Deer John

(This is the start of another blog a day writing month. This time I hope to get further by actually doing a blog a day! Last month, I joined but because of other things, couldn't actually participate. This month I am ready to take the challenge. Here goes...)

Dear Deer "John",

For years now, you've been coming into the yard. You've dined on the apples from the crab apple trees. You've tasted the fruit from the pear trees. You've eaten at the salad bar, added a meal of carrots and even taken some newly emerged corn sprouts. You've taken more than your fair share of food from other people's gardens. Well, no more!

I hope this letter gets to you in time. I will be adding up a fence to keep you out. Hopefully, the dog we have will scare you off the land and keep you from stalking our gardens. I understand that you need to feed you and your family. Please understand. This food also feeds my family. Take your garden meanderings to another field or place where you may browse freely. I am done.

Sincerly,

KM, the frugal gardener.

Rainy

It's been raining all week. I was hoping to get out garden peas. The kids are ready to garden. How about you?

Here's to hoping for better weather.

KM

Motivation to Write

Let me go slightly off topic for a bit.

I'd like to say that I want to blog more. I can make the time. But it seems that at the end of the day there's always tomorrow. And then it keeps going and I never do get to the darned thing. So I'm getting some outside help to blog everyday.

List of My Motivations:

1. Friends: My friends encourage me when they ask me questions or spur me on.
2. Family: Of course since my blogs are about doing things with kids, my family helps motivate me.
3. NaBloPoMo: What the heck is that, you say? It's short for National Blog Posting Month . They motivate you by giving themes for each month. The goal is to write at least one blog post each day.

KM

Kid's Garden Safety

Kid's Garden Safety

When the kids are in the garden, safety is of the utmost priority. While gardening isn't like extreme sports, there can be dangers in the kid's garden as with many things. One concern many parents and teachers may face is gardening with harsh chemicals, fertilizers and other such hazards. Solve this problem by using organic gardening.

Wildlife dangers also exist. Learn the dangers of these wild creatures in the kid's garden.

• Danger in the Garden: Insects
  
• Danger in the Garden: Wild Animals
  
• Danger in the Garden: Other Pests
  

Just follow basic safety rules and you'll enjoy gardening much more.

Happy gardening time (almost)!

KM

Free Seeds for Winter Sowing

I came across a site through a gardening message group I am a member of. This site has information on winter sowing. For the price of an envelope and two stamps, you can get six packets of seeds. It's random I am sure. But it would make a great project for the kids to get these seeds. They can address the envelope and all that and get back free seeds.

Winter Sown: Free Seeds

In the meantime, you can plan the garden from all those garden catalogs I am sure many of you are receiving. Happy garden planning.

Winter Garden Hibernation

Most things are hibernating during the winter. Even we tend to huddle up to the fires of the hearth and want to rest during winter. But that doesn't mean we should stop gardening. Gardening in winter? What...how do you do that, the kids may ask. There are many ways to get gardening stuff done in winter.

In places that are mild for winter (meaning places south in warmer climates), cool weather crops can still be grown. These garden crops include carrots, lettuce, radishes and many other greens (think kale, collards and chard, yum!). In places north, just planning the next year's garden can be enough to break out of the winter rut that many kids might get into.

Around Christmas and the new year, the garden catalogs start filtering in. Have the kids pick some things they'd like to grow this year. Start thinking about gardening and in no time you will be gardening. You can also start gardening indoors. So get out there and start getting into that gardening state of mind.

Happy Gardening to everyone.

KM

PS Here are a couple links to some helpful articles to start you on your winter gardening way.

1. Preparing for a Winter Garden's Sleep.
Prepare your kid's gardens for a winter sleep with these handy tips.

2. Planning This Year's Garden gives general advice for planning the best garden every year.

3. Seed Catalogs for Kids gives ideas for seed catalog use.

First Snows and Gardening

What does the first snow of the year mean for our garden? One, it gives a blanket of insulation believe it or not. That means that in addition to the mulch that covers the gardens, the snow also helps keep in the warmth that still exists there. Two, we can bring the garden indoors.

We plan to have lettuce, maybe some radishes and some small Thumbelina carrots. Soon I will also be starting some seeds inside for next year's gardens. I have a better spot set up this year. It's near the kitchen area. I will better take care of it, it can be seen in the open and it will be right there when I am cooking so I can use more fresh herbs. The kids are excited about the snow. But soon they will be excited about the indoor gardens.

Want more ideas on how to make indoor gardening fun for kids? Check out Six Ways to Make Indoor Winter Gardening Fun. Then get to the indoor gardens. Happy indoor winter gardening.

KM