Fairy Gardens

Talk about small-scale gardening! Making a fairy garden together with your child(ren) can be a lot of fun. It can happen in a small space, including inside in a planter, so you can make one anywhere really.

Below are some photos from The Magic Onions blog, from team member Donni at Fairyfolk.

A little moment of tranquility...

Here is an outside planter box/barrel of strawberries.

Mmm... I think fairies like strawberries a lot!!

Find a little spot to create your fairy garden.

Collect some supplies. You can buy cute little things to put in it or make them. Built with popsicle sticks and glue, wool scraps, marbles, moss, whatever you have on hand.

And start building!

Rocks and a bowl can be turned into a cute little fairy scene.

When you're done, you can make a sign. Then sit back and wait to see if you might catch a glimpse of a fairy in your new little garden!

Photos by Donni at The Magic Onions.

Text by Natalie of Woolhalla.

What's growing in our Garden? Guessing Game Giveaway!

This is our second year of owning a community garden patch. Last year we grew a Three Sister's Garden and grew so many squashes they lasted us all winter.
This year we wanted to try some different plants - plants we cannot grow in the little garden by our house because we don't have enough space. We planted watermelon,  potatoes, red and white cabbage, cauliflower, parsnips, radishes, carrots, beets and many many more..It's amazing how much we could fit in our 15x15 feet lots.

One difference I have noticed this year, is that the children are having a much easier time getting into the routine of weeding and working in the garden. Last year there was a lot of complaining and whining about the chore. This year they are really excited to go visit and work. I wonder if they like it better because we planted a greater variety of things, and they are curious about watching the plants as they grow and change. The kids are learning to identify what each plant is, as they get bigger and the produce looks more like food they see at the store. Some items they were not too happy with...

Weeding has been much easier this year since we put down some straw to keep the weeds down. It has helped immensely and I highly recommend doing it. Putting a layer of straw around the mature plants also preserves moisture so there is less watering to do!

One strange thing happened in our garden this year. We found a plant in bloom that I had never seen in bloom before. So I wanted to share a picture with you and encourage you to guess what plant it is.

I will give you one week - until midnight next Friday - to make a guess at what this plant might be. If you guessed right you will be entered in a drawing for one of my little Miniature Dolls in the color of your choice! 

Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment so I can contact you if you win! I will reveal the answer and the winner next Saturday July 15th, 2011. Don't forget to have the kids guess too! I remember when I went to camp as a child I really enjoyed the treasure hunts where we had to bring back leaves from a certain plant. What better way to teach kids about nature!

Have a wonderful week! Ulla
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Sorry for the lateness of this announcement! THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED! Looks like 15 is Jennifer's lucky number! She won this Giveaway for a custom miniature doll!
Congratulations!

Eat your Flowers!

Flowers can be used for a multitude of dishes from garnishes to salads. For a great summer treat try freezing petals in ice cube trays filled with water for a lovely addition to your favorite lemonade or iced tea! Although this seems to be a new trend eating flowers has been going on for centuries. The first mention of people consuming flowers was as far back as 140 BC. Also many veggies we eat are really flowers broccoli, cauliflower, artichokes and broccoflower are all flowers. The spice saffron is the stamen from the crocus flower, and capers are unopened flower buds to a bush native in the Mediterranean and Asian nations. So you most likely have been eating without even knowing it.

A list of common EDIBLE FLOWERS:

Angelica                         Anise Hyssop
Apple Blossom               Artichoke
Arugula                           Bachelor Buttons AKA Cornflower
Banana                           Basil
Bee Balm                       Borage
Burnet                            Calendula
Carnation                       Chamomile
Chicory                         Chives
Chrysanthemum             Cilantro / Coriander
Citrus                            Clover
Dandelion                      Day-lily
Dianthus                        Dill
Elderberry                     English Daisy
Fennel                           Freesia
Fuchsia                         Gardenia
Garlic                           Geraniums
Gladiolas                      Hibiscus
Honeysuckle                Hollyhock
Hyssop                        Iceland Poppy
Impatiens                     Jasmine
Johnny Jump Up          Lavender
Lemon Verbena           Lilac
Linden                         Mallow
Marigold                     Marjoram
Mint                            Mustard
Nasturtium                  Oregano
Okra                          Onion
Orange Blossom         Pansy
Passionflower             Pea
Pineapple Sage           Primrose
Radish                        Red Clover
Redbud                      Rose
Rosemary                   Rose of Sharon
Runner Bean               Safflower
Sage                           Savory
Scented Geranium       Snapdragon
Society Garlic             Squash Blossom
Sunflower                   Sweet Marigold
Sweet William             Thyme
Tuberous Begonia        Tulip
Viola                           Violet
Winter Savory             Yucca

How To:

There are a few cautions one should remember before harvesting any flowers:
Do not harvest any flowers that could have been exposed to animal excrement, that have had insecticides or fertilizer sprayed on them, or are from the side of roads where they have been exposed to trash, carbon monoxide etc.

Harvest your flowers in the morning.

Next, bathe the flowers gently in a salt-water bath.
Immediately drop them in ice water for 1 minute. Gently pat flower dry on a towel.

For best results, use your flower petals immediately 


Article by Beccijo, The Enchanted Cupboard

A few lovely flower theme items from our members to add to your Nature Table:

ThisCozyLife

 

 

Alkelda

Woodmouse

Please leave a comment and share with use how you eat your flowers!

Community Gardening for Fun and Food

Last year our family and a family of friends became proud renters of a community garden patch. It is a 15x15 feet piece of land that is owned and managed by the City of Greeley. Patches like ours are rented out to gardeners at an annual rate of $25. Originally the land was owned by the University of Northern Colorado, but since they had no use for it, the University donated the land to the Community Gardens project.

"In 2007, the city of Greeley, along with Steps to a Healthier Weld County, recruited a group of interested residents and formed the Community Gardening Advisory Committee. The goal of this group was to encourage families and individuals to enhance their health by growing their own food and getting outside to get exercise in the process." You can read more about this project here: http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20080309/FEATURES/8554907


There used to be two sites with garden lots. Our patch is located on a site that is in very close proximity to the university and in walking distance from our home. There are 22 patches on the site. The program has become so popular that a third site was added this year. The new site has even bigger patches with drip irrigation, but we'd have to drive to get there.

I don't know if you have ever visited Germany. The idea of small community gardens is not new to me. In Germany they are called Schrebergarten or Lauben and have been around since the late 19th Century. When traveling Germany by train, you may notice large green parcels of land surrounding most towns and cities. On closer inspection, you'll see that the land is divided into many little lots, separated by fences. Many of the lots may even have a small cabin or structure on them.

The original concept was invented by school principal Ernst Hausschild in 1864. Together with his friend doctor Moritz Schreber, Hauschild promoted the idea that children, especially poor city kids, should grow up closer to nature and get more exercise. During the economic crisis of the 1930s the community garden idea really took off in Germany, and many lots were given to poor families, so they could grow their own food and be saved from starvation. During WWI and WWII the little garden patches became important food sources for starving Germans. As many big cities lay in ruins after WWII garden plots with shelters gained in popularity as housing units.

If you ever visit Berlin make sure to visit the large garden communities, Laubenpieper colonies, in various neighborhoods of the city. Laubenpieper is the name for the people who rent the lots. http://http//www.morgenpost.de/printarchiv/familie/article1164166/Schrebergaerten_als_Ackerland.html Am I going totally off topic here? Maybe not. The idea behind the new community gardens project in Greeley is not so different really. With so many obese kids these days, kids who spend countless hours playing Nintendo or watching TV, having a green garden patch seems like a really good idea.

Also considering the current economic crises, interest in vegetable gardening is booming. Have you been to your local gardening center lately? They seem packed these days. More and more people are thinking about growing their own food to save on grocery bills.

Luckily our two families are not in financial distress, and we are thankful that we don't have slave away on our small lot with empty stomachs. The main reason our families decided to rent a garden patch is to grow healthy organic food and teach the children about gardening in the process. We have had a small vegetable garden by the side of our house for years. We grow tomatoes, basil, herbs, squash, and salad greens in the spring and fall. But it's not very big and we wanted to grow larger plants such as squash and watermelons we need a bigger space. Last year we grew a Three Sister's Garden. You can read about it on my blog!

Hope you enjoyed this rather lengthy post of mine and leave me a comment. =)
Happy Gardening! Ulla

Our First Harvest Of The Year

Our garden has yielded the first vegetables of the year, two perfect radishes. My son was beside himself he was so excited. The radishes are "his" since the seeds came with the garden bag we got him earlier in the year.

Gardening has been a family affair this year. After 5 years of trying to grow vegetables in various pots in various locations around our shade dense property, I gave up. This past fall I told my husband I was through looking at bushes I didn't like and demanded the removal of many of them directly in front of the house. It's the one place that gets enough sun to grow vegetables. After all, I'd much rather look out and see a beautiful garden than random bushes.

It didn't take long before the kids were into the act and we were all throwing out ideas for the kinds of plants to plant and how it all should come together. Honestly, that's the best way to get your kids involved, just talk about what they'd like to grow. Tell them what you'd like to grow and why. When you know what they are interested in, it's then easy to delve deeper and teach them everything about that particular plant.

After we decided upon our seeds, we planned our garden. We built raised beds and decided that given the small space, we'd go with a square foot garden approach. I even bought the book by Mel Bartholomew. It's been immensely helpful. Our garden boxes came together nicely and then we waited, not so patiently, for winter to pass so we could start planting.

Planting was the most fun for the kids. Who doesn't like to stick their hands in the dirt? Putting seeds in the holes, gently covering them up and then watering (oh what fun the watering is!), and, again not so patiently, waiting for them to peek up out of the ground.

We tend the garden every day to check on our crop, to talk about the changes in the plants, to predict which plants will grow well, what will be next to harvest and which ones the kids want to try. Their enthusiasm is endless because they are a part of the process and because they can take ownership of the accomplishment. And as a result, they are not only learning a lot, but experiencing so many new things too. I am quite certain that the only reason my son tried radishes is because they were "his" and he grew them with love and pride.

Wild, Wonderful Worms!

The last 5 years have seen a lot of change in our household. We do everything we can to reduce, reuse and recycle. As a result, we are avid composters. We have a lawn compost bin, two actually, for our leaves and grass clippings, and a compost bin for our kitchen. The compost bin for our kitchen gets the most interesting comments from friends and family. It sits right outside the kitchen door in the garage, and houses about 4,000 worms.

My 4 year old son holding a red wiggler.

No, the worms don't get out and make a break for freedom, and no, it doesn't smell, well not badly. If you open the bin and stick your head in it, it smells just like a walk in the woods after a rain. If you walk by it, you can't smell a thing at all. No one knows that's what the bin is even for until I tell them. The lack of smell is the biggest surprise to those not familiar with vermiculture. The next big surprise to those new to this kind of composting is how easy and well it works. We throw everything in there except protein (worms are vegetarian!) and our 4,000 worms handles all the scraps this family of 5 makes with ease.

So, if you want to turn all your kitchen scraps into the most perfect garden fertilizer you've ever used, fall in love with love wild, wonderful worms!

 

Our garden with rich, dark soil thanks to our worms.

The first thing you need is a big bin. I used a Rubbermaid plastic tote, because they are cheap, readily available and durable. Drill 1/4" holes all around the top for air and 1/16" holes all over the bottom for drainage. You will need 2 lids for the bin, one to use as an actual lid and one to use underneath to catch any liquid that drains from the bin. It's important to have adequate drainage for two reasons: one, you don't want your worms to drown, and two, the liquid that you catch is called worm tea and it's gold for plants. Use it as a fertilizer for your indoor potted plants and you'll be amazed at the results.

Once your bin is done, next fill it with bedding. You can use newspaper or cardboard. We use newspaper, it's a great way to recycle it. Just tear it into strips before you put it in the bin and moisten it. White paper and coated cardboard is no good, so don't start thinking you can recycle all your paper goods here, stick with good ole newspaper or plain cardboard. The worms need it for air circulation, so once you moisten it, fluff it up for them. Don't let it get too wet, just damp like a wrung out sponge. Feel free to throw a handful of dirt or sand in there too, the worms need the grit in their diet too, although egg shells do a great job of giving them the grit they need.

The bin is all ready for worms!

Now your bin is ready for your worms! You want to get red wigglers. They are small, multiply easily and are fairly hardy. They are not the best for your actual garden since they do multiply fast and can take a garden over quickly, but they make the perfect vermiculture worm. They will multiply to meet the demand of the food you give them, but won't multiply so much that they outgrow their bin, so it's perfect. Try to get them locally as that's the most earth friendly option, but if you can't find a worm farmer close by, there are lots of worm farms online as well and they will ship them to you.

You need 1,000 worms for every 1 lb. of kitchen scraps generated daily. When you collect your scraps and are ready to feed your worms, just throw on some rubber gloves (I keep mine right on top of the worm bin with the extra newspaper and a spray bottle of water), clear a corner, throw in the scraps and cover the scraps with bedding. The worms will do the rest. Rotate which corner you add to each time. If you get any fruit flies or other bugs, stop feeding them for about a week, as that's a sign there is too much food for them to handle. Either let them multiply a bit and catch up, or get more worms.

Worms and castings in their bin.

Once you've gotten the hang of the bin itself, you'll want to reap the rewards and harvest the amazing castings for use in your garden. Castings are worm droppings and are the best compost material around. Harvesting them is surprisingly easy. Just dump the whole bin out onto a tarp or large piece of cardboard and spread it out into a nice, thin layer, about 3 inches deep. Let it sit in the sun for a bit, and the worms will go straight to the bottom since they are not fans of the light. Scoop off the top layer of castings and add them to the garden. When you are left with little but worms, just start the bin again with fresh bedding, food and put the little guys back in their home.

Worm castings ready for harvest, notice there are still some eggshells and a bit of bedding in this bins castings. 

That's ok, just add them right into your soil too.

Mix the castings in with vermiculite, peat moss and some manure and you have the perfect soil mix for growing just about anything. Add more castings each spring to your garden and you'll never have to feed your plants and vegetables anything else.

It sounds a bit complicated, but in practice could not be easier. We keep a compost crock inside on the kitchen counter that we put our chopped scraps in. Once a week I dump them into the worm bin and about once a month I mix the whole bin up with a garden trowel. I harvest the castings twice a year, once in the spring before I plant the vegetable seeds and once in the fall when I am putting the garden to bed for the winter. So, for about 5 minutes a week and about 1 hour twice a year I have reduced our household waste considerably and I get free, incredible fertilizer. Like I said, these are wild, wonderful worms!

The perfect soil mixture--peat moss, vermiculite, manure and worm castings!

Thursday tutorial: Make dandelion curls

Today's tutorial is by Waldorf doll-maker Marie from KnechtRuprecht. She also blogs here. With so many dandelions about this time of year, this is a lovely (very kid-friendly) activity.

How to make dandelion curls

I remember when I was a child we made lots of dandelion curls. We used them as little figures and created hairdressing salons for them in the medow or we made beautiful dandelion necklaces using the little curls as pearls.



You will need dandelions and water.



Split the stem with Your fingers.



Put the stem in the water and voila! dandelion curls.



Ringel, Rangel, Löwenzahn,
buttergelbe Scheibe.
Schaust die liebe Sonne an,
dass sie bei dir bleibe.
Pusteblume, blühe auf,
weh‘ in alle Winde,
wehe über unser Haus,
dass dich keiner findet.
Langer Stiel und nackter Knauf,
glatzekahles Köpfchen.
Morgen blühen neue auf,
lauter blonde Schöpfchen.



Here is a new rose Waldorf cuddle baby from KnechtRuprecht's shop!

Make your own linen freshener (from your garden)

Today's all-natural tutorial is by Luisa of DanceInMyGarden, her Etsy shop stocked with beautiful flag buntings, and much more. Gardens in Luisa's home of Australia are in full bloom, while ours in more northern climates are just getting underway. Now we know what we'll need to plant this spring to use in our linen fresheners!

How to make your own linen freshener from your garden

You can use this laundry freshener in any room of course,
it has a fresh green herbacous scent, and is fun to make with the kids.
You will need 3 things from your garden, and 2 ingredients from your kitchen pantry.
So here it is...


You will need some lavender


some rosemary


bay leaves


Dry out the leaves and lavender heads, and crush them up in your hands.


Then you need to add some rock salt, and whole black pepper.
You don't need lots and lots, just a couple of tablespoons of each.
The quantity isn't important, just wing it.
And buy some cheap rock salt, don't use your expensive organic salt, like I have done!


Find a nice bowl to put the pot pourri into and voila! You are done.
Now, wasn't that easy peasy?
If you want you can also add a little orris root powder as a fixative, but I didn't.


Sweet smelling linen and towels.


Bag up the rest, and save for later, or give-away little bundles wrapped in muslin.

Oh, every now and then, when you go into your laundry cupboard to pick up a fresh item, and you see your little bowl, remember to crush the dried leaves to release their scent.
You could also add some drops of essentials oils of lavender, rosemary, to make it smell a bit stronger, and it will last a lot longer.

What's in DanceInMyGarden's handmade shop? Here's a beautiful bunting, perfect for ushering in spring to our backyards!