A New Favorite Tool
A few months ago I purchased a four pack of these thermometers with probes. I needed them so I could put the probe in the low tunnel and the thermometer outside, that way I’d be able to monitor the temperature difference. They quickly became one of my new favorites tools and I’m so happy I got four of them.
There’s on under the grow light, with the probe monitoring temperature directly under the grow light and the other the temperature outside of its light. There’s another one on the back porch where I keep seedlings. It lets me know if the porch is warm enough to protect seedlings or if I need to bring them indoors for the night. The third is used with the low tunnel in the garden. I have a fourth that is not in use yet, I may give it as a gift so someone else can share the love of one of my new favorite things!
Have you discovered any new great tools for gardening recently?
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More Reusing
I’ve been needing a new compost area since we moved here, a big compost area. I’ve made a few make shift piles here and there, but this past week I finally started knocking something together with pallets. These are kiln dried pallets, so no worries about chemicals, I know the products that came on these, where it came from and where they’ve been.
Normally, I’m not a fan of pallet items, but I quite like the look of this composter. I added two pallets across the back and one on each side. I still have to add some bracing, but after that it will be in business. There’s so much garden waste produced around here that I might have to build another one next month. I’ll share more photos when I have it completed.
Do you compost? What does your composter look like?
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Friday Favorite: Repurposing
I’m a big fan of reusing and repurposing items. I like being able to invest a little bit of time while making something new from something that would be discarded or recycled. Mr Chiots and I have been roasting our own coffee for many years (see here for more about that), it comes in 20lb in cloth bags. When we use up a bag I turn it into a coffee sack towel for the kitchen.
I love that we produce much less waste by purchasing coffee this way. We go through about 3 pounds of coffee a week, so we get a 20 lb bag every 8 months or so.
Our green coffee beans come from Sweet Maria’s, which is a fantastic resource if you’re wanting to get into coffee roasting. Just think, you too could be on your way to having coffee sack towels in your kitchen. They make great kitchen towels too!
What are you repurposing in your home or in the garden?
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The Last Snow?
When we lived in Ohio, there was always at least one snow in April. So when we have snow in April here in Maine, it’s really not anything out of the ordinary.
I appreciate it for the little boost of nitrogen it gives to the growing plants. I appreciate it for its beauty. I appreciate it for the day of rest that comes along with its stillness.
When do you typically get the last snow in your area?
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Dual Duty
This time of year one of the only weeds growing in the gardens are dandelions. Now they’re not technically weeds, I let them grow everywhere but in the cultivated areas of the gardens. I go around during the spring and dig out a bucket full each day.
I love this chore because not only does it clear the garden of perennial weeds, it feeds the chickens as well. Part of my flock is in a woodland area and they don’t have access to much greenery. They go crazy when I give them a bucketful of dandelions each day.
Dandelions are particularly good for them, essentially they’re vitamin capsules (as most vegetables are). The chickens find them especially delectable. I like to eat them as well, but I like eggs every more than I like dandelions greens. It’s also nice knowing that a garden chores is making the chicken happier and healthier, as well as making their eggs more nutritious for me and my egg customers.
Do you eat dandelion greens?
