I live in an area where the farmers have an unwritten rule where they feel they can do as they please; farming comes first! I was brought up that you treat people as you want to be treated. These two thoughts often clash. But once in a while they work out to your advantage.

photo credit: theresa_knott

One day I was walking on the hill and the farmer that lives beside me had been cleaning his field and old shed. His solution to the problem was to dump it on my property. I had two six foot stacks of old fencing posts that he had removed, rolled up barbwire and some old pails and wooden boxes. At first I was livid. Then I looked at the pile.

I had recently saw barbwire fence wreaths selling for $20 to $50 dollars apiece and the old fence posts would make great garden art. I could turn them into totem poles, birdhouse poles, or even decorative birdhouses. There were endless possibilities for the posts.

Of course I can always find uses for old metal buckets and particularly wooden boxes. I make small bentwood end tables using old boxes, small tables and funky bookshelves. I just recently made a few mini wagons, mosaic keepsake boxes and curio shelves.

photo credit: Timm Suess

I took a wagon up onto the hill and loaded up one of the piles. I had an art show I was entering with a craft section and I made barbwire wreathes for that. They sold as fast as I made them but they were rather tricky to make.

The barbwire was old and very rusty. It had a lot of the old barbs on it and I had to wear two pairs of gloves to wrap the wire and safety glasses for the flying rust coming off the strands. I had seen wreaths made that just wrapped the barbwire then wired it together. I started out with a wrapped base but wove the last several layers around the wreath. This gave it a rich thick look and was great for adding natural objects.

I still have a nice stash of old barbwire for projects and a few fence posts left.

I saw my neighbor just after he dumped the piles on the property and asked why he did so. His response was, “We have always done that on this hill. It’s the farmers way.”

So I nicely asked if I could dump my stuff on his land and his response was, “Well you don’t farm the land so it doesn’t count.”

I just smiled and said, I may not farm the land but I do have two sheep and six rabbits so if you dump items on my land without asking first I will return the favor. I haven’t found any piles on my land since.

Technorati Tags: barbwire wreaths, country living, garden crafting, old fencepost craft, rustic crafts

I love junking, dumpster diving or heading to the auction looking for pieces I can turn into art and garden items. It adds fun to the backyard and what you create ofter turns into a focal point for the entire backyard. 
photo credit: Valerie Everett

Last Friday I went to the auction. I picked up a vintage window, which I removed the old glass from. It’s the type of windows with the small panes. I will keep the old bubbled glass for fused glass projects or stained glass creations.

I put screen on the back of the window frame and added half of an old wooden bowl to the bottom. I can line this with plastic and plant in it or fill it with old antiques for that funky look. This will look good hanging on the back patio.

The item that I will have the most fun with is an old heater. It’s one of those small upright kerosene heaters. This one is very old but in good shape. Someone painted it a barn red and it has faded from age. What I like to do with these is buy the white Christmas lights that flicker. You place them inside the stove and the flickering looks like a fire burning. It’s a great look for a porch or outdoor garden in the summer. In the winter it adds to a family room.

I also picked up an old metal bed head frame. It was in rough shape but it will make a great back to grow small vines on. I can leave it plain or if I decide to get creative cover the bed frame with chicken wire then coat with a cement mix to get a stone look. If I mixed that with hypertyfu pots that would have a fun look

I paid one dollar for these items. I also picked up two baskets and some pots for the garden for another dollar.
photo credit: bestfor

With spring on its way, it’s time to think Garden Art and what I can create over in the barn.

I have an area I have named creation corner and it’s where I store all my auction finding and items to turn into fun garden art.

Technorati Tags: Creative Organic Gardening, dumpster diving, garden crafting, making garden art, old items, old windows, recycling windows, the gardeners rake

Keeping  a Garden Journal is a way to keep track of your successes and even yard and garden history.
photo credit: net_efekt

You can keep a record of your garden planting layouts to practice crop rotation, evaluate how you use your space and write down your successes and areas where you would like to see improvement. If you found a short cut or valuable growing tip make sure you write it down.

I use a garden planner called veg-grow to help me with my garden design. By keeping a record of each garden plan, its easier the rotate my crops and control insects and diseases.

By keeping track of your rain and temperatures you can begin to gauge when crops can be started and best times to harvest. My Uncle has recorded 20 years of rain, temperatures, and frost dates in his area. This is an invaluable tool he uses each season. Neighbors come over to take a peek at the journal and ask garden and growing questions.

Including photographs of your garden and yard marks history for you and your family. How your garden changes and new shrubs and trees in your yard can be recorded.

I usually keep the care instructions that come with perennials, shrubs and trees and add to the garden journal. That way if I have a problem I know where to look for the solution.

One year I let my nephew David have the lower corner of my garden to plant in. He played with trucks and bulldozer more than gardening but he had a small crop of tomatoes, lettuce and beans. He also struck water with his one excavation! (Yes, this was a low laying corner where I had a water problem.)

Together we layed in a water canal and it just ended up draining my soil and creating a wonderful play area for him. He still to this day enjoys gardening and I have wonderful photos of a 4-year-old child covered with mud.

The key to a successful garden journal is to keep it simple. Make it an enjoyable event not a task.

You can purchase a garden journal, use a scrapbook or make you own.

Technorati Tags: crop rotation, garden crafting, garden planning, garden tips