The Garden Shedde

Recently, I saw a beautiful yard that had used pergolas and arbors to establish a palace look in the backyard.  They had used several different kinds and types of pergolas; two made of cedar; one of vinyl and the other features were a variety of arbors made of aluminum, cedar, lattice, vinyl and iron.  They were all placed at different elevations within the overall structure of the yard.  From one to another were a series of pathways using different types of paving stones and brick that were beautifully manicured with an assortment of flowers, shrubs and trees.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that all of the garden features and structures were purchased online and came as kits that they had put together and installed themselves.  Even the largest of the cedar pergolas was a pergola kit.  The yard looked like it had to have taken a landscape designer and company to get this done and I was totally taken back at what could be done with a wonderful imagination and some sweat equity in a yard.  Wonderfully Beautiful!

There are so many wonderful things to choose from that can enhance the experience in your yard and garden.  They range from some incredible large features like pergolas and arbors to the wonderful variety of garden benches and outdoor furniture that allow you to create delightful organic areas in and around your patio and yard.  It’s just so much fun!

Add to that the small touches you can add from garden gnomes, gazing balls and shepherd hooks that allow you to hang all of your favorite plants to outdoor lighting options that both amaze and amuse you.  There is just nothing you cannot do these days to make your yard and garden the perfect outdoor living space for you and your family.  Get started and have a great time doing it!

You hear people talk about “going green” all the time and what you find is all they end up doing is changing their light bulbs to the new and highly better florescent bulbs and recycle whenever it’s convenient.  This is a great start; however, it is not going to change the world as we know it.  What does have the potential to change the world is plants and lots of them.  We can offset the CO2 output by planting trees and other plants throughout our cities and one of the best and inexpensive ways to do this is the use of greenhouses.

Greenhouses come in many different sizes and are made from different materials.  Most residences use greenhouse kits because they are portable.  They are very easy to put together and install and allow you to grow flowers, vegetables and herbs as well as all kinds of other plants and trees on a year round basis.  You just can’t beat having a greenhouse to make it a better world for you, your family and the environment.  For those of you that don’t have a lot of space or live in a condo, you can use a mini greenhouse.  Let’s make a better world and really go green and utilize greenhouses!

Every once in a while you run across and great resource that you just want to share with everyone you come in contact with.  Well, I have found such a resource at GardenGuides.com.  This website is divided into sections to help you get right ot your topic as quickly as possible.

The topics right off the bat are Garden Plants; Garden How-Tos; Garden Resources, Garden Pests; and Garden Supplies.  Another great resource is the Garden Community Section and the Garden Forums where you can find answers to most any garden related question you may ever have.  It’s just a great place to start no matter if you are a garden pro or a beginner.

I don’t know about your house, but around ours, my children know more about ways to save our planet and live a greener lifestyle than I do.  They are great about recycling, and they have even made suggestions for ways to save energy around our home, like fluorescent lighting.  But we want to teach them that, while those actions are important, a green lifestyle is much more.  Really learning to appreciate the earth and its inter-related systems means getting out in the garden or the greenhouse, and making things grow!

As we have become involved in growing our own food, our kids have learned that if you treat living things with respect, they will often give you back even more in return.  Each time our dinner table includes vine-ripe tomatoes that they had a hand in planting and raising and picking, it reaffirms the life-sustaining values we want to instill in them as responsible planetary citizens.  Who knew a delicious, greenhouse tomato could accomplish so much!

During these somewhat difficult times, it’s always wise to think of Christmas as more than a time to give gifts that people and children will never use.  You may tend to give gifts that you would have fun with or would use, not them.

My son recently told me to not give my grandson toys anymore because he never plays with them.  So this year I am going in what may seem to be a very radical direction.  I am getting my grandson, son and daughter-in-law a garden greenhouse.  I know they have had a tremendous problem making ends meet with the high cost in gas and food.  This will give them a way to help themselves this year and for years to come.

It may be a very untraditional gift but these are untraditional times.  More and more I am convinced that we all need to participate in helping ourselves through sustainable living practices.  I can’t think of a better way to help my kids and grandkids than giving them a way to help themselves.

My wife and I were just watching the news when a piece came on about urban farming.  Of course I was glued to the tube at that point. 

Will Allen, a former NBA star, is CEO of Growing Power, a company that has developed an urban farm right in the middle of Milwaukee, WI on 2 acres of urban land.  What really caught my eye was his method of farming fish along with growing vegetables.  The water from the fish tanks is routed to the plants that filter the water and then the fresh run off goes back into the fish tank.  The ultimate in going green! 

I am incredibly impressed with Mr. Allen’s entire process of farming in an urban neighborhood.  He is able to sell an entire weeks worth of vegetables to the inner city neighborhood for a family of four at the price of $16.00!  Talk about taking care of people who need it the most. 

It was also heartening to see that other land owners of inner city land are coming to Growing Power to emulate the process in their neighborhoods.  This is going green at its very best!

Fall is one of the perfect times to build or buy a cold frame to extend the growing season.  Using a cold frame is really very easy as you use a cover to protect the plants at night from the cold and accentuate the heat during the day being careful not to burn or overdo it.

This is a great way to have fresh produce well into late fall and early winter.  Most cold frames can be moved or built to suit whatever condition you are faced with.  For example; this next week I am building a cold frame to use on my front porch and since I need an unusual shape, I can build what I need.  It is just as economical to purchase a cold frame in standard shapes and sizes.

For a look that’s a bit different, consider a lattice fence out of rather than regular slat fencing. A lattice fence made out of cedar is perfect for areas where you want blooming vines and flowers to climb, as the lattice gives them something to hold onto.  Some of these plants will really take off and grow to great heights if up against a wall.

If you live in warmer climates, surround your carport with lattice or put it up between you and your neighbor, and let jasmine, bougainvillea, or any climbing plant create a year-round living privacy screen for your home.  Combining a lattice fence with trellises can make a wonderful combination.

These fences are rather easy to install and available at BevoWorks.com.  These lattice fences can have intricate designs that will add a special look to the outside of your home and lawn. It can be put around the bottom of your deck to keep out squirrels or bunnies as well as it still allows air to circulate.  Lattice is the perfect answer for any place where you want a unique and charming fence.

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As the days get shorter and the air gets cooler, it is the perfect time to take a good look at those plants that stay outside throughout the spring and summer but winter inside your home.  It is easy to miss how much these plants grow during that time.  If you’re not careful, they may have outgrown the planter they are currently in and will need to be transplanted before bringing them in for the winter months.

One of the best choices that work for both indoor and outdoor use is cedar wood planters.  What makes these planters such a great choice is the fact they are made from Western Red Cedar.  This natural wood contains a type of oil that helps repel bugs and water from getting into the wood.  With a good coat of sealer this planter will last a long time and continue to look great.

Of course, if you need to transplant one or more plants you will need to get containers that are 1 ½ as big as the current pot along with some good potting soil.  It is also good to transplant the plants before you move them in so the shock of their new planter will not be exacerbated by the shock of coming indoors.

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