2019 Garden Goals

This year is going to be huge in the realm of our backyard.

The kids love to mountain bike.

I hate to mow the lawn.

So our plan is to have dirt delivered and turn the backyard into a pump track.

YEP. A PUMP TRACK.

I'm going to move a garden, possibly take out the little dining patio (or make it larger, I'm not sure what the track is going to look like yet), and then put in gardens in the turns and in the middle of the pump track.

Berm turns, here we come!

(Photo is not mine, taken from Google images as an example of a pump track)

Other than that hefty goal of getting large equipment into the backyard to build berm turns and rollers, I think my plan is to stick veggies in the flowers, put in a step-out line of bricks at the curb on the boulevard and re-mulch everything that I can to prevent dead flowers and veggies!

On my veggie/herb list this year:

Tomatoes - both cherry tomatoes AND heirloom tomatoes

Cucumbers

Peppers

Pumpkins

Butternut squash

Cilantro

Basil

Dill

Jalepenos

Brussel Sprouts

Lettuce as fill-in in the front garden beds

Lavender

Sage

Mint

Calendula

Chamomile

Broccoli - as fill-in in front garden beds

Banana peppers

I don't have much on my list for flowers - well, that is until there's a plant sale at the local garden center. Then it suddenly seems like I need everything! I'm leaving a lot of things open to change this year because if we do a pump track like we've planned, then I'm going to need to plan out where all the veggies are going and I might possibly need to move some perennials. 

At some point I would love to get rid of all the rock that's around this house. I've been dumping what I've been picking up along the back side of the garage - at some point I'm going to have to make a post on Nextdoor or Facebook to take some free rock. Eh, I'm not even sure if people want free rock anymore. 

So plants and plans may change, but I'm hoping to get a pump track this year! 

BioBag vs. Bag-To-Nature

Since beginning the organic waste program with our local city, I'm in love with it. I can throw so much stuff in the organic waste instead of the garbage can. It's freaking awesome. If you have the option, please do it! We do pay $10 per month for it, but it's worth it in the amount of waste reduction going to landfills and the burning plant. Examples of items we can toss - all leftovers, paper towel cardboard, egg cartons, fish, bones, paper towels, take out containers, paper q-tips, tissues.

I've used two brands of compostable waste bags and these are my (short but sweet) reviews:

Hands down, Bag-To-Nature is my favorite composting bag for the kitchen organic waste bags. They feel a little more like the plastic bags you get from Target and are much more stronger, easier to tie with the ends, and definitely contain the smells of organic waste tenfold over BioBags. These are a bit harder to find - I haven't seen these at Target but they are sold at Frattalone's Ace Hardware and the Lakewinds Co-op. I haven't bought any at the Linden Hills Co-op yet, so I don't know if they sell these or another brand.

BioBags are great for your regular compost when you take it out every night - these ones start composting immediately. As in, they don't work for your regular organic waste (leftovers, etc...) because once wet, well, it's all over for the strength of the bag. I can barely make it to the organic waste cart behind our garage without it breaking. Use BioBags for your greens for your backyard composter. These ones feel a bit more rubbery and softer - they've got a little stretch to them which means if you're tossing chicken bones, the bones will punch a hole right through the bag.

Below are pics side to side of the bags -

Return to Line Drying - Tips And Tricks

Bimmer Man set up my new clothesline outside. I"M SO EXCITED.

I honestly don't know any other nerdy hippie that would be SO EXCITED about a clothesline.

It's 40 feet long, so it stretches from our back sun porch to the garage. I can hang approximately a half load of clothes on it (well, we have a super capacity washing machine which does 2-4 loads of clothes at once compared to a regular washing machine. I generally do 4-5 loads of laundry per week).

So with line drying clothes the question becomes, do I really want crunchy clothes or not?

I don't line dry underwear or undergarments. Too embarrassing (but what did people do before dryers?).

I don't do towels either after I used a crunchy towel after a shower one day. I read somewhere that dermatologists suggest using line dried towels for exfoliating and what not but I really think it depends on the towel. Our nice Ralph Lauren towels are too crunchy but the ginormous Ikea towels aren't all that bad after line drying.

After a few weeks of line drying (and drying about 10 loads now...) I have a few line drying tips.

• Dry clothes inside out - brightly colored clothes won't fade and the pit stains in shirts will be sun bleached
• Dry them hanging upside down (so pants should be hung from the legs, not the waistband)
• T-shirts need to be dried inside out and upside down
• Napkins fold neater and much more nicely after being line dried (aka no ironing necessary)
• Socks take the LONGEST TIME
• White clothes are most definitely whiter after being in the sun (no more pit stains, yay!!)
• Vinegar in the rinse cycle (put it in the softener part of your washing machine) gets out excess laundry detergent which means less crunchiness since there's no leftover soap
• It's ok to fluff clothes in the dryer - but I just fold clothes straight from the line and put everything away (I bring out 3-4 blue Ikea bags to sort and fold depending on what's in the load - 1 for me, 1 for Bimmer, 1 for the Monkey, 1 for household crap). I feel like returning the clothes to right side out and shaking them a bit helps to get out the crunchiness

So there's my tips for line drying clothes. I'm really happy with my clothesline but I sure do feel like the neighborhood hippie with our clothes hanging outside!

Help Me With Growing Grass

This is the part of our backyard where the dogs play. They tear up the grass, rough house, roll around and pretty much ruin the grass. I've taken the liberty of showing you the WORST spot in our yard.

Why?

Well, because I need some help. How in the world do I grow grass here? You can tell that I'm experimenting with grass seed - I spread out a bag of black dirt, tossed some seed and kept it watered. This is after a week. I just don't know if it's worth it to do the rest of the dead part or not. Well, unless there is some secret grass that holds up to dogs (anyone know?).

I think I'm going to rope it off next week and throw down more black dirt and try to seed the rest of the dead spots. GAH. It's just grass - I shouldn't care too much, but I just HATE when Rusty comes in with muddy paws.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I tried to embrace the mud but I just can't do it anymore. I'm not a fan.

Oops, There Goes The Basil

I dropped a whole tray of seedlings so I just picked up the pile of dirt and tossed it in the container. We shall if my basil still grows. Oops.

Rusty even gave me his stink eye (which is pictured below). Also - don't try to vacuum up the dirt when it's still wet with a really awful vacuum. It doesn't really work all that well.

No Mudroom, I've Resorted to This

Below are pictures of a problem spot in my house. We have no mudroom. We have no room under the sink for the garbage and recycling bins. It's awful. And I don't know what to do anymore. Anyone have any recommendations?

I'm thinking about purchasing a Simple Human garbage can, but then that still leaves me with the problem of recycling. And I hate using paper bags.

So I guess I'm stuck with ugly for awhile unless there's some magical fantastic 3 bin garbage/recycling container out there that can handle cardboard too.

P.S. If you know of any fantastic and magical device, please let me know. Thanks.

Master Bedroom Color

Remember my inspiration bedroom photo?

And this one:

(From my Pinterest)
Ugh, and here's another one:

Well, I think I found a paint sample that I just might have to try out:

I think I'm off to Home Depot to get a small sample.

But I'm awful too because I haven't even finished painting the master bathroom yet. GAH. I need to learn to FINISH projects before I start another one!

Ok, goal planning:

1. Finish the trim in the master bathroom.
2. Paint the master bathroom a lighter blue than the "Rainfall" by Martha Stewart in the hallway.
3. Buy paint sample for master bedroom
4. Paint master bedroom
5. FINISH PROJECTS

Farmer's Market Finds

Fresh and local chicken. I really wanted bacon but didn't even think about it until I was already half way home. As you can tell, fresh and local chicken is super expensive - this was $10.25 - then I got eggs for $3. I miss fresh eggs.

I also got sugar snap peas.

QUESTION: What do I do with them? Do you eat the shell? Do you cook them? I don't know...

Hyacinths For Kathy

Do you think I can grow these Hyacinths from Breck's? I ordered these last Fall and planted them. They are zone 5 hardy, so I'm really hoping that they come up this Spring. And Kathy, I had no idea that you liked them, I think I actually got "Bluebells" so I'll take some pics when they bloom for you. I LOVE Spring flowers and I'm totally hoping that I can have a green thumb like my mom.

(Dear Lord, she can grow Bee Balm and Lilies like no one else's business... I'll take pics of when they all bloom later this year!!)

But I need more ground cover in the front so I think I'm going to turn to Hostas for the front gardens (which are in the shade) and maybe some morning glories and then I need a trellis for them to climb on.

I never realized how much fun gardening is!

Unfortunately we just don't get enough sun for a veggie garden, so unless we have a huge storm and a neighbor's tree falls, then we may have one. At least my compost pile doesn't stink (and they're not supposed to, they're supposed to smell "Earthy," whatever that means... just make sure you have enough leaves to cover the stink of rotting veggies!!!)

EEK!!! I GET TO GARDEN THIS YEAR!!!

And I'm so freakin' excited!

I planted lots and lots of bulbs (I mean, it was AT LEAST 150) and now I'm ready to watch for them to come up, especially after it's been snowing like 5 inches over the past day or two. Yuck. I want my tulips to come up!
A patio table set. I've been dying to eat outside at a real table. In Indiana we were eating on our laps with the dog practically eating off our plates too.


I could get a water fountain.
I can get cute garden stuff like this fish rain gauge.

And I'm so freakin' excited!

Seventh Generation E-Newsletter

Here's the fantastic link - there's even a link to coupons!!!

Oh - Patina Lovers!

Check out what I found in my e-mail inbox this morning!

They have a new sister store in South Minneapolis - and I'm so dang excited! It's all about highlighting local talent, so now I have a new place to shop! Yea!

So, everyone, what are your favorite local stores? Do you feel the need to shop there every week or every once in awhile? What are your favorite purchases? Do you feel better about yourself and your environmental impact when you shop local?

Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent

Yep, we're talking dirty dishes here. I'm about to elaborate on my dishwashing skilz as well as reviews on what I've found so far. I've not been too impressed so let me tell you how I wash dishes and this is what I do with each load. Non-environmentally friendly detergents too.

My dishwashing process is:

1. Scrape the plate
2. Rinse anything nasty off
3. Load the dishwasher

So then, let's get on with this post. I've been searching for a fantastic dishwasher detergent for awhile now. I swear, whenever I want to find something eco-friendly, it takes me so LONG.

For example, I may be blind (ok, not really) but I had to ASK a TARGET EMPLOYEE where I could find phosphate free dishwasher detergent. She proceeded to take one off the shelf right in front of me. How embarrassing. But this is the one she gave me:


Colgate Dishwashing Gel
I was kinda irritated because not only did the Target in Indiana sell Seventh Generation dishwasher soap, but they ALSO SOLD MRS. MEYER'S CLEANING PRODUCTS. So I was disappointed. So far it's odd using a GEL but it works well. It smells nice. Gets the dishes clean but I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH TO USE. It just says on the bottle to fill to line. There's several lines on my dishwasher's fill cups. Whatev...


Free And Clear Automatic Dish Soap - 32 oz. powder - BioKleen
This one is in the mail to me right now from Amazon. We'll see how it does.


Seventh Generation, Free & Clear Auto Dish Powder 75 Ounces
SO NOT IMPRESSED. This stuff didn't get my dishes very clean. I mean, I know its all eco-friendly and whatnot, but still, I like clean dishes (I don't let the MONSTER lick them and reuse them, gross). I would have to rewash some of the plates and cups because gross stuff would be left on them.

So, what dishwasher detergent do you use? Do you like it? Would you recommend it? Is it environmetally friendly?

When I Get Bored...

I crochet!
Well, kind of. I mean, I'm in the middle of making a blanket that I accidentally made way too big (so it'll take me awhile) and I need a break from that. Generally if I want a new hat, mittens, socks or a scarf I just make them myself. Trying to be more sustainable and keep my creativity.
We're moving and I need to clean. I only have microfiber cloths and I need something that could really scrub my pots and pans. I had some cotton leftover (though it's kind of bright) and so I made my own scrubby.

It'll only took an hour, mostly double crochets, then I made a border of single crochets to make it stronger.

No, I will not post my crochet items all the time. I think that would get boring.

Does anyone have any hidden talents that I don't know about? Like crocheting? Or knitting? Do you make anything fun that you could share with me?

(Did you know that I crochet?)

How to: Clean a Nasty Microwave

No close ups will be taken of my nasty microwave. I know it doesn't look too bad, but that's thanks to bokeh and photoshop.

Step 1: Combine several cups of water with the juice of 2 - 3 lemons.

Step 2: Microwave on high for 5 - 7 minutes.

Step 3: Let sit for 5 - 10 minutes.

Step 4: Wipe down with damp sponge, rinsing often.

Et voila! Clean microwave!

I just used a regular sponge, I didn't need to use the scrubby side.

Seriously, in 20 minutes, this is the best way to clean a nasty, gross fraternity used microwave. Blech.

Ok, have fun cleaning if you dare!

T-7 Days Until The Movers Arrive

And here's my cleaning list for today:

1. Wash all the breakable dishes so they don't get packed with dust.
2. Clean the island thoroughly.
3. Wash the appliances
4. Make more cleaning supplies
5. Drop off excess pet food at the Humane Society
6. Clean out pantry and make meal plan for rest of week
7. Pick up new bag of dog food for THE MONSTER.
   

Does that sound like it can be accomplished in one day? Eek, I hope so because tomorrow I'm deep cleaning the bathroom!

Charcoal Grilling... What To Do With The Used Charcoal?

So you have a charcoal grill. We have a charcoal grill too.

What do you do with the leftover ash? Or better yet, what should you do with the leftover ash?

Ideally gas grilling is the most eco-friendly while charcoal emits not only only carbon monoxide but many other toxins too.

Wood ash can be dumped in the garden and used for fertilizer, but it is alkaline so it's good for neutralizing acidic soils. But be careful if you don't know your gardens ph levels though - they sell those paper strips at garden stores if you want to find out (think back to 8th grade science!).

But charcoal, like the Kingsford Charcoal that only takes 10 minutes to be ready to cook - that stuff can't go into a compost heap. It can't go into your garden at all because of all the toxins used to MAKE it burn. Instead, it should be thrown away in the garbage.

If you use plain old wood charcoal with NO TOXINS, then yes, it can go into your compost but beware, too much is a BAD thing in your compost.

Unfortunately something that I like so much, isn't exactly that eco friendly but grilling does taste so good!

Happy Memorial Day!

Go Green: All Purpose Cleaner

Underneath the sink is where I keep all of our cleaning supplies.

In my arsenal, I generally have the same things. They aren't very exciting.

Just vinegar
Dr. Bronner's
Method Glass cleaner (smells like mint)
Rubber gloves (I actually married a frat boy who still thinks he lives in a frat house and doesn't um, clean up crumbs or drips on the countertops)
Baking soda (which you can't see because the stupid bag doesn't fit).

I still use Method glass cleaner - I just can't seem to find the right mixture of vinegar with something else. And of course, the blue glass cleaning cloth. Just toss it in the wash when you're done!
To make an all purpose solution, it's really very easy. Some people use measurements, I just kinda go by the smell of vinegar.

I'm not one to smell like a salad, so I do it this way (vinegar doesn't smell after it's dry).
3 parts vinegar
1 parts warm (or hot) water
2 - 3 tablespoons Dr. Bronner's

Mix into spray bottle, shake well. Also, shake before each use.

If you don't mind the smell of vinegar, you can make the ratio 50/50 and add lemon juice instead. Make as much as you want or just make as much as you need for cleaning!

Happy Monday - don't go too crazy cleaning...

Go Green: Make Your Own Soft Scrub

So to start this off, I'm going green and have been for awhile, I've just been waiting for my bathroom cleansers to run out so I could recycle the bottles and then make my own. I love using soft scrub, but I can't stand the nasty smells.

So I googled around a little bit for some bathroom cleaning recipes and kinda just well, dumped some stuff in a container. But it's the same consistency of soft scrub and it also smells 10 times better. And it's not a carcinogen. Plus it gets the gross crap off the sink and tub.
First, you'll start with a cup of baking soda (note the gigantic bag, that can be found at Sam's Club) and put that into the container that you'll use. Then start pouring in the Dr. Bronner's.
I think I started off with about a 1/4 of a cup, but the consistency wasn't quite right for soft scrub.
So just keep pouring... It should be nice and smooth, but still gritty - you need to be able to put a glop on the sink and scrub without it feeling too soapy.
So total, I think this is what I used:

3/4 cup Dr. Bronner's (I like the tea tree because I think it smells like a spa)
1 cup baking soda

Mix until you have soft scrub.

This can be used in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub and anything that really needs a good scrubbing. I go through this much in about 3 - 4 weeks.

Eh, I'm not really all that sure how many people are interested in making their own cleaning supplies, but I thought I'd share anyway considering how many people are surprised that I make my own. I thought I might add in the essential oil, but the tea tree oil smells really good. Dr. Bronner's has several different scents. Lavender is great too!

Maybe I'll share my all purpose cleaner next! That's an easy one too!

I Want An Outdoor Space

I so want an outdoor space to lounge in. At my mom's house, it's the garage, at our current house we don't have much of a yard so really there's no space for outdoor furniture.

Bimmer Man, if you are reading this, please, let's buy a house with space for an outdoor patio.

Ok, let me rephrase that: I WANT AN OUTDOOR PATIO. WHERE WE CAN HAVE REAL FURNITURE AND NOT THAT PLASTIC CRAP.

The picture above is from Smith & Hawken which I really adore. The problem is, what I'd like would cost more than $2,000. And those are with the prices on sale. Technically speaking, if both of us were working, that wouldn't be a horrible amount of money to drop on furniture. But we need a house first.
But you see, I'd like to eat outside too.

So not only do we need a spot to "lounge" but we'll need a table and chair set too. Above, the set from Pottery Barn is $1,899.00 and THAT'S ON SALE.

Ugh, I have to admit, I'm really great at spending money we don't have... but it's super nice to dream about what we could have... Eventually!

So in the meantime, I'll be looking for cheap knock offs and houses with beautiful yards that we're able to use!

Happy Tuesday!