$100 a month

Wanted to point out this blog I've been reading:
Mavis feeds herself, her husband, and her two teenagers with only $100 per month so that they can go on expensive worldwide vacations!

I'm reading a lot of it! She doesnt have much information, but she provides tons of inspiration... it's all worth reading!
And she's always willing to answer any questions you throw at her!

Read for yourself here:


Some of the things I like are:
Getting free food
Save too ripe bananas & stop paying for frozen smoothie mixes
Tons of Recipies for potential future meals
Installing a Gutter Garden
... and more

to pin this post

Plant Tower

I am NOT paying my husband's hard earned cash for this when I can make it for MUCH cheaper!  

PreNote: only use soluble firtilizer in water, OR time release firtilizer premixed into the soil, (NOT BOTH!) according to the firtilizers instructions!

1) xs inner pipe w 1/8" holes, 3-4 holes per 1" row on bottom half, 1/2" apart on top half (so top half gets water too)...

pre2 Opt) if you want to paint it, only paint the big outter pipe, BEFORE you drill the holes! You dont want paint to get inside w the plants!

2) 5-6" exterior pipe w 1.5" holes 2.5" apart alternating up pipe {no holes on bottom 1 ft (minimum) - this will go in the ground so it doesnt fall over like these cheesy expensive planters will}...

3) wrap small pipe in weed cloth and secure w 2-3 rubberbands to prevent cloging...

4) temporarily cover end of sm pipe and place it inside the large pipe...

5) fill lg pipe up to 4th hole w WET soil, and plant 1st 4 plants....
6) fill lg pipe up to next 4 holes w WET soil, and plant next 4 plants...
7) repeat until full...

8) fill the small pipe with water (using a funnel helps), and enjoy!

I hate Apple Scab!

Last year... my poor tree...
I lost ALL of my apple buds to apple scab! They didnt even make it to 1/8th inch fuit before they all fell off, dead...

So this year I definately took some time to research "Apple Scab" (Venturia inaequalis)
Here's some good tips I found:

Preventing Apple Scab
 

1 In the FALL, Burn all of the apple tree leaves to destroy any of last years fungus! Composting will not kill the spores.

2 Start Spraying during the "Pink" (right before the buds open), or when buds appear in wet weather. Continue weekly for 1st month, biweekly in 2nd month, or until all the flower pedals drop.

3 Spray again after Heavy Rains (wet for 6 hrs or more)

4 Lime-Sulfur is a good Chemical spray.

5 CHIVE TEA Chemical-Free Scab Spray- cut a bunch of chives and pour boiling water over them. Let steep until slightly cool, then strain. Spray a couple of times a week as a preventative measure.



You should also check out Gabrielle's Blog Page for Homemade Garden Spray Recipies- Treatments for: Apple Scab, Blossom Rot, Downy Mildew, Fungicides, Insects, Pests/Pets/&Animals, etc...
Pin Her Recipies here:



Resourse Origins:
1 home-orchard-apple-trees.com
2&3 mda.state.mn.us
3&4 oldandsold.com
5 davesgarden.com- Gabrielle's Blog Page (other remedies available!!!)

Argiope aurantia (Garden Spider)

aka the Black & Yellow Garden Spider, the Writting Spider, or the Corn Spider

BIG & UgLy... Yes!
Dangerous... No...

This ugly lady and her girlfriend were hanging out at my kitchen door.

Argiope aurantia (Wiki info link)

They are so afraid of a human touching them that they violently shake their web and try to run away, they have no intentions of letting you get close enough for them to bite you. If you do handle one and it bites you in defense, the pain lasts about a day, with plenty of itching (unless you are allergic to the venom). All in all- Dont try to pick one up.

So why do I kill every harmless Argiope that I find on my deck?

Thier choice of food...
These UgLy spiders eat my beloved Green anoles, Butterflies, Dragonflies, and those kooky Cacida giant fly looking things (that our stray cat loves attacking).

I am fine with the little green garden spiders that eat the pests on my apple tree... but the Argiopes are not welcome in my garden... cuz it wont STOP EATING MY BUGS!