It’s been a long time since I’ve done a “Frugal Update” video blog-so here we go!
(Note: if you get these post via email and the video doesn’t show up, click here: Frugal Update 4-9-11)
Here are the notes to go with the video:
I mentioned several books in the update that I have borrowed from my local library and read: Carrots Love Tomatoes, The Backyard Garden Homestead, Fresh Food for Small Spaces (has the self water planter DIY), and Square Foot Gardening.
I said I want to try making my own self watering planter. There are a bunch of tutorials on Instructables-this Make your own Earthbox tutorial is similar to what is in the book.
I order my vegetable garden seeds from a few sources. Territorial Seeds, Pinetree Garden Seeds and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. You can request a catalog from any of the sites. Another great site is Seeds of Change-especially if you want organic, open pollination and/or unusual varieties!
I showed you my Log Cabin Knitting. There is a great pictorial tutorial on The Purl Bee for Log Cabin Washcloths. I used the same techniques on my blanket-I just did varying sizes for the squares. I also used a crochet hook to pick up the stitches of the new color-picking up stitches with a regular knitting needle drives me nuts.
I also mentioned previous posts I had done on growing wheatgrass, starting seeds and potting up my geraniums.
Thank you for the information. I’m going to try gardening in the small space I have available, and I appreciate the advice on books with useful advice. Were you using a very long circular knitting needle for the latter rectangles of your log cabin baby blanket?
Great update Jenn, It makes me want to garden, but I have one pot I am using for tomatoes since I do not have time to commit to anything else! Next year hopefully will be bigger 😉
The wheat grass looks great! This year I am goimg to start some seeds in my aerogarden and then transplant utside. I am anxiously waiting for the 66 hole tray to start the seeds.
Great video! Wow – Martha hasn’t gotten anything on you! Very impressive all of the gardening and knitting you are doing! How do you find time for all of that plus all the blog work you do?
I truly enjoyed your video and the gardenng information. I have to check out Square Foo Gardning. This is the second time today that I heard about tha book.
Lora-You can grow a lot in small spaces, you just have to make sure your soil is good and do some planning 🙂 Also, for the blanket I’m just using long straight needles. Even on the long sides that is working. . . but then again I’m just doing a small “lap blanket”. For a full size afghan or such you’d have to use circulars.
Amyrlin-Glad you enjoyed it! I think a pot of tomatoes is a great start. You could consider doing another large pot (or even window box) and planting lettuce. If you plant a few seeds a week for a couple of weeks you could have continuous salad 🙂
Cici-The wheat grass is fun, and lasts about 3 weeks if you keep giving it haircuts. Have fun with your aerogarden, but remember-different seedlings need different things when they get bigger-you may have to pot up the tomatoes while the squash hasn’t even started yet. . .
Robyn- *blush* thanks for the compliment! I get all of that done by ignoring things like the housework and laundry 🙂
Diane-I’m so glad you enjoyed the video. I’ll have to keep them up, eh? The square foot gardening book really is great, and if you google the term you can find lots of gardening folks out there talking about their experiences. Good luck & happy gardening 🙂