Garden 2014

Each year, I take one step closer to having an all organic garden.  This year, I am also working on using all recycled materials to grow my seeds.  This is kind of a fun challenge for me.  I don't really see myself as being super green or earthy, but I like that sometimes, being earth friendly also is money friendly.  Yup...basically I'm cheap first, earth conscious second.  Anyway, I have Pintrest-ed a million and five different posts about different ways to reuse every day items for your garden planning.  I will be using toilet paper rolls (empty of course!) as my seed starting cells, salad/ cookie containers to keep the toilet paper rolls in so I can water the plants, and bio-degradable egg cartons if needed to plant seeds in as well.  So far, I have about 75 toilet paper rolls.  I have quite a few plastic salad/ cookie containers and I plan to cut those in half as well.  I think I may need only a few more.  I think I may be starting my seeds a little later than normal, but in Ohio, the weather has been so terrible it's really hard to focus on Spring.  Add to the nasty weather and my growing plant collection in my bay window seat....I don't have any room to put all my recycled goodies.  I purchased a little greenhouse shelf this year for $25.  I haven't decided if I am going to start out in the house with it or outside, but I think once I can safely move it outside, it's going to be a really smart purchase.  I've also spent a good deal of time talking to friends and family/ researching seeds.  I really want this garden to not cost me an arm and a leg, but I want to buy quality seeds.  Currently, I am just beginning to understand the difference between organic and non-GMO and made a decision to buy non-GMO seeds this year.  I got them from a really cool website and almost all of their seeds were $0.99 a pack.  Some may have a little less than seeds than normal in the package, but frankly, I just don't need that many (I will sell the rest of my seedlings on facebook like I did last year).  I haven't gotten the seeds yet (probably today or tomorrow), so I really can't comment on the quality yet, but so far, I'm pretty happy with the what I've ordered (I spent $20 for anyone keeping track of the cost of my garden!)  The website I went to was www.seedsnow.com.  Check it out.  I'll give you a better review on how everything turns out a little later.  Next up in my little process....cutting a million and two toilet paper rolls in half in anticipation of my little seeds coming! 

I have also started reading up on seed saving.  I'm in the beginning stages of researching the topic, but my interest is piqued.  If I can save seeds from my produce this year for next year, that means FREE seeds next year.  I will know the produce I grew this year is non-GMO and organic.  I love this stuff!!!! 

Oooh....I almost forgot....I am also taking a stab at composting this year.  Since this is so new to me, I've decided not to spend $100+ on a spinning compost bin and bought a 30+ gallon trash can that A is going to drill holes all throughout ($20).  I also completely accidentally came across a small, indoor compost bin at my favorite surplus store.  I was so excited...the day before I was looking at buying one on Amazon for $20 plus shipping and found the same one for $4.50!!!!  SWEET!!!