Companion Garden

The time is finally here. It's time to get dirt under my nails, old jeans, and work boots. Yes it's time once again for my annual garden. We bought our property in June of 2008 and are finally able to do a garden. The first year, I was pregnant with our twins and did nothing. Last year we spent the season working on the yard. There are lots of trees, and because of the leaves, there was no grass growth in more than 1/2 of the yard. There was also monkey grass planted EVERY WHERE!! I was able to get it dug up around the front trees, and also in front of the porch. We have marked out my flowerbeds in the front of the house, and have tilled those up already. Because of our soil content (almost all clay) we are going to get a load of bank sand, and a load of top soil in here. Because the beds get hardly any sun because of the way it's situated, I am thinking of using shade tolerant perennial's. I figure if I can plant perennial's and free will seeding annuals, then I won't have to worry about continue purchasing of flowers for the flower beds. Hasta's are beautiful, and there are so many varieties to chose from that are tolerant in zone 8b where I live.

Morning glories, roses of every shape, size and color will all make an appearance. I've got every intention of using our wedding arch as a garden arch with climbing roses to mark the start of my space. I can see it so clearly in my mind, and I'm so excited to actually get it started. I'll take pics along the way.

We actually marked out the garden space the other day. The area is HUGE by standard garden plans, but I don't do anything standard. The space is a huge 30'w X 40'L. It won't be just long rows, but actually broken up into avg 9x9 plots with 2' walk ways throughout. So each plot will be accessible from every angle. My compost pile will also be moved to be included in the garden area. I'm actually in th process of planning out each and every one of the plots. The first one was easy after a little research. Using the "Three Sister's Method" of planting; Corn, beans, and squash in one plot has been a common practice among Native American cultures. I'm in the process of doing research on perennial veggies, herbs, flowers and plants. Each plant has multiple purposes that not only help the veggies/fruit they are planted next to, but also many have medicinal uses. Our family is working on becoming self sufficient, and this garden is the first major step!!

Found a great article on grey water use in a self watering system.

This is the best video I've found so far. He walks you through from tub to flower bed!! It's a fantastic video, with great information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBMpaWq4EKE

When we build the house we plan on implementing his grey water system when we do the plumbing, and we are both excited about it. My husband was seeing $$$ going up in smoke when I started going over the extensive garden plans. He wanted to know if we did manage afford the plants to fill it, how in the world would we feed and water it. The answers rolled off my tongue from my hours of research. Filling it would be easy enough; all grown from seeds. Feeding it, well that's where the compost pile (I started last year), and the companion planting comes in. I started to explain how different plants, herbs, flowers and veggies planted in groups will have different effects. He zoned out after a few minutes and said well ok how do we water it. I told him eventually I'd want to set up rain collection barrels, and then explained the grey water system that I wanted to implement. He watched the above video, and then was excited and on board!!

Because we've got 3 small children and no fence around our property, it's nearly impossible for me to work outside by myself. To solve this dilemma, hubby and I work outside on a 4 day rotation. He works 4 days, and then has 4 days off. On his 4 days off, it's an unspoken rule, that we spend each and every waking moment outside working in the yard. The only exception to that rule is during nap times, and meal times :) During the 4 days he's at work, I spend my days taking care of babies and planning garden/flower beds. I know this seems like overkill, but I figure if we are going to spend the money on it, I want to spend the money on perennial's and self seeding annuals. I also spend a great deal of time researching herbal/natural remedies for everything from pest control to herbal shampoo and everything in between. Both of which goes directly back to the companion planting.

Summer Plans

Each and every year we say,"We are going to do a pool next year". The summer months come and then leave, and no pool. NOT this year!! This year I've managed to find the answer to all the problems in the past that have prevented us from setting one up. Are you ready for this:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/natural-swimming-pools-460908

Yes my friends that is a swimming pool made out of... Are you ready for this: A SHIPPING CONTAINER!! completely chemical free the way th Lord wanted it.

I will keep you updated with we start the project.

Back to Nature

How much closer to nature can you get if you sleep under the stars and live off the land? A nightmare to some, but to some of us, no cell phone, nothing electronics, no tent. Just you, the stars and a warm cozy fire surrounded by God's country sounds like a dream come true.

To live in a simpilar time has always been a far fetched dream of mine. To fly under the radar, and live off the land. Everything we need to survive in this great world has already been provided to us we just have to hunt and forge for it. Even at a young age, I've always been curious how the Amish communities throughout the world are able to live without electricity. Then one day it dawned on me, the lightbulb wasn't invented until what the late 1800's? People didn't get upset when the lights went out for a few hours, they just lit another lamp or put another log on the fire. We have all become so dependent on modern convience,what will we do if they are no longer available. Will you be able to survive if you have to hunt your own meat? What about growing your own fruits and veggies?

My hubby has said since the beginning that I was born in the wrong era. Old fashion remedies worked for centuries before modern medicine was trying to make a dollar. If someone told you that you could cure a migrane by rubbing a drop of an essential oil on your temple, would you still opt for a Dr's appointment and prescription? I'd personally opt for Chamomile, Lavender, or Marjoram essential oils on a compress, or maybe in a bath soak.

http://www.bagbyhotsprings.org/

Ok speaking of rustic baths. This is an actual bathtub located in Bagby Hot Springs, Oregon. It's a natural fed hot spring. I could spend hours talking about how I'd love to have just a weekend there, but I won't. The point is, there are are so many things out there that need to be tried instead of automatically being turned down.

I'm going back to photography basics (kinda)

No I'm not making my own camera, but I am going back to 35mm. I was given an old 35mm K1000 SLR camera with the lenses that I will post pics of as soon as I can find it online :) Until the house gets built and I get my own dark room, I am going to take it to a 1 hour developer here in town and just have the film developed.

The Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner is at the very top of my list of MUST HAVES. It not only scans 35mm film, slides (all old and new), and pictures; It does so as the name implies.. Perfectly. After managing a photo lab for almost 2 years, I am more than aware of the problem that dust and scratches pose for film and old pictures. This machine CORRECTS all of those problems. Old faded pictures, fixed with the push of a button. I'm really excited to scan all the old family negatives and convert them all to digital. All saved neatly on a removable memory stick. How wonderfully easy it would be to share old family photo's and history in an updated digital format.

So for now my Canon Rebel T1i will have to wait, because for now I'm goin' oldschool!

Kitchen Fixit's

For a family of 5 in a small 2 bedroom (12X70) trailer, our kitchen is not only in the physical center of our lives, but also metaphorically. Have I mentioned that organization is the key!! A good label maker is a must if you want to keep your sanity.

I found this picture in my search for inexpensive alternative backsplashes. I found something that actually shocked me. It wasn't wallpaper, it was actually fabric. How do they do that you ask?? Well it's pretty simple actually, FABRIC STARCH. I'll post directions when I get to the project, but can I say that I'M super excited to try it.

Bathroom Fixit's

The bathroom will be centered around this shower curtain. What you can't see in the picture is all the detail in the curtain!

The copper color in the curtain will make the silver fixtures in the bathroom pop in the small space.

Organization is the key to a clutter free space. Since our washer and dryer are also located in the bathroom, I've drawn up a plan to include a folding table, with shelves and cabinets above and below directly across from the washing machine and dryer. I'll post pics as soon as we start this project.

Bedroom Fixit' list

I'm all about REUSE, REHOME, AND RECYCLE. I don't see a need to buy a brand new headboard for $500+ when I can make one with minimal supplies. I will study a piece, and do numerous hours of research and figure out how I can make it better and cheaper!! I put the plan on paper, and hubby makes it a reality. We're a perfect pair!! I'll post pictures and directions as I take on each project.

OK I've got about a million projects that I've found over the years that have been stored in the back of my mind. Like I've got all the space back there right??? So I figured I'd post them in here (along with pics of my progress) to keep track.

THE BEDROOM

A picture in this style hanging over the headboard using the colors in the fabric. I can SO do this :) This is actually a Faux Suede Fabric picture with stitching that I found, very cool. Very calming

Hubby and I finally found a set we agreed on!!

Simple, yet enough detail to be interesting. See the true colors of the bedding.

Hubby will make the bed and side tables, and I'll make the headboard. Instead of the white leather pictured here, I was thinking of a dark chocolate brown to match the bedding.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the lamp on the right side table, so I'll have to find a shade that's similar and just stamp it.

A contemporary rug similar to the picture would be pretty cool if I could just find one :)

Modular shelving like this painted in the light teal and cream color will hold books, pictures and various trinkets. I'll design them, hubby will make them, we'll paint them, and he'll hang them. TEAM WORK!!

The last on the list, is actually the first to be completed. Hubby started this project after our current closet literally fell apart. The shelf in the top of the closet came down (well OK 1/2 the shelf), so I demoed the rest :) I'll post pics later of his progress.