This is no longer an active site.
Due to many factors, not the least of which is the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, this site is inactive. It is being left up for archival purposes but is no longer being monitored.
Due to many factors, not the least of which is the current worldwide Covid-19 pandemic, this site is inactive. It is being left up for archival purposes but is no longer being monitored.
Make a Worm Bin!
Worm composting reduces the amount of household garbage that goes to the landfill. The bins are entirely rodent-proof.
If done properly, whether indoors or outdoors, there will be little or no fruit flies, gnats or odor.
Follow the links below to find the front and back pages of a great handout from the Hays County Texas Master Gardeners that walks you through making your own worm bin.
Link 1 : Front Page
Link 2: Back Page
If done properly, whether indoors or outdoors, there will be little or no fruit flies, gnats or odor.
Follow the links below to find the front and back pages of a great handout from the Hays County Texas Master Gardeners that walks you through making your own worm bin.
Link 1 : Front Page
Link 2: Back Page
Tomato Fence Stakes (Tomato Trellis #2)
Peppers on a Tomato Fence Stake!
You Can make smaller stake a cages for peppers as well – here, banana peppers are neatly tied to the cage. A simple weld wire screen on a stake, and you have the ultimate tomato trellis!
Materials Needed:
Materials Needed:
- Wire Cutters, Hammer, A Chop Saw or Jig Saw
- 2×2 Lumber For Stakes
- Fencing Nails (Sometimes referred to as U – Nails)
- 30″ High Welded Wire Galvanized Fence with 2″ x 4″ Mesh Grid (You can buy a 25′ roll which makes enough for about 16 cages for tomatoes, or 25 for peppers)
The Fence Stakes:
There are a couple of options to make or buy your stakes. If you are starting from scratch, the easiest option is to buy inexpensive 2x2x8 framing lumber at your local home improvement / lumber store (usually for around$1.25. each) If you buy them in the standard 8′ pieces, you can simply cut in half to make 2 from each board.
After using up the grade stakes we had on hand, we made the remainder of our stakes from scrap 2×4′s and 2×6′s. Running them through the table saw lengthwise to make 2×2′s and then cutting them into 4 foot pieces.
To make a sharp point on the stakes – we then used a chop saw (jig saw works great too) to cut angled points into the end of one side. If you angle all four sides – it makes for a sharper point to drive into the ground.
***One extra note here: Since we use these in the garden and around our plants – we have always used regular, untreated lumber. Yes, it’s true that it will not last as long as treated lumber – but if you store them each winter – you should be able to use them for a good 5 years. When they do start to go bad – you can simply remove the metal grid, and put on a new stake for the next 5 years!
The wire mesh is galvanized, so it will not rust and can be re-used over and over.
Standard Fence Nails work great to secure the mesh to the stake
Once you have your stakes ready – the rest is a piece of cake! Roll out the galvanized welded wire roll, and using wire cutters - just snip off 18″ wide sections for tomatoes, or 12″ sections if you will be using them for peppers.
Center the wire grid on the stake with the bottom of the wire about 16″ from the bottom of the stake. (This is to allow the stake to be driven in to that depth) Then nail in 3 fencing nails, securing the wire to the stake.
There are a couple of options to make or buy your stakes. If you are starting from scratch, the easiest option is to buy inexpensive 2x2x8 framing lumber at your local home improvement / lumber store (usually for around$1.25. each) If you buy them in the standard 8′ pieces, you can simply cut in half to make 2 from each board.
After using up the grade stakes we had on hand, we made the remainder of our stakes from scrap 2×4′s and 2×6′s. Running them through the table saw lengthwise to make 2×2′s and then cutting them into 4 foot pieces.
To make a sharp point on the stakes – we then used a chop saw (jig saw works great too) to cut angled points into the end of one side. If you angle all four sides – it makes for a sharper point to drive into the ground.
***One extra note here: Since we use these in the garden and around our plants – we have always used regular, untreated lumber. Yes, it’s true that it will not last as long as treated lumber – but if you store them each winter – you should be able to use them for a good 5 years. When they do start to go bad – you can simply remove the metal grid, and put on a new stake for the next 5 years!
The wire mesh is galvanized, so it will not rust and can be re-used over and over.
Standard Fence Nails work great to secure the mesh to the stake
Once you have your stakes ready – the rest is a piece of cake! Roll out the galvanized welded wire roll, and using wire cutters - just snip off 18″ wide sections for tomatoes, or 12″ sections if you will be using them for peppers.
Center the wire grid on the stake with the bottom of the wire about 16″ from the bottom of the stake. (This is to allow the stake to be driven in to that depth) Then nail in 3 fencing nails, securing the wire to the stake.
Tomato Trellis #1
Tomato Trellis #1
Here is a quick and easy weekend project that will help you to grow some of the tallest and best tomato vines in your neighborhood!
Better vines mean better and more productive tomatoes all season long!
Get Plans here!
Better vines mean better and more productive tomatoes all season long!
Get Plans here!
Garden for the Wheelchair bound
A beautiful raised, raised bed Flower Garden
My father uses a wheelchair to get around these days so I have come to understand the difficulties of those who have gardened all their lives but now struggle just to stand or walk. Many feel that they can not longer enjoy their favorite past time. They face the fact that their gardening days are gone, it is really sad. That got me thinking about how to help these senior gardeners, and with raised bed gardens the answer was simple! Raise the raised bed!!!
Wheel chair accessible gardens are the answer and friends sent me these great plans from Iowa State University. Why not help a senior gardener this weekend by building them this attractive and functional raised bed garden.
Get Plans here!
Wheel chair accessible gardens are the answer and friends sent me these great plans from Iowa State University. Why not help a senior gardener this weekend by building them this attractive and functional raised bed garden.
Get Plans here!
