Category Archives: Garden

Gardening in Texas hardiness Zone 8a

Homestead Hack: Hiding Ugly Planters in Winter

by Texas Homesteader ~

It was gonna get into the low 20’s overnight so I brought in 6 plants I’d had outside.  At least they’d be safe from the cold.  But they were planted in repurposed red plastic coffee cans. I needed to put them at a southern window in our guest bedroom. 

But ugh, such ugly planters for inside! Check out this easy Homestead Hack for making it all look nicer…  Use Whatcha Got!

When you bring your plants inside for the winter, are you embarrassed by ugly planters? I was! See this Homestead Hack for hiding ugly planters when you bring your plants inside for the winter. #TexasHomesteader

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New To Composting? Don’t Worry, Compost Doesn’t Stink!

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

Any gardener knows that compost is ‘Black Gold‘. But for those just starting out, there’s often some hesitation.

You’re rotting things in a pile, doesn’t that stink?

The answer is: No! 

Well actually, yes and no – the result depends on you. Don’t worry, it’s easy to make compost that smells only like rich planting soil! 

For those starting out with composting there's some hesitation. You're rotting things in a pile, doesn't that stink? The answer is: NO! #TexasHomesteader

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How We Save Seeds To Save Money On The Homestead

by Texas Homesteader ~

I have to have a garden every year. It’s just in my blood. My hands must be in the dirt, coaxing that young tender plant. The payoff is of course that home-grown produce to nourish our bodies. Healthy produce picked right before supper. Produce that I’m able to preserve for colder months, and share with others around me with my weekly #BlessingBasket.

I try to only grow heirloom plants in my garden. One of the main reasons behind this is so that I can save the seed to plant each and every year. You see, saving hybrid seed might not be productive. That’s because hybrid seed may not come back true to the mother plant the next year. But heirloom seed will!  You know exactly what you’re gonna get with heirloom seeds. Come see how I carefully put back that precious seed in anticipation of next year’s bounty.

I save garden veggie seed to plant each year. Come see how I put back that precious seed in anticipation of next year's bounty. #TexasHomesteader

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Homestead Hack: Reusing Plastic Bags In The Garden

by Texas Homesteader ~

I.  Hate.  Plastic. In our area of NE Texas, plastic bags are not recyclable. So I’m always looking for a repurpose use for plastic bags for times when they make it into our home.

Let’s take a bag of potatoes for example. When that bag of potatoes is empty it still doesn’t go to the trash. Nope, I’ve got another use for them. 

You know my battle cry: Use Whatcha Got!

Sometimes we buy a bag of potatoes. I've got another use for the bag in the garden. You know my battle cry: Use Whatcha Got! #TexasHomesteader

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Make A Raised Planter Using A Small Tire

by Texas Homesteader ~

A few months ago RancherMan & I joined my parents for a quick dinner at a local restaurant.  On the sidewalk outside the restaurant was a cute planter. Upon closer inspection, it looked like a small, thick tire that was painted & then planted. 

RancherMan said it was probably a riding lawn mower or golf cart tire. I loved it! Heck you always wonder what to do with an old tire anyway. And their disposal is always an issue. 

Plus I often worry that planters that you buy just can’t hold up to the rough Texas weather year after year. Spring hail storms can render that cute ceramic planter useless in short order!

These repurposed-tire planters seemed to be the best of both worlds – interesting looks, very durable and using something previously wasted. I decided to give it a try. 

But I didn’t have an old lawn mower tire and I really didn’t want to buy a new one. It seems like such a waste of resources to buy a perfectly good usable tire & paint it!

A cute nearly indestructible raised planter that can endure year after year in challenging Texas weather using a small, repurposed tire #TexasHomesteader

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Repurposing An Empty Coffee Canister: Dried Herbs

by Texas Homesteader ~

Coffee canisters are easy to repurpose for any number of things. And repurpose them we do!

Y’all know we love our coffee. We prefer Folgers to other brands of coffee. But at least their coffee canister is food-grade plastic. So in addition to other non-food repurposes, I’m able to do even more with it.

I can store large quantities of dried herbs in them.

Use those empty coffee canisters to store dried herbs. I have a huge harvest of dried rosemary stored to use in cooking & soap making. #TexasHomesteader

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Wordless Wednesday: Honeybee On Sunflower

~by Texas Homesteader ~

Wordless Wednesday: Sunflowers & honeybees. Two of my favorite things in one shot. Both just beautiful to me! #TexasHomesteader

Sunflowers & honeybees – Two of my favorite things in one shot!

~TxH~

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