Adventures in Gardening with My Brown Thumb: Part 1

Growing up I never did much gardening. I'd occasionally help my mom with her garden, but I was never responsible for any plants myself. I've managed to keep a few house plants (barely) alive, but hadn't really tried to grow anything. Last Spring (2012) I made my first attempt. I planted some basil and oregano seeds in egg cartons in my East-facing kitchen windowsill (how I wish I had a South-facing window) and moonflower seeds in a container in the back yard.

My herbs outgrew their egg carton pretty quickly, so I transplanted them into something a bit larger. They didn't do to well in it either, though and eventually all died without ever getting big enough to get any use out of. In hindsight, I think I didn't have enough dirt for them, and I'm not the best at remembering things like watering plants. The moonflower on the other hand, was a success. It gave me one beautiful bloom, before going dormant in the F
all. This was the first (and so far only) time I've grown a mature plant from a seed. I had plans to plant around a couple of trees in my front yard, but I only got as far as putting up a border and half-prepping the soil. This year I'm trying to do a bit more.

So, Spring 2013 is here and I'm once again attempting to grow things. My husband got me a nice window-sill sized pot for growing herbs. They started growing, but weren't doing great, so my husband decided to move them to a west-facing window in the afternoon where they'd get more sun. Of course it was just my luck that the cardboard we'd taped up to block sun in the top of the window (yes, redneck, I know) fell down right into my pot of herbs, pretty well finishing them off. I continued to water them for a few days in case there was any chance of recovery, but to no avail. I also got the kids each a flower seed in a ceramic egg, but they never even seemed to start growing. I've weeded out my moonflower pot, but can't tell yet whether it will make a comeback.

I finally tackled the flower bed along the front porch of my house. There was a redbud tree (about 3' tall) growing in my front flower bed, too close to the house, and a dead tree (about 5-6' tall) in the back yard, so my husband and I removed the dead one and transplanted the redbud into its location. Three small bushes were already there when we moved in and I'm leaving them alone. There was also mint, which is nice, except that it was bent on world domination. I transplanted some of the min into a container, and tred to remove all the rest that I possibly could. I also dug up the first 4 inches or so of ground and pulled out any large rocks I found, which included a decent amount of concrete which must have escaped the forms when the porch was poured. We then put down weed fabric and some decorative things, and I finally got around to planting some strawberry plants today.

My in-laws have a lot of garden space, so I've started a fairy garden over there and hopefully the kids will be growing things over there too. I'll post updated and photos as I get around to it.

Green and cheap

There are plenty of resources out there to help you be more "green," but many of the suggested things to do are not so easy. For example, it's hard to justify paying twice as much for organic produce when you can hardly make your mortgage payment. There are still plenty of ways to be frugal and eco-friendly, some well known, others maybe not so much, but here are some I like:

• Use less: This can be applied to just about every aspect of living, and is almost always both "green" and cheaper. Ways to apply this include: don't buy more than you need, shorten showers, turn off/unplug electronics when not in use, line dry clothes, try sharing an entree next time you eat out, remember that even the little things can add up.
• Buy used: Whether it's furniture, clothes, or toys, you can usually find something that will work just as well and cost less if it's pre-owned. Obviously it won't work for everything, but when you choose to buy used instead of used, you're saving on materials, manufacture, and shipping, not to mention keeping the item out of land fills. Again, it will save money, too.
• Buy higher quality goods: Wait, doesn't that mean it will cost MORE? Not necessarily. Take time to do the math. If you're always using disposable dishes, or even cheap ones, it may end up costing you more in the long-run. Take into account how long it will last, and how much you're throwing out because it needs to be replaced.
• Repurpose and recycle: For young children, junk mail can be just as good as a coloring book; peanut butter jars are great for storing nuts and bolts; and a ramen noodle box happens to be the same depth as a kitchen cupboard. ;P  As for recycling, it doesn't cost you anything except a little effort. Most areas have a curbside recycling program; take a moment to figure out what is accepted. You can actually be paid to recycle metal, and oftentimes if an item is not taken at the curb, there is a drop-off location no too far away.
• Clean with fewer chemicals: This is not only green and cheap, but also healthier. It may be shocking to hear, but some things can just be wiped down with a damp rag. When you need to really clean though, I love baking soda; I use it to clean tubs, sinks, counter tops, and more. White vinegar is also good for cleaning. When and if you do buy chemicals, pay attention to labels.
• Grow your own food: This one I can't personally vouch for, (I can barely keep my house plants alive) but I've heard how great it can be. :)

I'm sure the list could go on, but that's all I've got for now, enjoy!