Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Our garden is planted!

Here are the promised pictures of our garden! We are waiting on our netting to arrive, and that will complete the verticle frames that the vine plants will grow up on. We planted: Broccoli, Carrots, Eggplant, Straight Neck Squash, Squash Zucchini, Honeydew, Watermelon, some herbs, lettuce, cucumber, Heirloom Roma Tomato, Mr. Stripey Tomato, Beefsteak tomato, and Rutger tomatoes. Lets see how long I can keep these plants alive! How's your garden grow?

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Monday, May 26, 2008

It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living by Crissy Trask

Be a Bookworm Challenge over at Green Bean Dreams had me excited to read a new book this month! I decided to choose It's Easy Being Green by Crissy Trask.
I am a typical stay at home mom for the most part, and going green has got to be simple, cost effective and smart for me. I am willing to sacrifice some, but I am also a realist! I realize that if it is too tough, it won't last, and I want lasting change for my family and the planet! This little pink book and it's title caught my eye in the bookstore:

Upon further inspection, I decided it was definately worth a buy and read. It is printed on recycled paper, and offers a section with specific and effective tips to follow on your path to a green life. Each tip has boxes for you to check off for ones you want to target, are currently working on, or have achieved. These are great, and are targeted at those of us who are busy and need some hand holding. From saving paper, to saving energy and everything in between, these practical tips will empower the average person to feel like they are making progress.

So often our desires to "go green" leave many of us feeling overwhelmed and uninspired. When we start to hear of all the problems that the green movement wants to tackle, it seems like a hurdle that is impossible to jump. Trask takes these worries to task, and devotes an entire chapter to green myths. Other chapters include Buying Green, Getting Involved and Resources. This book deserves a place on my bookshelf, as I continue to work through the tips, step by step. To quote the book quoting Plato: "Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow."

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Reel Mower gets the job done...Green style!

We love our Reel Mower. Ree-ly! Never thought I'd use love and lawnmower in the same sentence, but it's true. I love this lawnmower. It's easy to use, no hassle, and gas free! What more could you ask for really? Our gas-powered mowers used to give us all sorts of problems, troublesome maitenance issues, not to mention oil and gas. This one just needs a push! And we have nearly an acre to mow! If we can do it, you can too! It's only tough to push if you let the grass get really high, but even then not so bad. We have some random gravel in our yard from the previous owners who set up a tent to sell stuff out of, and we can run right over it without getting a rock stuck in it either. Works great with or without the grass catcher. We bought ours at Lowe's, right of the shelf for $129. If you've thought you might like to try one, believe me, DO IT! Here's a video of my husband mowing:


Monday, May 19, 2008

Deliquent Blogger Makes Excuses

I know I have neglected my faithful readers...and for that I am so sorry! I have several half posts written, but with only half a brain, none have gotten finished yet! The square foot garden dances around my head, day and night! So much to learn, grow and do! Here are some pics for the curious, we are mixing our dirt here, and preparing to shovel it into each raised bed. Tomorrow I plant! I promise to take pics and post....hopefully not as delinquent as this time! Thanks for sticking with me!



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