You hear it everywhere these days–businesses and families alike are striving to lead a more sustainable existence. I’ve mentioned it many times myself in various posts─but what is sustainable living really? Surprisingly enough─a Google search does not produce many results to define sustainable living. From what I found I was able to ascertain that sustainable…
Tag: DIY
Home gardeners beware of pesticides in potting soils & nursery plants
This past Tuesday at the monthly meeting of the Somerset Beekeepers, we hosted Gary Fish from the Maine Board of Pesticide Control to talk with us about “Pesticides and Pollinators”. We are a small group, so I’m always grateful that any knowledgeable speaker should come to Skowhegan to share their knowledge with us, and I…
Hardening seedlings in a mini hoop-house
After the devastation of last year’s seedling fiasco (read about that here), I was more than a little anxious about hardening off my seedlings this year. My mini hoop-houses (more about that here) have been working so well this spring that I decided to construct something similar to protect my tender tomato and pepper seedlings…
Sustainability through the family garden
I managed to set up 2 mini hoop-houses and planted a number of lettuce seedlings, yet April was a cold and windy start to the gardening season that left me longing for more. So far May has made up for it in spades! I’ve been out in the garden practically every day for the last…
“Wings of Life” mesmerizes and inspires
We received the “Wings of Life” documentary on Saturday, I ordered it from Amazon and had it shipped here by mail, but I couldn’t even begin to think about writing a review of the film until just the other day–so mesmerized by the vivid depiction of the one thing that I prize above all others…
23 early spring vegetable crops
Many American gardeners cling fast to the idea that the growing season doesn’t begin until Memorial Day weekend. Yet in Europe gardeners use a variety of methods to extend their season and increase their garden’s harvest. Thanks to Elliot Coleman’s book Four Season Harvest, more and more Americans are discovering the possibilities. Even in Maine…
How to build a mini hoop-house
I’m a big fan of season extenders like cold-frames and mini hoop-houses for the family garden. Last year I managed to erect a mini greenhouse of sorts, using PVC and plastic, and with that I hardened off my seedlings in anticipation of the growing season. This year I not only want to use that method…
How to make your own laundry soap
If you’ve never made your own laundry soap you don’t know what you’re missing. The laundry soaps that are available commercially are expensive, and filled with ingredients that I’m not even going to attempt to pronounce. This laundry soap is very economical and simple to make. It works just as well as anything you’ll buy…
How to make your own granola cereal
Cereal is getting to be quite expensive at the grocery store, and if you take a look at the list of ingredients you you might find yourself wondering at the necessity of it all. I mean–what is tripotassium phosphate anyway? I looked it up–tripotassium phosphate is an emulsifier or foaming agent used in food processing….
Making your own breads
There’s nothing quite like homemade bread still warm from the oven. A fresh slice slathered in butter is a treat that can’t be beat. Even after three years baking my own bread my family can scarcely wait for the loaves to cool enough before cutting into them. Making your own bread is a rewarding experience. …