Safe Seeds

There is so much controversy surrounding seeds and Monsanto. GMO, organic or not, just a huge monopoly on seeds. Its really crazy how gardening has gotten to political. To garden is a political move. For health, for saving money and being thrifty, against big business, pesticides, mega farms and the hurtful environmental practices of them. Even if you aren't meaning a political statement it is there. One huge thing I believe in is growing from my own seeds. I know what variety I am growing, the soil it was grown in, and what company produced the seeds. Here is a list of safe seed companies to buy from according to the council for responsible genetics. But this list is not perfect and even some of the more popular seed companies on here have been under fire for not being as pure as they claim. One company I used sent me seeds I was excited to use, until I saw the seeds are copyrighted and I cannot legally save the seeds if I want. So buyer beware. There is still shady behaviors from the so-called good guys. To me this is totally against nature, morally how can someone own a seed? Can you own an oak tree? Maybe if that oak is on your property, but you can't claim all oaks are yours. I am hoping to save as many seeds as I can this year to be more independent and self-sufficient in my gardening. No buyer beware when I own the seeds. 13 more days until spring, counting down to a thaw so I can get in some dirt and start prepping

Gnome Homes of the Columbia Trail

Today was a beautiful summer like day, reaching in the low 80s. So we decided to take another walk on the Columbia Trail and check out the Gnome homes.

Liv loves looking in the homes (well the ones that open) and coloring in the notebooks left for people to write the gnomes notes.

Some are simple homes other have more elaborate themes, like a school house or a gnome having fun on a slide.

The nature sites are a beauty in its own, but for anyone the homes add an element of fun. It wonderful to see the hard work and creativity people put in these homes and scenes. And its more wonderful to see my toddlers face light up every time she sees a home and runs to go explore it.

Dirt Digging

Spring is finally here and I've spent the last 2 weeks with my hands in the Earth planting away. I have high ambitious this year, even though my garden will be mostly in containers. A huge tree landed on my garden during a hurricane and ruined most of the fencing and door, the tree is so large that it is still there. I've gotten resourceful and have many plants started in containers. Spinach, lettuce, strawberries and special heirloom carrots that grow fat, not long. I also planted beans and snow peas along the only standing side of fence left from the garden. In my basement I have started many seedlings. Some my little munchkin child requested. Pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, and more. We love watching them grow. Its a little science experiment in our basement. Home learning fun. Home grown yummies coming soon.

Lilacs in Bloom

Image via Wikipedia

When I grew up my mother alway brought fresh cut lilacs into our house from the 2 lilac bushes outside our home.
I am lucky enough to have 3 lilac bushes in our yard and all are now starting to bloom.
I have been cutting just a few at a time, since lilacs don't seem to last too long cut, and spreading them through out our home. This way I can keep cutting a few and bringing them in so my house will smell of lilacs for weeks.
The fresh bunch I cut today I placed right at the entrance of our home. We are having several visitors this week, so now when then walk our home the first smell they will notice will be the beautiful scent of lilacs. Not a candle fragrance or some artificial air freshener, but real fresh cut flowers from my yard.

I just love the scents of spring and welcome bringing them into my home, and then sharing them with my friends. Sense of smell with memories is strongly associated. When I smell lilacs I remember my childhood home growing up and my mom cutting bunches and bunches to fill up the home. I would not mind if my friends associate the smell of fresh lilacs with my spring home.

A Child's Perspective of a Lawn

Image via Wikipedia

This is the first time Olivia has been able to walk in spring. She loves going around a picking the dandelions in our yard. She get so excited and brings them to me and we smell them together. She loves the "weeds" the cover our lawn.
I can remember as a child making wishes on the seeds. My parents never cared that I was spreading these "weeds" around more. I never saw them as weeds till I was much older and told that they are weeds. I still don't feel this to be true. I love the little splash of color they give my lawn, but I do remove them from my flower gardens.

Last summer I was at a BBQ at a friend's home whose husband is obsessed with keeping their lawn perfect. They own the perfect McMansion in the perfect neighborhood so he is obsessed with keeping their lawn neat and green. They get their lawn sprayed often to keep the "weeds" away.
I was outside by the swings, which are near their neighbors yard playing with the kids. One young child said to himself "Wow" looking at the neighbors yard "look how pretty their grass is." It was covered with dandelions. He looked around the yard we we're in with a sad kind of look. "I wish this lawn was as pretty."

I just love the way children see the world. I wish adults would take the time to see what they see.

Ralph Waldo Emerson
"What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered."

Related articles

• Dandelions Are Pretty (mutterschwester.wordpress.com)

Walking in the Woods

Image by mararie via Flickr

Liv and I love just taking nice long walks. Today was a pretty nice day in our area so I took her on a trail in the woods. I love the county I live in. There are so many trails, for walking, hiking and many that are perfect for the walking skills of a toddler.
The trail we walked on today is know for its Gnome homes. (Next time we go I will take pix to post)
All along the trail are little home-made Gnome or fairy homes. There are also little scenes that are mostly home-made dolls or knitting. Most of the homes have paper and pen in them so you can leave a note for the gnomes. There are also in some little trinkets where that you can take if you exchange it for something.
Liv got so exciting leaving a note in the Daisy troops beautifully decorated home. "color" she kept saying as she climbed up on a rock with a pen and paper (so mad I forgot my camera!)
When we would move on as soon as she spotted a new home she would get so excited and run up to it.
I just love seeing the creativity and effort people put into these little homes. Some of the homes were completely home-made, some were garden gnomes, others were made of clay, some were bought homes but painted nicely, others were knitted flags.
I just can't wait till Liv and I can make a gnome home and place it along the trail and see what exchanges are made or notes are left.

Spring Has Sprung

Image via Wikipedia

I made a promise to myself to keep my home seasonal and fresh with natural scents, not candles or air fresheners.
Last week my local florist brought out potted hyacinths and daffodils. The hyacinths have not quite bloomed yet, but I can't wait till they do. They are one of my favorite smelling flowers and I have looked forward to them each spring since I was a young child. What is great about these plants is when the flowers die I can replant the bulbs in the yard for next year.
I also got a bouquet of tulips for our dinner table.
I love seeing my home getting ready for spring and brining a little nature indoors.
Once the flowers bloom more my home will have a wonderful, natural smell. All with out the use of chemical air fresheners and candles filled with artificial scents that can actually contribute to indoor air pollution, a rising cause of asthma in young children.
It is also nice to make some memories for Liv of the seasons. I remember very vividly as a child, these bulbed flowers being brought into our home before Easter. It was a wonderful reminded that the long winter is over, Easter is coming and so is the wonder spring weather.