Seed Starters from Newspapers

Spring Fever has caused me to go on a planting spree!  I decided this year to try growing some of my plants from seeds.  It really can save you some money if you don't mind the little extra work  that is involved.  It's actually very exciting to see a plant develop from seed.  With a little tender loving care you can be successful.  This first picture shows some of my Cherry Tomato Plants.  I can't wait for these to grow and start producing tomatoes.  The seeds were free and came from the Lost and Found from Mint Hill Library.

To plant seeds you need little containers.  I planted the first seeds in March and I was not successful since the temperature in my house was still a little too cool and the plants that began to develop were super thin.  The ones I planted in April have done much better.  The little seed starter boxes I made were made using newspaper.

 Step 1: Cut your newspaper to measure 9 inches square.

2. Fold the paper in a diagonal on all four sides.

3. Fold all four points to the middle where the two previous diagonals intercept.

Your paper should look like this:

4. Divide the square paper into thirds by eyeballing and fold up all four sides.

Your paper should look like this.  Don't forget to do this on two sides.

5. This is  tricky.  Hope you  can do it.  Fold two sides up along the previous creases made.

6.  After folding up first side bring the flap towards the inside of the box

Tuck folded side inside box and use your fingers to crease so flap stays put nicely.

Fold in the same way the other side.

The finished box should look like this.  Don't worry if the sides are not super even.  You will be using these to plant seeds and once you start watering they will be misshapen anyway.

You can plant these seed starters directly into the ground.

Happy Happy Gardening

Origami Newspaper Pots

The weather is changing rapidly and has been consistently mild causing all kinds of beautiful blooms.  I do hope this continues and we don't get any freezing temperatures.  It still could happen, time will tell.  We have gotten snow in Charlotte in April.  So I thought I would get a head start and plant seeds indoors hence the Origami Paper Pots.  All you need is newspaper and a desire to fold....trust me it is therapeutic.  It does take time but you will be so proud you did not just recycle your newspaper but repurposed it.  I used a small newspaper.  If you use the large size you will get two squares from each sheet. After cutting the paper, you will need to square the sheet.  Just fold in a diagonal to cut into the square shape.  The piece should measure a little over 10 inches square.

 Fold paper diagonally on both directions to mark the center.  Fold each corner so the points meet the center.

 Fold each corner once again in the same way.

Fold up and divide into thirds. (Eyeball the folds) If you want you can use a ruler to make sure the measurements are about the same. Do this folding in both directions.

Once folded into thirds your square should look like this.  Don't forget to repeat the process in the other direction.

After folding in this manner in both direction notice you have a grid. The base of the pot will be approximately 2 to 2-1/2 inches.

This is the tricky part but don't give up.  You will be folding up the sides to create a box.

This is how it should look once you fold up.  Now bring the top and fold it down so it is now inside the box.

After you fold down the side tuck the point inside the box.

 

The finished box should measure approximately 2 to 2-/12 inches square.  

Fill the paper pots with loose soil and place in a pan.  I used a rectangular cake pan.

Place around 3 to 4 seeds and cover with about 1 teaspoon of soil. Water and keep moist.  I made a  tent using the plastic wrap in which rolls of paper towel came.  Keep the wrapping loose to simulate a  greenhouse.

I planted Cornflower seeds and they sprung fast.  This is how the seeds looked two days  after planting.

A week later the seedlings look happy although thin.  Keep in a well lit location and water using a spray bottle.  I squirt them when I see the top of the soil looks dry.  You will do this at least 4 times a week.

I will be planting these outside soon.  There is no need to take them out of the paper pots.  Plant them directly into the ground.  The paper will disintegrate.

Snow Day Crafting

A coworker shared with me a neat way to recycle Christmas cards.  You can also use pretty scrap book card stock.  This craft works better with cards that are not too thick.  This makes the folding easier. The snow scene book mark was made using a Christmas card.  The other two were made with scrap book paper.

It's all about being green and frugal.




Surprise a friend who likes to read by giving them one of these.

Thank You Marilyn!



The instructions on how to make these is here.

Got Stains??

I try so hard not to stain my shirts -- but what can I say, it's an going thing with the stains. So yesterday I did some online research and found some green stain remover recipes. I only did a small batch to test if the recipe would indeed be effective.  The original recipe called for baking soda but I substituted that ingredient with washing soda. Washing soda is good to treat mustard, chocolate, blueberry, cola, meat, grease spatters and olive oil.  Washing soda is available at the Grocery Store.  I bought mine at Harris Teeter.   Here's the recipe:

 

Stain Remover

1 cup hot water

1/4 cup washing soda

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide.

These quantities make a small batch.  Double the ingredients to make a larger quantity. Mix in a glass container  1 cup hot water,  1/4 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide.  Store this mix in a spray bottle.  I put this one to the test right away and it did work on my stained knit shirt. 

Note: If you shake mix while it's still warm, it will continue to to squirt without stopping, so wait to use until  the mix has cooled down to spray. Do shake the mix before spraying.

I was in the mood for trying recipes and since I ran out of my liquid soap I decided to try making my own.

Using your grater, finely grate about 1/2 a cup of bar of soap.  I got my goat milk soap from  Heart Creations. Add about a cup and a half of water.  Mix will be runny.   Pour the mix using a funnel into an empty liquid soap bottle or any bottle that has a pump.

Mixing with a wooden spoon did not quite break down the soap....so I looked around the kitchen and found something I could use.

I used the frother to break the soap flakes --- look how foamy it got....then

It was  tricky to get the mix down the funnel. lol.... as you can see. You learn all kinds of things.

I did end up with liquid soap and it's all natural.

Green is a Beautiful Color

This spring and summer we have had frog visitors in our little pond.  This one came during spring and did not stay for too long.  Cliff said he found love somewhere else.

We have another frog but unlike this one who let me snap his picture the new one is extremely shy.  Oh well, so since I could not take its picture,  here's another pretty green thing growing right by the pond. It's called an Umbrella Palm and can grow in water and soil.

I'm not so sure, about this Frog I designed.  He looks more like an alien.  But he's green so I thought I would share his picture.

I'm naming the frog - K e r m i t.

One more green thing I found in the garden.  The herbs just begged to be harvested.  I brought some in the house and put them in the dehydrator.

Now for the grand green finale...............

These dill blooms remind me of fireworks. They have kept well in water.

A Green and Lush Spring Part 1

I can't remember a prettier spring than the one we are enjoying this year. The explosion of bright greens, pinks and whites is a delight to the senses.  I decided to take a walk in our garden and experience the wonderful aroma as well.

The one nuisance that keeps me from working in my yard is the seasonal allergies that get in my way from experiencing this wonderful time of the year. My wonderful husband Cliff can take all the credit for our beautiful yard. He is the one who does all the hard work.  The pollen count has also been higher than in other years...but to my surprise I really have done much better.  Someone said maybe something in my diet could be helping.  I do take honey in my  coffee every day.

Happy palms in the front of our house

 The Coreopsis always look the best this early in spring.

We have a nice variety of Azaleas. This one is my favorite.

Using the Corel Painting program I created this Impressionistic interpretation of the same picture above.

 Light Pink Azalea.

Hot Pink Azalea.

Very white Azalea.

Carla enjoys very much this time of the year.  She goes on her excursions and spends more time outside.

Finally...

I continue to make progress doing my Corel Essentials lessons.  It is so much fun.  I would like  to turn this one into a card.

More garden pictures to come.....