Best of Home Grown Fun
Is Sewage Sludge a Safe Fertilizer? What are Biosolids?
WHAT IS SEWAGE SLUDGE? Sewage sludge is a byproduct of water treatment plants and as you can imagine it’s plentiful. It comes from homes, hospitals and businesses – anything flushed or dumped down
HOW TO Make Homemade Deodorant with Essential Oils that keeps you smelling good for up to 2 days!
Chemical-free deodorant is becoming a highly sought after product. I recently purchased the latest new foray into pleasant underarm coatings, Lume. The commercials are funny, where potty talk and bacteria become entertaining. It
Create an enclosed terrarium that lasts for years!
This is an exciting project for all ages, especially when you’re stuck inside for an hour. It’s educational and fascinating. Learn about the water cycle and discover changes in your homemade ecosystem as
Difference Between Straw and Hay with Cartoons
Until recently, I thought hay and straw were the same thing. Hayrides, barn floors, over-stuffed scarecrows and cows munching on grass – that’s what I knew growing up in Maine. I went to
Build 6 Raised Beds in ONE DAY on a Budget
GOTTA HAVE A GARDEN! We just moved to a new house and there are plenty of repairs and errands to tackle. Some would have to wait! I need a garden NOW! THE GOAL:
How to Make Watermelon Pickles
Pickled watermelon rind adds a new twist to many a dish! This article gives you key tips for making the best watermelon pickles eva! !UPDATE I ate 3 of these jars alone last
Organic Pest Control Secrets
Synthetic insecticides, natural oils and homemade sprays can be toxic to your garden! Chemical and natural pest control applications upset the natural balance of “good” and “bad”. Before you crush up a jalapeno
Homemade Seed Starting Mix and Simple DIY Potting Soil Recipe
You can make your own seed starting mix and potting soil at home with the same recipe! You’ll need: One regular sized brick of coconut coir. This will make approximately 2 gallons (8
Kissing Bug – Not a Home Garden Pest of Vegetables
Kissing Bugs Pose Little Threat to Gardeners
How to Grow Potatoes in a Grow Bag, Burlap Sack or Container
We’ve been experimenting with potatoes for years. Spuds in my duds! I tried growing potatoes in my pants, in t-shirts, pillowcases, garbage bags and my husband’s shorts! But when the “spuds split our
Five Tips for Using Manure in the Garden
Before you use manure in the garden, be safe! Keep you and your plants free from contamination and sickness. Here’s the scoop on the poop. 1. Never use fresh manure near vegetables, fruit
Homemade Garden Markers Using Clay, Wood and Found Objects
Popsicle sticks work just fine in the garden to mark plants but when that creative streak strikes, use what you have around the house and found objects to bring new life to your
How To Make an Earth Model Showing Layers EASY NO STYROFOAM
The core, mantle and crust make up the layers of the earth. Learn about the earth’s layers and plate tectonics by making your own scale model using a tennis ball and clay. Materials
How to Use Wood Ashes in the Garden
If you have spare ashes lying around from a backyard fire pit, recycle some of it into your soil! Two hundred years ago, ash was processed for use as a potash fertilizer source.
Tomato Hornworm – Fun Poem about a Pest
©2013-2022 Cindy Rajhel Tomato Hornworm Poem Tomato hornworms are sneaky they take the garden cake for the most annoying four-inch pest devouring heirlooms of any shape. They work at night in stealth mode
Homemade Dry Shampoo – Chemical Free and Non-Irritating
Are dry shampoo sprays bad for you? Good question. I cannot prove that all dry shampoo products are unhealthy. However, after our own personal, scary experience with dry shampoo aerosols, I am more
How-To Make a Hypertufa Planter, Trough and Sculpture!
It is easy to create your own hypertufa pots, troughs and sculptures using these simple recipes and instructions. WHAT IS HYPERTUFA? Hypertufa is a lightweight stone material created to mimic the look of
50 Homemade Fertilizers and Soil Amendments: eBOOK – EASY, ORGANIC Recipes for EDIBLE GARDENS
Gardeners around the globe want to know how to make organic fertilizer. Are you looking for alternatives to synthetic fertilizers? On a quest for a more chemical-free lifestyle? Learn how simple it is
Remove White Spots on Wood
If the white stains were caused by heat or moisture, e.g., iron, hot dish or wet glass, try this inexpensive fix using common materials found in the home. Supplies to remove white stains
ALL ABOUT Amaranth – History, Cook It, Eat It, Grow It
At school, we call amaranth an ancient grain because it has history. People in Mexico, Guatemala and Peru grew amaranth thousands of years ago and utilized it as a staple grain, much like
HOW TO Tell the Difference Between Real Gold and Fool’s Gold
“There’s gold in them there hills!” On a recent trip to Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, CA, we got a chance first hand to discover actual gold and learn how to tell the difference
All About Malabar Spinach – Grow, Eat and Craft!
Malabar spinach is an edible vine and crunchy green from East Asia that has gained popularity in home gardens. Also known as acelga, bratana, ceylon spinach, Chinese spinach, Indian creeping spinach, climbing spinach
Fun Facts About Ladybugs
“Hi, I’m actually a lady beetle, not a bug. I chew my food instead of sucking it up. When something threatens me, I ooze smelly stuff from my legs to scare it away
Homemade Fossils – MADE EASY!
It’s easy to “mix up some Mesozoic” at home or at school! Making homemade fossils is fun and addictive. We’ve got a simple recipe for creating rock-like relics sure to bring out the Paleontologist
How to Plant Edibles in Burlap Sacks
A versatile material in the garden, burlap is used to wrap tree and shrub roots, mulch growing beds, protect newly planted seeds. I love adding strips of it to my worm bin. Red
Worm Composting FAQs
What kinds of worms are best for composting? Red Wigglers are the most highly recommended composting worms. Other worms that you find in your garden may not survive in a bin. How many
10 Fun Garden Ideas for Home, School and Community
1. Create Garden-Inspired Gifts 2. Grow Historical Plants Read more about amaranth! 3. Grow Plants over other Plants Read more about growing cucumbers on an arch! 4. Grow your own Sweet Potato Slips
HOW TO Care for Amaryllis for Repeat Blooms
It’s easy to make waxed amaryllis bulbs bloom again and again, year after year! Amaryllis flowers brighten up the home, especially during the winter months. The following amaryllis care tips will help simplify
HOW TO Grow Cucumbers Over Other Plants to Save Space
How We Did It Selected varieties of cucumbers that we prefer eating. A no-brainer but try and pick the ones with smaller seeds. We like the pickling cukes as long as we don’t
What is a Geode and How Do You Hunt for Geodes?
Holidays around here are usually an adventure. Our extended families are on the other side of the country so we seek out some kind of nature activity. This year’s Thanksgiving was spent out
HOW TO Make Your Own Solar Oven – Fast, Easy and Cheap
Solar ovens are fantastic fun for all ages. It’s a special thing to be able to cook your own food without electricity. Our giant solar oven in the school garden was all the
11 Fun Pumpkins and Winter Squash and How to Use Them
My oldest and I are on the lookout for the most interesting pumpkins and winter squash. Check these out at your local farm stand and use our tips to help you choose the
Model of a Red Wiggler Worm
I love composting with red wiggler worms. I started many years ago and have brought them with me when I moved. I’ve given away more than 20 worm bins to kids and adults.
10 Natural Fertilizer Recipes
Go no further than your pantry, backyard or the beach for materials to make your own organic fertilizer: BANANA PEELS – Eating a banana helps replenish lost potassium. Roses love potassium too. Simply throw one
HOW TO Identify Heirloom Pumpkins for Cooking and Decoration
Heirloom, Funky, and Gorgeous Pumpkins to Collect, Admire and Use for Cooking Learn about heirloom pumpkin varieties. Pumpkins and squash come in so many variations of color, texture, shape and size! Pick up
Grow your own loofah sponges with video!
We’ve wanted to grow our own sponges for years now ever since we learned about them from Chet at the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum in Vista, California. A great place for old fashioned
Quick and Easy Guide to Growing Garlic
Growing garlic is easy! Don’t let it be a complicated process. Check out these 5 simple tips for success: A GARDEN TIP MANY DO NOT KNOW: When the scape (middle stem of the
HOW TO Grow Sweet Potatoes in Bags
This is the ULTIMATE GUIDE on HOW TO grow sweet potatoes in bags and containers. Whether you’re short on garden space, or just want to try an experiment, this method of growing sweet
10 Natural Cleaner Recipes
Go no further than your refrigerator and your pantry to make your own natural, non-toxic cleaners. Avoid harmful chemicals in store-bought cleaners! They have been found to damage lungs, skin and other organs.
How To Grow Garlic from the Grocery Store, Farmers Market or Certified Seed
Growing garlic is easy! It takes just a little patience. If you can wait several months, you’ll be rewarded with aromatic cloves and edible garlic stems called scapes that make soups and grilling
Build an Inexpensive Greenhouse in One Day
Would you love to have a traditional greenhouse but your budget and schedule prevent you from making it a reality? Are you confused by the all the choices and packaged kits on the
