Spring is just arriving in my Zone 5. I am waiting for the tulips and other bulb flowers to blossom. Until them I enjoy my indoor plants and work in the greenhouse.

I found this video today and the cheery music and beautiful flowers remined me of the gardens to come and I wanted to share. Enjoy the video!

Happy gardening all! Denise

Several years ago I heard of a garden method called Square Foot Gardening. It was supposed to use less garden space and be easier to weed and water. I decided to look into the method, so I read a book and gave it a try.

I have been hooked on this style of gardening ever since. Below is a video on Square Foot Gardening. Each day this week there will be a video on Square Foot Gardening. You will learn why it works, how to make the garden and how to plant it. Whether you decide this is you style of gardening or not you are sure to pick up some great gardening tips.

Why I personally use the Square Foot Garden method

• Less space required.
• Easier watering.
• Fewer weeds.
• Insects are easier to control.
• I can rotate more crops thus make better use of the space.
• The unused beds are ready to use or reuse with very little work

Things I do differently with my square foot garden beds than in the video.

• I use wire underneath the raised bed to help prevent mole problems.
• I use a higher bed. It’s easier on the back. I also make my beds 3 foot wide by 5 foot long. Its easier for me to work this size bed.
• I use more compost in the bottom of the bed. I use about 8 inches. This is because of my higher frame.
• I build in areas to put posts on the sides of the bed frames. This gives me the option to use plastic as a cold frame in the spring and fall. It also lets me cover new crops to protect them from the hot sun.

The raised beds take a little more time to make. But once they are assembled I think you save time in the garden and the garden area is very neat looking and is easy to mow around. I have also found the raised beds discourage some garden pests like rabbits. (If you have a determined rabbit I have a solution for that too)

Enjoy the video series and if you have a question just ask.

There are many ways to dye items using natural items such as flowers and vegetables, flowers and fruits. It is a cheap, fun and interesting way to dye. The colors you get are colors you don’t see in the dyes you buy is stores.

This video shows how to use a vegetable (red cabbage) to make a dye. I also have instruction for flowers and fruits below and a website is included for using natural items to get certain colors.

Items needed
Old Nylon Stockings
Flowers
fruit
vegetables (I use vegetables not quite up to table quality)
bowls and a potato masher (for fruits)
Cookie Sheets
Stockpots
fixative

I use onions, cabbage, corn silk, I also use natural items such as bark, dirt, clay and various grasses.

Flowers

Dry the flowers in a single layer in a cool oven setting – about 150 degrees F. When they are dry to the touch they can be removed form the oven. Note: There are some flowers that work better when they are fresh and not dried, dandelions is one example.
Put the blossoms in a nylon stocking and tie the top shut.
Cover the flowers with cold water in a stockpot.
Bring the water to a low boil for about ½ hour.
Check the color of the water and when you like the look remove the pot from the heat and remove the flowers. (I add the flower to my compost pile)
To get a color that lasts during washing and over time you need to use a fixative. Alum is one popular fixative and can be bought in the gocery store.

Fruits

Crush berries or grapes in a bowl with a potato masher. Berries seem to work the best in fruits but I have had moderate success with other fruits such as peaches. I also crush small amount of fruit at a time. Its just easier to crush in smaller bunches.
Fill a nylon stocking with the fruit carefully making sure its over a bowl or the stockpot. The fruit will be very juicy and messy. Tie the top of the stocking with string to close it or in a knot.

Soak the fruit for 8 to 12 hours in the stockpot that is half full of room temperature water.
Bring the waterand fruit to a boil for about an hour.
Remove the fruit and nylon stocking.

Add a fixative and use the water for dyeing. You can either use the water as is or dilute it for a softer color.

Natural dying is a fun project. Kids love it and the colors are more artistically pleasing. Give it a try. I am sure you’ll be pleased with the results.

Natural dyes have a softer more natural look. They are also a little more unpredictable in the color outcome so for those who like to experiment it’s a great way to dye items. I have used natural dyes on material, homemade paper for painting and on Easter eggs.

As you experiment more you will find different colors and color combinations. Below is a site with more information on natural dyes and the colors you can expect to get.

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/naturaldyes.html