#Gardening tasks to pursue early in the season include pruning trees and shrubs, The Spruce says, because you can visualize their shape better before they bud and grow leaves. Also consider sourcing any must-haves for your #garden well ahead of planting time, including hard-to-find or popular flower and vegetable varieties and gardening tools. Clean and sharpen your existing tools and containers in preparation for spring, or look for new-to-you tools and supplies at the #thrift and #secondhand stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. #GardenPlanning
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Planting Your First Flower Garden
Are you a first-timer when it comes to #flower #gardening? Planning can be tricky, but the rewards will be a bright and colorful space that you can enjoy throughout the spring, summer and fall. First, consider the location of potential #garden plots, says Three Acre Farm. Many colorful flowers require lots of sun to succeed, and most need regular watering and rich soil. Map out your new garden location on paper and start small — doing more than you’re ready for can lead to disappointment. Fortunately, #flowers such as cosmos, zinnias, sunflowers and calendula are very forgiving and available in a rainbow of colors. #GardenPlanning
Plan Your Garden for an Ongoing Harvest
So you’ve decided to create a #vegetable #garden. It’s easy to grow a couple of tomato plants, says Almanac, but bigger plans will require consideration of where plants will go and when each should be planted. Cool-weather crops such as lettuce, radishes and peas flourish in early spring, while warm-weather vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers can’t go into the ground until the soil warms up. Know time to maturity, too — tomatoes typically take 90 days or more to harvest, while you’ll be picking lettuce in just a few weeks. With forethought, you’ll enjoy variety of fresh vegetables for months! #GardenPlanning
Gardeners: Start Your Seeds Now
Starting seeds indoors is a great way to get a jump on #summer #gardening. Not only can you plant the varieties you want, you can and #save #money over buying greenhouse starter plants. Check the last frost date in your area, says Homesteading Family, and count backwards based on your crops of choice. For example, if your area’s final frost date is May 1, you’d want to start tomato seeds — average time to plant-ready: eight weeks — as soon as possible. Vegetables such as greens and root vegetables can often be sown directly into soil once the fear of frost is over for the year. #GardenPlanning
The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras — a.k.a. Fat Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday — is the final day of the Carnival festival season. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, a penitential season of abstinence and sacrifice.
Mardi Gras is the “last hurrah,” in effect, before 40 days of abstinence from foods such as meat, eggs, dairy and alcoholic beverages. Most people are familiar with the local fish fry on Fridays, held to serve Catholic families and others abstaining from meat.
Observant Christians also often pick an indulgence of their own to give up. Similar to a New Year’s resolution, such personal challenges might mean eschewing alcohol or sweets, or trying to break a bad habit such as smoking or gossiping.
Whatever your faith, the Organizing Blog suggests that you spend the season abstaining from #clutter. It will be a test of your will, to be sure, but you will be better off and maybe even a bit more righteous if you can do it. Here’s how:
Cut the clutter. Over the next 40 days, dedicate a set amount of time to #decluttering and #organizing a space in your home. As little as 10 minutes per day spent rearranging a drawer or shelf can add up to real improvements over time.
Avoid spending. If you want a real challenge, simultaneously abstain from buying anything new; any attempt to #organize will be easier if you don’t add to your #stuff. If something urgently needs replacement, vow to eliminate twice as many like items as you bring in.
Exercise charity. Set aside any castoff clothing and household items that might have some useful life left in them and contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup. Quality, lightly used goods will be resold to benefit programs that help the nation’s #veterans.
Today, celebrate! Have a paczki, a big bowl of gumbo or an adult beverage. Tomorrow, make good on your vow get rid of #clutter and get #orgnaized. By the time Easter rolls around, you and your home will be unburdened by excess #stuff.