your energy level with rosemary. Other benefits? Rosemary also aids in digestion and perks up your immune system. Steep it as tea, use in your poultry dishes and soups--or just crush some up to fill your home with an energizing scent.

Growing tips: Rosemary needs to live in a very sunny window and may even need supplemental light. It is sensitive to overwatering so keep it on the dry side.

2. Mint
Peppermint, spearmint, and other mint-family plants are considered one of the most versatile herbs in traditional Chinese medicine. Peppermint has many well-documented properties: It increases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, soothes spasms, settles the stomach, and alleviates gas. In a culture marked by poor diet and digestion--and the heartburn that comes with it--peppermint can be your best friend. Additionally, peppermint is rich in antioxidants that support good vision and also cleanses your liver, helping to eliminate harmful toxins from your body. Steep peppermint as a tea and drink it a half an hour after mealtimes for untroubled digestion.

Growing tips: Mint is an easy-to-grow herb that is invasive, so be sure to grow it in its own pot.

3. Oregano
When you're suffering from cold or flu, steep oregano in a pot of water and inhale the vapors, which are antibacterial, antiviral and decongesting. This immunity-enhancing herb also settles digestion and prevents bloating.

Growing tips: Oregano needs a lot of light to grow so find a window with direct light or grow out-of-doors.

4. Sage
Chinese traditional medicine has long used sage to help prevent the loss of mental function that comes with age. Sage has been found to increase oxygen to the brain cortex and to help improve concentration. Sage is easy on the digestion. Cook it up in soups and poultry dishes.

Growing tips: Sage can be a bit difficult to grow. It is very sensitive to overwatering because it is more susceptible to mildew than other herbs.

5. Chives
A member of the garlic and onion family, chives have been used throughout history for natural healing because they contain a substantial amount of vitamin C as well as essential minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron and folic acid. In Chinese medicine they are used to clear stuffy noses, prevent bad breath, ease stomach aches, strengthen the lower back, and improve poor circulation that gives you cold hands and feet. Some serving suggestions? Chop up chives and add them to stir-fries or mix in with ground poultry to stuff ravioli or dumplings.

Growing tips: Chives are fairly easy to grow because they don't require as much light as other herbs.

6. Basil
A favorite herb in Italian cooking, basil's scent can perk up your energy level and it is filled with luteolin, a bioflavonoid that studies have shown to be the best protection of cell DNA from radiation.

Growing tips: Basil can be more difficult to grow. Your best bet is to grow it during warm, bright summer months.

7. Cilantro
Cilantro is an energy tonic that can boost your immune system and smooth out your digestion. Use it in your cooking to get its health benefits.

Growing tips: Cilantro, the name for the stems and leaves of the coriander plant, can be hard to grow. Sow the coriander seeds in a thick concentration in a shallow tray.

8. Parsley
Parsley is used in a Chinese folk remedy for cooling the liver and clearing the eyes. Parsley is packed with luteolin, and there is some evidence that this helps protect the eye from UV radiation damage and from glycation, a process in which sticky sugar molecules bind up protein, potentially damaging the retina. The age-old folk remedy recipe for vision protection is a juice blend of celery, peppermint, and Chinese parsley, made fresh daily.

Growing tips: Parsley doesn't need very much sun, but it is a slow grower, so don't expect a high yield.

Herbal Tea Recipes
Aside from use in cooking, all of the above herbs can be used to make aromatic potent teas. You may use the herbs individually or experiment with combinations. For example, to make a tea that soothes digestion and prevents bloating: Steep 1 teaspoon each of mint, rosemary, oregano, cilantro, sage and basil and in a cup of hot filtered water for five minutes. ...

Grow Your Own
To grow your own herbs, all you need is some terra cotta pots with drainage holes, high-quality organic potting soil, and a window sill that gets at least six hours of light per day. A southwestern-facing window is your best choice for good light. If this isn't possible, you can get a few clamp-on reflector lights with compact fluorescent bulbs and place them about six inches away from the plant.

Keep in mind that overwatering is the biggest mistake people make when trying to grow herbs inside. The rule of thumb is to let the herbs dry out completely, and then water. Beginning with baby plants will be less troublesome than starting from seed. With practice, you will learn the best ways to grow and care for your indoor herbal garden."

Comments? Click here to comment on the original blog post.

Other posts on herbs:
Organizing Your Herb Garden
Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 2 - Drying Herbs
Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 3 - Using Your Herbs
Herb Recipes

Score: Herbs 1, Squirrels 0 ... So Far

As you know, I'm carrying on a never-ending battle with our squirrels. As long as I'm diligent to sprinkle dried red pepper flakes in everything, the squirrels don't bother my planters. But if it rains (like today), I have to remember to reapply the pepper flakes. So far, I'm doing pretty well. But as you can see, I caught one of the squirrels sunning himself next to my mesculun planter, just waiting for me to mess up! Sunscreen anyone?

More Herb Stuff

I spoke with Rose about my "perennial herbs." Rose is a 30+ year member of the Evening Herb Guild in Portage County, Ohio. She said that most herbs are not perennials other than chives, mint and some oregano. My parsley and cilantro came back this year, but they only last for a short time and are already waning.

So all that careful planning of my herb garden last year was for naught! I don't know where I googled my herb information last year, but my experience and Rose's expertise has proved them wrong!

Rose also mentioned that you should remove the purple blossoms from chives in order to keep them growing from year to year. She suggested putting the blossoms in vinegar to flavor it!

What a wealth of knowledge I have discovered in my aquatics class! First a master gardener and now an herb specialist! How enlightening!

Do you have some enlightening herb and garden tips? Email subscribers click here to comment on the original blog.

More on herbs and garden:
Score: Squirrels 1, Bev 0
So Much for Organizing My Herb Garden!
Tips from a Master Gardener - Watering, Mulch

Herb Recipes

Hope you're having a nice holiday weekend. Ours has been very relaxing. Went out to eat, did some gardening, played Settlers of Catan, caught up on sleep, worked around the house a bit, and I got my MomAudience.com email ready to send out tomorrow. But that's not work to me - I love it!

Last week I told you I'd post some recipes using herbs. I haven't tried the herb vinaigrette, but the others are among my favorites. We made our first batch of mint tea last night - unbelievably refreshing! Let the summer begin!

Herb Vinaigrette

"Fill cruet one-third full of olive oil. Add an equal amount of vinegar (red or white wine vinegar). Gently bruise a two-inch herb sprig of thyme, oregano, or basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Close container and shake vigorously to meld flavors. Since herbs vary in strength, taste before serving and add additional sprigs as needed." (from Better Homes and Gardens, March 2009, p 20.)

Mint Tea (with no tea)

I know I shared this recipe before, but it's worth repeating. I collect a generous handful comprised of both spearmint and peppermint leaves. After rinsing off the leaves, I pour boiling water over them in a mug. Or microwave leaves in a mug of water for a minute. I let it steep - the longer the better - and add about 3/8 to 1/2 cup of sugar for 1/2 gallon. It's so refreshing in hot weather! We take it to drink when we play tennis - far more refreshing than water.

Salsa (from my friend Julie Bethea Stoll)

8 c. tomatoes, chopped, seeded (I use grape tomatoes)
1 1/2 t. chili powder
1 1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 t. cumin
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped
3 t. chopped garlic (from jar)
juice from 1/2 lime

Put onion and cilantro in small chopper. Mix with tomatoes, juice and spices. Serve with tortilla chips or with Mexican food. For a little more heat, add dried red pepper flakes - carefully - they pack a lot of heat!

Bruschetta
(adapted from recipe from Sweet’est Grape Tomatoes package)

1 pint grape tomatoes cut in quarters
¼ cup black pitted olives, slices
1/3 cup stuffed green olives, sliced
¼ cup minced parsley
1 t. minced garlic (from jar)
1/3 sweet onion, finely minced
1 T. virgin olive oil
½ T. balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Taste and correct seasoning if needed. Let stand at room temperature about 30 minutes. Serve over grilled sliced Italian or French bread. Slice bread about ¾ inches thick.

The last three recipes are included in the Three Steps to Planning Dinner workbook, which includes my favorite recipes.

Other Herb Recipes:
Organizing Your Herb Garden, Part 3 - Using Your Herbs
Dinner in 10 - Herbed Tilapia
Papaya salsa with swordfish
Cook a turkey!

Email readers comment here.

So Much for Organizing My Herb Garden!

Happy Friday! Hope you have a relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Our town actually has a Memorial Day parade. We went last year for the first time and it was inspiring! Thanks to all who have made and continue to make our country free!


If you remember, I went to great lengths to organize my herb garden last year. Perennials in one area and annuals in another. I had massive quantities of herbs and dried many of them - so much so that I still have some after giving them out to family and friends.

Well ... so far the only perennial herbs that have come back are mint and chives (which even I can't kill!) and parsley and cilantro, neither of which are really perennials. They will come back for one season. No sign of my rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender and others!

I'm not terribly sad, though, as the ones I use the most are basil, dill, chives, parsley and cilantro. So that's what I'm growing this year. I think I'll try a little mesculan, planting some every week or so, in order to have a steady supply. We'll see if I can get it past the squirrels.

They have already been digging around my daisies in my two planters on my front porch. As often as I can remember I try to sprinkle them with dried red pepper flakes, which seems to ward them off ... until it rains. If I do the same for my mesculan, will have a little kick? :)

My husband is trying out topsy-turvy tomatoes this year. So if they work, we should have ingredients for salsa!!

Next week I'll post some of my favorite recipes using herbs.

Have some great herb recipes to share? Bring it on! Email subcribers comment here.

Some of my other gardening blog posts:
Organizing Your Herb Garden
Feed the Squirrels? - Hah!
Organizing your garden

Some Earth Day Tips to Declutter Your Home

Happy Earth Day! In honor of the day, here are some eco-friendly tips from the May 2009 Family Circle magazine:

- Use cucumbers as a natural insecticide - either plant them or put cucumber slices throughout your garden. Who knew? (FC's source: Melissa Seligman coauthor of Simply Green)

- For an easy, homemade skin treatment: "Slice a fresh strawberry in half and rub the cut sides on your face. Wait a few minutes, then rinse. The berry is loaded with natural alpha-hydroxy acids that help clear up blemishes and slough off dead skin cells." (FC's source: Fashion Editor Christin Bibbo Herr)

- Gazelle rescues electronics from landfills by buying them from you, and reusing or recycling them. Dust off those no-longer-used gadgets and beef up your wallet! (FC's source: Krista Meyerhoff, editorial assistant)

These tips will help you reduce the clutter in your home by eliminating excess products and gagdets.

If you'd like to comment and receive this via email, here's a link for you.


Similar blogs:

Get Organized Month 2009 - Decluttering Your Electronics

Earth Day Energy Tips

Five Tips on Being Eco-Friendly and Saving Money at the Same Time

A Dozen Helpful Hints to Simplify Your Life

Happy April Fool's Day! We received a new house of girls yesterday, and one of the girls is dreading going to school because of all the pranks. She's in middle school - need I say more?

Our blog today originated from an email I received from a friend. I thought the hints were worth passing along:

A Dozen Helpful HInts to Simplify Your Life

1. Broken Glass clean up:

 Use a wet cotton ball or Q-tip to pick up the small shards of glass you can't see easily. 




2. No More Mosquitoes : Place a dryer sheet in your pocket. It will keep the mosquitoes away. 




3. Squirrel Away!: To keep squirrels from eating your plants, sprinkle your plants with cayenne pepper. The cayenne pepper doesn't hurt the plant, and the squirrels won't come near it. 



4. Flexible vacuum nozzle: To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge, add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum . It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings. 



5. Reducing Static Cling: Pin a small safety pin to the seam of your slip and you will not have a clingy skirt or dress. Same thing works with slacks that cling when wearing panty hose. Place pin in seam of slacks and -- ta da! -- static is gone. 



6. Measuring Cups clean up: Before you pour sticky substances into a measuring cup, fill with hot water. Dump out the hot water, but don't dry cup. Next, add your ingredient, such as peanut butter, and watch how easily it comes right out. 



7. Hate foggy windshields?: Buy a chalkboard eraser and keep it in the glove box of your car. When the windows fog, rub with the eraser! Works better than a cloth!




8. Reopening envelope: If you seal an envelope and then realize you forgot to include something inside, just place your sealed envelope in the freezer for an hour or two. Viola! It unseals easily .




9. Hair Conditioner: Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It's a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It's also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn't like when you tried it in your hair..




10. Goodbye Fruit Flies: To get rid of pesky fruit flies , take a small glass fill it 1/2" with Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of dish washing liquid , mix well. You will find those flies drawn to the cup and gone forever! 




11. Get Rid of Ants: Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it , take it "home," can't digest it, so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed! 




12. To Extend the Life of Your Dryer and Prevent Fires: Dryer sheets cause a film over the mesh of the lint filter - that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film , but it's there. It's what is in the dryer sheets to make your clothes soft and static free - that nice fragrance, too. You know how they can feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire and potentially burn your house down with it!

The best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (and to keep your electric bill lower) is to take the filter out and wash it with hot soapy water and an old toothbrush (or other brush) at least every six months. It doubles the life of your dryer.



Organizing Your Garden - Creating Your Own Compost

Good morning! It's still a little chilly here in Ohio, but we did a little work outside last evening. I sanded our front red railing which is in need of some touch up paint.

And my husband put organic compost (pc name for manure!) around our flowers. Our foster daughter for the week helped us do both. Organic compost is not very expensive, but you can make your own, according to Jenn Savedge of mothernature.com. In light of Earth Day coming up April 22, I thought this was an interesting topic.

Here's what Family Circle magazine, April 17, 2009 says: "Instead of paying for fertilizer, create your own compost, suggests Jenn Savedge, blogger at mothernaturenetwork.com. Mix dinner scraps like veggies, eggshells and coffee grounds - no meat or dairy - into a small mound in your yard. Turn with a shovel and sprinkle with water every few weeks. Within a month your pile will be garden-ready."

This was news to me - I thought that you had to leave it much longer than a month. We had a compost heap when we lived in Kenya, but we haven't done one here. The major drawback for me is having scraps sitting in my kitchen before they go out to the compost heap. I guess I could have something out the back door to put them in.

Have any of you tried this? If you receive this blog via email, use this link to leave a comment.

More blogs about gardening:

Tips from a Master Gardener - Watering, Mulch

Tip on Daffodils from my Master Gardener

Tips from a Master Gardener