What IS this??? Wordless Wednesday

I discovered this strange plant growing in my neglected garden! At first, I thought it might be a blueberry bush but the berries are full of tiny seeds and it’s growing more like a tomato plant instead of a shrub or bush.

Grow Plants in ANY Container @ MIFS

Today at Make It From Scratch showing you how to grow plants in ANYthing! Stop by and join in the conversation.

Experimental upside down bean plant in a 2 liter soda bottle.

Also don't forget about the Wonder Hanger Giveaway ending this week.

How to Eliminate Critters from My Garden

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Deer Off. All opinions are 100% mine.

The weather has finally warmed enough to prepare our garden for this year's planting. Last year I had more success than the previous year so I'm hoping for even better garden success this year. My strategy includes:

seedlings after 3 weeks indoors

1. started seedlings indoors for better plant stability and earlier harvest ~ Plants were started in early March and many have been transplanted to larger containers for container gardening.
2. adding compost to my garden soil prior to planting ~ compost is still doing it's thing, I hope to complete this next week when I get the tiller into the ground.
3. eliminate ornamental plants only using plants, herbs, and vegetables that can be eaten ~ plants already purchased with the garden planting already planned!
4. maximize the use of container planting around the lawn ~ completed Wednesday, I have the sunburn to prove it!
5. eliminate as many pests as possible ~ Still a work in progress
   

My Frugal Garden Update

My Frugal Garden has turned out better this year than last. Besides a couple intruders nibbling at my plants when it first went in, I haven't had any problems. I did alter my original plan somewhat due to the unusually long winter this year and the flooding we had in the area. We have a short cool summer growing season living in zone 3. It's especially hard to get the garden going when you still see snow on Mother's Day! lol Instead of sowing everything from seeds or rooting from other veggies, I bought a few sprout plants from the greenhouse to guarantee a harvest of some of our favorite things.

Grown from greenhouse sprouts: broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, squash, onion and eggplant.

Grown from seeds: Jalapeno, Banana, & Bell peppers, carrots, squash, parsnips, watermelon, and turnips

Everything but the parsnips are growing well. I had potatoes growing in an old laundry hamper but we had a freak storm come through and blow the hamper into the neighbors yard. Apparently it was too much trauma for the young plant since it never recovered. Next year I'd like to put in raspberries, get my watermelon in earlier, and definitely secure my potato planter! I'd also like to get a few pots of marigolds around the yard and garden to prevent any four-legged pests from getting into anything!

25 Cheap Ideas for Summer Fun

If you're like me you're wondering what to do now the kids are out of school. Maybe a big vacation isn't in the budget this year! Even if it is you still need something for the kids to do the remaining 18+ weeks of summer! Here's a list of free or almost free activities to get your summer off to a fun start.

1. Summer reading program. Our local library conducts a Summer Reading Program every summer. Goals are set and prizes are awarded to each child who reaches them. The program is free if you borrow the books and return them on time.
   
2. Story time. Most libraries and major bookstores also conduct weekly story hours. Larger cities may even have a daily story hour. Check with your local library or bookstore for details.
3. Visit a bookstore. Major bookstores have a variety of services you can utilize for free...as long as you stay away from the coffee bar! The bookstore in my hometown even has a small movie screening room where classic/educational movies are shown at no cost.
4. Biking and hiking. Many state, city, and community parks offer free biking/hiking trails. Remember to put trash in the designated areas to help preserve nature's beauty.
   
5. Museums tours. While large museums can charge a hefty price for entry, many small community based museums operate on a donation basis. Also check with the larger museums for discount days and special events targeted for summer activities.
6. Pitch a tent. Camping doesn't have to cost anything. Pitching a tent in your back yard or living room can be a special treat for even the biggest of kids. The convenience of a bathroom and your own groceries makes this a virtually free activity. If you camp in an RV, here's a listing of places to camp for FREE or almost free.
   
7. Hit the playground. Playgrounds are free and there's usually one in every community.
8. Go to school. Many schools open their gym doors during the summer months to encourage youth activity in the summer. Check with your local school for details.
9. Watch a movie. While going to a movie theater can easily break the bank, there are great ways to significantly reduce the cost. AMC theaters offer special promotions on food, showtimes, and bulk ticket buying. Drive-ins, matinee's, and theater specials are a great way to enjoy a movie at a low cost. If the theater isn't in the budget, renting movies can be much cheaper with the many $1 rental options these days. Be sure to check for free rental codes for Red Box online.
10. Hunt for Geocache. This is a relatively new sport utilizing GPS coordinates to hunt for treasure. If you're cell phone is already equipped with GPS then you're ready to go. Many state parks (including all Minnesota State Parks) are getting in on the sport. They provide free handheld GPS units for use on park premisis. Check with your state's park website for details.
    
11. Search for benchmarks. If geocaching is a little intimidating for you or you don't have access to GPS unit then benchmarking may be for you. Simply stated, it's a hunt for survey markers and/or landmarks. We did this last year after moving to Hallock to help get to know the area better. It worked!
12. Fun at festivals. Summer time is the time for festivals but be forewarned some charge at hefty price while others are totally free so be sure to call ahead for pricing.
13. Go swimming. Lots of community pools are free (or nearly free) to it's residents. Our local pool offers FREE swimming classes courtesy of the Red Cross and the school district.
    
14. Visit your state's parks. Summer is when state park's kick things into high gear. There's special programs from hiking to swimming to camping to fishing to horse back riding. Most of these programs are low to no cost and family friendly. Minnesota helps pay for park improvements and maintenance through parking passes. A daily pass is around $5 while an annual pass is $25 which is well worth it if you plan to visit a park several times. Be sure to check with your state's park website for schedules, pricing, and details.
15. Get in the garden. Grab some seeds and dirt then get dirty. We're growing watermelon seedlings on the counter till their big enough to put in the garden but you can plant any seed to see what happens. Grow them in the garden, pots, vases, or any container you have lying around the house.
16. Make music. Pull out pots, pans, cereal boxes, empty flower pots, shoe boxes, or whatever you have around the house and beat the tune of a different kind of drummer! Try filling wine glasses with different levels of water to see if you and your kiddo can make music by rubbing the rim of the glass.
    
17. Get artsy. Take art outside with sidewalk chalk. Paint a flower pot, bench, or section of wood for a decorative addition to your front porch. Grab leaves, flowers or twigs to paint with or make a nature collage.
    
18. Bike Rodeo. Organize a bike rodeo or neighborhood ride with the neighbors and their kids. Make sure everyone's knows to wear the proper safety equipment when riding. If you're organizing a rodeo then you'll need a liability waiver.
19. Sew something. If you need a break from the great outdoors then, organize an indoor sewing activity. Yarn, carboard cereal box, and a hole punch can make for hours of fun for a little one. For older kids, sew up a nifty drawstring bag.
20. Get cooking. Kids are ALWAYS hungry during the summer months so make it easier to feed them by getting their help in the kitchen. Here are some fun snack ideas kids can make with a little help from you!
21. Take a tour. Many businesses, factories, farms, etc offer free tours to the public. Check online or call for details.
22. Go on a bug hunt. Grab a magnifying glass, camera, bug book, and a journal for a fun backyard activity guaranteed to keep the kids busy all summer.
23. Bird watch. If birds are your thing, then have the kids put out a few bird feeders and identify birds that visit your yard. A cheap bird feeder can be made with wood or a pinecone smothered in peanut butter and coated with birdseed. Make sure to hang them near windows so you can enjoy the view.
24. Water Water everywhere. Grab a sprinker or water guns for some water fun to beat the summer heat. To avoid increasing your water bill, use collected rain water to refill water guns.
25. Get sporty. Join in a football scrimmage, soccer game, baseball team, tennis, volleyball, etc to keep the kids active all summer long. Make sure everyone stays properly hydrated and check for pricing before signing up.

What are a few of the things you have planned this summer?

Getting Dirty with the Kids

I'm fairly new to gardening since growing up in a small neighborhood, my parents didn't have the time, space or energy to put into a garden. I never had the opportunity to learn first hand what it meant to grow something from a tiny seed into something to nourish your body. Now that I'm grown with children of my own, I wanted to teach them the amazing lessons gleaned from growing something in the garden. Getting the kids in the garden provides a number of positive benefits.

1. A child is more likely to eat a new food if they have a hand in growing it.
2. Increase quality time (and your invaluable influence) with you kid by gardening together.
3. Teach them responsibility by giving them a portion of the garden only they tend.
4. Give them a skill they'll be able to use regardless of the economic status.

As for me and my kids, we're learning together. All of us were amazed when we saw green beans ready for picking last year. The squash from our garden was even tastier than any we've ever eaten. And we were all slightly disappointed the garden didn't produce bushels of produce! I wish I knew about the National Gardening Association when I started my garden last year.

I received their Spring newsletter today. It's full of great stories focused on getting kids in the garden. I really enjoyed the article on "Kid Friendly" plants for the garden. After reading this article, I'm definitely getting Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantine), Ground Cherry (Physalis pruinosa), and the Tickle Me (Mimosa pudica) plants.

The National Gardening Association is a non profit organization focusing on plant-based education. They give grants and awards to schools and youth across the country to teach kids about the wonders of gardening. I'm hoping we can find a little extra in our budget this month to contribute to this great organization.

I'm so glad I can teach MY children these wonderful lessons. After reading the newsletter, I was inspired to get J-Man to help start some watermelon seeds for transplanting when the weather warms a bit more. I can hardly wait till our produce is ready to harvest!

Weekend Bike Weather

Yesterday was so nice out, I had to get out of the house. There was a block party at Wilson's Greenhouse, Austin's Flower Shop, and Ed's Meats. There were drinks, snacks, door prizes, and of course great sale prices. Even though I could hardly speak, I had a great time. I got a great deal on a set of 4 terra cotta pots for just $30! The gorgeously decorative pots ranged in size from 10" up to 14.5". We got plenty of plants for both indoors and outdoors as well as some great tips to help hardy them up!

Mr Wilson said all their plants are raised in an ideal setting w/automatic watering, heating, and cooling systems making them a bit 'delicate'. By bringing plants indoors at night early in the season helps "toughen" them up by getting them used to a wider variety of conditions without putting too much strain on the plant. This is why he recommends buying plants in our region a couple weeks early and utilizing this method to help strengthen the plant BEFORE planting outdoors! I'll have to try this and let you know it works!

In addition to the great plants and green thumb advice from Mr Wilson we scored some free meat samples at Ed's Meats. While we were there, we bought 25 pounds of lean ground beef, 2 pounds of lean bacon and 4 eight packs of hot dogs all for $45. He even threw in a hat for hubby! I know this may sound a little high but the hot dogs are bigger than any I've seen in the grocery store and there's no fillers or added fats to his meats which are all locally prepared by Ed himself. Aside from stocking up on the meat, the flower shop gave away free single long stemmed roses to everyone plus they hosted a wine tasting with great hors d'oeuvres. If my throat hadn't been so raw, I'd have eaten and drank like a Queen today but alas, I was left sipping lemonade drooling over the wonderful aroma in air! :(

The kids weren't left out of the good times either. They had a great time playing in the sandbox at Wilson's along with the other neighborhood kids. Once we got done at the block party, over to Gullander's Hardware Hanks where the boys got their new bikes. J Man's knees were hitting the handlebars on his bike from last year so it was definitely time for a bigger bike. Wild Man still hasn't mastered a trike but maybe a 10" bike will work better! The best part is I was able to capture their first moments on their new bikes on my new FLIP video camera I won at Today's Mama. I'll be sure to post more on my camera and Today's Mama later in the week after I've had a chance to play with it! In the meantime, here are a few videos of the kids and their biking experiences!

Be sure to check out my YouTube Channel for more family videos!

What are a few of the things your family did this weekend????

My Frugal Garden Plan + Homemade Pesticides

For many of you, spring sprang weeks even months ago and now you're busy in your gardens. We're still a few weeks away from "gardening" conditions here in NW Minnesota but I'm planning and trying to get prepared so I can get in the garden as early as possible this year.
This is my second year gardening so I'm by no means an expert. Much of my gardening time last year was spent preparing for this season. There were tons of rocks and lots of brush in my garden area. This took me weeks getting things cleared out and the soil aerated. Last year I didn't expect great results but, this year my hopes are high. I've been paying close attention to morning garden segments, HGTV, plus I've bought a couple books (Reader's Digest: Homemade and Newspapers Pennies Cardboard & Eggs for Growing a Better Garden by Roger Yepson) that may help me produce a fruitful garden for pennies on the dollar. I also plan to hit up Mr Wilson for all his green thumb advice this season.

These photos were taken Sunday only 4 miles from our home. That's a grain bin in the middle photo. Thankfully the standing water in our yard has receded!

Most of my gardening will start from rooted veggies. This will cut down on my waste and help give a better start to my garden than from the seed packets. I have a few potatoes ready to go in the ground, an onion that should be ready soon and hopefully tomato and pepper plants will be available at Wilson's Greenhouse in the next couple of weeks. We've got Okra seeds our friend Sid gave us last year and there will be another attempt to grow squash and broccoli. I may try lettuce again but haven't decided since it was a big FLOP-pesky wabbits! I'd also like to grow some carrots and parsnips. I'll start rooting those inside the house later this week.

Now that I have a rough plan in place for my garden, it's time to focus on keeping my garden healthy. Besides using Miracle Grow (gotta love it) I want to use less toxic means to deterring pests and encourage growth. Pesticides are not great for the environment plus they tend to cost a pretty penny. I have children and pets so I don't want the pesticides seeping into our vegetables through the natural growth process. Here are a few of the more natural pesticides and pest deterrents I plan to use this year:

1. Homemade Insecticide-1 tsp Dish Detergent, 1 tbs Vegetable Oil, and 3 c Water mixed in spray bottle. Apply to plants and leaves.
   
2. Weed Eater-1/4 c Pure Vinegar poured directly on garden weeds.*
3. Aspirin Systemic Insecticide-Dilute 3 regular strength aspirins diluted into 5 gallon bucket of water. Water twice a month and may use in a spray bottle for intermittent treatments.*
4. Cardboard barriers-Cut paper towel and toilet paper rolls will be planted around smaller plants to help protect against underground critters giving the plant time to mature. The cardboard eventually degrades into the soil.*
5. White Flag Deer Deterrent-Tie white grocery bags or fabric strips from an old sheet, towel, rag, etc to posts surrounding the garden. This is suppose to mimic the deer's natural response to danger when other deer flash their white tails to warn of area predators. It's a freebie I'll try but I'm not holding my breath!!!*
6. Soap Deer Repellent-Use bars of deodorant soap or soap scraps tied off in a sock, attach to a tree, shrub or garden stake where ever your problem spot is to repel deer. Replace as soap dissapates with rain. Still not sure if this will work but will give a try if #5 fails.*
7. Earwig Traps-Roll newspaper into a tube shape, tape off one end, dampen and point opening toward end of plant base. Shake the earwigs into a bucket of soapy water the next morning. Not sure what an earwig is but, if we get them, this is what I'll try!*
8. Banana Peel compost-I've heard in several places you can bury banana peelings in your garden for great compost. We'll give it a try and see what happens!
9. Bird & Squirrel Deterrent-Plant a few catnip seeds or plants around the garden area to attract cats to ward away these garden pests. I'm not sure about this since cat poop and pee isn't good for all plants. Plus this would drive my dog, Ruby NUTSO! This is a maybe.*

You've seen my plans, now it's time for you to share yours! What does your frugal garden look like this year?

* Denotes recipes and tips I found from either Reader's Digest: Homemade OR Newspaper Pennies Cardboard & Eggs.

Spring in Winter?

Since moving to northwestern Minnesota last April, everyone has been trying to prepare me for a long and weary winter season. Coming from Tennessee, I worry the snow will get the best of me but, again all the neighbors advise it will be the -20 below days that will get me! lol. After hearing all the warnings, I've decided on a few winter projects to keep me busy. One will be to bring a little bit of Spring to my Winter. How do I plan to do it, you ask? Simple, now I have a full basement and intend on using part of it to grow some indoor veggies. I've been brainstorming for a while now with some of my frugal gal pals on yahoo so all the research has been done, I just have to get my project going.

First I plan to grow a potato plant in a garbage bag. I've got my tater rooting in the window sill right now. As soon as it's got some good roots, I'll transplant it to a big rolled down garbage bag with some cheap garden soil. As the plant grows, you roll up a little of the bag and add more dirt. Once the the flowers start to die off, you can reach in and pick a few "new" potatoes. The potatoes have matured once all the greenery starts to die off.

Next on the list is growing tomato & bell pepper plants from hanging milk jugs. My tomatoes didn't do so well from the garden this year so I'd love to have a few more around this winter. It would also be great if I had some fresh maters and peppers to give in some of my cooking gift baskets this Christmas. I've got tons of milk jugs so I just need a little rope, tomato plants or seedlings, dirt and a heat lamp. Based on all the information I've gotten, it's more difficult to grow tomatoes indoors but I'm determined to make it work!

I'm hoping to turn my basement garden into a learning opportunity for the kids too. Wouldn't it be just the neatest thing for my son to bring fresh grown veggies to show and tell! I can only imagine what his teacher would think!

I'd also like to grow carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips too but we'll see how the first three growing projects go before I get too wild and crazy with it. If anyone's got any other creative and frugal ideas to help keep us occupied this winter, I'd love to hear them!!!!