Mid-Winter Gardening Stars in my Google Reader

 

Image Credit: Tenderheart by Astrid Photography.

 

Phew. I just caught myself in time. I was about to call this post "January Round-up" but then recalled my strict policy against using this chemical and don't want to give it any unintentional endorsement.

My favourite gardening and green living web sites are starting to publish tips, finds and new ideas for the coming growing season and so before I lose track of them, I'm going to process all those posts I've  recently starred. Here's the first batch:

Composting -- Composting basics: compost without a yard
Containers -- Self-watering
Inspiration  -- Grow where you are planted, Plan a garden
Seed-starting -- Make your own pots (I've been saving toilet paper rolls for the past few months), Gayla's Downloadable Seed Starting Plan, Lazy Gardener's Chart, West Coast Seeds' new site.
Veggie-Crafts -- Knit your vegetables

Therapy for my apartment and balcony garden

Photo of the inedible side of my September 2007 balcony garden

Even though I'm having trouble keeping up with all the blogs I regularly read, as part of my fall cleaning, decluttering and simplifying strategy this morning I added another subscription to my Google Reader: Apartment Therapy. I've read this blog occasionally before but I'm now going to commit to reading it regularly and trying some of the ideas.

If I can create a clean, simple, functional interior with stuff and systems that don't deplete my energy (as they are currently doing), I hope to have more time and space for gardening....and reading about gardening....and writing about gardening...and photographing my garden....and planning future gardens.

Today I am reading Apartment Therapy's gardening, PlantTherapy and Flower Box Awards archives.

I love this ingenious, award-winning doggie-proof planter. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about my Westie chewing or digging, although I recently learned to keep the bone-meal out of snout's reach as he wants to snuffle up the container's contents.