Woods Dirt

My mother was an avid gardener. She insisted my little sister and I help with pulling weeds and feeding the veg patch. Little sister and I in the garden As a surly teenager, I complained a lot, totally missing the point. Gardening would not take hold with me until after the birth of my second daughter. When I asked my mother's advice on a fruitful garden, she replied, "Woods dirt makes the best soil." I didn't really know what she meant, but if she said it, then it was so. In my... Continue reading

Urban Waste – A Veritable Gold Mine!

I recently happened upon this jewel and became so excited with the ideas it sparked, I couldn't wait to share it. It's a segment entitled "How to Compost in an Apartment" from a show called Chai with Lakshmi. What an inspiration! I'm stunned I've never thought of or run into the concept of container composting! I've let my "live garbage" container stay on the counter long enough that I should have gotten the idea with what I eventually tossed in the bin, but alas, I did not. As a big... Continue reading

The Thrifty Gardener – A Book Review

I've been reading and studying Alys Fowler's The Thrifty Gardener, and I'm so sad I've come to the end. I've quoted and linked back to her several times in this blog series, so some of you may remember me mentioning I had ordered her book. As my experiences in gardening for the last two years have been less than spectacular, I decided getting myself educated probably wasn't a bad idea. Go figure. I ordered through Amazon and the publication came right away. What a delight. The... Continue reading

Nasturtium Salad

This is not a flower arrangement. Out on the deck, I have a big washtub full of nasturtiums. They are bright and cheery, and every morning I'm greeted with a big burst of color. The best part, however, is that these lovelies make a tasty addition to salads and sandwiches. The large round leaves fit perfectly between sliced cheese and sandwich meat. Cut the leaves into slices and add to your salad mix and then garnish with the flowers. It is beautiful on the table, nourishing for the body,... Continue reading