RECYCLING ~ THE GARDEN CALLS.

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  Some of the seeds we will be planting this year.

  
• It is that time of year, although we had snow today, Spring is upon us, and time to start thinking about getting your veggie garden going. I am always thinking of ways of recycling, and this year I found a neat way to re use some packing material that we get, you may know what they are they replaced peanuts. The small bags of air that protect things when they are shipped can be used to help start your plants.

The other day I had 3 yards of what my wholesale stone yard calls "potting mix" it is screened loam and cow maneur mixed together.  I have been using this mix for years for some of my customers as well as for planting around our yard. buying this by the yard saves a considerable amount of money  compared to buying bags of potting soil, and adding amendments yourself.

Packing air bags

Plant mix  soil with vermiculite

Using a big tupperware container, I screened out any little twigs out of the soil and collected it, I added vermiculite which I have an abundant supply of, but you can get at any garden center. Vermiculite will add in aeration of the soil as well as increase water drainage and also keep the soil loose so any nutrientsyou add will be evenly distributed throughout the soil.

Packing bag being filled with soil



Using a pair of sissors cut the top of the bag off and now you have a pouch, fill the pouch that was formerly an air bag. once filled it will be ready to put your seeds in.

bags ready ti put seeds in.

one and a half weeks and presto

As you can see I used a box to put the bags in that I filled with soil. once the box is full I plant the seeds in the bags. once they germinate and start growing and establish a root system I will take the plants out of the bags and transfer them to the garden area.  I hope this little blog gave you an idea of an alternative way to use some of that packing material that might sit in a bag or box, or that would be destined for the trash. Happy gardening.

 What a Joy to see my grandson plant one of the bags of peas.