The Importance of Buying Organic Plants and Seeds

Buying Organic Plants and Seeds

I was inspired to write this post about the importance of buying organic plants and seeds after partnering with The Home Depot Going Organic. I've received products and advice on how to make the best of my Organic Garden this year. We've planted a container garden every Summer since we've lived in our house.  Some Springs we started our vegetables from seed and sometimes we went out and bought plants that were already started.  There's something fun about seeing so many plants come from a packet of seeds.  It's such an inexpensive way to start a garden, but not always the easiest.  That's why often times we buy plants that are already have a bit of growth and maturity on them. In the past, we've purchased our plants from a local greenhouse.  We know that they … [Read more...]

Posted on May 5, 2013 by

Filed Under: gardening, Green, sitsgirls · 12 Comments

4 Steps to Planning an Organic Garden

Planning an Organic Garden

I was inspired to write about my Organic Garden through a series of posts after having the opportunity to work with The Home Depot.  I've received products and advice on how to make the best of my Organic Garden this year. From the very first Spring that Rob and I moved into our house {four years ago!}, we've had a garden.  He grew up with his parents always gardening and I grew up wishing I had a garden.  My Mom would set out tomato plants, but that was pretty much the extent of her gardening, other than beautiful flower beds. So, when Rob and I decided to put out our first garden, we had no idea where to even start.  We thought that gardens always consisted of tilling up land or planting in flower beds.  A little research online proved a new trend - container gardening.  … [Read more...]

Posted on April 25, 2013 by

Filed Under: gardening, Green, sitsgirls · 25 Comments

Sprucing Up this Spring with Outdoor Projects

Outdoor Projects Container Gardening

Spring is in the air!  We actually hit 50 degrees today and will hopefully again tomorrow!  There's just something about seeing all the buds on the trees, the Easter flowers blooming, and the anticipation of the Easter Bunny himself, that gets me a-flutter with Spring time activities like fun outdoor projects. Last week I shared with you a couple of choices of our around the house projects that we plan to tackle this year {and have in years past}, but I didn't even mention the many, fun outdoor projects that we'll do.  Some are re-dos, some are things we do every year, and some will be new because Sophia is older now and is constantly wanting to do "school time projects"! My Family's Outdoor Projects I know, we'll be adding to the list {we always do}, but right now we have a fun Spring … [Read more...]

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

Filed Under: diy, family, gardening, sitsgirls · 3 Comments

it’s So Easy… to make homemade Baby Food!

soeasy4

When Sophia was ready to start eating solids, I was a bit overwhelmed from all the information about making my own baby food.  The websites that I was recommended seemed old and outdated, not very well organized, and just like I said, overwhelming.  I was busy being a first time Mom and didn't have the time to research the topic as I should have.  So, I reached for jarred baby food.  NOT that there's anything at all wrong with jarred - that's all we used with Sophia.  Because... when I finally did try to make homemade baby food for her, she turned her nose up at it.  Fresh pureed carrots from our garden tasted a lot different than jarred carrots. This time around, I was determined to start Moreaya on homemade baby food, rather than try to convince her later that it was better.  I used our food processor and ice cube trays and it … [Read more...]

Posted on July 3, 2012 by

Filed Under: family, gardening, Green, parenting, recipes, Review · 3 Comments

It’s Time to Plant!

ebplant1

It's that time of year again... we're planting our seeds!  We usually start our seeds indoors so that they'll be ready to transplant as soon as we can, but this year we had to do things a bit differently.  We planted them directly outside because we got a late start. Last year, Sophia couldn't participate as much.  She watched as I told her all about growing our own veggies in our garden and what we were planting.  I blogged all about it! This year, she was much more involved!  She wanted to do it all by herself and I let her do a few completely on her own. We took our used Earth's Best organic baby food jars and re-used them!  Talk about being even more green during a green activity!  The jars were the perfect size for our seedlings and much easier for Sophia to handle and see.  She loves looking at "her" seed!  … [Read more...]

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

Filed Under: gardening, Green · Leave a Comment

What I Ate Wednesday

wiaw1

So, lately when I've been cooking dinner a special, lovely dinner... I often think "I should totally blog this!"  The problem?  Trying to wrangle Sophia + while I'm cooking + get my camera out and snap some photos to go along with the recipes = a hard time.  BUT today I had a special dinner planned and I decided to blog no matter what.  I was prepared!  Little did I know that there was a Linky dedicated to What I Ate Wednesday... so I'm hopping along and hope that this isn't the only time I participate! On the Menu... Honey Rosemary Chicken over Wild Grain Rice Crab Stuffed Mushrooms Zucchini Sauté I've made the Honey Rosemary Chicken before and it's delish.  It's a Rachael Ray recipe {don't judge}.  I did a boxed Wild Grain Rice.  I normally make my own homemade Crab Stuffed Mushrooms {will blog that recipe on … [Read more...]

Posted on July 6, 2011 by

Filed Under: gardening, recipes · 8 Comments

Gardening, take 1.

One of the ways that my family has chosen a green-er lifestyle is by planting our own veggies.  No, we don't live on a farm, but we do plant enough to sustain our family for the summer and are even able to can and freeze some veggies for the winter!The first step to our garden is planting the seeds.  Since it's still a bit cold here in Northeast Tennessee, we always start our seeds indoors.  You don't have to, but it gives us the opportunity to harvest sooner and when late Spring, early Summer hits... I covet those fresh, ripe, juicy homegrown tomatoes!Last weekend we had a few days of warmth, so I gave Sophia a little lesson on planting seeds.  She enjoyed snack while I got dirty. We planted Broccoli (new for us this year, we'll see how it goes), Green Peppers, Jalapeno Peppers, Beefmaster Tomatoes (for … [Read more...]

Posted on March 26, 2011 by

Filed Under: family, gardening, Green, learning, parenting · 8 Comments

As Organic As You Can Get – Preparing Organic Carrots

Organic Carrots

Sophia is eating food.  Not baby food, but food food.  It's a good thing I prepared for this... Last Spring, while I was 7 months pregnant, I planted carrot seeds indoors in our seed starting tray.  What was I doing on my due date?  Weeding the garden, of course!  Seriously, Miss Sophia was perfectly happy and fine in my belly and I wanted to make sure her carrots were weed free! Fast forward to a few weeks later, it was time to pull the carrots! Since Sophia was only a couple months old, she wasn't quite ready to eat her organic carrots yet, so I researched online about how to freeze them.  My first intentions were to can them (another thing I really started to pick up on this Summer), but I can with a water bath, which is not recommended for any type of veggies that aren't acidic. Preparing … [Read more...]

Posted on January 13, 2011 by

Filed Under: family, gardening, Green, parenting, recipes · 3 Comments