Ulog 88: Frugal Gardening- So Simple (And Cheap)- Why Didn't I Do This Sooner

So one day last week when I ran my weekly errands, I stopped at one of the local resale/Goodwill stores and found some fabulous glass jars and containers to add to my homesteading room. But I was also able to pick up a garbage treasure. I had found a perfectly good (almost brand new in my opinion) shoe rack and I brought it home with intentions of using it as a drying rack for my herbs

Over the weekend I harvested ton of oregano, a little bit of chives and more lemon balm from my flower and herb garden and instead of hauling out on of the dehydrators, I decided to test out my new show rack.

I placed four Dollar Tree cooling racks- (you get two per package for $1) across the area where you would place your shoes; then I laid the herbs on the cooling racks to dry out. For the total cost of $2, I now have another drying location for my herbs.

I cleaned off the herbs with some cool water and vinegar; then patted them dry before placing on the drying rack.

I have so many flower varieties and herb seeds in my gardening stash and I realized I wanted to add more to the gardens; as I have some space left, a few hanging flower pots and some extra large containers to use up for the season. So a few days ago, while Mr Golden D was working overtime, I set to work in the homesteading/grow room and sowed more flower and herb seeds. BUT instead of using up the peat pods that I usually use, I decided to use up some of the other materials I have been stashing away for the last few months.

I had dozens of the plastic containers you get when you purchase certain produce (ie. mushrooms) that I had cleaned and had sitting on shelf in the homesteading room and my mom had given me these plastic bowl covers as she had issues with using them due to her arthritis. These covers had been sitting around for probably a year now and I thought what better way to use them then to make them the top of a makeshift greenhouse for the produce containers.

After I watered the potting soil to make sure it was moist, I placed the seeds in the soil then covered them all lightly with some more soil and watered lightly before placing the plastic wrap cover over the container and putting in the extra grow tent. In a few days they will have sprouted and I can move outside to the greenhouse for a few days of hardening before planting in the flower and herb garden.