Links of Interest #3

Crafts/Projects/Ideas
Recycled Barrel Planter
10 Modern Planters for Narrow Balconies
DIY Produce/Farmer's Market Bags - I love these!
Gardening with Kids

Gardening Tips
7 Kitchen Waste Items to Use in the Garden

Articles
Massachusetts looks to require residents to compost - Cambridge is making strides in this direction, as residents can drop off compost at the recycling center!
A Farm in a Shop
The True Cost of Tomatoes by Mark Bittman
Urban Chickens: Frugal Fad or Pricey Pastime? - I still think it would be worth it!
Getting the Most Out of Your CSA/Book Review The City Cook

How-To

Terrarium Tutorial from ModCloth

To-Do
10 "Watch Now" Food/Garden Movies on Netflix - I have seen and recommend Kings of Pastry and The Garden

Food & Drink
Spank Your Herbs - to make cocktails garnishes perform double-duty in appearance and taste.

To Buy
Culinary Herb Wheel - a go-to guide about using herbs

Blogs of Interest
Food in Jars - recipes, book (includes small batch canning info)

Links of Interest #2

Crafts/Projects/Ideas
Terrace Herb Display (made from Ikea GORM shelf)
A Space Saving Vertical Salad Garden
Host a Green Garden Party
Vegetable Patch Centerpiece
Three-layer Worm Composting bin (made from Ikea TROFAST bins)

Articles
The Farmers' Market Myth - cheaper or more expensive?
Can Eating Local Honey Cure Allergies?

Food/Drink
Homemade Herb-infused Vodkas
Five Ways to Eat Sugar Snap Peas
Hibiscus is in - although I have never had any food with hibiscus, it is one of my favorite flowers, reminding me of my time in Bermuda. I am excited to see it making a presence in drinks & food!

Plants
Using Plants As Air filters

Links of Interest #1

Below are a few things I have come across from a variety of sources that I thought I would pass along:

Crafts:
Vegetable Patch Quilt
Planter Box Bench (looks easy to build)
Garden Labels from Spoons

Gardening:
DIY Indoor Garden Wall
Creative Planter Ideas
Plant Pest Remedies Straight from the Kitchen
How to Clone Your Herbs
Mobile Container Gardens
The Most Profitable Plants in Your Garden
Four Ways to Use Baking Soda in the Garden
Natural Insect Repellents Using Herbs from the Garden

Food/Drink:
20 Summer Cocktails with Fresh Herbs
Keeping Salad Greens Fresh with a Towel
Getting a Tan from Eating Carrots

Local (Boston) stories:
Seaport Hotel Installs Giant Green Composting Machine
Buying Local - Seedlings & Plants
Harvard Pilgrim - Workplace Garden

Misc:
Top 10 U.S. Farmers Markets
Garden Set Kids Toy from Ikea
How Much Do Residents in Your City Spend on Food?

Plant Markers

A simple google image search for "plant markers" will bring up practically an infinite number of store bought, home-made, wood, metal, simple, extravagant, cheap, or expensive ideas to choose from. It doesn't matter what you decide to use, as long as you are keeping track of what you plant where!

Here are some cute "un-traditional" markers that a friend found:

I am going to continue using the stone markers that I have made for any veggie that I continue to plant, but also anticipate using a combination of other markers - some I have been given, some that I may make, or some that I may buy.

I like this simple, natural twig marker idea from Martha Stewart.

A Welcoming Addition

Just over one month ago I scavenged a Maine beach (shhh...) looking for rocks that I could use as garden markers. I thought it would be add some personality to the garden. I scanned Microsoft Word for the perfect font and searched high and low for non-toxic, waterproof/outdoor craft paint. Finally finding some at ACMoore and I hope that it will withstand all the rain we are having.



I was waiting for a sunny day to snap some photos, but got impatient! Here is a small sampling of how the markers look in the garden...




The past two days have been HORRIBLE!! It has been cold with torrential downpours and thunderstorms! I even think we had some hail early this morning!! Luckily my garden appears to be OK! However, I am off to Maine for a week of vacation. A friend will be taking care my garden while I am gone. Hopefully we will have the few days of sun they are predicting, but I also hope that my first veggies wait until I come back to fully ripen!! Think SUN everyone!!