The Amateur Farmer

Victory Garden

Posted on by Jean Campbell

Day one I'm not holding my breath for all that purported "American Greatness" to start showing up any time soon. I'm beginning my Victory Garden today. We can stretch our food dollars, save money on supplies, and help the planet heal with our gardening practices. This post details a few ways to do just so. When I see piles of sticks and leaves all bagged up with plastic and ready for the trash heap, I instinctively do a head bump. I confess to sending a lot of tree matter away before I... Continue reading

Eggshells are the best!

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  Make use of refuse. Lean into resourcefulness for a bit of support through the trying times ahead. I love eggshells- everything about them. An eggshell protects the baby bird contained within, holding it in a perfect, liquid environment that doesn't leak yet still breathes. Or, they may hold a delicious little protein-packed bit of yumminess. I feel much gratitude for the gift of an egg. But once the shell has completed its job, there is still more goodness to be had. And keeping food... Continue reading

Cardboard Love

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  We are shopping more and more online. The pandemic exacerbated that practice. I order my home products from Grove.co because I get only recycled plastic if any at all, and they have a wide array of earth-friendly products to choose from. I order my pet care products, and lots of other things online as well.  That means the cardboard is coming in by the droves. What to do next? DON'T THROW IT AWAY!!! If you don't have a friend with an impending move, and you don't ship things... Continue reading

Shrimp peel dust – gift from the sea

Posted on by Jean Campbell

  Folks pay good money for fish emulsion fertilizers. Myself included and for good reason. Plants thrive on it. Yet here I stand at the kitchen sink, preparing to throw my stinky shrimp boil garbage away, and then buy someone else’s. As I am cheap, this kinda makes me go hmmmmm. Shrimp peels and heads contain calcium, Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus, all of which are a dream come true for your garden fare. I haven't tended to compost anything except what my mom used to call... Continue reading