Shoebox Dwelling Handmade Wednesday: Cinder Block Garden Planter | Inspiring Pretty July 20, 2011 23 comments Please, please, please forgive me for being late with this post! Normally it’s up in the wee morning hours but the last few days have been a bit crazy for me and Movie Star. So, I hope this finds you well. Anyway, the reason you are here: for a garden planter that you can make with your very own hands. Didn’t you? Just head on over to visit Potted (where this all began) and check out the story behind making this garden planter ! Landscape Invocation Raising Gentle Bees for your Backyard « The Self-Sufficient Gardener Today’s entry is a guest post by Dave Hunter from www.crownbees.com Honey bees are having challenges today with Colony Collapse Disorder, pesticides, global weather changes, nasty mites and a few more maladies. I’m sure you’ve read much of this bad news in recent years. Although scientists are working feverishly to help this wonderful bee, their numbers continue to decrease. You need pollination for your fruit trees and garden. In this article,you’ll learn about: The bee kingdom and why many of the bees are gentleA bit about solitary bee life spansWhat bees are available to pollinateSpring mason bees and what you need to raise them The bee kingdom has both social and solitary bees. The bee kingdom has two different types of bees; social (honey bees, bumble bees), and solitary (where every female is a queen and they assume all duties. ) In general, social bees, hornets, and wasps work in a community where each has their own job. Working bees don’t live that long Spring pollen in your yard.
Miγma Ideas Wish You Could Save Summer in a Bottle? You Can…Can! Preservation Nation! « Home Grown Edible Landscapes Aug 17 Well, you had to figure it would happen. As soon as the resurgence in interest in learning to grow your own food began a few years back, could a growing interest in food preservation be far behind? Back when I was certified as a Master Gardener in LA County, they had discontinued their Master Food Preserver program…but now it’s back and back with a Bang! With only 18 seats to fill for this year’s program, they received over 100 applications! Never fear…there’s always next year. Remember, it’s not all about canning. Great Links to Articles and Blogs Cultural Methods/Recipes for Preserving Food Master Food Preservers (Cooperative Extension) Programs Not all Cooperative Extension Programs will have MFP programs.
The Outdoor Stylist The Bee’s Purpose | Crownbees Mason bees are very productive pollen gatherers. They carry pollen on the underside of their abdomen and then scrape the pollen off within their nesting hole. Because the pollen is carried dry on their hair, it is more easily transferred, resulting in significantly more pollinated flowers than their cousin, the honey bee, who wet the pollen they carry on their legs. Honey bees assume different roles in their six week life. The spring blue orchard and hornfaced bee’s purpose is quite simple: To be one of the first emerging bees in spring, just in time to coincide with early blooming fruit and nut trees. These gentle bees collect pollen for their offspring!
Seongyong Lee Hanging Mini-Greenhouse Also Doubles As Pendant Lamp Photos: Jaroslav Kvíz Short on space for growing herbs? Well, this graceful pendant lamp -- which doubles as a mini-greenhouse -- could be one way to add more luscious greenery to one's space and diet. Created by Czech designer Krstyna Pojerova, the 'Glasshouse' is a bulbous glass form that features an opening at the bottom, which allows you to harvest the greens growing along the lamp's inverted rim.According to Pojerova, who is currently studying at Prague's Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, the design was inspired by the "desire to grow fresh herbs within an urban kitchen." Best of all, the wasted heat from using an incandescent is wasted no more; it's used to help your greens grow. The ventilation holes at the top of the lamp allow for better air circulation, creating a microclimate of sorts, right in your kitchen. It's kind of like a windowfarm, but encapsulated in a beautifully design object that also illuminates.