I'm a bit of a hobby "birder" as well as gardener. One winter I made suet cakes, (lard, bacon fat, birdseed). I had them in cupcake liners in the freezer. My DH comes down the hall to bed one night after a "forage" for a snack, and says to me..."Wendy, those cookies you made aren't very good..."

All you've got to do is marry a gardener. :)

Pat comes from a family where at least the past 8 generations (and likely many more) were English market gardeners.

He may call the weed whacker a strimmer, but I can count on him to whack the weeds and leave the intentionals. A very large part of our life is focused on our gardens and it's nice to spend so much time working together out there.

I'd have a very hard time being in a marriage with somebody who resented my gardening or wasn't respectful of the work I put into it.

Lynda

Wendy...Yuck. LOL. Thanks.

OMG,I'm cracking up over here!Not sure if you guys mean this to be funny, but it is to say the very least,INTERTAINING!LOL,LOL,LOL
Carol

I love this thread. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a man bring home containers to me. I am married to a man who asked me last week, "Can't you go out there and cut all that dead stuff down to the ground in the gardens. It's dead, it looks awful and makes our place look like a dump!" Now ladies this is before the WS containers get out there in the gardens. I tried to explain that if he would look outside, the trees also look dead and don't have any leaves on them. That's what happens to trees and shrubs and plants in the winter. Did he want to go cut the trees down to the ground as well????

I hear harsh comments on a weekly basis until spring and new leaves start in the gardens. He takes this personally as if I am trying to make him miserable with my "dead" ugly gardens in the winter. Nothing I say makes a bit of difference. He really doesn't care for the gardens in the spring and summer either, as he would much rather have grass in their place to keep tidy. So if your husband is in any way supportive, enjoy it.

Oh Wendy that cracked me up! Maybe I should make some of those for DH. It doesn't matter that I've explained how expensive it is to buy the plants that I am starting from seed because in his opinion they are useless. (This was after he weed wacked my soloman's seal and two hydrangeas because he didn't see anything but weeds!) To him if something doesn't have a use you shouldn't have it. His only dogs have been hunting dogs. (He tolerates mine.) I'm beginning to wonder what my usefulness to him is!

Long-time single mom here. This can be very hard work and stressful because at times there are many responsibilities. On the plus side, I am captain of this ship and nobody tells me where to put the jugs or spend the $$. I suppose there are pros and cons on both sides of being single vs. being married.

I don't care that a significant other liked to garden or not, as long as they were accepting of my love of gardening. I could not stop gardening any more than I could stop breathing. My spirit would wither.

IMO, if you love someone, you should support and at the very least respect the positive hobbies and activities that they love, even if you don't share their interest.

Grow some tomatoes. Pick one this summer, hand him a salt shaker on the back porch and explain to him that THIS is why you garden.

I need to be cleaning house but this thread is so funny. BTW - I meant perennials not perinnials (my brain's in a million places). Keep em coming. Nikki

We specialize. I grow flowers/ foliage in my garden near the house, and my husband tends to our vegetable community garden.
Gardening is a lifestyle for me, including involvement in the various gardening societies and flower/leaf shows. Growing my own plants from seeds- I think he actually very proud of me for being able to do it and brags to everyone...
When it comes to hobbies DH does not object as long as I remind him once in a while that I could always switch to collecting diamonds ;)

Yes, I intended it to be funny. Sort of.

It really was a mystery to me. I've had my gardening stuff "out" for three years, and I'm always into it. In the last month, I had consolidated everything into one nice, tidy assemblage of "all" for ease and efficiency during the winter. Made it look better too. Maybe that was my mistake. When it was strewn everywhere, it would have been too much trouble to put it in the crawl space. But when it was all together, it must have seemed very easy to store it all away.

Truly, hubs is very supportive of all my craziness, winter sowing and all. He's tolerant of my obsessions, as I am of his. But he never puts anything away. So where this aberration came from will probably always be a mystery. As will his incredible sense of timing.

Token summed up my thoughts best...can't shoot 'em.

You are all cracking me up! Gotta love them. I say dont marry them. Keep them guessing. Yes I have been with him 5 years now. I have taught him to clean the milk jugs out after he finishes the milk. Yesterday he labeled cups for daylily seeds. He knows I have always wanted a cheap John Deere riding lawn mower. I caught him peeking on the internet. Could this be the year......Oh please Santa ps he told me yesterday I better go out and shovel a path to your milkjugs...Love him....

My DH has his hot and cold seasons when it comes to this WSing/gardening thing. He's fine in the fall/winter (has come to accept plates of drying seeds everywhere, saves jugs for me, lugs them to the shed) and is great during the Feb- April months of jugs everywhere. But come the warm weather (May-September) and he gets very cranky. Wants the decks cleared, wants to know "when will all this be DONE?", gets tired of hearing from me "no, I can't... (go to the beach, go in our kayak, go anywhere..)cause I have to plant these babies!!!!!!!!! I think the mess and the time demands are what bug him most, but he's a big boy and gets over it. He's very happy and proud to show off the gardens!

Nancy

Love this!! I'll let you in on my master plan. I "strategically" place my saved bottles on top of the fridge so that when my hubs opens it they all come tumbling down. When he has his tantrum, I just tell him that's the same thing I feel when his tornado comes through my once-nice house. Mua-ha-ha! Plus, then he doesn't mind when I take over his "shop" because I have given him back his fridge. Also doubles as a diet plan b/c I don't want them tumbling down on me either :) I will admit I am lucky in the summer. He says that my flowers are fine with him b/c it's less he has to mow (when last was that?) For added revenge in those summer months he has gathered an Arkansas army of mosquitoes to attack at dusk when I'm trying to plant "just one more."

Well, my DH (who really is a dear), used to complain about all my stuff about the yard. I'm famous for leaving pruners, spades, gloves, wheelbarrows, etc. all over the place. He's not a gardener, but likes it tidy. Since 2001, I have surrounded the house with gardens. Then there's that thing called a lawn, and on the outskirts of the lawn is another circle of gardens more or less. Terraced areas have been built and boulders have been moved. On occasion, he has helped with a boulder or with the planting of a shrub or tree, but that's it.

Two summers ago we decided to have the property assessed. The assessor showed up before we did and walked about the property. When we arrived, she asked of anything had been done inside since we bought in 2001. No, nothing. Only a new roof. She then asked for a photo of the property from 2001, and when she saw it, she asked who the landscaping/gardening company was that we used. I'll fast forward to the fact that my efforts in the gardens along with increases in property value in our area had increased the property value by 80%.

This year I had a plant sale. Winter sown plants needed division and I had too much of some plants. Needed to make room for the 'incoming' babies from this past year and this winter coming. It got so busy on the day of the sale that DH and DD had to come help. When the tally was counted, they stared at me in disbelief.

It has been a great summer in 2008. DH has asked several times if he can help. Before my first garden tour last August, he tidied up the yard really well and even helped during the tour explaining to guests how I raise Monarchs, do winter sowing, and make all my own compost. On that day I could really sense that he was proud of the gardens and what I had done. He may not have said it, but that doesn't matter.

He's an avid reader with hundreds of books in the house. I don't touch his book, and he doesn't touch my gardens. :O) Capiche?!

You need to add peanut butter to those suet cakes. Give one to DH with PB and see if it's any better for him. :O)

Although he would personally rather blacktop the front and backyards so he would not have to mow, DH is very tolerant. He says he loves to see me buzz past the window with a preoccupied look and little streaks of mud on my face. We have our disagreements (he hates the big rhododendrons in front of our house that look too tropical, and I hate the big maple tree in the front yard that makes a zillion baby maples every spring) but so far we are not going separate ways over them. Oh, and he is not thrilled with the jugs out in the back yard, but since it's the back yard and the neighbors all know I'm a garden lunatic anyway, the jugs are staying! By the way, he thinks you wintersowing folks are great.

Lois in PA

Well I say this is one reason to stay single. My S.O. lives with me. He does like the way the flowers look in the spring and summer. And he has complained about all the plants that come into the house for the winter, but he has learned not to be too vocal, after all my name is the one on the mortgage!!!! He does help haul all of my tropicals in and out, But I don't let him mow the yard, he would mow everything over and say he didn't see it. Once he tried to mow a smiley face in the front yard.....think he did that just so I would take the mower from him, it worked.

Mary

All these stories are great,

Rosepedal:
AAAhhhhhhh, how sweet of your hubby to shovel you a path to your jugs,give him an extra hug today.
Carol

Great thread!!

When I started five years ago (five or four? can't remember) Anyway, my husband was a bit miffed at the idea of shelves and dirt containers on our screened porch (which we don't use in the winter anyway...). But as soon as that first spring he saw all the flowers that were at such a minimal cost, he took a great interest.

Now, he makes requests - loves the verbena bonariensis and always makes sure I do Black Eyed Susans...

Does he like the mess? No, he hates it - but he tolerates it and PLUS he has no choice - I"m the boss!! :0)

Carrie

My DH and I both have our obsessions. He plays competitive scrabble and I garden. We both politely listen to each other's stories though I expect that he only half listens to my stories as I do his when he starts talking statistics, LOL.

DH does not volunteer to help but always happily helps if asked. He brags about my gardens and loves to show them off to anyone visiting us. He often makes dinner, timing it so it is ready when I am finished gardening for the night. And he never, thankfully, asks how much money I spend on gardening.

My first gardens here were two four foot square sq foot gardens. He suggested that I might expand to cover the bit of a slope that he found difficult to mow. Since then our lawn has gotten smaller each year.

I must admit I overdo everything. The only thing stopping me from putting gardens everywhere so there is no grass is that we might sell and move south in a few years when DH retires. Gotta keep resale in mind.

My DH could give one hoot about gardening. He gets "exhausted" from mowing the lawn. I haven't figured out how sitting on a lawn tractor can be so tiring.....

He loves that I have a "hobby" and is more thrilled that it's a hobby that costs next to nothing. And I've found him proudly showing off my flower beds to friends during the spring and summer.

He is less than thrilled, however, when I start a new lasagna bed............

This thread is great! Seedmama, I can just picture you rummaging around the crawlspace in that cold weather with a flashlight!

One of the greatest things about my marriage is that my DH and I give each other so much freedom. I really never had to give anything up. He has his interests, I have mine, and we never question how much money, etc. is spent. Obviously, both of us are reasonable, responsible adults, so if there did happen to be some very-large-ticket item or expense, we would run it by the other, but we trust each other to be sensible.

My DH also has hardly any interest in the yard or the house (inside or out). I could probably paint the living room pink with purple polka dots, and as long as he had a comfortable chair and a TV to relax with after work, he wouldn't care. Same for outside. I do pretty much as I please regarding landscaping.

He *has* started to show some interest in my expanding vegetable garden. I even caught him watering out there one evening when I pulled in the driveway from work! This may or may not be a good thing. I have to admit that while it would be nice to have a gardening partner, it's also mighty nice being the lord and master (lady and mistress?) of my own garden, lol!

My wintersowing stuff, for the most part, stays in the basement, and I bring it up as needed. I do keep a bag of potting mix in the kitchen throughout most of the winter, but he doesn't care.

There was one time when he walked into our office/guest bedroom. This is where I shred my paper for the compost, and I was behind, so there were several piles of paper. It's also where I rip my cardboard for the compost, so there were several bags of macaroni boxes, etc., waiting to be ripped up. AND, I was doing a program on WSing at the library, so I had a HUGE clear garbage bag of all sorts of containers and milk jugs,etc., plus some piled up on the desk. He walked in, put his hands on his hips, said, "Hmm, I see we're collecting garbage again," and walked out. I called down the hall after him, "Yep. It's that time of year!" And that was that.

Thanks, Seedmama, for starting a great thread!
:)
Dee

My DH will complain once in a great while, but he doesn't mean it. If anything he is a very good enabler of my gardening obsession! Built me a greenhouse, bought me a plant cloner, even gave me a bouquet of seed packets for valentines one year. He sees my gardens as an incomplete collection of plants. When I take him with to a nursery or to seed shop, he's worse than I am at finding new things to buy always commenting "well, you don't have one of these do you?".

LOL... so I guess I am very fortunate. Of course, it makes it easier for me to not notice when he's out hunting or fishing or ... with the guys too.

Since I not only raise ornamentals but also a nice backyard vegetable garden,I remind my hub's not to complain with his mouth full...I could be spending money on "Nekkid dancing guys"....LOL. I also grow to sell at farmers market so I am a petal pusher to support my own habit.

Peggy

My DH called me over to him the other day. He saw a garden sign in a catalog he wanted to show me, it read:

"This is not a garden, this is a Horticultural Masterpiece!"

LOL That is so cute. Thanks for the laugh...Merry christmas Nancy...Barb

Season's Greetings to ALL! What a fun thread to find on such a busy day. Like Maemae, my SO lives w/ me. Yeah my name is on the mtg but HE is the only one currently employed so it is kind of weird. He came to our relationship w/ more gardening experience than I but we have both learned a lot together.

What's working for us is that mostly I do the light work of WSing and planting out and he does the heavy work of turning the beds, pruning, and tending the compost. And we both benefit from plants I sell and the veggies we grow and put up each year. We would not be half as productive w/o winter sowing. Thanks to all of you for being here!

These stories are just what I needed, I've been laughing through so many of them.
Thank God I haven't had roommates for years now... had many of those in the past and hope to never have any again. I feel for you token28001, been there done that. My space is now my space! Wendy2shoes, too funny with the suet cookies... ooops mean cakes. tiffyz56can I bet with PB he would be back for more. lol. Seedmama you have alot of patience with your hubby, I would have found a large trash can to stuff him into and stored him away for the winter! Maybe that's why (in mid 40's) I still have never been married! My mom has told me through the years that I tend to scare them away,one after another. lol I think I just haven't met my right match yet. Hmmmm I think lgslgs has the right idea, marry a gardener!

Cindy : )

Too funny guys!! My DH(sometimes darling, sometimes not..)and I got in a spat awhile back, he went for a drive to cool down and brought me back 3 bags of potting soil as a peace offering, gotta love that!!
-B

Now HE's a keeper:)

My fixation with playing in the dirt began at the age of 4 when my mother taught me how to make mudpies with tin cans. I have been playing in the dirt ever since. Once I figured out that I could grow flowers while playing in the dirt, my love for gardening never abated....now it's shrubs, trees, vines, vegetables, and fruits. And when I found out that I could winter sow and play in the dirt during the cold winter months, I was ecstatic!!

The breaking point came last winter when my husband tried to heat up some leftovers in the microwave, and was greeted with a very large bowl full of dirt, which I had just finished "cooking" for my precious garden seeds to be winter sowed. The kitchen countertops and stove top were covered with dirt, recycled plastic containers and trays of newly planted seeds, so poor hubby had no place to cook or prepare his meal. He claimed he was starving. "Too bad," I said..."how about a bowl of this lovely dirt for dinner?" (me deeply inhaling the lovely aroma of freshly warmed dirt.)

My hubby, having completely lost his patience with my new winter sowing hobby, yelled, "OUT! Get all of this dirt OUT of the kitchen NOW!" And then he screamed the magic words I so longed to hear, "Go buy a *%$#@*&$@* greenhouse!!" And so I did. And now I have my very own "dirtygirl playhouse" where I can play in the dirt and winter sow to my heart's content. And I'm deleriously happy thanks to DH's suggestion (even though he uttered it in a fit of anger at my winter sowing mess).

p.s. Wendy....I howled with laughter at your husband accidently eating your homemade bird suet cakes having mistaken them for cake/cookies. Please let your husband know that he is not alone in his misguided snacking habits. I baked up a batch of homemade dog biscuits and left them on the kitchen counter to cool. I suppose you think I'm going to say that I came back to the kitchen and discovered that my dog had snitched one. NOPE...they were HALF gone and eaten by my husband!! I stared at him in utter disbelief (like how darn hungry can you be if you're crunching on dog biscuits??!!). I dared not utter a word, as I watched him cram another "cookie" into his mouth with the dog sitting next to him watching and drooling. And then he says..."these cookies would be better with a glass of milk, and oh....they sorta taste like chicken."

BooBooBearBecky

{{gwi:454835}}
"Never kiss an ugly bear nor dance with an ugly man."

Here is a link that might be useful: In My Backyard

Hi there Bearbecky, good strategy to get your greenhouse, I bet you planned that! ;) Didn't know you were a WSer too? How are the bears doing? Hopefully they hi-bear-nating away the winter...

Amazing that hubbies will eat suet cakes, dog cookies etc. That is hysterical. I make a home-made suet mixture for the birds, with rendered suet, peanut butter, ww flour, oats, nuts, etc. It looks and smells like a granola/peanut butter cookie dough. It's perfect edible for humans too and probably pretty nutritious. But the taste is definitely lacking - no sugar. Birds love it though.

Alwaysagarden, I love being single. I also like living alone, well, except for my teenage son. That is more than enough for me. Don't want to tell you what I'd like to do with him sometimes! :)

Oddly enough I've kissed ugly men and danced with bears. The bears were far more enjoyable ;-) BTW, I grew up with the nickname "Griz".

A few wrenching years of couples counseling have kept my marriage together. My view on WS is a unique and very different perspective than the view of Winter Sowers. It was very difficult in the beginning. Hubs, back then, didn't like to be wrong on anything--he laughed his head off and made the most snickering and low comments about his crazy wife and her milkjugs of dirt in the snow--I didn't have anybody's experience to back it up with proof because there were no Winter Sowers, there was only me and numerous critics who also laughed at me or told me I was stupid, foolish, and worse. It was a huge, amazing event for me the first time I looked into a container to see seedlings emerging through a crust of ice. The burst of adrenaline and dopamine in my head was mind-changing, what would be the Winter Sowing Method was born right then and with it so was I. There is nothing so strengthening an reaffirming as success.

Writing 'How to Winter Sow', the creation of this forum, writing FAQs for this forum, Growing from Seed, Seed Saving and Weeds, teaching WS at Hofstra, making the website, becoming a non-profit, being invited and embraced by AgNIC--all of these separate things represent an earthquake in my marriage.

If you hammer anything long enough it will soften; Hubs got hammered by all of it--it took a while for him to lose his resentment over the time and cost of it all (and it does cost megabucks, btw) but nowadays he just accepts it all as it comes and continues to grow and expand. Where at one time I felt terribly alone I now have a partner who helps me do what I do.

He still doesn't understand a lot of it like the recent facebook expansion which warmly blends friends of Winter Sowing with friends of Trudi Davidoff, the representative of WinterSown.Org. And, after a few tries of explaining, I've given up on talking to him about the Winter Sowing Supplies application for sending 'gifts' to each other; I love doing graphics and I love giving stuff away--it's fun!

Hugs to all. Spouses are entitled to some initial disgruntlement when the attention you're giving something else is attention you're not giving to them. The only thing to do is just find the "sweet spot" and gently push--there is give and take. If you want to WS all day then you had better plan to put on the crockpot roast at dawn, do at least a load of laundry a day and clean up the clutter in the foyer, the kitchen and the family rooms. Rearrange your schedule to give attention first to those who need it, do the obvious chores, and then sit back an give a sigh that you've relieved a lot of the stress that builds up on both sides.

T

I've been enjoying these stories for several days now, both the humorous twists and the sober realities. In the middle of a move, my DH is in SC waiting for me, and I am in MA trying to move our house of 12 years in a stalled market.

When I started here many years ago, the yard was pretty bare - the builder didn't go to any great landscaping lengths. Our yard became the talk of the neighborhood - both in laughter at me out in the snow checking hundreds of containers or doing the plug-'em-and-plant-'em sprint in the warm weather, and admiration for the variety of interesting plants I grew (I never had an eye for gorgeous landscaping in putting things together - "cottage" is a nice way of describing my gardens). Composting rebuilt my soil, and in the past two years, I have become obsessed with the plan of locally grown food and sustainable agriculture.

DH, who has watched my growing obsession with this, is not a garden helper himself (oh, how I envy those of you who have DH's that help with the heavy work!), but is excited enough about it that our number one priority when we settle in SC is land. We're currently on a decent suburban lot - about 1/3 acre - but it just isn't enough (a lot is wooded) for me to produce food for the family (and all the flowers I want, too).

Wintersowing has never caused any disagreement between me & DH; guess I'm pretty lucky.

Ditto to all of the above, hahaha! I am not alone in my vice! I wonder if I will get a green house too if I start bringing my potting soil and trays into the kitchen too! Right now they are just making a mess in a corner of my sun room(aka sewing room/sowing room/laundry/canning kitchen) and no matter how much I resolve to keep my recyclable containers winter sown and out the door, there are always new ones piling up haphazardly over spilled potting soil, among the dropping bougainvillae blooms and leaves. DH muttered the other night 'these plants are out of control, I can hardly squeeze by to get to the file cabinets!' I think the comment was meant for me... My grandchildren think the room is heaven and beg to help/ play in the soil(I give them acorns and Ginkgo seeds to plant/play with.
But yah, we're a mess , aren't we, I had hope that I'd get better organized, so less friction, but I guess your comments tell me that years will not alleviate my predicament, but will only get me into more trouble.
I laugh about the one sower caught behind her huge pile of cardboard boxes and bags of shredded papers destined for composting!!! I see me there in about 2-3 years!
BooBooBearBecky's description of her DH's dog biscuit eating while the dog looks on will win the prize for the "best story" thread on GW for sure!!

BooBooBearBecky,
I've been baking treats for my dogs for about 6 years now. My DSS moved in with us at age 15. He often snacked on the treats, though he learned to ask if there was anything in there he wouldn't want to eat, as that's how my fridge/freezer often get cleaned out.

When he was a junior or senior in HS, he would take a baggie of them from the treat jar to eat as a snack between school and a track meet. He also convinced friends to try them too. He did get some funny looks though...

Thanks for all the laughs and all the stories. DH is my enabler. He knew he was marrying a gardener. Last year when I jumped headfirst into WSing, I told him about the money that I would save. He hasn't complained about the jugs or dirt in the kitchen. But he isn't happy if I leave empty pots or tool out. He does the heavy work.. rototilling, hauling some compost, planting trees and shrubs, some hoeing. He takes great interest in the rose bed. And makes only a few reasonable requests... He wants corn and pumpkins (yes we have room), I have to use (eat or put up) or give away most of the veggies that I plant (My 1st son was born in August and he tilled in most of the tomato crop and has never let me forget it). He is happy that I have shelves of food that I have canned, a freezer filled with harvest and a root cellar. I do get busy with other things so sometimes I have half started projects ( like the bag of windfall apples still in the den) laying around and sometimes he gets a little perturbed at that.

A few years ago something happened that took away my smile. Then I discovered GW and that brought my smile back. He likes to see me smile. He might not remember the name of too many plants but he loves to give visitors a garden tour - and show off my garden. He's a keeper.

kim

This thread is wonderful!!

Since becoming a stay at home mom, gardening has become my outlet - from the seed starting through the sauce making:)

This year, I "discovered" seed collecting/trading and that aspect has caused more riffs with DH. I am certain that the new variety of flowers and veggies next season will win him over. I know he's realized that an overstuffed seed envelope to/from a GW member is much less expensive then a Prada diaper bag (not that I would buy one of those:)) or a huge bar tab...

WSing is also a new venture for me this year. I have caught him tossing perfect WSing containers into the recycle bin, but stern words have opened his eyes. And he didn't bat an eye when my car was filled with soil making ingredients, so I think I'm making progress.

My DH does like to suggest where plants should go in the yard and is the first to cut flowers for the vase, followed closely by my 3 year old son; so now I just have to bring the WSing mess inside to get a greenhouse!!

DH has also suggested we move to a farm!! If I can find a reasonably priced farm with good schools near Denver, I'm in.

THANKS for the laughs!!

What fun this thread is. My DH is very supportive as he is the veggie gardener in the family. I do the soul food. We do sometimes have disputes over who gets what hunk of ground for a new bed, but with 40 acres there is lots to go around.

I did have to scold him the other day for taking my newly transplanted lilac off at ground level with the snow blower. Why he was way over there I can't fathom. When I am speaking to him again I will ask;o)

Blessings,
Dea

40 acres! Let me get up off the floor and back on my chair to say how envious I am! Man oh man, that's LOTS of winter-sowing, lol!

:)
Dee

These stories are great! I would love to hear more! lol

Never really thought about divorce, however DW seems to view the 1 gal water jugs I've been saving down in the basement as an eyesore for the holidays. So being the good spouse I started my winter sowing (thanks Trudi for the seeds) early. Looked out the backyard and guess what.... all the jugs of soil and seed are gone. LOL I asked where she placed them.....in the trash silly husband! hmmmmm :) Back to square one at least its only January....maybe I'll find some jugs at the recycling center....and let the DW know not to touch them or I'll rearrange her shoe collection outside with soil in them..... I guess this is where it all begins.....

wow,you are such a good sport, :0)
Carol

geeboss, maybe your tidy wife and my once in a lifetime tidy husband need to meet. In the meantime, do you need more seeds? If so, email me directly.
Seedmama

seedmamma,
Thank you for your kind offer, I have located seeds at Home Depot not quite as exotic as what Trudi sent but aleast I'm ready once I locate more 1 gal water jugs.... just cutting them by hand is such a pain and duct taping them together. I have at least purchased some spray paint to make them look nicer. LOL or is this just my way of marking my territory?

George

Hmm, what are you going to do with the spray paint? You do know that the jugs should not be opaque? They must let enough light in so the seeds germinate.

I use a Black & Decker electric scissor to cut jugs & 2Ls. They were very inexpensive and I saw them on sale at many different stores during the holidays. Works great and saves hand strain.

I don't use duct tape as use the window/flap method but have noticed that some use only a few small strips of duct tape to hold the jug together.

ops, mental note...... no opaque 1 gal jugs.... no painting the clear jugs green and gold..... I'll have to get some other creative way to disguise the jugs.... I know I'll print up some pictures of DMIL and laminate them and place a border around the jugs....maybe that will deter the wild animals from disturbing the soil and scare away those pesky springtime bugs.....you are all so helpful I may yet become a gardener with flowers and vegies growing in my yard.... :)

Yes, this is an interesting and amusing thread.

My wife started gardening about 15 years ago. A small garden but it did look nice when it bloomed. I helped dig up a half circle 15' in the front yard and she bought perennials and such and tended it for about 3 yrs with our daughter. I had little or no interest and had better(?) things to do. Then she got into computer games and has been inside the computer and xbox for the last dozen or so years? The online stuff/ She did em all.

About 5 yrs ago I started doing gardening and landscaping on a limited budget. I dumpster dove, thrift stored, found after season sales and discarded plants and received some 'half dead' plants that I resurrected. Each year I had a different theme for the yard since I took out all the grass, moved her original plants, brought in free dirt, built a strawberry hill, and planted trees (some dead- hey, the squirrels and birds I feed don't know they are dead---just gives them a place to perch and check out the scene before venturing in to eat.) I dug up the boulevard.

Well, wife and her family joke about some things---up theirs. It is my refuge. As I told wife and son once, you want me in there bugging you about equal 'puter time or rearranging the office? If not, then bug off.

So I dig, and play and move things about and watch the birds and sqirrels (hard to draw more than sparrows in the city but I get a few cardinals and the like occassionally.)

If I decide to give up this hobby I will take up fishing again and hunting for a sweetie pie who is also lonely.

Some spouses should be glad they can look out the window and see their SO doing what they enjoy rather than sitting around wondering what they are doing.

LOL, George. No border of my MIL on my jugs. She was a nice gal. Hope my photo is not on my DIL's "border" (wink).