Fun and Entertainment in the Garden +
Happy Holidays My Friends! When it gets cold outside, we can still enjoy gardening, whether it’s preparing beds for spring, planting cold crops or planning what we’ll grow when the soil warms up. We got in the spirit by creating our own version of Deck the Halls, and included some dancing parsnips! Lyrics: Deck the [...]
A versatile material in the garden, burlap is used to wrap tree and shrub roots, mulch growing beds, protect newly planted seeds. I love adding strips of it to my worm bin. Red wigglers will devour the jute cloth along with the food scraps as they weave [...]
The California Buckeye tree looks almost unnatural in the fall with it’s bare tree limbs and giant seed pods that resemble deer eyeballs! The smooth, chestnut-colored nuts drop out of their shells and onto the ground. Don’t eat them unless you know specific leaching techniques because they’re poisonous. [...]
See a real tomato hornworm in action in this quirky movie from Home Grown Fun. Little Miss Squash Blossom is faced with a ruthless garden pest, but there’s a twist! We can learn to live with the tomato hornworm just like we do with bullies and mean people. Sometimes you can’t get rid of everything [...]
The Tricky Tomato Hornworm Tomato hornworms are sneaky they take the garden cake for the most annoying four inch pest devouring heirlooms of any shape. …. They work at night in stealth mode speeding around your plants. You could be a tomato bragger at dusk and in the morn a victim of the Hornworm Dance. [...]
When you run out of garden space or you want to try something new, consider the burlap sack. These recycled coffee sacks will probably last one season but they can be plopped down anywhere and blend naturally into your surroundings. We’re growing herbs, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and potatoes. Lay them down, close them up after [...]
Until recently, I thought hay and straw were the same thing. Hayrides, barn floors, over-stuffed scarecrows and cows munching on grass – that’s what I knew growing up in Maine. I went to the Scarborough Fair and checked out the 4-H animals but never payed attention to the stuff. Now I know the basics and [...]
We created seed paper hearts for Valentine’s Day and these leaves lend themselves well to any special occasion – even to simply celebrate spring! You can purchase these in our shop or make your own and package them up in a nice handmade bag or envelope.
I’m planting herbs like crazy this year. Used coffee sacks are my container of choice these days. As part of my own research, I put together a chart to help me keep on top of when the seeds are supposed to germinate, proper sun requirements and of course spacing, something I didn’t pay attention to before [...]
Recycled coffee sacks make great planting containers because they look natural, drain well and can be composted later. I don’t need permanent garden containers. The bottoms of these sacks will rot out if I don’t put a barrier down but that’s ok with me. Makes herb gardening easy, fun and beautiful.
Don’t we all love basil? Not only is it a staple in the garden, basil just makes me feel happy. I know spring and warm weather are just around the corner. At our house basil means irresistible heirloom tomato salads, amazing BLBs sandwiches and plenty of taste testing by the kids. Why not warm up your sweetie [...]
Popsicle sticks work just fine in the garden to mark plants but when that creative streak strikes, use what you have around the house and found objects to bring new life to your labels. Tree Slices and Galvanized Steel Wire WOOD: Recycle your Christmas tree or other solid wood trimmings into garden markers. Simply slice the trunk [...]
We have a scrumptous, thorn-less blackberry plant in our side yard. We stuck it in the ground a few years ago and it’s done well. So well that when I put down cardboard for weed control the tips of a blackberry cane snuck underneath and took root. There are plenty of articles online about how [...]
If you’re gonna grow, make it fun! And why not a bit stylish? Last spring I made myself some cut-off jeans and used the remaining fabric to grow potatoes! VegetableGardener.com and Jodey Torpey of WesternGardeners.com got wind of it and wrote up a nice little article about the Spuds in My Duds. Our First Potato Harvest It was [...]
Check out our shop for a nifty new potato growing kit. We supply you with a recycled coffee sack and three kinds of organic, gourmet potato seed. Also read the story of how we got into growing potatoes in sacks.
It’s fun to rev up traditional recipes and this one for zucchini bread gets a health boost from flax seed and olive oil, plus a bitter kick in the zucchini from dark chocolate. October 4, 2011 by Cindy Ingredients 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon ground [...]
Check out these homemade fertilizers made from easy-to-find materials: Banana Peels - Eating a banana helps replenish lost potassium. Roses love potassium too. Simply throw one or two peels in the hole before planting or bury peels under mulch so they can compost naturally. Get bigger and more blooms. Coffee grounds – Acid loving plants such as tomatoes, blueberries, roses and azaleas love coffee [...]
What a surprise when I blew up a photo of a hornworm looking for detail on the caterpillar and noticed a mangled blotch of ‘alienness’ nearby resembling hornworm parts. We immediately called the FBI. No sorry, we made a quick call to our ultra-knowledgeable friend Kay and she explained that tomato hornworms go through 4-5 “Instar” stages or shifts where [...]
What kinds of worms are best for composting? Red Wigglers are the most highly recommended composting worms. Other worms that you find in your garden may not survive in a bin. How many worms should I start with? Recommend you start with 1 pound, purchased from a reputable worm grower online or in person. It’s [...]
Hi, I'm Cindy, Founder of Home Grown Fun. 
I volunteer at a humble elementary school in Southern California. I created a garden from nothing and funded it with my own money and the assistance of two kind donors - one relative and a nice lady that I've never met. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the help. I do everything I can to save and reuse materials. The students are so proud of what they're growing - and we have no raised beds or in ground plot! You can see what I'm up to on Facebook.
If you consider donating , know that 100% of your donation will be applied to the acquisition of gardening materials such as coconut coir, soil, compost, scoops, grow bags, seeds, plant starts and educational materials. Kids don't grow in small cups, they grow in repurposed containers like used burlap sacks and grow bags that allow them to plant a seed and harvest their crops in the same container. I pick seeds like braising mixes that grow quickly and inspire kids to love the process. They gain confidence, knowledge and skills that will last a lifetime! They connect with nature. For some of these students, it makes their lives better. They bring a positive attitude to the class and back home!
I promise to not use any monies donated to pay for my travel, labor or personal items. If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you!
Recent Comments