planting an herb garden

There are few things as satisfying as being in your kitchen, whipping up something delicious, when you think to yourself this could really use a little rosemary... and then being able to walk right outside your back door and snip an amazingly fresh sprig of whatever it is you need.

You get to skip and traffic and annoyance of a trip to the store, plus you get extra fresh flavor, plus you save money.

And growing an herb garden is easy, rewarding and an all around good time.

Herbs are some of the easiest plants to grow. Most of them can live happily in a pot or planted directly in the ground, though some you might want to keep in a pot as they are not good at staying in their designated areas.

These are a few of my favorite herbs to grow:
Basil: Fresh basil is really one of the greatest things. Its a wonderful addition to a variety of dishes, not the least of which is homemade pesto. Yum. Basil is a bit sensitive to the cold so if you live in a cold area you may want to plant it in a pot so you can bring it inside on especially cold nights. If you do plant it outside, pick a nice sunny spot. Also pinch off flowers to keep stems producing flavorful leaves instead of becoming woody.

Rosemary: Rosemary likes sun and should not be over watered. It is also a bit sensitive to cold and may be better kept in a pot so it can be brought inside on cold nights. If you do grow rosemary outside the plant can grow to be quite large. Rosemary can be used fresh or dried and is wonderful sprinkled on pizza dough or put in some olive oil with some Parmesan and eaten with some crusty bread.

Thyme: This one is is a great addition to a chicken marinade used at a summer bbq. Thyme is a low growing plant and is great for edging beds. It is a hardy plant so is generally ok being planted outside. Thyme is also said to be a natural antiseptic.

Sage: If you let it Sage will get large and woody, so cut it back regularly to keep it small. It is not particularly sensitive and should be ok outside. It has a peppery flavor and is great in Italian dishes. Its also a yummy addition to traditional Thanksgiving stuffing.

Lemon Balm: This is an especially pretty plant and it smells wonderful. You can dry the leaves to make a wonderful tea or put fresh leaves in fruity summer desserts. The plant is pretty hardy and can be happy inside or out.

It is my opinion that watching things grow and playing in the dirt are soothing for the soul, and its something I recommend to all.

Why composting is great

First lets talk about 5 reasons why composting is a good idea:

1. Reduces waste. Why throw away compostable items when you don't have to? Composting reduces the amount of trash you and your family produce.

2. Saves money. When you compost you spend less on fertilizer, water and pesticides for your garden. Your garden will also produce more which saves you money on food.

3. Its good for your soil. Compost is a natural fertilizer and enriches soil increasing its nutrient content, which makes for healthier happier plants in your garden.

4. Its easy. It takes minimal effort, so why not compost?

5. It saves water. Compost helps lock moisture into the soil reducing your need to water your garden.

It works if you live in a city apartment with a small compost bin like the one shown below, or if you prefer country living and have room for a whole pile of compost in the backyard.

bucket

Now here's HOW to compost:

Using the materials listed below, alternate layers of brown and green items in your compost bin. Begin your compost bin or pile with brown materials. Water each layer of compost before adding the next layer so that it is damp like a wet sponge. Start with a ratio of 1:1 and adjust as necessary. (see below)

Stir at least once a week and in a few weeks you will be treating your plants to some lovely compost.

You know you need to adjust your ratio of green and brown material if your compost begins to smell. Healthy, well balanced compost does not smell. Once adjusted the smell should disappear in just a few days.

Ammonia smell: There is too much green material in your compost. Fix this by adding more brown material. If you compost in a bin, leave the lid off for a day or two to allow it to dry out.

Rotten garbage smell: Your compost is too wet and is not decomposing properly. If your compost is in a bin, leave the lid off for a day or two to allow it to dry out. You can also add more dry material like newspaper.

If you live in a wet, rainy area like I do, you may want to compost in a bin with a lid or else somewhere with a roof so you can have a little control over how much water your compost gets.

Happy gardening friends!

Info found here.

backyard cottages

In an effort to increase the number of people a city can house without ruining single family neighborhoods, Seattle has been trying out backyard cottages.

As someone currently looking for a good rental, I would totally live in one.

These cottages are small. According to city code they max out at an 800 square foot footprint and can be only 22 feet tall.

Though its not required, many builders (like the one above) are opting to use environmentally friendly building methods and materials.

Despite their size, with the right layout these cottages can feel quite spacious.

Credit