garden update 2012

Epic Fail 2012. Yes, that’s right. Remember last year when we had enough tomatoes to feed a city? Well this year, not so much. We used a different soil and that’s the only thing we can think of that we’ve done differently.

Of all the things we planted way back in May we’ve grown one banana pepper and one tomato.

And our lettuce did thrive. But that’s all! We have one tomato plant that we planed directly in the ground. That is growing, but only in the last few weeks have any tomatoes popped up and they refuse to turn red.

So, 2012 was not the year for our garden I guess. None of our herbs even grew! Our squash plant started growing really well and then literally like 2 days later was completely dead.

Hope you’re all having better luck with your gardens. There’s always next year!

our watering can rain barrel

This project is hilarious to me. This is what happens when you leave Al alone for a few hours! We’ve been needing a watering can (we usually use the blender container to water plants) and I’ve been wanting a rain barrel. I’ve been too cheap to purchase the rain barrel or to make one and frankly, I’ve been lazy and haven’t gotten around to getting a watering can.

On a recent weekend trip we had bought one of these jugs of water. There was about a quarter left of it so we took it home with us. Once we drank the water Al went to town. Using some screen that he found in the basement he created a watering can rain barrel.

It’s super simple. He cut out a few holes on the top and then cut the screen pieces to fit. He hot glued the screen pieces on and let them dry.

Now we just place it amongst our garden. When it rains it collects water, if it hasn’t rained we easily fill it up in the kitchen sink (we don’t have a spigot outside the house) and use the spout to go around and water the plants.

Is it the eyesore of the garden? Potentially. Was it free and serves the purpose it needs? Certainly does. That Al, I’ll tell ya, he solves all the problems around here!

this year’s garden

Our garden is starting to bloom now! We scaled back our garden this year, from last year’s awesome one. Mostly for one simple reason: we don’t have a spigot outside the house. So trekking water through the house, down the stairs and to the garden got to be a bit much with so many things growing and so much water needed. This year we focused more on the things that we really like and eat regularly.

We planted: mixed greens, cucumbers, yellow squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, basil, cilantro and parsley.

We have this massive stump in the yard that serves no purpose. We toyed with turning it into a table but it’s not positioned correctly for that. Our outdoor table, that we got for free on Craigslist last summer, was pretty beat up and the base of it would no longer stay together. So we painted the tabletop, tossed the base and secured it on top of the stump. It was the perfect spot to raise the planters up a little and not have them take up precious yard space. It’s a jumble of random planters and looks a little funky, but hey, it’s a conversation piece!

I also planted one flower pot of pansy’s and tossed a few under some bushes at the front of the house (they’re behind the wagon). I didn’t actually think those ones would survive but they’re thriving!

The last thing I planted were these super colorful flowers (I have no clue what they’re called).

My yard sale find wagon was the perfect container for them. I bought the wagon specifically for planting flowers and I think they look perfect. These are placed right at the bottom of the staircase.

So for the most part our outdoor space has been colorful and thriving lately and we love it! Now if we could just find another free table on Craigslist we’d be set! Have you guys been planting anything lately? Have vegetable gardens? Flowers?

yard sale steals and deals

Yard Sale season is in full swing and I couldn’t be more excited. While my foot is just now starting to feel a bit better, I’m not doing any long distance walking, but I can hop out of the car for a quick scan over when needed!

This was my sister’s car packed FULL with finds all from just a few different yard sales. You can’t see the backseat, but let’s just say my mom barely had room to sit!

Here are some things I’ve stumbled upon…

A ceramic pot for our garden: $2

Silverware basket that I’ll be re-purposing: $1

Finally, a legit recycling bin: $1

Yes, I did buy this fan. The fan in our bedroom died like two days earlier: $3

Syrup dispenser and other dispenser for olive oil and canola oil: 10 cents and 50 cents

A clear one of these (they’re hard to find!): $1.00

For flowers because it’s so cute: $3

Another clear hanging thing: $1

I’m psyched with all my finds. When I yard sale I don’t buy things just to buy, I make sure I have a use for or needed everything. I’ll share with you how I used these things in the next few weeks! Oh, and another score I found that’s not pictured, a brand new North Face jacket for FIVE BUCKS. That’s like stealing right there.

Have you guys found any fun yard sale items lately?