FilterForGood prize pack winner (and another giveaway)!
Yay. Spring is here!
Happy spring to you all! I couldn't help but breath a sigh of relief this morning when I remembered that today is the first day of spring. That thought alone got me out of bed and out the door in an unusually chipper manner. I hope the change of season has freshened your outlook too.
Now, the moment I know you all have been waiting for. The winner of the FilterForGood Prize Pack is Anna Gregory.
Anna said: "My packaging pet peeve is the clamshell bakery packages from the big grocery stores, so much so that if I am buying a yummy lemon meringue pie. I go in when the bakery is open and ask for a cardboard carry home box instead of the clamshell…easier to open and easier to get rid of when done!"
I love how Anna came up with a solution to the problem. Now she can break down her cardboard box when she gets home and put it in the recycling bin. Anna's FilterForGood prize pack includes:
• Brita Pitcher Water Filtration System (Grand model – 10 glass capacity)
• 3-pack of Brita Pitcher Replacement Filters
• FilterForGood reusable, BPA-free water bottle
Thank you to all for your great responses. I see we all have many packaging pet peeves.
I have good news. I'm giving away a copy of the book Ecological Gardening, by Marjorie Harris. I thought it was a good selection, as the first day of spring gets most people thinking about getting out in the garden. In her book, gardening expert Marjorie Harris talks about using alternative fertilizers, ridding your garden of pests, conserving water, composting, mulching and so much more. It's a very exciting giveaway for the season.
In order to win a copy of Ecological Gardening, just leave a comment advising me how to get my garden started. I'm a city slicker with minimal gardening space, so any advice will be helpful. You must be a subscriber to be eligible to win, so don't forget to subscribe to my blog. Leave your answer here and I'll pick a winner next Friday.
Stay tuned as I'll be giving away more stuff! I have lots more prizes to celebrate spring and Earth Day.
Tags: Books, Brita, Contest, Ecological Gardening, Filter for Good, garden, gardening, Marjorie Harris
March 20th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Become a container gardener! They are great for small spaces, use less water than watering everywhere, are portable and rearrangable (is that a word?), and can be designed and redesigned for all seasons. You can bring in delicate plants in the winter and get bulbs and other spring plants started inside in them. Last year, my entire vegetable garden was in containers. I don't have a lot of all-day sunny spots, so this allowed me to move plants around in need of sun (or shade, as the case may be). My tomato plants were huge with a bumper crop! I also started a lovely herb garden in them...including a great find: chocolate mint (smelled just like that), that I used fresh in desserts and drinks all summer long. Good luck and happy (green) gardening!
March 21st, 2009 at 9:22 am
Small scale gardening can still give out high yeilds and large varieties of food. Don't plant too much of one thing, or you will find it goes to waste. Plant after the last chance of frost, usually after May 24 in my neck of the woods (well north of you). My dad, a retired dairy farmer has some rule about the full moon, but I can never remember. Buy a small rotortiller to get between the rows to reduce your wedding. Plant vine crops at the edges (pumpkin, squash) so they don't take over everything. Consider climbing varieties of tomato, beans etc to overcome your space issues. Stagger the planting of some green plants like peas and lettuce so that its not all ready at once. Also, I've never found a better fertilizer than manure at the beginning or end of the season. You can buy bags of composted sheep manure at the store. Remember to plant some crops/flowers that attact pollinators, as we have a global declining bee problem. They love sunflowers, among other plants. Read up on these plants. Good luck, and wear sunscreen.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:17 am
I live in a city and start my garden by making sure the soil is loose and fertile with plenty of compost and manure.I make planting beds by hoeing the earth in rows to a heigth if 4 inches.I plant when all danger of frost is over and that varies by each region.My garden generally has huge yields of vegetables that amaze my friends and neighbours.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Plan! Make a plan of your available space. Is it a long strip? A small patch, an irregular shape? It doesn't matter but with a plan you can utilize the space most efficiently. Select an area in your garden with the most available sunlight and prepare your vegetable "plot". Enrich your soil with well rotted compost, steer manure (from the nursery), composted leaves... what have you. The more organic matter you put in the less you will need to water and the happier your veggies will be! Then make a list of your Favourites vegies! Tomatoes are lovely because they taste so nice fresh from the vine, but I would put my essentials as Arugula, Basil, cilantro, Mesculin (baby salad greens) and cherry tomatoes. This may not be on your list of faves... but these are mine and they are items I would use constantly and are expensive to purchase, easy to care for and take up little space.
And if you have ever eaten a flower from arugula, WELL!!! You know why I like to grow my own.... it tastes like a touch of arugala dipped in honey!
One word of advice. Containers need frequent and consistant watering. So if you are planning any weekends away or a vacation, this may not be your best growing method. Once established an in-ground garden needs deep watering only twice a week.
March 21st, 2009 at 1:49 pm
container gardening is te way to go when one has little green space. Even with a large yard and garden I chose to also put some veggies in containers.Herbs and tomatoes are my favorites. Another option is to mix flowers and veggies. Lastly at end of season easy to bring those herbs inside to have fresh herbs thru the winter months.
March 21st, 2009 at 3:03 pm
I start seeds in the house compost, then till garden and plant.
March 22nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Not only containers- i use plastic pails with holes drilled in the bottoms (not really pretty but cheap, reusable and if previously used keeps plastic out of the landfill)for tomatoes, beans peppers etc. Herbs are grown in a window box planter that comes inside for the winter.You can grow strawberries and grape tomatoes in hanging baskets. I also have a perrenial section- onions and garlic will come up each year.
March 22nd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Did you know that you can grow tomatoes (and probably other things) upside down? Great if you have limited space. They sell containers specifically for this purpose, or you can use an empty 2L pop bottle. Cut the bottom of the bottle off and fill it with soil. Plant the tomato in the bottle opening (where you would pour the pop out of) and hang upside down in a sunny spot. You can plant additional complementary plants on top (such as basil). Water from above.
I've never actually done this, but am planning to do it this year. I have some space for planting, but struggle with bugs. Apparently hanging the tomatoes makes them less susceptible to infestation, as well as keeping the fruit off the ground.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 pm
This year I am planting my first garden and I'm looking forward to it. For starters, I put down newspaper all over the veggie garden in the fall as a weed killer. I'm going to continue to do this in my veggie garden around my plants and also in my flower beds as I have lots of weeds/grasses popping up in places I don't want them and it worked really well. You can also search out weed killers made from a high concentrate of vinegar - much safer for your family and pets.
For good soil, start a compost. You can build one, check with your city in case they have subsidized ones and if you have very little room, consider a worm composter. It's smaller and those little worms make good compost!
If you need to use pots, consider filling the bottom with packing peanuts, broken pots, etc. It's lighter, provides good drainage and recycles something that doesn't break down in the landfill.
Think vertical, grow up the wall, with things like berries, squashes, cucumber, beans etc. Some of these are really pretty, too. Think hanging, like tomatoes. Good use of space will give you a greater yield in a smaller area, plus if it's only flowers you're after, think of how pretty that will be!
If flowers are what you love, start with seeds, go onto your local craigslist and freecycle and ask for cuttings, bulbs, etc. from anyone who is needing to thin out or is changing their landscape. Remember to share back when your garden is flourishing.
If you have patience, start small. Plants will grow into their space so starting with little one s is a good idea.
Use a drip hose. Saving water is important, but our plants need it in the summer. A drip hose will allow you to water into the ground, avoiding the evaporation you get with a sprinkler.
And consider bugs. You can purchase bugs, like ladybugs, to help keep the 'bad' bugs, like aphids, in check. And bees - investigate a mason bee house. They are perfect pollinators, and with a little care, you can have your own little bee house with these tiny bees. You do need to plant flowering plants for them, but those also attract butterflies and hummingbirds - a wonderous delight in your garden!
Lastly, use what you have. Recycle pots, old bed spring frames are good for trellises in the veggie garden, and old chair can have a hole cut in the seat to hold a pot (pretty!) It's possible to make a beautiful garden when you recycle and share.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I use some manure to start, then a little liquid fertilizer to start. A little drip irrigation is excellent, prevents some of the rots. I try to use some non-toxic pesticides if needed, there are a lot of natural alternatives.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:12 am
The time to get started on a new garden is NOW. In fact it could have been two months ago.Even if your available space is covered in mud or gray snow, its never too early to start imagining the taste of luscious tomatoes or other vegetables, perhaps even exotic varieties, or gorgeous showcase flowers grown through your own diligence and elbow grease. Head down to your library or book store to consult the best Canadian magazines and books on the topic. Decide on the type of garden you want: small space, container, intense, 'lasagna' gardening using old newspapers or is it to be a 'forty acres and independence' type of garden?? Research, consult other gardeners,the gardening store and then decide what work needs to be done to make it happen (and who can help you with it!) Envision the spectacular results, enjoy the preparatory work but the absolute first step is to DREAM (in technicolour) of your own garden.
Good luck.
March 26th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Congratulations on your win Anna.
As far as advising Daniela how to start her garden, well, I was going to read all the entries and try to learn something! Sorry Daniela, I can't help you.
March 27th, 2009 at 8:44 am
I too am a city dweller, much to the dismay of my country bumpkin heart, but I'm making the best of it. This year I'm planting beans, tomatos and peppers in containers. I've even got some containers for my two girls aged 5 and 8 and they are going to plant their own beans, then we are going to pickle them for their grampy. It's one of his favourite treats.
This year I'm also going to attempt herbs in containers, then I'll dry the herbs for use through the winter.
March 27th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Well, there is one benefit to a small garden. Less maintenance.
I would visit your local nursery and get an idea of plants and colours first.
Then design something simple, but flows and appealing and colourful to the eye. The centre of your garden could be a larger plant or fern. If you are afraid to venture, use a birdbath, and surround it with small plants that will spread, and again I emphasize colour.
You will be proud of your small space.
Now to feed your plants. I personally compost,and save those coffee grounds. The soil loves it.
If you don't drink coffee, many coffee establishments save the grounds and are there for the asking for us savy gardeners.
April 7th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
you have already received lots of marvellous advice! what can i possible add? if you are thinking of a flower garden, my advice is to sneak a couple of tomato plants amongst the flowers because there is absolutely nothing like the taste of a freshly-picked tomato! enjoy your garden!