19 Creative Plant Markers To Make

http://tipnut.com/garden-markers/
Lots of clever ideas here for making labeled markers that can be used for both outdoors (in the garden) and indoors (for house plants). Many are quite inexpensive to make using simple supplies that you probably already have around the house, you’ll find a few utilizing recycled items like soda cans, old spoons and vinyl blinds or smooth rocks right from the garden. Have fun!

reesedixon.com

Clay: Cute! You will need polymer clay, armature wire, stamps (to press into the clay for the herb names) and acrylic paint for the lettering.
Chalkboard Style: Made with wooden paint stirrers, chalkboard paint and labeled with a white china marker (grease pencil) & nope, it won’t wash off in the rain.

mycakies.blogspot.com

ubercrafter.blogspot.com

Polymer Clay: Cute! Project similar to the one above but with some differences.
Glass Tops: Made with glass aquarium pebbles, sticks, raffia, glue, fruit and vegetable illustrations (free printable via pdf).

craftjr.com

themagiconions.blogspot.com

Metal Spoons: Repurpose a few large spoons, magazine clippings (with pictures of vegetables and plants), glue and polyurethane.
Stamped Spoons: Requires a metal stamping kit and permanent marker. A few of these swirling around the net but I think this one’s the original DIY.

shrimpsaladcircus.blogspot.com

marthastewart.com

Labeled Stones: Find several flat, smooth stones, and label each one with the name of a plant using alphabet stamps and dye-based (permanent) ink.
Painted Stones: These super-easy but functional and reliable labels require only a few large, smooth stones, acrylic paint, and a waterproof marker.

homemadesimple.com

smithfamilygarden.wordpress.com

Soda Can Tags: If pretty isn’t your thing, make these tags with soda cans, wire and permanent marker.
Terra Cotta: Made by painting broken pieces of a terra cotta pot and attaching to metal stakes.

purplelemondesigns.com

craftingagreenworld.com

Vinyl Blind Slats: Easy peasy! Just label the plant name onto the slats with permanent marker and they’re good to go.
Printables: These are editable and come in two different sizes. Download is in .doc format.

goindie.com

birdsandblooms.com

Copper: Made with 36-gauge copper sheets, 12-gauge wire, a paint marker and clear enamel spray.
Juice Can Tops: Made with juice can tops & bottoms, a wire coat hanger and embellished with pretty beads.

inmyownstyle.com

witandwhistle.com

Stamped Clay: Simple yet lovely! These are made with polymer clay and rubber letter stamps and then baked to harden.
Engraved Aluminum Tape: The tape is wrapped around plastic knives and then “engraved” with the plant name using a dull ballpoint pen.

auntpeaches.com

mychiclife.com

Wine Corks: A hole is drilled into the bottom of a cork and then a bamboo skewer inserted. Write the plant name on the cork with a permanent marker.
Recycled Plastic: Tags are made with strips cut from plastic lids (from ice cream pails, etc.) then marked with an old school DYMO label maker.

mypoppet.blogspot.com

studiogblog.com

Rustic French Style: Made with small pieces of wood, bamboo, raffia or string and labeled with a felt pen or Sharpie.

Set Goals for Your Small Farm or Homestead

Whether you own your land or are still dreaming of the time when you can move to your small farm or homestead, you can set goals for what you hope to accomplish.
For many people, their vision and ideas are clear-cut. They may know already that they want to grow a small market garden, or that they want to have sheep, but not goats. Some may be clear that they want a smattering of many species of animals, a "barnyard in their backyard," just for enjoyment.
If you aren't sure yet what your overarching goals are for your small farm, ask yourself these questions:
http://smallfarm.about.com/od/designingandplanning/a/setgoalsfarming.htm

How to Build a Rain Barrel, Plus Care and Maintenance

http://www.commonsensehome.com/how-to-build-a-rain-barrel-plus-care-and-maintenance/

How to Make a Grapevine Basket

http://fossillady.hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Make-a-Grapevine-Basket

Check out the above link for a step by step:

Chickens & Gardening

http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/02/chickens-gardening.html

Chickens and gardening go hand in hand.  It's all part of being more self-sufficient and sustaining your family from what you can produce.  I had been growing vegetables and herbs for years before I started keeping chickens, but it wasn't until we got the chickens that I felt the circle was truly complete.

You don't need a lot of space to grow enough vegetables to feed your family, herbs to use for cooking and a few flowers to brighten up the plot.  So plan on planting a little extra for your chickens this spring.

Crushed eggshells are great in the garden. They add calcium, which helps prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.  Their sharp edges help deter slugs and snails, both annoying garden pests.   They are also greatly appreciated by the wild birds who benefit from added calcium to make hard shells, just as chickens do.

And you can even use halved empty eggshells in a cardboard carton to start seeds in.  Just poke a hold in the bottom and fill the eggshell with potting soil.  When they are ready to go into the ground, plant them 'pot' and all. The calcium carbonate will slowly seep into the soil and nourish the seedlings.  If you crush the shell pot a bit when you plant them in the ground, the seedlings will have an easier time establishing their roots.

In the last year or two, I have added a lot of variety to the herbs I now grow.  Not only do the chickens benefit from herbs in their nesting boxes and home-brewed herbal tea, but I like to use fresh herbs for cooking all summer and then dry them for use in the winter.  

Nasturtium is a wonderful addition to any garden.  It is not only pretty, but it repels insects, the chickens love to eat the leaves and blossoms, and it acts as a laying stimulant, antiseptic, antibiotic and natural wormer for them.

I also grow watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard just for the chickens.      

They don't mind misshapen, buggy, or over- or under-ripe vegetables. Nothing goes to waste when you raise chickens. During the growing season, they get all the bug-eaten vegetables plus all the ends and scraps - and after I have harvested the crops, they enjoy all the roots and leaves (note: tomato and rhubarb leaves can be toxic to chickens so discard those)

All spring and summer I find myself picking bugs out of the garden to feed to the girls.  

Of course, letting your chickens roam freely through your garden during growing season isn't such a great idea because they will munch on everything - veggies, blooms, leaves, good and bad bugs - but in the fall or spring letting them have access to your garden can be quite beneficial.  They will turn the soil and eat the weeds, helping you prepare for the next spring's planting.  They will enjoy pecking and scratching and exploring new territory.  They are wonderful little tillers !

Their manure also makes wonderful fertilizer for the garden. I use the deep litter method and each spring clean out the coop of all the straw and decomposed manure which it goes right into our compost pile to be used in our garden the following spring.   

I throw squash and pumpkin seeds right into our compost pile and let the vines grow wild all summer. The ducks especially love squash blossoms, and both the chickens and ducks love the pumpkins and squash once they are ripened.

So this spring when you are planning your garden, plan on planting a little extra for the chickens. They will appreciate anything you are willing to spare and it's much more economical and healthier than buying vegetables or commercial chicken treats.

Use their eggshells, manure and free labor to help fertilize, nourish and till your garden - then thank the chickens for their contribution by sharing the bounty.

30+ Lunch Bags & Accessories To Make

http://tipnut.com/lunch-combo/

Here is a large collection of free patterns and tutorials for bags, totes and sacks that you can use (again and again) for carrying your lunch. Not only do they cut down on waste, they’re super cute too! There’s also a nice collection of reusable sandwich/snack bags & wraps that you can make listed at the bottom. Enjoy!

Repurposed Etched Glass Spice Jars...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Repurposed-Etched-Glass-Spice-Jars/

Hint: click on each little pic for the directions on the site above!

Chicken Rain Water Collection:

Have the water from the chicken house roof top collect in rain barrel to auto water the chickens!
http://pinterest.com/pin/71565081548523882/

Keep Your Chicks Warm!

http://www.facebook.com/FreshEggsDaily

Have you ever wondered how people managed to raise chicks before heat lamps, nifty brooder setups and the like ?

Well, according to Minnie Rose who wrote 'Recipe for Raising Chickens' and who raised chickens for 60 years before dying in 1...975 at the age of 86, if a chicken for whatever reason couldn't or wouldn't care for newborn chicks, she would put the chicks in a box with shredded newspaper and a glass jar filled with hot water wrapped in aluminum foil to radiate heat, cover the box with an old wool sweater to keep the warmth inside, and place it near a heater.

Great information to keep in the back of your head if ever you lose power or your heat lamp bulb burns out and you can't get another one right away (although I always have a spare in the house just in case).

All you ever wanted to know about pallet wood (craft & decor)

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/04/all-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about.html
Great Ideas!!!

Baby Chicks 101

Baby Chicks 101~Trish

This is a copy of the info. I put together for the other blog I do for Skagit Farmers Supply: http://www.skagitfarmerssupply.blogspot.com/

 

Chick Season is starting soon here in the Pacific Northwest, and our little chicks are arriving at work on March 1st!  Here is some basic info. for everyone on starting out with new chicks!

Hey Folks!

It's that time of year when we get excited to welcome new baby chicks...and they are sooo much fun!  There are many people who are getting chicks for the first time, and maybe you just have not had them in awhile and need a little "Chicken 101" refresher course.  Please don't hesitate to call your local Skagit Farmers Supply Country Store with questions, or just stop by and visit us!

CHICK CARE

Brooder House, Chicken Corral, or Plastic Tub

Bedding: Pine Shavings (Gem Bale) or Straw

·        Bedding such as shavings or straw must be provided for your chicks. Your bedding should be at least two inches deep. Keep your bedding dry and change as necessary to provide the chicks with a clean growing environment.  Cedar shavings burn their feet, so only use pine.

Feeders & Waterers

Heat Lamp:

·        Chicks require an area of space that has a temperature of 90-95 degrees. They also need to get away from the heat if they get too hot. The coolest area of your brooder should be no less than 70 degrees. Usually a 250 watt heat lamp per 25 birds is required to start with. Hang your heat light 24 inches off the ground in the center of your brooding area. Check the temperature at the bird level with a thermometer. This will tell you if you need to provide more heat or raise your heat source to lower your temperature. As your chicks grow, you will need to lower your brooding temperature, Decrease your temperature by 5 degrees per week until your whole brooding area is 70 degrees. Then maintain your temperature until your birds are fully feathered. Remember, watch your birds. If they are huddling together, they are probably too cold. If they are away from the heat as far as they can get, they are too hot. Chicks all in a corner suggests that you may have a draft. Chicks spread around and drinking and eating happily are just right. Start warming your brooder pen at least two days before birds arrive. Check your temperature regularly once chicks have arrived.

·         Red Bulb – provides heat, calming to young chicks and camouflages any blood from pecking

·         Clear Bulb – provides heat and in the winter more “hours” of daylight

Feed:

·       Chicks must be provided with feed and water as soon as you receive them.

·        Upon arrival, it is a good practice to dip the bird’s beak into the water. This will show the bird where the water is. Provide one 24 inch feeder and one gallon chick fount for each twenty-five chicks. Keep your feeders and waterers close to the heat source. Chicks will not stray far from the heat to eat and drink. Change your water often and keep your feeders clean. This will keep your chicks healthy. Provide day old chicks, ducks and geese with Purina Start and Grow or Flock Raiser for a mixed flock. Turkeys and Game birds require a higher protein feed such as Flock Raiser. Ask us for the proper feed. 

·         Chick Grit for up to 10 weeks.

·         Scratch Grain

Medicated Feed: Purina Start and Grow, we do have non-medicated Start and Grow

·         Helps prevent coccidiosis in chickens

o   Coccidiosis causes considerable economic loss in the poultry industry. Chickens are susceptible to at least 11 species of coccidia.  All wild birds carry Coccidia.

·        As your chicks grow, provide them with more space. This will reduce cannibalism, provide an area for them to exercise and reduce the chance of disease.

·         Chickens will start laying eggs on average between 4-6 months. 

·         Molting generally begins after their 1st year.

·         For great information on raising birds: http://poultry.purinamills.com/#

·         For your most frequently asked questions, check out: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-faqs-the-frequent-asked-questions-of-raising-chickens

You can also check out our blog at: www.skagitfarmerssupply.blogspot.com

The Almanac's Raising Chickens 101 ~ Choosing a Breed

http://www.almanac.com/blog/raising-chickens-101-choosing-chicken-breed

This is a pretty good site!  I will add my chick info. as well in the next post.  I wrote it for the other blog I do for Skagit Farmers Supply where I work.  Chick season is starting soon here in the Pacific Northwest, and we will be getting our chicks in at work March 1st!

Green Onions

http://www.facebook.com/fleamarketgardening

Did you know that when green onions get a bit old in the fridge you can plant them in a garden pot or veggie garden. I did this in my galvanized wash tub garden and could cut fresh onion tops all through Autumn.

Know any good kitchen garden tips like this? And what are the herbs that you use most in cooking? ~~ Sue

 

Green Tips For Treating Pests In Your Garden

http://humbleseed.com/blog/humbleseed/green-tips-for-treating-pests-in-your-garden/

It’s time to water your garden and with your trusty watering can in hand,  you meander back to your prize-winning cabbages.  They appear happy and healthy at first, but as you inch closer; you notice tiny, pear shaped insects clustering on the leaves, sucking out the juices and leaving damage behind.  Before you grab a bottle of pesticide, consider that the chemicals found in traditional pesticides can be harmful to your health, and can eventually leak into the ground and contaminate your family’s tap water.  Check out these common pests that could disrupt your garden, and the natural remedies to keep them at bay.
Aphids: These pear-shaped insects may appear harmless at first glance, but these little guys defy the laws of science and are born pregnant; which can lead to a quick infestation.  Try spraying them off with forceful water, using a plant based soap (recipe below), and attracting ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies to your garden.  Plants like parsley, fennel, coriander, sunflowers and Queen Anne Lace will attract these ally insects, and could help keep Aphids and other harmful critters out of your garden.
Beetles: There are many varieties of beetles, and many will hide under the leaves and flowers of your plants, chewing away the foliage and leaving your plants looking tattered.  If you’re not terribly squeamish, pick them (or dust buster them) off the plants, and destroy their eggs that may be hiding just beneath the surface of your plant. While beetles love feasting on starchy plants like potatoes, they tend to loathe yarrow, catnip and garlic plants.  Keeping these plants nearby may prevent beetles from trespassing in your garden.
Caterpillars: Caterpillars may look charming, but as they increase in size, their mouths grow even larger; leaving gaping holes in their feasting paths. Once they become butterflies, they will deter harmful pests in your garden.  But if their caterpillar stage is wreaking havoc on your garden, pluck them off the plants and make your own caffeine spray (recipe below) to deter them from inching along your favorite vegetables.
Leafhoppers: Feeding on plant sap, leafhoppers are another villainous garden pest.  Leafhoppers belong to the Cicadellidae family, and there are numerous species that could damage your garden.  Just as their name implies, these insects hop from plant to plant when disturbed. Ranging in size from approximately ¼ – ½ inch, wedge-shaped leafhoppers feed on plants using their sucking mouthparts, similar to their sidekick; the aphid.  Some species of leafhoppers can transmit a virus particularly harmful to beets, tomatoes and other crops causing crinkled, dwarfed or distorted roots and veins. If you suspect a small leafhopper problem, spray off the leaves with forceful water.  For more severe infestations, consider incorporating ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies and praying mantids in the garden (see Aphids for plants that attract these insects).
Mealybugs and White Flies:  Common in indoor plants, these critters can weaken your plants while mealybugs leave a sticky substance behind. Normally infestations occur from a new infested plant exposing the others to the insect. To keep these pests at bay, try creating more air circulation in the area the plants reside in. For severe infestations, spray the leaves with diluted alcohol (remember to administer a test a patch first). Neem oil, plant based soaps and even natural dish detergent has also been studied to rid your plants of these bothersome pests.
Slugs and Snails: Similar to caterpillars, these plump pests leave holes in your plants, while leaving behind their trademark sticky trail.  Luckily, slugs and snails go wild for a cold brew, and some prefer leaving a container of beer at the base of the plant for the slugs to eventually drown in.  If the thought of watching a slug drown in your favorite stout seems hard to swallow (pardon the pun), try attracting lizards and garden snakes to your garden by leaving sunning stones and water nearby.  Your garden will feel like an oasis to these slug-loving reptiles.

Make your own natural insecticides!
Caffeine Spray: Combine a few tablespoons of used coffee grounds with herbs like: catnip, lavender, yarrow and thyme. Add 2 cups of water, and allow at least 24 hours for the mixture to steep. Strain, and spray liberally on insects and plant leaves. Combine with insecticide soap (below) for a stronger treatment.
Plant-Based Insecticide Soap: Add 1-2 tablespoons of castile soap to 2 cups of water. Spray insects as needed. Add boiled garlic cloves to boost the effectiveness.

Make your Own Taco Bowls by Flipping Over a Muffin Tin

http://lifehacker.com/5885277/make-your-own-taco-bowls-by-flipping-over-a-muffin-tin

Make your Own Taco Bowls by Flipping Over a Muffin Tin

The next time taco night rolls around, instead of serving the same old pre-made hard shelled tacos, pull out your muffin pan, preheat your oven, and reach for that bag of tortillas in the fridge. You're going to make taco bowls.
The blog Emily Bites explains that making taco bowls is actually really easy—all you need to do is nestle in a few small—around 6-inch—tortillas in the spaces between the cups of your upside-down muffin tin. Preheat the oven to about 375-degrees, sprinkle the tortillas with some salt and a little water, and form them into the bowl-like shape you're familiar with. Toss them in the oven for about 10 minutes, and you'll have taco bowls.
She goes on to share her full taco recipe, and notes that the bowls will definitely be smaller than the kind you might get at a restaurant, so she usually serves two to each person. Still, it's a super-easy way to make taco bowls at home without buying them pre-made, using equipment you likely already have. Planning to give this a shot the next time you want tacos, or do you have a better way? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Mini Taco Bowls | Emily Bites