A Few Garden Updates

The most important update of all is regarding my buddy Katie from GardenPunk. She needs all the prayers and good thoughts we can send her way. Visit her CaringBridge page here. 

 
In more mundane news, the tomatoes love their seed starting light. I started a new variety in the smaller container on the right. Next up will be peppers and Spitfire Nasturtiums for the seed GROW project.

Neighbor Kitty has made himself a nest in the leaf mulch in the front yard garden. Looks like I'll be planting some catnip or cat grass around that area for him to enjoy.

 

 

Stay tuned for further updates and keep pulling for Katie.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Before you shop online, do a Google search with the company name plus "coupon" or "promo" or "free shipping." There are several websites that gather and publish coupon codes for retailers from Target to Lands' End and more.

Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix

 

Homemade taco mix is easy to make, inexpensive, and doesn't have any of those weird ingredients that the packaged mixes have. Plus, you can adjust the ratio of ingredients according to your taste. 

This makes enough for one pound of hamburger or ground turkey.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon coriander

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon oregano

Cayenne pepper to taste (start with 1/4 teaspoon)

I like to make a big batch and store it in a recycled jar so it's always ready. Just measure out 1/4 cup of seasoning mix for every pound of meat.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Are the cabbage worms attacking your broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage? Get them bug-free with a blast of water and careful inspection. Then slip an old nylon stocking over the head to protect it from further invasion. The nylons will let light in and should keep the bugs out. There's another use for a great pair of legs! (If you're under 30, ask someone to explain the joke.)

Planning the Front Yard Garden

After several sheets of graph paper and a lot of time planning, I have a rough idea of what I'll plant in the front yard garden. There will be some veggies, some kniphs, BrownThumbPapa's rose, and some annuals.

It's going to look something like this (click to enlarge):

I'm not a professional landscape designer, so this isn't a fancy diagram like the ones in the books. It gets the point across fairly well, though, and that's why I'm here--to ask for your help!

See that gaping section at the front that's full of question marks? I can't figure out what to put there! Most of my veggies will be in the backyard, and I don't want to put anything too wacky in the front (although the neighbor has plastic deer in his yard, so I don't foresee any complaints).

What do you suggest? It can be edible, decorative, annual or perennial. Let me know in the comments!

Make Money By Reading Emails

Yep, another check! Remember the one I got recently from MySurvey? This one is from Inbox Dollars, for $35.62.

These guys aren't going to make you rich quick, but all you have to do is read emails. Seriously. Each day, you'll get a handful of emails that look like this. (Sign up for a free Yahoo or Gmail account if you don't want to use your regular email.)

Click on the red box and it takes you to a website for the product or service they want you to buy. This one turned out to be a survey for smokers.

 

Here's the thing--you don't have to fill this out or do anything with it! Just close the window. It registers that you read the email and puts a few cents into your account. 

It took a few months to earn the $35, but I didn't devote a lot of time to it. Some of the surveys, like the one above, will pay additional money into your account upon completion. I just never had the patience to fill out all the info for an extra 50 cents' credit. But if you're willing, you could really rack up the bucks quickly.

Speaking of racking up the bucks--give them a try through this link and you'll get a $5 bonus credited to your account to start you off. Happy reading!

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

A few months before your car's warranty expires, bring it to your mechanic for a thorough inspection. If any problems appear, have them fixed under the warranty. You'll have to pay for the inspection, but it's cheaper than paying to fix the problems (which, if you're like me, will appear the day after the warranty expires).

Make Your Own Seed Starting Light

I love all the goodies in the gardening and seed catalogs, but most of the time, they’re just too expensive. It would be great to start seeds indoors, but I just don’t have a spare $89 for the “value” kit, let alone $189.95.

In typical Brown Thumb Mama fashion, I decided to build my own. After a bit of searching in the garage, I located some 3/4" PVC pipe and connectors, a PVC cutter, and an old fishtank light. The seed starting kit is on the right, full of tomato seedlings.

First, measure the light to make sure you cut the pipe in the right place. Try to get Jackjack's shadow out of the picture--to no avail--because he's "helping."

Cut a piece for the top and for both sides. The PVC cutter has a racheting gear so it cuts through easily.

After cutting, slide the corner pieces on. Don't glue! It will hold together just fine without it. Plus, the chemicals in PVC glue are nauseating.

Lay all the pieces out and fit them together. Allow Neighbor Kitty to inspect your handiwork.

 

  

Repo the pieces for the base from Jackjack. Slide them onto the uprights and cut smaller pieces to stabilize the base.

Put it together and make sure it stands up well. Neighbor Kitty and Jackjack will supervise.

Use a bit of old chain to attach the light to the top piece.

 

  

Slide the light onto the top piece and you are done.

 

Bring your creation inside, set a timer for 12 hours of light, and put those seedlings up on a box so they can soak up the rays!

A New Perspective

I'm honored to be a guest blogger today at Four Perspectives! Come by and see things from a different point of view.

Why Didn't I Think of That? Wednesday

Each Wednesday I'll share a tip to make your week go more smoothly or just make you say "aha!"

Most sauce or soup recipes just need a tiny bit of tomato paste. Don't waste the rest of the can--scoop one tablespoon at a time onto a cookie sheet and freeze. Once the scoops are frozen solid, store them in a labeled zip bag in the freezer. You can thaw the scoops in the microwave or just add them right into your sauce or soup as it cooks.