Today has been like a very happy cross between Blue Peter and Ground Force!
blue skies again
Somehow, the snow of last week put me off even doing the indoor jobs needed to keep the new VegBox Garden heading in the right direction. But today the sky is blue, and the lean-to seemed more inviting. Having turned off the central heating and confined myself to this one room, I felt ok about having a little electric heater going. And whilst the bobble hat and fluffy socks are not my most alluring look, I’m cosy enough not just to do the gardening but to blog whilst I’m in here!
Step 1 - I filled my arms full of all the cardboard boxes and tubes and plastic yogurt pots I’ve been saving to re-use since before Christmas, then shuffled through the house dropping them like breadcrumbs, finally reaching the lean-to dribbling toilet roll inner tubes like an FA cup champion on training day.
home-made seed planters
Step 2 - watched Mrs Green’s video on making carrot seed planters out of re-used toilet roll inner tubes, keeping up with her as she went and ending up with a happy little row of home-made containers, slotted into converted catfood product boxes to keep them secure, and finally set inside rolled-down biodegradable plastic recycling bags.
I was really chuffed with the orange bag touch. Firstly, I’m hoping it will help keep water from leaking all over the place when I water the little seedlings. Secondly – I’ve just discovered I’ve got to move out at the end of this month, so I figure that when the time comes, I can move them by rolling up the bag to carry them in.
polystyrene cooler for re-use as a planter
Step 3 - Carrot planters duly made, I moved on to creating a planter for the broad beans out of the last Abel & Cole cooler box my milk arrived in. I wasn’t sure if it was OK to plant directly into polystyrene, but I found a brilliant Australian website called PermUP and they were using very similar boxes, so I felt reassured.
Step 4 – Ahem … texted the VegBox Husband and ask him to pick up some soil for me on his way back from work … Then checked the RocketGardens guidelines on seed spacing for broad beans and lettuce so I know what I’m doing when the soil is delivered. Oops. That is, graciously acquired on my behalf and brought home lovingly, of course. Not delivered. No no.
puy and red lentil mix for bake
Step 5 - Gazed adoringly at the array of home-made planters, peeked inside the broad beans packet, took photos of everything in site, including the new composting dalek in the garden, and snaffled down some lunch, which today was left-overs of last night’s VegBox House-mate enticing success – lentil bake with spicy red cabbage and apple on the side.
Step 6 – Posted about this morning’s “re-use“-erama on the eco community site “ooffoo“, where they are asking readers to vote (at the bottom on the homepage) on whether re-use is good for the economy, and running a competition to find the most innovative and inspiring re-use ideas.
If there is a better route to happiness than steps 1-6, I haven’t found it yet!
What have you lovely folks been doing on the growing your own front?
Wahee! What a great day and I’m so glad you found the vid helpful. I’ve been doing absolutely NOTHING towards my home growing. First we’re still under snow, second the bits that aren’t under snow are under water and third we have clay soil.
So alas, I’ve done nothing except visualise a warm summer
That’s a tricky 1, 2, 3 you’ve got going on there Mrs G!
We’ll be sure to add our own summer visualisations to yours.
PVH ( Patient VegBox Housemate) says ah, wondered where all the loo rolls were going- thought you were saving them for next year’s Christmas cracker manaufacture. But hey – you go girl, planters are cute, v Blue Peter.
We’re delighted to say that this article has just been featured in the Gardening Carnival hosted by “My Gardening Patch” … Click “My Gardening Patch” to visit and check out other related entries… Especially the brilliant submissions by CindyS and Clair Schwan.