On May 1st & 2nd I was invited to be one of a small number of garden writers to take part in an all expenses paid event in Little Rock, Arkansas hosted by home & garden divo extraordinaire, P. Allen Smith. Knowing that Garden2Blog 2012 was going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to spend time with quite a few longtime friends and colleagues while spending time at some of the most divine gardens in the south, I graciously accepted.

The conversations that would take place over the next two days became the focus of so much of my attention. Information and laughs equally interspersed throughout this shared experience made it an unforgettable whirlwind of activity that left us amazed and exhausted.

Our first stop on Day 1 was the magnificent Marlsgate Plantation, private residence of the equally magnificent David Garner, Jr. As we walked toward the entrance from the bus, the air was electric with excited conversations, reflections of the previous year’s event and predictions of what was to come.

The grandeur of the Greek Revival mansion was only upstaged by Mr. Garner himself. Slight of stature but not of wit, David made everyone feel immediately at ease and relaxed, and his refreshments of merengue cookies and a special wedding punch “with a little something extra” helped us all to feel even more relaxed before we were given carte blanche to wander the extravagant rooms and elegant gardens that feel simultaneously old and familiar even to a first time visitor. It is easy to forget at times that these gardens are relatively recent improvements to this stately property, and in fact the mansion itself was in such disrepair at one time that it was being used as a barn before Garner and his dearly departed grandmother renovated it to the state of opulence it enjoys today.

One of the first things you notice about Allen is that he is a wellspring of information. He has a fond affection for history that he loves to share with anyone who will listen. Here he was sharing insights about his plant choices in one of the exterior “garden rooms” that adorn Marlsgate.

It is in moments like these, and when he pops up with a bit of historic or plant trivia that you realize why he is one of the best in the business. P. Allen Smith knows what he’s talking about and he never stops studying and learning everything he can. It’s a lesson that many of us could stand to learn and he is a prime example that through hard work and sheer determination you can truly accomplish anything you set your mind to.

I wish I had more photos to share as there were brilliant antiques everywhere indoors and lush greenery outdoors, but I limited my photos to just a few because I wanted to spend as much time focusing on the people I was sharing this experience with as possible. My friends Kylee Baumle, Carolyn Binder and Shawna Coronado did an amazing job taking photos and describing the time at Marlsgate. I hope that you’ll visit their sites to see more.

I’ll be posting more about the Garden2Blog 2012 event and the people who shared the experience with me. I hope you’ll comment, share and ask questions anytime!

FULL DISCLOSURE: Attendees at Garden2Blog 2012 including myself received transportation, accommodations and meals during the event. Event sponsors provided samples and product giveaways at no cost or obligation. All opinions are my own.

This recipe has just a few basic ingredients and proves that food does not have to be complicated to be delicious.

Red Split Lentil Soup Recipe

It is deceptively simple and makes a red split lentil soup that is quite satisfying. Even the most ardent meat eaters enjoy it and comment that it tastes like it has cream of chicken soup in it. I have been using and building on this basis recipe for 20 years and it never fails to please.

I’m amazed at the number of people who tell me they don’t like lentils, especially when I learn that many of them have never even tried them! This recipe will change their minds.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup dried split red lentils
• 1 small carrot, diced
• 1/2 small onion, minced
• 1 celery rib, diced
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or 1 Tablespoon fresh)
• 4 cups water
• sea salt to taste
• cayenne pepper to taste

serves 2

Add all ingredients to a saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 40-45 minutes or until lentils are done and veggies are tender, stirring occasionally and adding water as needed.

NOTE: If you have dehydrated veggies on hand, they will rehydrate and work beautifully with this recipe.

It is really just that simple, but there are other ways to improve on this base recipe as well. I have added whole kernel corn, fresh minced jalapeno, even diced potatoes. When in a particularly decadent mood, I’ll caramelize the onions and add them when the soup is ready to serve.

When do we give ourselves credit for making efforts to improve our lives, our world and ourselves?

I see the scenario repeat itself on a daily basis. A well-meaning person sees a news report, reads an article or skims a Facebook post about the dangers of [insert your choice of dangerous items here]. They are understandably horrified and want to do something to make things better for their family.

Perhaps they want to grow their own vegetables. They’ve read about all the chemical pesticides in store bought produce, the negative environmental and nutritional impacts of monoculture farming practices and the sad facts about food miles. They head to the local box store and pick up everything they need to get started. Excited, they post about it on Facebook or other social media. That’s when it happens – they find out they aren’t doing good enough.

• They shopped at a box store instead of a local independent garden center (IGC).
• They bought hybrid seedlings instead of heirlooms, or their seed isn’t organically raised by a reputable company.
• Their garden soil, fertilizer or other soil additives are made by a company with a negative reputation in some gardening circles.

Three strikes in a single shopping trip, and we wonder why more people don’t want to garden.

The same thing happens when someone wants to save money. They clip coupons and shop store sales, then they’re guilty of shopping at stores that they should be boycotting, stocking up on too many prepackaged convenience foods and generally feeling like a failure after spending hours of their valuable time just trying to save money.

I hereby request that we all take a step down from our chosen soapboxes long enough to accept that sometimes even the smallest step forward is good enough. We would all love the financial and health benefits of having a backyard garden that would supply all of our produce needs, but in 2012 it is unrealistic for the average person to be expected to invest the time, energy, space and resources required to make that happen. Can it happen? Sure it can, but few of my professional gardener colleagues even manage it.

A more realistic approach might be to see those baby steps as positive momentum. A small potted herb on the kitchen table for someone who has never had so much as a house plant. A longtime rose gardener giving up a couple of feet in their garden to start tomatoes.

Those small steps are often enough to give people the “gardening bug” we talk about so freely, but only if we back away from our own individual agendas long enough to applaud the effort and encourage them to find their own gardening groove.

Take steps to ensure that the good you do outweighs the bad. Everything doesn’t have to be good any more than every food you eat has to be listed on your diet plan.

If you’re aware and making efforts to improve, it’s good, and it’s good enough.

After living through the terrible tornadoes of April 27, 2011 in Alabama I wanted to do something that would make a lasting impact on those who have fallen victim to natural disaster. A few weeks later, an idea was born that is as simple as gardeners helping gardeners.

The Regrow Together Project works to connect gardeners all over the United States with fellow green thumbs who have been impacted by tornadoes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters. While other organizations see to the important work of meeting immediate needs for medical care, food and shelter, we see it as our duty to bring hope to our fellow gardeners and help them recapture the joy and fulfillment of the home garden.

The Regrow Together Project is about more than rebuilding, it’s about strengthening shattered communities by bringing community gardens to neighborhoods devastated by storm damage. It’s about restoring a sense of pride and dignity where they have been stripped away.

The Regrow Together Project is supported by an ever-growing network of volunteers around the country who devote their time and resources to be harbingers of hope when thinks look bleak. Nature offers us a chance to grow, but it is up to us to Regrow Together.

Simply repairing a building does not make it home. The Regrow Together Project stands to help thousands of people impacted by natural disasters across the country by making their houses and neighborhoods feel like home again. It’s bigger than planting a garden, it’s supporting rebuilding efforts by cleaning up gardens and landscapes that have been damaged or destroyed.

There are already projects underway around the country, but in order to organize and garner the kind of corporate support that will help this project make the largest possible impact, we need your help. I ask that you please contribute to our fundraising campaign to raise the money necessary to incorporate Regrow Together and create a nonprofit organization.

You can join us on Facebook to meet other supporters and state coordinators as well as see the projects that are already taking place.

Please help, and share this link with your friends and family.

One week ago I started using my new Worm Factory 360 from Nature’s Footprint. Every week I will be checking in with progress updates, photos, and videos about the experience.

To kick it all off we started with the announcement of a huge giveaway. You had a whole week to enter and now the winner has been selected.  Is it you? You’ll have to wait just a little longer to find out.

Throughout the week I have peeked into the tray to check on my worms and they’ve been doing what worms do. Eating and hiding. They’re good at both. In this photo we see one of the corners where I placed a handful of carrot shavings last week. There were almost no traces of carrot there at all in either corner where I’d placed them. I added the shredded paper two days ago when I noticed that their food supply was getting a little low.

In addition, I’ve sprayed the top layer of newspaper with a mister as needed to keep things slightly damp, like a wrung out sponge.

Out of curiosity I lifted the tray to check things out underneath. That’s where I found this little guy. Even though he was at the top of the worm ladder (that’s the name of that black insert), I went ahead and gave him a quick ride back home. He didn’t say thanks, but whatever. I think he’s sick of carrots.

At the end of the first week my worms get an A+. They cleaned their plate and even though I’m pretty sure they stayed up late, they never made a sound. That’s got to count for something.

And now the time has come. The big reveal. Who has won the biggest prize package ever in MEG history?

Congratulations, Stacy! You are now the proud owner of a Worm Factory 360 in your choice of Terra Cotta Red, Black, or Green and a copy of Amy Stewart’s fantastic book The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms.

Thanks to everyone who entered, I’ve really enjoyed the comments. A huge thanks goes out to the folks at Nature’s Footprint who have offered a special 10% discount to MEG readers for your very own Worm Factory. Everyone’s a winner!

Thanks also to Amy Stewart and Algonquin Books for their part in making this happen.

Stay tuned! A brand new sweepstakes giveaway starts on Monday!

I never expected my post on homemade laundry detergent to become one of the most visited pages on this site, but even a year and a half after I wrote it I am still getting feedback and questions.  That confirmed once and for all that I am not the only one looking for more natural solutions to things like laundry and household cleaners.

While we know how to clean laundry with a homemade and natural solution, and line drying our clothes is obviously more natural and less wasteful than using a clothes dryer, I had yet to tackle the realm of homemade fabric softeners. That changes today when we take a look at homemade fabric softener options.

There are two ways in which we use fabric softeners these days: in the washer and in the dryer. We’re going to take a look at homemade solutions for both.

Homemade Fabric Softener

Hair Conditioner

One of the frugal options I’ve seen for homemade fabric softener isn’t exactly homemade, but it will save you some money. Hair conditioner. Not the salon stuff, either. The big bottles are cheap and they work just as well as the more expensive fabric softeners.

Vinegar

Of course if you’re wanting to go more natural (like I do), you might try good ol’ white vinegar. A 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle will help to remove detergent residue and soften clothes at the same time.

Mix it Up

If you’re looking for something a bit more hands-on, give this a try:

• 6 cups Water
• 1/2 cup Baking Soda
• 3 cups White Vinegar
• Essential Oil (optional)

1. Add water and baking soda to a large container and stir to mix.
2. Slowly add the vinegar and allow the chemical reaction to do its thing.
3. If you like, add a few drops of a favorite essential oil, but this isn’t necessary.

use 1/2 cup per wash load

Homemade Fabric Softener Sheets

My main complaints about dryer sheets are:

1. They are made of polyester fibers or polyurethane foam, and that’s bad for the environment.
2. They are wasteful and though considered to be disposable, will remain unchanged in a landfill. And that’s bad for the environment.
3. The ones that work aren’t cheap, and that’s bad for the wallet.

There are several options for homemade dryer sheets, including these:

Aluminum Foil

A ball of aluminum foil will eliminate static in the dryer as well as (and sometimes better than) commercial dryer sheets. What’s more, they are the ultimate thrifty, environmentally-friendly choice because not only do they last forever, when you do get rid of them, they can be recycled unlike dryer sheets.

Make Your Own Dryer Sheets

Instead of those plastic-infused dryer sheets, why not make your own? All you need is a washcloth or similar piece of soft cotton fabric and you’re on your way. Fill a spray bottle halfway with fabric softener or hair conditioner and then fill the rest of the way with water.  Spray this on your clean dryer cloth and toss it in the dryer with your next load.

A few weeks ago I came across a viral video that was going around. In it I watched Mike, the founder of a new website called Dollar Shave Club, explaining what his site was all about and how it worked. How did a video on such a boring topic go viral? Watch for yourself:

I was so entertained that I found myself watching the video several times and sharing it all over the place. Along the way I visited the website and read  up on the offerings and though I proudly sport a full beard at present, I signed up.

Let me say up front that my expectations were really low. First, I have hyper-sensitive skin and most razors are less-than-kind to my face and neck as a result. That combined with the fact that I only shave part of my cheek and my neck led me to sign up for the lowest priced plan, listed at $1/month (with $2 shipping, the monthly charge totals $3).

Apparently the viral video caught the company by surprise. I received an email several days after I signed up alerting me to the fact that they were overwhelmed by the response, and shipping would be delayed by a few days. It gave a specific date on which orders would begin shipping and a way to contact customer service with any questions.

Here’s what came in my package:

• 1 shaver handle
• 5 twin-blade cartridges with aloe vera strip
• 4 packing peanuts

While I don’t shave my entire face, I do shave my neck. The photo to the left shows several days worth of growth.

I had not shaved because I wanted to give my new Dollar Shave Club razor a good first test

The handle is comfortable to hold, and the blades are very simple. All in all they were exactly as described on the website when they say

The Humble Twin keeps it simple. It wields nothing but truth. It’s like your old high school gym, before the class of ‘62 alumni donated $1 million and rebuilt it into modern coliseum.

The real test wasn’t how it looked, but how it handled, so I lathered up and got to work. The results were pretty impressive for such an inexpensive razor:

I expected my neck to resemble my knuckles after a fight with a cheese grater but was pleasantly surprised when there was no such incident. Not even the first sign of razor burn or stubble. The shave was as close as I could have hoped for without any nicks or grabbing.

For cost, quality, customer service and performance I give DollarShaveClub’s “Humble Twin” razor an enthusiastic thumbs up. For those who might not be so brave as I, Dollar Shave Club also offers 4 blade and even an executive 6-blade model for $6 and $9/month respectively (shipping included).

Dollar Shave Club also offers a referral program that earns a free month of blades for every person who signs up using a member’s unique referral URL. If you’re interested in giving it a shot, my referral URL is: https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/ref/zx9/2ypfu8.

With the generous gift of my new Worm Factory 360 from Nature’s Footprint sitting front and center in my living room, I was anxious as I could be to get started and the wait for red wiggler worms was almost unbearable. I’m a do it now kinda guy and I read the manual so many times while I waited to get started that I could almost recite it like I do with scenes from my favorite movies. It was worth the wait though, as I triumphantly walked into the kitchen armed with the tiny compost makers that are going to be my new BFFs, at least for the next few months while I give the Worm Factory a thorough test drive.

With the base and worm ladder piece in place, all I had to do was place a sheet of newspaper on the bottom of the first tray, presumably to keep everything in that tray from falling through to the base. The pile of stuff in the corner is bedding material that was provided in the kit that comes with the package.  It is a mixture of coir and shredded paper mixed with water.

I spread the bedding evenly in the tray and following the instructions on the included DVD, added a small handful of compost material (in this case, carrot shavings) into two opposite corners.

One of the points that I have seen reiterated several times in the documentation that comes with the Worm Factory is that the smaller the food, the easier it will be for the worms to eat it and since I want them to eat, these carrot shavings seemed like a perfect Welcome Home! meal.

This photo above is the first tray fully set up, with worms in place. I added the worms to the center of the tray and not directly on the food as I was instructed. They  moved to get out of the light fast!

Here you see the finished setup. To keep things moist I added a couple of sheets of moistened newspaper before putting the lid on and putting my worms to bed.

It felt kinda like I was tucking them in, even though I knew they were going to be eating all night long.

Because curiosity got the better of me, I peeked in just before going to be myself last night and sure enough, the worms had already made their way to both piles of carrots and were happily feasting away.

Don’t forget about the big giveaway that’s going on until March 30th AND the amazing Rockstar 10% discount if you want to buy your own Worm Factory!

Time for another update on the winter sowing experiment I started on February 17th with 7 Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato seeds in a 2-liter soda bottle.

The bottle has remained in its safe place beneath the wooden steps at the front door where it can be safe from overzealous winds and flooding rains while still getting plenty of sunlight. Here’s what the seedlings look like today:

As you can see, 5 of the 7 seeds have germinated and are growing quite well. It is important to note that we have an unseasonably warm temperatures all winter without a single below-freezing period in the past several weeks. Still, these tomatoes are already hardened off, meaning that when the time comes they will be ready to go directly into the ground.

I had a second soda bottle available this morning and decided to start a few Amish Paste tomato seeds using the winter sowing method.

Again, starting with 7 seeds in the container, poking holes in the base for drainage and sliding the top over the base. In less than 10 minutes from start to finish, this winter sowing / soda bottle greenhouse is ready.

Even though we didn’t get much of a winter, I’m excited about the possibilities of using the winter sowing method to start seeds as it is quite in line with the simple teachings of Ruth Stout, a woman I respect deeply and strive to be more like.

Worms have fascinated me since childhood and now I know why. Don’t get me wrong, I have read about and have a clear understanding of worm composting or vermiculture and its tremendous benefits but for one reason or another I had yet to fully embrace the practice. Then I received a review copy of Amy Stewart’s The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms and accepted my fate as a newly-minted worm guy.

If you have never read Stewart’s work you are in for a treat. It is no accident that she is the author of several New York Times bestsellers; the woman has a gift with words that is only matched by the passion with which she delves into her subject matter and The Earth Moved is so exception. Even those with little interest in creepy-crawlies can’t help but be taken in by Stewart’s unique edutainment voice. She can make the most boring science feel like the season premiere of your favorite prime time drama.

In short, if you weren’t a fan of earthworms or Amy Stewart before you read this book, you will be after. What? You don’t have a copy, you say? Well as it happens, I have one to give away, but not so fast, Speedy McFast.

See, there is more to this story than just a kickass book. The winner of this sweepstakes is also going to be the proud recipient of their very own Worm Factory 360 from the folks at Nature’s Footprint. The Worm Factory isn’t just a worm compost bin, it is like a luxury worm condo that makes worm composting easy, and free of odor and mess.

The beauty of the design is that they have addressed the two most common complaints about worm composting. Now you don’t have to separate piles of worms from their valuable castings (a fancy word for worm poop) and you don’t have to worry about the mess of draining excess liquid from the container because both issues have been resolved in this ingenious design.

The Worm Factory 360 is made up of stackable trays that make the magic happen. When one tray is full, you simply add a new tray and the worms climb through the open mesh bottom of the first tray to reach the food. A few weeks later and that first tray is full of worm compost that is ready for use and the circle of life continues [cue Elton John music].

So you’re going to receive a great book and a great worm composting kit – what could be better? I’ll tell you what. I am going to be using my new Worm Factory 360 right along with you. Nature’s Footprint was nice enough to send me one to review, so I will be telling you about the entire process from the beginning right here on MEG with photos and a special video diary too.

The book and bin will go to one lucky winner who leaves a worm-related comment on this post, so get busy – you only have until Friday, March 30th to enter! One entry per person, please.

But wait. there’s more!

My Earth Garden readers can buy their own Worm Factory with a 10% Rockstar Discount from our friends at Nature’s Footprint. All you have to do is click the link or visit http://www.naturesfootprint.com/meg.

DISCLOSURE: Review copies of all products included in this sweepstakes giveaway were provided to the reviewer (that’s me) at no charge. All opinions in this and all future review posts of these products are my own.