Country Livin' In The City

I like to read blogs. Mostly by authors who have hobby farms or gardening interests. Many who have homesteads. Up until a few years ago, I had an image in my mind that I could have that...when I had more time. I could have that...when I had more room/land. I could have that...when I could get my husband on board. What I came to realize was that if I stopped all the reading, and started some of the doing, then I could (maybe) have that too.

The fact of the matter is, my husband and I both have demanding jobs, we have three children and four grandchildren, and so life is busy.  If I wanted to have this type of lifestyle that I longed for, I would have to start in baby steps and watch things progress slowly.  So that is exactly what I did.

I saved my jumbo coffee containers. Then I purchased a metal garbage can. I drilled the holes in it, dug the hole to sink it, and viola! Ready to compost! Of course all of these steps took months.

Next, I started planting seeds at the greenhouse. I wanted to grow a variety of herbs but was concerned about the space limitations we had. I started to research container gardening. I ended up accidentally coming across an étagère on craigslist (basically an outdoor shelfing unit...I thought I had pictures, but I don't). This was a great solution for us. Seeds became plants and we had herbs coming out of our ears! 

About the same time, I inherited my grandmother's food dehydrator. Totally old school. Totally awesome! I researched a bit and then started harvesting herbs and drying them.  Some I washed and froze. It was experiment and that was okay because I had no experience to go on. None. And it all worked out fine. I had to let go and trust my instincts. Feeling confidant about my dehydrating experiments with herbs, I started to dehydrate all kinds of fruit, too. Yum!  Again, all of these steps took months.

Dehydrating led to taking a stab at veggie gardening. And this is what I am currently working on. I recently planted zucchini and summer squash in a bed that would normally be left for flowers. Why? Because it's in my front yard. I don't think I'm someone that could totally replace my front lawn with veggies, etc. but I'm trying to be creative to create more space for food stuff.  We are also working to put together two raised beds, as well.  All of these steps may take weeks or months. But that's okay.  We are working towards it.  I'm not just reading about it anymore.  I'm doing it.  And if it happens this year, great.  And if it doesn't, then there is always next year.

Zucchini 

New Veggie Bed With Driplines

New Veggie Bed

I still like to grow flowers and my husband wouldn't be able to give up his love for a vibrant, green lawn.  And there are definite things we can work on to be more sustainable.  But we are working on these, one thing at a time.  And that's okay with me.

Compost

Composting is such an un-sexy topic.  Not that I am into things being super sexy or anything, but it's just so unappealing sounding.  And I happen to be somewhat passionate about compost.

A couple of years back, I was on a mission to compost whatever I could in order for disposables to avoid a trip to the landfill.  And if you're from my home state of Rhode Island, you know the joke that the highest point in the state is the landfill.  So, I had 3 jumbo coffee containers that I would rotate through.  I would leave them under the kitchen cabinet and run them out to the small compost waste pail I had in the yard.  It's possible my step-children thought I was nuts.  (The waste pail was a mini project I found instructions for online.  Total cost was approximately $25.)  I was very faithful about this.  Any time the dinner plates were being scrapped, compostable materials were scrapped into the coffee containers, which eventually made their way outside.  Making coffee?  Old grinds went into the container.  I did this throughout the fall and winter.  I would turn the compost with a garden hoe in order for it to decompose better or faster.  Come springtime the contents of the pail was a rich, dark brown color.  And being it was my first composting experiment, I thought I would use it to fertilize my gardens.  Well apparently the contents hadn't broken down as much as I thought they had and Maggie, our Lhasa Apso, was enjoying the remnants of our table scraps...straight out of the garden!

Coffee can mini compost bins.

Compost pail partially buried.

Almost empty bin.

I didn't want to abandon my efforts, though.  So I started to plan a large 4' X 4' wooden bin that would allow enough room to divide it into two sections.  One section that has 'finished' compost and another that we are currently using. Right now we are in the midst of 'unorganized compost'.  And by that I mean there is a large pile on the side of the yard that is waiting for said compost bin to be completed.  One side is built and the other three are still in process.  One of these days I will have 'organized compost'.  Until then, I am recommitting to composting one coffee container at a time.

One of the completed sides for the future bin.

The 'unorganized compost'.

The site for the new bin.

Do you compost?  Would you consider it if you knew the benefits?

Spring Has Sprung!

I can always tell when Spring is here because there are so many chores that need my attention outdoors.  Winter seems to keep us bound to the house unless you count shoveling!  I certainly don't mind the chores that await since I love to spend my time outdoors.  Today was spent cleaning out, organizing, and sanitizing the greenhouse. Seedlings have been sprouting in there for 3 or 4 weeks now, but the weather has not been very cooperative for this big chore.  Even today, though nice and sunny, was still a bit chilly for spring weather.  Not too chilly to spend in the greenhouse, though.  It was 65° in there...perfect!

Before

After

Hopefully next weekend will allow for some time to prepare my garden beds for the arrival of seedlings.  Although a bit early to think about planting outdoors, I can still get everything ready!  We are planning to add two raised beds to our property this spring.  I will do a post on that as that project comes together.  For now I will focus on getting all the herbs in the greenhouse going.  This year they will become part of a bigger project of mine...starting my own business.  I will keep you posted as that progresses, as well.  I am so excited to offer my love of herbs, plants, oils, and mother nature with everyone who will look, listen, and give me a try!  Off to count my blessings!

~Love & Light~

In Search Of A Greenhouse

I have big dreams!  I'm always coming up with new hobbies and interests but this is one that I have longed for for quite some time.  My hub and I have been working on commencing a small urban homestead.  At one point we had a small pond and several ducks.  We are currently working on our compost bin, plan to install raised veggie beds this spring, want to install rain barrels, and will attempt to fence our yard so we can have some chickens and ducks again.

So, it only makes sense that our homestead would need a greenhouse.

This is where my passion is at!  I love to plant seeds in dirt and watch them grow.  It's like watching an egg hatch.  There's just something special about it.  A feeling of awe.

We have been on the lookout for a greenhouse that will meet our needs and our budget.  It won't be anything too big or fancy but a structure I can enter and feel the warmth on my face and the dirt in my hands.  It will grow baby plants and rescue not so healthy plants and winter over the extra plants.  If you have a greenhouse or any experience with one, I would love to hear your comments!

Alternative Recycling

Did you know you can recycle your old sneakers?

Overabundance of sneakers? Recycle them! 

I don't ususally read the newspaper.  However, while kicking around at my aunt's today I picked it up to browse.  I came across an article about recycling your old sneakers.  I am all about recycling.  Anything I can do to reduce the ever-growing landfill makes me feel good.

Nike has a program called reUSE A SHOE that reuses every part of the sneaker.  It's separated into three sections: rubber, foam, and fabric.  Each section is ground up and used for athletic surfaces.  The rubber will become running tracks, the foam tennis courts, and the fabric basketball courts .  Nike calls these surfaces The Grind.  I think that's pretty cool.  How come I have never heard of this?  There is a list of drop-off locations, but if you're in my area, the closest location is in Wrentham, MA at the Nike outlet.  

Storm/Snow Moon

I have always been intrigued by the moon cycles.  I can remember when I was a kid, me and my best friend would put our swimsuits on and run down to the pond and swim and splash by moonlight.  It was fabulous.  As I got older, I learned in my science classes how influential the moon is to our planet Earth.  

February's full moon is called Snow Moon or Storm Moon.  It is named this because typically, February was the month in which the most snow fell.

Some attributes of the Snow Moon include:
Rest and renewal
Relaxation
Self-discovery
Hopes and dreams

It is a good time to enhance or encourage psychic work, divination, and visionary dreaming.  So tonight, I will be meditating during this Snow Moon, to find some deep inner stuff to pull out and work on.  As scary as that sounds, it's the only way we can grow and love.

My sentiments to the Moon...

Cycles Of The Sun

Have you noticed the sun is setting later?  I did.  The other day.  I realized that it was 5:03pm and it was still light out.  I never notice it as much when it creeps up on me like that.  I guess it's like anything else...we are less likely to notice the difference when the changes are slow and progressive.  It made me feel hopeful and reminded me that we are now through the deadest part of winter.  Our hibernation is almost over.  Spring is on its way.  Soon the copious amounts of snow on the ground will melt away and we will be able to see grass again.  All these thoughts send little shock waves of excitement through me when I start to envision the changes that come with springtime.

What does the change in sunset and sunrise remind you of?  Does it change the way you're feeling?  Are you too busy to notice?