Gardening crafts and tool talk
Was today not glorious? My family has been spending more and more time outside (as I’m sure everyone is) mostly getting the garden ready for spring.
I’m happy to say the worms have made their way to my soil this year. It seems like every shovelful of earth produces at least one squiggly friend, if not two or three. My daughters are as excited as I am.
As I work to clean up the garden beds, my girls always end up walking off with the good shovels, leaving me with their plastic pink princess ones. Aw, well. They’re digging for fairies and I’m digging up weeds—what’s more important, anyway?
After about 10 years as homeowners, we pretty much have what we need in terms of yard tools. I’m always intrigued, though, by the tool-lending libraries I see popping up around the country (like this one in West Seattle). The concept: everyone pools their tools in a central location, then neighbors can “check out” what they need, much like you check out a library book. Sometimes there’s a small fee or a pay-what-you-can price, but oftentimes it’s a free service.
I’d love to write more about this if anyone in Spokane has organized something similar. Let me know!
Remember there’s another great resource for “green” tools: thrift shops and garage sales. Heck, you’re being green by growing your own fruits, veggies and flowers. Why not take it a step further by reducing the need to manufacture new tools?
As I physically move myself closer to Mother Nature, my mind tends to wander closer to earth-friendly actions as I go about other aspects of my daily routine. Cooking, for sure. And crafting, too. Instead of an urge to sew quilts and clothes, I want to make stuff to hang in the garden and yard.
Here’s a roundup of outdoorsy crafts you might enjoy making if you’re feeling the same urge. As always, please feel free to add more links in the comments section.
Antique spoon garden markers (I looooove these)
A garden path made from glass bottles
An apron for gathering
veggies, herbs, eggs and plastic princess shovels at the end of the day
* This story was originally published as a post from the marketing blog "DwellWellNW." Read all stories from this blog