Archive | HOME AND GARDEN

HOW TO: 6 Steps to a Simple Organic Potted Vegetable Garden

Our new home doesn’t have a yard (it’s a 3-story townhouse) and we wanted to grow our own fruits and veggies. What it lacks in a yard, it more than makes up for in outdoor space – we have two small balcony patios, one large balcony patio and a large front porch area. We decided to utilize this space to grow our garden goodies. We opted for growing them in pots, this way we could move them inside easily for watering and could move them to the shade when the temperature gets out of control – it does that here in Florida. Our finished project has given us a great potted garden that is starting to produce a lovely selection of tomatoes, herbs, peppers and lemons! If you live in a space that doesn’t have a lot of outdoor area – I highly recommend this approach, read on to learn how.

What you will need:

– Assortment of Pots (we like to collect our from thrift shops)
– Organic fruit and vegetable plant (minimally packaged)
– Organic potting soil

Step 1: Pick the Perfect Location

First things first, you want to decide where you will grow your goodies. Then, you need to decide what size pots and plants your space can accommodate, followed by picking goodies that will grow well in your local climate. Choose plants that will still be comfortable in your pots when they are full grown.

Step 2: Add Soil to the Pots

Start by adding organic potting soil to the bottom of each pot. If you are letting your children help, I highly recommend that they wear their swimming apparel – this was perfect for hosing Eben done at the end of the project. 🙂

Step 3: Choose Minimally Packaged Plants

Carefully remove the plants from the wrapping that they come packaged in. We try to find plants from our local nursery that have minimal or compostable packaging. If the plants come in compostable packaging, we tear it up and add it to the bottom of the pot before putting the plant in. (We only remove the bottom, leaving the sides of the compostable pot intact.)

Step 4: Add the Plant to the Pot

Add the plant to the pot to make sure that you have added enough soil and compostables underneath. 

Step 5: Top off the Soil

Finish adding the organic potting soil to the top of each pot and then water away.

Step 6: Watch your Garden Grow and Enjoy the Goodies

Enjoy spending the early mornings and evenings watering your plants. Make sure to move them routinely to prevent them from burning in the sun. Enjoy your fresh organic goodies from your own organic garden.

What type of garden do you have?
Have you ever tried potted vegetables and fruits before?

Can a Poster Make you Change your Life?

Can a poster make you change your life? This Holstee Manifesto Poster may – you decide.

Thrifting in July

Hello, Friends! How are you enjoying July? It is super rainy today – not a beach day. Instead, we are heading out for a thrifting day. Mr. Sweet Greens and Eben have their lists of treasures that they are seeking. And I am excited to check out the thrift stores in our new neck-of-the-woods + I want to pick up some “new” books for our summer library.

Do you have favorite thrift stores that you frequent? Or are you a tag sale kind of person?
What is the best thing you have ever found?

ps: I will take lots of photos for you!

photo via zieak

Advertising Space | July 2011

Hello, Friends! I have a few advertising spots available for July if you are interested. These spots are perfect for Etsy shops, green businesses and green lifestyle bloggers.

If you feel your Etsy shop, group, blog or business is a good fit with Sweet Greens and are interested in advertising, just drop me a note and I will send you my full media kit. I have a ton of great green giveaways, guest bloggers, lovely how to projects, fantastic green products to feature, lots of little surprises and a lot of little surprises for the months to come. Advertising on Sweet Greens is a fantastic way to boost your sales and get great exposure!

I am a work at home green mom who completely understands that cost of raising a family, so I keep the rates reasonable – anyone who wants to can advertise on Sweet Greens. As a special bonus, I will help your shop get more exposure by introducing your shop to all of my readers in an introductory post and will also share your shop with my Facebook Fans and Twitter followers.

I would love for you to join Sweet Greens.

photo credit

Hanging Air Plant Gardens | Flora Grubb

Our new space has four small outdoor areas that I would love to add greenery to. Since these spaces have a lot of wall small (and not so much floor space), I have been thinking of gardening options that include plants that could hang on the wall. I love these hanging air plant gardens from Flora Grubb. Aren’t they fantastic? South Florida is covered in air plants – I can see some outside my office window right now! I think this type of garden would be perfect. I love that they are simple, beautiful, native, and low-maintenance. What are your thoughts?

Have you ever gardened with air plants?
Is this a type of garden that you would try?

photo credit Flora Grubb