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For those of us lucky enough to live in year-round gardening climates, it's that time of year to ready the winter garden. After I pull out last season's spent plants and amend the soil with generous amounts of compost, I let everything sit and gel for a couple weeks while eagerly awaiting my shipment of cold season seeds.
I love to start my seeds indoors, not because of the frost (pretty much a non-issue here in Los Angeles) but because I can tend them more carefully when they sit upon my counter, nudging me for attention while I putter about the kitchen. Starting seeds indoors requires some sort of growing container, and I have tried many over the years--flats, cubicle trays, pots made of peat, plastic or clay--each with their pluses and minuses. Then a few years back I stumbled upon something called a Paper Potter--a simple wooden device used to make sturdy seed pots out of newspaper strips. I’m not one to buy garden gadgets--my hands act as shovel, trowel, and hoe--so naturally I was reluctant to shell out $20 for the Paper Potter. I finally relented and have since found it to be worth its weight in gold.
Making the pots is a snap, just roll a newspaper strip around the cylinder, fold in the bottom edges, press firmly onto the base mold to lock the edges into place, and the pot is ready for soil and seeds. I can bust out 20-30 pots in about 15 minutes, but I leave this joyous task to my son who enjoys it most of all.
The main advantage in using newspaper pots for seed starting is that they can be planted directly into the garden when transplant time arrives, even those finicky plants that prefer direct sowing are less apt to complain upon transplanting. The newspaper breaks down in the soil quickly, and the roots push right through with ease (in the case of squash, the roots generally burst through long before I can get them to the garden).
Since each pot is made using recycled, biodegradable materials, the Paper Potter is about as eco-friendly as it gets. Additionally, the wood used in making the Potter is harvested from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, and its packaging is made from recycled material.
Manufactured in England by Nether Wallop Trading Co. Ltd., you can order your Paper Potter locally through Living Green. Can't get past the $20 price tag? Check out the Feathered Nest for a tutorial on using a spice bottle as a makeshift Paper Potter.
Peace,
Annie
September was a month of birthdays and gift giving for many near and dear in my life. Though joyous they are, such occasions nonetheless bring with them important considerations around the issue of gift giving. What can I give that won’t add to the ubiquitous piles of stuff overtaking our planet, that doesn’t draw upon the planet’s dwindling resources, that is nurturing to the soul, and, lastly, is cost effective to boot?? Invariably I arrive at the same conclusion: a thoughtfully chosen, gently used book.
My favorite all around place to acquire used books is from, you guessed it, the used book store. I simply adore used book stores: the smell, the potential, the affordability, the requisite shabbiness, as well as the eclectic mix of bibliophiles that so often comprise the staff and patrons. My love of used book stores was ignited during a month-long trip up the California coast where my husband and I enacted a policy of stopping at all used book stores (and farmer’s markets) along the way. We would buy a stack of books at one stop, devour them (along with pints of berries), then trade them in for yet another stack of books at the next stop.
Used book stores are great for browsing and perusing, but they are not necessarily the most affordable option. For sheer affordability, rummage sales are the best place to pick up used books. Since most books are in the quarter-dollar range, I buy liberally--if I decide after reading them that they don’t work for me or somebody I know, no sweat, I just donate them. A mere handful of rummage sales this summer yielded a gift-giving bounty that should last me most of the year---all for under ten bucks.
My next favorite place to find used books, particularly when I’m looking for a specific or hard-to-find title, is Amazon.com. Amazon’s used books are actually sold through independent book sellers and private individuals, so I don’t have to feel guilty about supporting the Big Guy at the expense of the Little Guy--they both win, as do I. (I have also sold many used books through Amazon as well--it is surprisingly easy to do and a great way to reduce clutter).
Lastly, I love to pick through my own library from time to time and give away books that I have read and enjoyed over the years. This is a great way to limit the sheer size of my library, while allowing me to share special titles with others. It is perhaps for this reason that I resist using book plates or otherwise marking up books in general--it is my sincerest wish for all books everywhere that they will eventually reside in many, many homes (and hopefully hearts) throughout their lifetimes.
Finally, after the perfect book is chosen, I lovingly wrap it in newspaper topped with either a shredded magazine bow, newspaper star or fan, or plastic baggie pom pom. And there you have it: the perfectly soulful, thrifty-but-thoughtful, quintessentially eco-friendly, guilt-free gift.
Peace,
Annie
