Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Thrifty Tip: Starting your garden from seeds.

I know this is late, but I wanted to make sure that this trick worked.  Try it next year or when it is time to start your winter garden.

START YOUR SEEDS IN AN EGG SHELL!


I tried this will all my herbs.  I had heard it from a farmer's wife at MoPS, so if she found success with it, it must be good trick.  This first picture is my basil grown in the egg shell.  Look at how big the leaves are!  We have trimmed these guys at least 4-5 times & it's only June! 

All you need to do is save your egg shells after you use them.  Just make sure that you crack them close to the top or the upper middle, so you have enough room to fill it with dirt.  I washed them out with water and let them dry.  Then when I am ready to start my garden I added the mulch, my seeds & cover them with a little bit of dirt.  I put the shells back in the egg carton & watered them.  Then I put them in a clear tote in a sunny place and waited for them to grow.  I did put the lid on to help keep the temperature inside warm, it never seems to get warm enough here in the PNW during the early Spring.




When you are ready to plant them, just crack the bottom of the shell so you expose some dirt.  Be careful not to disrupt the roots.  I did crack the sides so it would be easier for the roots to break through.  I think I did at least 2 dozen like this with a variety of herbs.  The ones in the egg shells seem to be healthier & more robust. 




This picture is the basil I didn't grow in the egg shells.  They are still good, but not nearly as plentiful as the ones I grew in the shells.  I am guessing it has something to do with the calcium.  But don't hold me to it.  Try it & tell me what you think!  This is the first year we started most of our garden from seed.  Next year I think I will do this with all of our seeds. 

And remember these herbs are completely 100% organic.  I used nothing synthetic.  So if they don't look exactly like the ones in the grocery stores that's because they use all sort of stuff to make them looks more appealing.  Enjoy!

Monday, June 18, 2012

People who love camping must have some kind of disorder.


Yep you read that right.  Why would someone want to leave their comfortable house in order to sleep in the cold & hard ground & then say "IT"S FUN!"  REALLY?  Come on.  There's a reason why God gave us the idea of indoor plumbing. 

I took one for the family this weekend. We went camping.  I do it for my husband & kids.  That's it.  I'll last about a week if I have a shower & flushable toilets, otherwise I'm done within 2 days.  This was a 2 day trip.


Here's my top 5 list of why I hate camping:

5. Dirt. Everywhere.  Kids faces, in the tent, everywhere.
 
4. Sleeping on the ground is not what a late "30 something" should be doing,
especially if you want to be able to walk the next morning.

3.  The pesky chipmunk who was dive bombing our campsite trying to grab
 any scraps that fell from my kids plates or the food that they were actually trying to eat.

2.  Gnats.  When I die I'm going to ask God why he made gnats
 & why does it start with a "G".

1.  Bears.  Yes, both nights we had bears coming through the campground. 
The last night I heard him right next to our tent breathing.  That's how every bad "B" horror camping movie starts & I was living it.  YIPPEE.



Here's my top 5 list of why I kinda like camping:

5. My kids playing with each other & using their imagination.  Who knew sticks were more fun than transformers?

4. Getting away from all electronic devices.

3.  Getting out & teaching my kids about nature.

2. Enjoying God's wonderful gift of pristine land.  I never knew there could
be so many different colors of green & blue.

1.  Spending quality time with my family.  We found out that we like hiking,
even though my kids never stopped talking the entire time!



Next time, I think I'm going to make a reservation at the Best Western.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Sometimes I even shock myself, my trip to Winco!


Summer break will be here in a few short days.  I'm conflicted, I'm happy to have the lazy days of summer but the mom in me is freaking out!  Right now it's pouring rain & about 60 degrees, I'm not really seeing summer here in the PNW.  But in anticipation of summer I wanted to pick up some Kool-Aid & went by our local Winco today.  Boy, did I score!  I was ready to pay some, but not what I ended up paying. 

75 packets for $1.25!

Use the buy 10 get 5 free coupon found in the 5/6 SS (up to $1.25).  Winco sells the packets for .10 each.  For some reason the register gave me the full amount of the coupon $1.25 instead of .50.  I'm stocked up for summer!  My kids are stoked!