March 1st - Garden Time!

The weather is becoming beautiful here in Central Indiana! Because of this, my natural urge to toss out the junk is going into overdrive (decluttering our life post to come!). With this comes the urge to bring in the new, ie gardening!

Since it's still awfully chilly at night and the threat of frost is not yet gone, we're going to be trying a new way to start seeds. We've been saving all of our plastic milk jugs (wash, rinse, dry, and put aside) just for this occasion.

Here is what you do:

1. Wash your plastic milk jugs with a gentle detergent, allow to dry completely - toss cap
2. Cut the top of the plastic jugs off - above the handle right where it begins to taper to the cap
3. Poke several drainage holes in the bottom of the plastic jug
4. Fill the bottom (about an inch deep) with small stone - gravel
5. Place about 6 inches of a seed starter/potting soil combo in the plastic jug
6. Plant your seeds per directions on the seed packet (depth and distance apart)
7. Duct tape the top section back in place
8. Set outside in an area that gets plenty of sunlight
9. Water per directions on seed packet

Once your seedlings have grown and need more room, remove the top section. These plastic jugs act as your seeds' personal greenhouse! When your garden plot is ready and the climate is temperate for your plants (or when your seedlings outgrow their greenhouses) simply transplant the young plants to their new home in your garden!