Be creative and sustainable–use salvaged card catalog drawers as backyard garden planters!

I am busy in the throes of planning a graduation party for my daughter at the end of the month. Nothing too fancy, it’s just going to be a backyard family affair, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to any less festive. We are planning as eco-friendly an affair as possible–there won’t be any disposable cups.

I’m also trying to decorate as green as possible, too. While I did give in on ordering some balloons, that’s where buying ready-made decorations end. Instead, I am getting creative and making my own decorations and using reusables in the making too. Like the party garland I will be making spelling out “Congratulations”, which will be way more personal than store-bought versions. I will also be decorating some clear glass bottles (leftover beer bottles, anyone?) using glass paint markers, and will be using them as bud vases for table tops.

By far, my favorite project is the library card catalog drawers that I’m using as planters for flowers in my daughter’s school colors. I’m reusing something that would most likely end up in a landfill and using it for something that I can use again and again–who doesn’t need more fun planters for the deck?

I was lucky enough to be gifted a couple of drawers by a thrifty friend, but you can often find them at antique dealers, auction houses, estate sales and even on Craigslist. Of course, you can also use whatever you can get your hands on to make fun and unexpected planters–old watering cans, leftover paints cans, salvaged washtubs and even broken down pallets. Green Chic never goes out of style and it’s sustainable too!

Here’s how I made my Card Catalog Planters

Materials:

Library card catalog drawers
Hammer and carpenter nail (or an electric drill)
Potting soil
Flower seeds or plants of your choosing

How-to:

1. Clean the drawers and remove any dividers.
2. On a safe surface–not your kitchen table–use the hammer and nail or a drill to poke drainage holes into the bottom of the drawers.
3. Add soil and plant your seeds or plants.
4. Water and enjoy!

I think they turned out great and I’m super excited to show them off at the party.

image: Jen Wallace

The post Read It and Bloom: Recycled DIY Card Catalog Drawer Garden Planter appeared first on EcoSalon.

Guest authorUrban gardening expert Mike Lieberman shares his tips.

The number one excuse that apartment dwellers have when it comes to growing their own vegetables is that they have no space. They also believe that growing one or two things is a complete waste.

These are just excuses. Lots of space isn’t required. What is required is a bit of creativity. It’s worth the time and effort if you grow even one herb or vegetable. It will make a difference.

Did you know that on average food travels 1,500 miles to get to our plates? By growing some of your own, it will help to cut back on the intensive resources that go into food production and transportation. It will also help you to re-establish your connection with food. There are plenty of simple reasons that I can list to grow your own food.

I started apartment gardening in the spring of 2009 on my fire escape in New York City. Despite being on 2′ x 3′, I was able to grow plenty of veggies. Since then, I’ve moved to Los Angeles and now have a balcony garden.

Growing veggies without much land can be your reality, too. Here’s how you can start your own vegetable container garden.

Decide on a Location

First thing is first. You need to pick the location where you are going to start. An important factor to take into consideration is how far from the water source your garden will be. The last thing you want to do is be carrying water through your apartment to your garden, but there are ways around that.

Don’t Just Think of the Floor

After deciding the where, you need to figure the area that you are working with. Don’t just think of the space on the ground. Think windowsills, ledges, railings and the space above you. Get creative.

Conditions of the Area

Figure out how much direct and indirect sunlight your space gets. If it gets at least 2-3 hours of direct sunlight, you are good to grow. My balcony garden is east facing and gets about 4-6 hours of early morning sunlight, so I grow what works best in those conditions.

What to Grow In

You can either go to the store and buy some containers or make self-watering planters, which is what I use. Self-watering planters use two containers and require little maintenance after they are built. They are constructed from two 5-gallon containers (you can get these from your local flower shop, deli, restaurant or farmers market for little to no money).

If you have the space to hang some plants, then you can use soda bottles to make hanging planters or buy new ones. Herbs such as basil, oregano and mint do well in these.

What to Grow

This is the big decision. What will you grow?

This could very well be determined for you by your space and sun conditions. Since I get limited sun on my balcony and use smaller containers, my selection is pretty small.

From there, you can grow things that you know you like and will eat or you can experiment with new veggies or new versions of veggies that you like. That’s up to you.

I always suggest growing greens and lettuces because they don’t get to be too big, grow pretty easily and you know that you’ll use them.

Herbs are the other thing that I recommend. They are likely the best economic value. When you buy herbs in the store, you have to buy a huge bushel when you only need a few pieces. Most usually goes to waste. By growing your own, you can take what you need and let it continue to grow. It’ll always be on hand.

No Excuses

Now you have a foundation to get your urban vegetable garden started. You don’t have to plant a ridiculous amount. Remember, just one plant will make a difference. We are humans. We grown food. Land, space, money and lack of experience shouldn’t be excuses. If I can do this, why can’t you?

Guest author Mike Lieberman is the man behind Urban Organic Gardener, where he share his expertise on urban gardening, green living, and real food. You can also connect with Mike on Twitter and Facebook.

The post No Excuses, Just Vegetables appeared first on EcoSalon.

I just moved into a new apartment where the previous owner raved about growing all kinds of vegetables on the terrace. He left his pots behind so I could do the same. Confession: I’ve never grown something edible in my life. Here’s hoping some good gardening karma got left behind too, because this year, I’m determined to grow a container garden of vegetables that will (fingers-crossed) yield the delicious result of fresh salsa. Luckily, all the ingredients needed for salsa are easy to grow – cherry tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers and cilantro.

About a week before you’re ready to plant your salsa garden outside, create a mini indoor greenhouse by filling a few old take-out containers or plastic salad or tomato containers halfway to the top with potting soil and plant your seeds inside. Cover them and wait for the first signs of growth. When your seeds sprout, plant the seedlings outside in pots or a garden following the spacing guidelines on the packets. Once outside, follow these tips to ensure each veggie grows well enough to earn a spot in your salsa (and doesn’t expose your less-than-green thumb).

Cherry Tomatoes:

Any kind of tomato will work as a base for salsa, but for novices cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow. A large pot that holds 4 to 6 gallons of soil is best. The only other thing you’ll need is a simple bamboo stick or a tomato coil so as your seedling grows taller it will have something to lean on.

Onions:

You’ll need to keep your onions well-watered, and in the middle of summer you should see the bulbs start to form. Watch a video to learn how to harvest onions when the tops have fallen over.

Sweet Peppers:

Your pot of peppers should be kept moist, but never so watered that the plant is drowning. Once the peppers reach full size you can pick them and start cooking. However, the longer you let them ripen on the plant the sweeter they’ll be. If your pepper plant makes it through the summer bring it inside to keep it alive during the winter.

Cilantro:

In general, herbs are a lazy gardener’s dream because they’re easy to grow. Choose a pot or patch 18-inches wide and keep it in full sun, or light shade on the hottest days. Once your herb gets growing you can cut the leaves weekly for your salsa.

Image: jplust

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