Sunday, June 1, 2014

DIY Chalkboard-Style Garden Markers.

If you have been reading our blog, you know that Josh and I are gardening this year! So to celebrate (and because I can hardly remember what I planted where without clear markers), I made some fun garden markers. You can easily access the supplies at any craft store and they end up costing less than a two dollars each. I love the white-on-black chalkboard style that I have seen done on Pinterest, but creating them with chalkboard paint and actual chalk seem so impractical. Wouldn't the chalk just wash right off in the rain? With this method, you create a chalkboard look without it being an actual chalkboard. Same effect, but much more durable.

Supplies: 
+ Wooden garden markers - can be purchased at Michaels, but Josh cut ours from pallet wood 
    using his saw.
+ Black spray paint of any kind
+ Foam brush
+ White paint pen - Sharpie brand worked great
+ Polyurethane - We used Helmsman's semi-gloss





 


1. Paint the top portion of each marker (both sides) with black paint. I loved the brand I used because it only took one coat to cover the wood well. Let these dry completely.


2. Use your paint pen to write the plant name on each marker. I wrote the names in pencil first, then trace over your pencil lines with the paint pen. Let these dry completely.

3. Once dry, use the foam brush to coat each side with polyurethane, which should keep them looking great, rain or shine. Let these dry completely, too. It helps to prop them up in a bucket so that both sides dry at once.


  4. That's it! Place them in your garden.









By the way, did you know that you can plant marigolds for pest control?  You should look it up!  It is an experiment for us, we will see if it works...


Thursday, May 22, 2014

Lurgan.

More ambitious gardeners use seeds to start their plants; however, I have not had the best of luck with this method and have some time constraints.  So, I decided to go for plants this year.  

Many people recommended Lurgan Greenhouse to me for plants due to their reasonable prices, but I had no idea the magnitude of what they would offer. I am in love with this greenhouse and will likely never go back to indoor seed-starting because of it. 

Do your research before going…
The number of tomato varieties had my indecisive mind spinning. Heirloom, Big Boy, Roma, Beefsteak, Sun Sugar, Gold Medal, Green Zebra…the list goes on.  The greenhouse provides a short explanation of each variety’s best use. So, you can read briefly about which type of tomato to grow for sauces, canning, juices, cutting fresh in a salad, etc.

My favorite purchase is our mint plant. I bought this apple mint plant to put in a large pot, but spearmint, pineapple, orange, lemon, and peppermint were available. The Pennsylvania Dutch called it “meadow tea,” but this stuff is my all time fave.  It is totally nostalgic for me to drink a glass of iced meadow tea on a hot summer day. The fact that I can grow it, steep it, and chill it in the convenience of my home has me giddy. 



Lurgan also has bird baths, bird feeders, pots, trellises, lawn furniture, shrubs, trees, and hanging planters (including the largest ferns I have ever seen) with the sweetest little ladies at checkout. And, we ended up paying a fraction of projected garden budget. So fun!








Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Three Years.

Three years ago today, I said “yes” to becoming Josh Raber's wife.  It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made…even better three years later than I realized then.

I know that the busyness of life seems to make time pass quickly, but I want him to know just how blessed I feel to be his wife the last three years.

Marriage takes hard work, we heard this from many people before we “jumped the broom.”  Some days we have been frustrated trying to communicate about expectations or valuing one another’s preferences above our own. Now we have experienced this hard work first hand as broken people.

I am thankful that our marriage has been redeemed.  We have had seasons of joy and a lot of peace, during which Josh makes marriage seem easy.  Having fun and enjoying each other can come naturally.  We do not just love each other, but we like each other – I can call him a friend.

Thank you for serving me and for your hard work outside and inside of our home!

Happy 3rd Anniversary, Josh.  Love you always.