I know it is hard to tell if this warm weather is here to stay, but it has got me chomping at the bit to start gardening. As if the universe is encouraging me, I keep stumbling onto ingenious gardening solutions.
The first thiing to pop up on my radar was an awesome gardening system in the form of a planter from Earthbox. The Earthbox is really a complete kit to get you going (and growing), whether it is on a rooftop, deck, fire escape, or backyard. The system comes complete with a planter, aeration screen, water fill tube, mulch covers, potting soil, fertilizer, dolomite and instructions, so once it arrives you can get right to work. One of the things that really stands out about the Earthbox system is the unique watering system. The planter holds three gallons of water in a resevoir at the bottom, allowing plants to absorb water as needed and cutting down on the frequency with which you have to remember to water! (I am also a big fan of the casters that come with the kit. I don't know about you, but I want to be able to roll my plants around if for no other reason than to hide behind them while spying on friends and neighbors!)
Another favorite is the super cool wall gardening system from Woolly Pocket. Woolly Pocket describes their product as flexible, breathable, and modular gardening containers that can be used both indoors and out. I describe them as super duper cool. I can't wait to start my herb garden on my kitchen wall, and if that weren't cool enough... they are made from recycled plastic bottles!
Now, for what may be the project that started me off on this green thumb kick... A couple moths ago I purchased a mushroom growing kit from River Valley Ranch.
I have wanted to grow mushrooms for a while now, so I was pretty excited to get the project under way, but I had no idea what to expect! After a simple set up and a little time I started to see the fruits fungus of my labor. It has been amazing - I always, ALWAYS have fresh mushrooms now, and it is hard to believe, but you have not tasted a mushroom until you eat one that has just been picked - it is like nothing you have tasted before. It turns out, homegrown mushrooms are superior to store-bought the same way homegrown tomatoes are. Who knew?
What are your gardening plans for the summer? Tell us all about them... if we like them maybe we will send you some seeds!