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Welcome to Day 9 of the 30 Day Challenge: How to Start a Vegetable Garden. Over the last few days, we've discussed the right type of soil to use in your containers, where to buy your seeds, and some tips on more efficient ways to plant your seeds. If you've missed any of these articles, please check out my Street Articles profile for a link to my website. I have a page with links to all of the articles in this challenge.
Today's project is how to make a miniature greenhouse.
Recycling at its best
In my area, we are lucky that our town recycles just about everything. If there is a recycle symbol on it, they take it. And with a newly initiated recycling system, we have one large container that we put all of our recycling in and it is separated at the recycling plant. A very easy way for our town to reduce the amount of trash in our dump and reuse more of it.
At first, I was simply proud that we were placing more of our trash in recycling bin than we were in our trash bin. Then I realized how much of the things that I was recycling I could actually reuse in my household. I now reuse so much more of my "trash" for other things that neither the recycling nor the trash cans are very full each week!
Pinterest = Reuse Ideas
One of the most fabulous things about Pinterest are the ideas for reusing things. There are so many useful ideas for things that you can make using things you'd normally put in your recycle bins.
This idea came from a pin I saw on Pinterest. I tried it, loved it, and now I want to share it with you.
Mini Greenhouses
Don't throw away your half gallon and gallon milk jugs! Clean them out, cut the tops - leaving only a small amount attached to create a hinge and use them to plant your seeds!
These do-it-yourself mini greenhouses are especially great for starting your seeds outside, in full sunlight, without worrying about nightly (or daily) frosts. Since the milk jugs trap in warmth and moisture, your seeds and seedlings are safe, even in a snowstorm.
Make sure you remove the screw tops off the milk cartons to allow rain or snow to water the plants. Also, make sure you watch your soil's moisture level as the days get warmer so they don't get dried out.
Detailed information about how to prepare and plant in milk jugs are available on my website as well.
30 Day Challenge
For those of you who are following along with the challenge, how are you doing? If you have your seeds planted, are they sprouting yet? What are you growing this year? If you have any questions, please post them here or on my blog and I will do my best to help you. See you tomorrow!
That's wonderful, AJ! Keep on keeping on. You're going to have quite a bounty come harvest days.
You're doing all the right things! Be ready for the unexpected. I'm sure you'll adapt to whatever comes along.
Mini Greenhouses, that's a great idea AJ and really easy to follow steps on your website too.
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I love the idea of reusing because it is shows a wholesome way of life - truly valuing each item. Nice article AJ, thank you. I have only just recently (finally) started a compost bin. Very rewarding indeed. What a fabulous idea for these mini glass houses. I can just see kids getting in on this activity!
My kids (and I) loved making these. Obviously, the cutting of the jugs and making drainage holes was all me. But adding the dirt and seeds was all them. I'm all about reusing perfectly good items if I can. Making a compost bin is next on my list. Trying to figure out what kinds of containment unit I want to use. What did you do for yours?
Great article AJ a good idea for using recyclable items. When we were on the farm and money tight, it was amazing what we used of normally discarded items and to do what. (Sounds french that last bit) But we never threw anything away it was kept in case, and somehow we always found a use for it.
So true, Rob. I keep saving all my plastic containers in various sizes with no idea what I'll use them for. Yet, they always get used for something useful - I find my kitchen is now better organized because of reusing all these plastic containers. My recent favorite - peanut butter jars. They are great for holding everything!
Always filled peanut butter jars, (glass that is) with canned fruit from the trees, and of course jam that Linda used to make.
Thanks, Al. With a small growing season, these mini greenhouses should work great for starting your garden! Then you can transplant them into your beds when the temperatures are right. I'd love a full sized greenhouse some day, when I have more space. For now, I will make do with what I've got.
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