Raised Bed Garden Ideas and a Bucket Instructable Preview

Thank God it's Saturday. It's been a busy week and there have been lots of places to be.

Today, there are lots of things to do, but not as many places to be. Ahhh...

So let's talk gardening. Last year the garden was a high point for me. A chance to learn, to experiment, to build, to enjoy, and to marvel. Hoping for more of that this year.

Last summer's attempt at a raised bed

How about you? Does digging in the dirt appeal to you? Are you like me and do not know what the heck you're doing? Do you have terrible soil? Are you concerned about drought? Do you just really want some really really local food?

If you are a beginner, a great place to start is raised bed gardening. You can start very little or go really big. You can go ready-made or DIY. You can go new or recycled. The idea is pretty simple - create a box frame, fill it with good soil, and start gardening. Okay, there's a little more to it, but not a lot. It gives you better soil control, better weed control, and better insect control.

Here are three links to get you started:

Green Living Ideas: Ready-Made Raised Bed Garden Kits for Organic Gardeners

If the Flintstones had a raised bed garden

For my wine-slurping friends

Green Living Ideas: 10 Easy Raised Bed Garden Ideas to Dream about for Spring

My personal favorite is the Food-Is-Free Project Self-Wicking Raised Bed Garden

A preview of the next MH Instructable

Speaking of self-wicking, I am jumping into my next gardening adventure, a self-wicking pickle bucket container. (For me, if it ain't recycled and doesn't require tools, instructions, and a bit of cursing, it just ain't gardening.) I am moving slowly on a greenhouse, but the buckets can move into the greenhouse if  I ever get it built.

May you enjoy the fruits and vegetables of your labor soon!

Lubbock on a Bike: Two Great Videos for Bike Commuting

It's been a carbon news whirlwind for me lately. All of the news about Exxon cover ups and Keystone pipeline shenanigans and a little bill called Keep it in the Ground. It's given me a lot of motivation to strengthen my own quest for personal carbon reduction. And the biggest part of that is transportation. It's been a good week for that - I rode a bike to work four days this week. My body is a little tired but my spirit is greatly lifted.

In case you crave some of that good feeling but do not know where to start, here are two videos to encourage and educate your inner cyclist.

 

How to bike in the city (tips for the bicycle curious)

 

This video, by the way, is from Grist

 

If you've been hanging around here much, you know that I am a bit obsessed with hauling stuff on a bike and hanging out with my favorite canines, I offer you this video from Mind the Gap:

 

URBAN BIKING: The Art of Carrying Things by Bike

And in case you are looking for cleaner forms of transport but the bike is just not the answer for you, here is a great (and very comprehensive) Green Living Ideas article to let you know what's out there.

Green Living Ideas: What is Alternative Transportation?

May your spirit be lifted by the way your body is transported, and may your carbon be reduced.