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jensownzoo · 1 year

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I have a strategy to defeat the cucumber beetles this year. None of the other strategies deployed have worked the past two years, leaving me cucumberless, which is unacceptable. This year I’m going for total exclusion. Parthognathic cucumber varieties (that don’t require pollination to set fruit) were ordered (three different ones) and started inside to give them a leg up since they’re going to be planted in containers. They’re up and doing well.

The containers are 2’x2’ and 18” deep and I’ve had them for over 20 years. They got spray-painted purple a few years back to freshen up their look. I’ve filled them with fresh dirt and compost and will scratch in some mineral mix amendment in lieu of purchased potting soil because this is already going to be an expensive venture.

Then I constructed ollas for watering. If this summer is anything like last summer then pretending I live in the desert is a good idea. Especially with the four weeks of essentially no rain we just came out of (it’s spring dammit! Time for lots of rain! Everyone was getting it around us, but it missed us every time.). Picked up six 6” clay pots and a tube of aquarium-safe silicone:

And started by plugging the drainage holes. While you can just make a plug out of the silicone itself, I chose a sturdier option of using the caps off of water bottles. Covered the smooth side thickly with the silicone and pressed over the hole on the interior. Then flipped the pot and used a finger to smooth the glob of silicone so it sealed the edges.

Then ran a thick bead of silicone around the rim of the same pot. I found it easier to lay a more even bead if I squeezed the tube steadily with one hand while slowly rotating the pot with the other, but ymmv.

Then took one of the unplugged pots, inverted it, lined it up, and pressed the rims firmly together. Used my finger again to smooth the silicone on the exterior, making sure it filled the contour of the opposed rims to make smooth sides.

Then I painted the part of the diy olla that would be above the soil with an exterior-grade latex paint. This will prevent evaporation into the air so the water goes where it’s supposed to—the soil.

I let the silicone cure for 24 hours then filled the ollas through the top holes to check for leaks before I buried it. All was good. So I buried them. The pebble covering the fill hole is to keep out debris and, more importantly, mosquitoes. I will likely replace them with something that forms a better seal later. Alternatively I may chop up a mosquito dunk and drop it in (I do this with my earthboxes).

The next step is to get a trellis system set up. I’d like to do a square pvc cage, but that might be a little spendy for this year. I have three mesh bags with a zippered door on order, one to fit over each container and trellis. They’re apparently meant for dwarf fruit trees (so you don’t have to use so many pesticides), but should work nicely for cucumber beetles too. I WILL HAVE CUCUMBERS THIS YEAR DAMMIT!

#gardening #container gardening #cucumbers #cucumber beetles #ollas #diy #garden pest control #parthognathic plant varieties #after two years cucumberless this is war

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totesmag · 1 year

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DIY Home Decor: How to Make Your Own Terrarium

Explanation of what a terrarium is A terrarium is a type of enclosed ecosystem, typically made up of plants, soil, and other decorative elements. They can be made in a variety of containers, such as glass jars, vases, or even light bulbs. Terrariums are a great way to bring a bit of nature into your home and add a touch of greenery to your decor. Benefits of having a terrarium in your home Not…

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#activated carbon #charcoal #container #decorative elements #diy home decor #gravel #humidity #light #maintenance #pebbles #plants #soil #sphagnum moss #terrarium

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samwisethewitch · 21 days

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Homemaking, gardening, and self-sufficiency resources that won't radicalize you into a hate group

It seems like self-sufficiency and homemaking skills are blowing up right now. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic crisis, a lot of folks, especially young people, are looking to develop skills that will help them be a little bit less dependent on our consumerist economy. And I think that's generally a good thing. I think more of us should know how to cook a meal from scratch, grow our own vegetables, and mend our own clothes. Those are good skills to have.

Unfortunately, these "self-sufficiency" skills are often used as a recruiting tactic by white supremacists, TERFs, and other hate groups. They become a way to reconnect to or relive the "good old days," a romanticized (false) past before modern society and civil rights. And for a lot of people, these skills are inseparably connected to their politics and may even be used as a tool to indoctrinate new people.

In the spirit of building safe communities, here's a complete list of the safe resources I've found for learning homemaking, gardening, and related skills. Safe for me means queer- and trans-friendly, inclusive of different races and cultures, does not contain Christian preaching, and does not contain white supremacist or TERF dog whistles.

Homemaking/Housekeeping/Caring for your home:

Making It by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen [book] (The big crunchy household DIY book; includes every level of self-sufficiency from making your own toothpaste and laundry soap to setting up raised beds to butchering a chicken. Authors are explicitly left-leaning.)

Safe and Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair by Mercury Stardust [book] (A guide to simple home repair tasks, written with rentals in mind; very compassionate and accessible language.)

How To Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis [book] (The book about cleaning and housework for people who get overwhelmed by cleaning and housework, based on the premise that messiness is not a moral failing; disability and neurodivergence friendly; genuinely changed how I approach cleaning tasks.)

Gardening

Rebel Gardening by Alessandro Vitale [book] (Really great introduction to urban gardening; explicitly discusses renter-friendly garden designs in small spaces; lots of DIY solutions using recycled materials; note that the author lives in England, so check if plants are invasive in your area before putting them in the ground.)

Country/Rural Living:

Woodsqueer by Gretchen Legler [book] (Memoir of a lesbian who lives and works on a rural farm in Maine with her wife; does a good job of showing what it's like to be queer in a rural space; CW for mentions of domestic violence, infidelity/cheating, and internalized homophobia)

"Debunking the Off-Grid Fantasy" by Maggie Mae Fish [video essay] (Deconstructs the off-grid lifestyle and the myth of self-reliance)

Sewing/Mending:

Annika Victoria [YouTube channel] (No longer active, but their videos are still a great resource for anyone learning to sew; check out the beginner project playlist to start. This is where I learned a lot of what I know about sewing.)

Make, Sew, and Mend by Bernadette Banner [book] (A very thorough written introduction to hand-sewing, written by a clothing historian; lots of fun garment history facts; explicitly inclusive of BIPOC, queer, and trans sewists.)

Sustainability/Land Stewardship

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer [book] (Most of you have probably already read this one or had it recommended to you, but it really is that good; excellent example of how traditional animist beliefs -- in this case, indigenous American beliefs -- can exist in healthy symbiosis with science; more philosophy than how-to, but a great foundational resource.)

Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer [book] (This one is for my fellow witches; one of my favorite witchcraft books, and an excellent example of a place-based practice deeply rooted in the land.)

Avoiding the "Crunchy to Alt Right Pipeline"

Note: the "crunchy to alt-right pipeline" is a term used to describe how white supremacists and other far right groups use "crunchy" spaces (i.e., spaces dedicated to farming, homemaking, alternative medicine, simple living/slow living, etc.) to recruit and indoctrinate people into their movements. Knowing how this recruitment works can help you recognize it when you do encounter it and avoid being influenced by it.

"The Crunchy-to-Alt-Right Pipeline" by Kathleen Belew [magazine article] (Good, short introduction to this issue and its history.)

Sisters in Hate by Seyward Darby (I feel like I need to give a content warning: this book contains explicit descriptions of racism, white supremacy, and Neo Nazis, and it's a very difficult read, but it really is a great, in-depth breakdown of the role women play in the alt-right; also explicitly addresses the crunchy to alt-right pipeline.)

These are just the resources I've personally found helpful, so if anyone else has any they want to add, please, please do!

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lessofruthless · 2 years

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I have some projects in the works right now & I am so ready to execute the plans right now!!! 😭 This particular project is going to be interesting because I’ve never done this before! We’ll see how this goes but I have faith in myself, not to mention I’m very determined! Gardening has become my go to to destress, relax, keep my individuality, & my therapy! I can’t even tell you how it has helped my anxiety, & how it gives me peace while being productive! It’s my happy place & where I alleviate pain & I’ll feelings I may have, nobody said I was perfect! These projects I have planned gives me the drive to continue because I see my hard work & it’s ending result! Gardening is my therapy! During the winter I have plants inside that I take care of & I grow things in my home in containers also! #gardening #container #gardener #gardeningproject #garden #containergardening #container #containers #therapy #selflove #metime #zen #relaxation #plants #plant #plantmom #gardeninglife #life #mylife #diyprojects #diy #hacks #hack #gardeninghacks #grow #growinggardens #gardenlife #gardenersofinstagram #mygarden #mygardenlife (at Indiana) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf2zv0EL0mr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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watchmegetobsessed · 1 year

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CHILDISH

A/N: this turned out less halloween-y than i planned, but i think its still cute hehe

WORD COUNT: 1.5k

SUMMARY: It was supposed to be a perfect, cozy fall weekend. Right until you doubt whether you're the perfect fit for your older, successful boyfriend.

MASTERLIST | SUPPORT ME!

There’s a pep in your steps as you walk out of the elevator on the top floor of Harry’s office building, carrying the lunch you made him and you’re dropping off for him now. You’re excited for tonight and this weekend, because it’s gonna be the perfect fall weekend. You’re having a cozy movie night tonight, watching Nightmare Before Christmas and Coco while eating caramel apples and popcorn, drinking hot chocolate and tomorrow you’re going to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins that you’ll carve later in the afternoon. It’s literally what every girl dreams of at the end of October and Harry is a partner in all of it even though you would have never guessed he’s the kind of man to do these things when you first met him years ago.

You know your way around the office well by now so when the two assistants sitting behind their desk spot you, none of them question who you are.

“Mr. Styles is in a meeting,” Riley says as you approach them.

“I know. I’m just dropping this off for him. Can you give it to him when he’s done? I made him lunch,” you smile bashfully as you set the bag with the containers in it onto the desk. You even put a cute little sticky note on top.

Can’t wait for tonight, hurry home to me! Bone appetite! Love you! Xx

You love the pun and you know Harry will too.

“Of course,” Riley nods with a smile.

“Alright. Thank you, have a nice day,” you smile back as you turn around and head back towards the elevator. You sink your hands into the deep pockets of your wool coat and wind the candy you showed in there, wanting to give it to Harry too, so you start walking back to the assistant, but before you could turn the corner you hear them talking.

“I know! This is so silly,” Riley laughs.

“Silly? More like ridiculous. Her boyfriend is the CEO and she is bringing him lunch with sticky notes,” the other assistant, Tina snorts.

“I never understood how he could date a woman like her. No, not even woman, she is a girl.”

“Have you seen her in that oversized jumper?”

“The rainbow colored one?”

“Yes! It’s hideous! I wouldn’t even dress my toddler in it. Harry is a billionaire, I don’t know how he puts up with her childishness.”

You chew on your bottom lip so harshly, it almost starts bleeding. Their words hurt and turning around you rush back to the elevator so you can leave as fast as possible.

It sends you down a spiral. Are you really that childish? You always knew Harry and you come from different worlds, but you thought they clash perfectly. He is a CEO, insanely successful, lives in a penthouse and is thirty-six years old while you just turned twenty-six. You were an art teacher until you switched, so now you design book covers, but you still teach a few classes in a private school, because you like the kids so much. You lived in a one bedroom apartment before moving in with Harry, which was the size of the bedroom you now share with him. You don’t wear designer clothes, you love thrift shopping and you tend to DIY anything and everything.

As you arrive back home, walking into the penthouse you take a look around. You still remember how it looked when you moved in two years ago, very clean and modern, like the cover of an architecture magazine. But now you see your own touch everywhere.

Colorful candles spattered on every possible surface, chunky blankets covering the grey couch along with a bunch of pillows, you’ve put up fall decoration here and there, making the place cozier and more like home instead of leaving it so sterile. Harry never said he finds your things childish, not even your extreme amount of funky mugs or your plants, all in different pots or random art you hung at every possible empty spot in the place. They are far from his taste, but these little things make the penthouse homey.

Or at least they did until now.

As you look around you only see how childish and ridiculous all this stuff looks in the expensive penthouse that was once Harry’s modern home. What if he hates all of them? If he finds them hideous, but he just doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.

He is a decade older than you, a serious businessman and you’re making him watch Coco tonight and you have plans to go to a pumpkin patch tomorrow. How could you think these were the things he wanted to do?

“Your girlfriend dropped this off for you, Sir.” Riley places the bag on Harry’s desk when he returns into his office and he would have known it was from you even if she didn’t tell him. It’s in that bag with the polka dots all over that you love to use so much. It brings a smile to his lips and then he finds the sticky note. His smile grows from ear to ear.

“Thank you. I’ll be leaving early tonight, I have plans. You guys can leave around three too, if you want,” he tells her to which she nods before striding out of the room.

He can’t wait to spend the evening with you, curled up on the couch, watching the movies you chose. There’s nothing he would rather be doing on a Friday evening.

Wanting to get home as soon as possible, he really does leave early, texting you on his way home. You usually text him right back with a bunch of emojis, but this time you just send a simple okay and it concerns him. Something happened. He knows it.

“Babe! I’m home!” he calls out upon walking into the penthouse, looking for you and he notices that something is off right away.

Most of the candles are gone. And there’s only one blanket left on the couch. The pillows? Gone too.

“Y/N?” he calls out again and that’s when you walk out of the bedroom, dressed in a simple black dress. It looks great on you, but he knows you wouldn’t wear it, not at least without a fun jacket or mismatched jewelry.

“Hey!” you attempt to smile at him as you kiss him on the lips shortly.

“You’re so dressed up,” he hums.

“Yeah, um… I thought that maybe we could ditch the movie night and go out for dinner. I reserved a table at that sushi restaurant you like.”

“You want to ditch movie night? But I thought… what about Coco? It’s your favorite!”

“I’ve seen it a million times already,” you shrug. “And for tomorrow, maybe we could go to the spa and—“

“Alright, wait, slow down,” he cuts you off. “Sushi instead of movie night? Spa instead of pumpkin patch? What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” you play innocent, but he can see right through you.

“Don’t lie to me. Something surely happened and I don’t like what it did to you. You’re not… you’re not yourself. And where are the candles and blankets?”

“Y-You noticed them? I was just… I cleaned up a bit…”

“No, you didn’t clean, you put away most of your stuff, it almost looks like it was before.”

“Because…! They didn’t belong here, it’s better this way. Don’t you think?” you sigh, moving away from him to keep yourself together, but he pulls you back and taking your chin between his thumb and index finger, he makes you look at him.

“Baby, talk to me. What happened?” Your lips wobble as you shake your head, but you know he won’t leave you alone until you tell him. “Tell me what happened, I don’t like seeing you sad,” he softly pleads.

“I’m childish,” you say in a whisper.

“What?”

“I’m… ridiculous and childish. You should… You should be dating someone more mature.”

“Where is this all coming from?” he asks in disbelief. You’re hesitant to answer, but you can’t hold it back any longer.

“I dropped your lunch off today and I heard the assistants talk about me. They said that I’m childish and basically we’re not compatible. And… Maybe they are right.”

“No, they are not!” he answers straight away.

“Have you looked around? I moved in and brought all this… random stuff and messed up your modern and expensive home.”

“No, you made it into our home. I loved every little thing you brought with you!”

“You did?”

“Of course! This place didn’t even feel like home until you moved in. You brought so much light and joy, I love the blankets and pillows, all the candles and anything that reminds me of you.”

You open your mouth to say something, but no words come out. You’re in awe and most importantly, in love.

“And they make the place homey, but you make it my home. You’re my home, Y/N.”

“I’m gonna cry,” you announce as the first tears roll down your cheeks. Harry just chuckles and kisses your forehead before pulling your head to his chest.

“Let’s find those blankets and candles, change into some comfortable clothes and get a head start on that movie night, hm?”

“Okay,” you nod after a hiccup. Taking your face in his hands he wipes your cheeks before kissing you softly on the lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Thank you for reading, please like and reblog if you enjoyed and buy me a coffee if you want to support me!

#harry #styles #harry styles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fanfic #harry styles oneshot #harry styles one shot #harry styles fluff #harry styles x you #harry styles x y/n #harry styles x reader #harry styles blurb

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wastelesscrafts · 2 years

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I have a gardening tip for your followers! I love to garden but it is so expensive to get started. I repurpose old boxes and disposable/fast food cups as planters (just poke holes in the bottom for drainage and set them on top of a towel) and I made a small watering can out of a bottle with holes poked in the top. It works great because I don't need a massive watering can in my apartment. Gardening at home can be super cheap and easy!

[ID: a cardboard box that has been turned into a planter containing soil and seedlings. A plastic water bottle stands beside it and has holes poked in the top to serve as a watering can.]

Gardening and makeshift planters

Thank you for the tip! Gardening can seem quite daunting if you've never done it before, so asks like these are nice ways to show people it doesn't have to be all that complicated.

I wholeheartedly support DIY containers! Is that a cardboard box in your picture? Doesn't it get soggy? Or did you put in some kind of lining? Love your bottle watering can!

Gardening options:

Most people imagine a vegetable plot with annual plants and crop rotations when they think about gardening. This type of garden definitely has its merits, but it's not the only option. A garden can be as complex or as simple and as big or as small as you choose to make it.

[ID: a white bowl filled with small woodland strawberries. The bowl sits on a gray stone pathway next to a patch of wild strawberry plants.]

Backyard:

If you've got the luxury of having a garden in which you can do whatever you want without landlords watching over your shoulder, you're super lucky! There's so much good you could do!

Your garden can be a massive boon to your local biodiversity and wildlife. Even just planting native wildflowers or adding some wildlife garden elements will help. Make sure to look up local resources when planning a garden like this!

Your garden can also help to make your surroundings more comfortable. For example, trees and bushes will cool down their surroundings and can improve air quality. Gardening can even be used as a tool for carbon sequestration. And who doesn't like watching flowers bloom?

You could also try your hand at growing your own food. You could start a plot with kitchen herbs, grow a few vegetables or edible flowers, put in a few fruit bushes, and trade excesses with friends. Don't be fooled by Pinterest though, your chances of being able to live off your own produce are minimal.

Combine these different functions, if you can. For example: I've planted a wild strawberry patch in my garden. It functions as a ground cover and keeps my soil moist, provides me with the occasional snack, offers pollen to bees, and whatever berries I don't pick serve as food for the wildlife in my garden.

Keep things safe and easy:

Start out small! Don't get overwhelmed.

Figure out how much sun your plot gets before planting anything.

Use perennial plants instead of annuals if you have limited energy.

Trade seeds and seedlings with fellow gardeners, or learn how to propagate plants to keep costs down.

Look into lasagna gardening if you're unable to dig, or raised beds if you struggle with mobility.

Mulch your plots to save on water and weeding time.

Use localised information when planning your garden.

Avoid pesticides, especially if you plan to eat what you're growing.

Get your tetanus shots up to date, watch out for ticks, leave wild animals alone, and be careful if you have allergies.

Don't eat plants unless you're a 110% certain of what they are. Foraging can be fun, but you really don't want to mistake lilly of the valley for wild garlic.

Be mindful of your neighbours and housemates. Living near an allergen sucks, and certain plants can be dangerous to small children and pets.

Mint. Don't do it. It's a trap. It'll take over both your garden and your nightmares. Put it in a container if you really want to grow some.

If you've got a lot of space, you could look into permaculture or agroforestry.

Community plot:

Don't have a yard? Check if your neighbourhood has a community garden, or start one yourself. Shared gardens are a great way to get to know your neighbours.

Container garden:

If you don't have a lot of space, you could try container gardening. You can use pretty much anything to grow plants in as long as it's water tight, non-toxic, has drainage holes at the bottom, and is large enough for the type of plant you want to put in it. If you lack surface space, vertical gardens are also an option.

Note that container plants need more frequent watering and rely on you for nutrients.

The size of your garden project won't effect just how meaningful it can be. A native plant on a balcony can be an important spot for local birds or butterflies. The flowers in your vertical wall garden might be the only available pollen source in your neighbourhood. That potted basil on your window sill will give you a well-deserved sense of pride over keeping it alive every time you pick a few leaves for your pasta.

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gardenwitch13 · 16 days

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2024 Growing Season

The start of my planting season is well underway. I'm pretty excited this year. I've moved some things around and building up other areas.

I repurposed a wheel barrow to be a garden container for my potatoes.

I moved my herb garden over to another bed and planted peppers in it's place. I planted red, yellow, and purple bell peppers. Closer to summer, I'll be planting okra - again. We are not a true fan of okra, but damn, it grows so darn well in our climate! I still need to move a few more herbs.

I organized my growing pots a little more. Set up a mulch bed to set them on. I'm growing cherry tomatoes, bush beans, cayenne hot peppers, some lettuce in the tiered pots, and my Meyer's lemon tree is blooming wonderfully - don't know if I will have lemons this year. But's it's still fun to grow it.

I moved my herbs to a small garden in a corner that get's a little more shade. The mistake I made last year was almost scorching my herbs because I placed them in a the wrong bed and had to use a shade net.

Something new I'm trying this year is a DIY olla watering system. I'm using terra cotta pots and a saucer as a topper. I'm using plumber's putty to plug the holes - but it's been a hit and miss as to how well it's working. My success rate is 50%. I'll keep trying.

I still have my blackberry bushes, they've been trimmed way back, but hope they bounce back soon.

Happy Gardening!!!

#green witch #garden witch #urban gardening #green witchcraft #texas garden #urban garden #garden #texas native plants #kitchen witch #witches of tumblr

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balkanradfem · 1 year

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Prepairing the soil for the indoor seedlings!

Yesterday, I put many seeds to germinate in a wet paper towel, and I've already used up all of the soil I had stored for spring plants, so, I had to go to the forest on a nice sunny day, and dig out some soil from under a dead stump. I only take soil from already dead and rotting trees, and only take a little, because that soil is now made out of tree-decomposing matter, which is very fertile, rich in nutrients, and basically compost quality. It's also very light and airy and that makes it possible to use in containers, all soil that is used in containers needs to be very light so that the baby plants can stretch their roots thru it.

Other than the forest, I'd been able to find such soil in the areas where the river has flooded and dumped massive amounts of tree leaves, which then decomposed for months, and again, have created compost.

I've planted my seedlings directly into the forest soil before, and they were growing just fine, then for a while I was mixing new forest soil, with already-used-up forest soil, and that was fine too! I also ran some experiments mixing soil with fine sand, and planting half of my seedling in soil+sand mixture, and half in only-soil, and they've both grown equally well, no difference was noticed.

This time, I'm going to mix my forest soil with already-used soil, which I have on my balcony, and I have a bag of fine sand from the riverbank. I'm making this mix because it will increase the amount of soil I can use, since I have a neck injury, it's complicated for me to bring home large amounts of soil home, and re-using soil is effective and easy, and perfectly fine if you add fertilized and nutritious soil in it.

You don't need to go thru this entire process just to grow plants, you can use store-bought soil, or try any kind of soil you have around until something works, I'm doing this just to increase the amount of soil I have and make sure it's easy to grow in!

So I have forest soil, already-used soil, sand, and a bucket to put it all in. Before it gets in the bucket, I want to be meticulous and clean it, because even the already-used soil will have some hard clumps or pieces of bark or something, that might bother the tiny seedlings when they grow. I want to make it the most airy and productive soil ever. This is how the already-used soil looks after it's been clean.

And once it's nice and clean I dump it into the bucket! Now it's time to clean the equal amount of the forest soil, and this one is way more messy. There are leaves, roots, pieces of bark, rocks, seeds, sometimes there's even tiny little bugs I accidentally woke from hibernation, but they are fine and good for the soil, and they generally just keep living in the soil and don't go running around the apartment, so I don't mind them at all.

This is how it looks before and after I cleaned it, I was just brushing my hands thru and taking out anything that felt clumpy and odd. If you had a big sieve you could do this within seconds, but I like having my hands in the soil, so I was having a good time spending 10 minutes picking stuff out.

Now, both of the soils are added into the bucket, and I'm also adding sand in. Sand isn't going to add any nutrition to it, but it is very airy, very light, and very easy for little plants to push seeds thru. It will make the soil lighter, and increase drainage, means the water will run down more easily and the soil will not keep water inside. I've tried to make it about 20% sand.

And I'm loving the result after mixing! The soil is a tad more grey in color, but extremely light and airy, I think the plants are going to love it. It's a bit less filled with nutrients than the pure compost would be, but I will add nutrition when the plants become big enough to require it (when they have more than 1 set of true leaves).

All of the clumps, leaves, pieces of bark and clusters of roots I took out, can be composted, but, I'm going to actually use them for filling the big pots on my balcony. I usually add all of the clumpy soil at the bottom, because it adds more drainage at the bottom, and by the time the plants grow their roots all the way down, they won't be bothered by the clumps, it's only the most fragile tiny roots of baby seeds that are sensitive and need airy and non-clumpy soil.

Since my experiment with mixing went so well, I repeated the process and added once more, a container of used soil, container of forest soil, and a bit of sand, to make a full bucket of soil. Now I have plenty of soil to work with! I'm going to keep this bucket inside of my room, because those baby seeds are used to warm temperatures, and will want to be planted in warm soil. I'm also closing the lid, so the soil remains damp and full of life.

If your soil dries out, then the bacteria and diversity inside of it starts dying off, and it can even become hydrophobic! In case it does get so dry it starts rejecting water, it can still be rehabilitated, by adding more organic soil in it and mixing it all together. I've also seen gardeners add soapy water, because bubbly water has less surface tension and is more easily absorbed by the dry soil. For this purpose, they'd add a few drops of dish detergent in the water.

Here's my bucket of soil! This can fill many containers and cups, and when I run out, I have enough ingredients to make more. In a few weeks, I'll probably have to go to the forest to get some more, but I'll be all set until then.

#soil health #free soil for planting inside #soil mix #soil nutrition #compost #planting mix #diy inside soil #container soil #gardening #growing seedlings #growing transplants

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loveofself-witchcraft · 2 years

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A Self Love Altar

picture found here

What is a Self Love Altar?

A self love altar is a place that represents your devotion to yourself. It is a physical representation of the love you have for yourself through items that symbolize you. It is a place you can practice self care or create magical workings regarding self love. It is a place to build a better relationship with yourself.

Where Do I Set Up My Altar?

The most important thing is to have a sacred place. This can be in your home, outside, a portable travel container, etc.

If you want to use a space in your home: Choose an area that is able to be free of distractions that would bother you. This can be in a favorite room of your house. It can also be as big of a space as you want. Some good options include a small shelf, the top of a dresser, the countertop in your bathroom, etc.

If you want to use an outdoor space: You can use a small space in your backyard. You can decorate this space to make it special to you: fairy lights, planting a garden with corresponding herbs like rose or lavender, sigils carved into a fence or nearby tree. A porch or patio can also work. You can get potted plants and paint sigils on the bottoms of them. If you plan to travel a bit farther, like to a nearby lake or a favorite spot in a forest, read about the travel altar below.

If you want to use a travel altar: You can use any container to pack your items. A basket or a tote bag with pockets for optimal organization are good options to carry a lot at once. A smaller and more discrete option would be a mint container. You could easily throw this into a bag or pocket to take with you on your travels. Bonus: because it is so discrete, it's a great option for those in the broom closet.

What Do I Include On My Altar?

Note that all of the items listed below are optional. Pick and choose what you want to include and what works for you and your practice. Some of these items can be found at your local dollar tree, 99¢ store, 5 below, etc. Others can be found on amazon, at your local metaphysical shop, or an etsy store. Find or diy what you can and want.

A mirror. You can use this to reflect where you are on your journey to self love in this current moment.

A picture of yourself during a happy moment. This serves as a reminder to yourself that good times have happened and are bound to come again.

A personal journal. You can use this journal for shadow work, writing down spells, writing diary entries, keeping a gratitude log, etc. I personally use mine to write letters to my past and future selves. I practice forgiveness and understanding when writing to my past self. I also use it to vent when writing to my future self. It's nice to go back and look at these letters and see how things worked out or unfolded and to remind myself that the universe has my back.

Magical workings. If you have a current spell that you are working on that centers around self love, keep it on your altar. I have a couple of spell jars on my blog, such as this self love one.

Divination items. You can use these to help you cue yourself into what you need most in life.

Candles or incense in a scent that corresponds to a specific intention that you have (i.e., rose for self love). You may wish to light this before beginning any working or journaling.

Crystals that correspond to your intention (i.e., citrine for increased happiness). These can be good to meditate with, use as worry stones, or charge the altar space.

Makeup and/or perfume. This can be good for glamour magic.

Self care items, such as things for facials or mani pedis. These items are good to take care of yourself. You can pamper yourself as a reminder that you deserve to have time to yourself.

An Important Note: Before Setting Up Your Altar

Be sure to cleanse the area of any negative energies. Wipe down any surfaces with a cleansing spray or charged oil. You can also use incense smoke. Charge the space with crystals, rose water, infused moon water, etc.

How Do I Use My Altar?

Feel free to use your altar the way you want to. Below are just some helpful tips that I typically do. Feel free to change anything or to follow them as you please.

Light your candles or incense. If you cannot use fire, opt to use digital candles on apps or youtube.

Write in your journal with whichever purpose you chose to use it for (shadow work, gratitude, letters, diary entries, etc.).

Think about what you wrote. How does it impact your daily life? If it is something negative, how do you want to grow from it? If it is something positive, how do you want to continue to manifest it?

Meditate on these thoughts. Imagine the good in your life and the goals you have manifesting. Imagine the negativity in your life being banished and leaving you for good.

If you practice divination, use any divination items you would like.

Decide on an affirmation or mantra for your day or week, depending on how often you want to change it. I like to use my altar once a week or more if I can. Each time I feel drawn to my altar, I like to manifest self love for the next couple of days with a newly chosen mantra.

Additional Resources

All About Shadow Work: a beginner's guide / a small list of prompts

All About Glamour Magic: a brief explanation / a couple example spells

#self love #altar #witchcraft #beginner witch #witchblr #self love ritual #witchy things

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a-romantic--aromantic · 2 years

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<- is making insane decisions about aro/aspec “picnic” at pride next year.

The plan was originally to have it be completely unofficial and just me in the dc pride festival on an aro flag picnic blanket with some crafts but idk my mental health is crashing and making these things/organizing this may help. idk i want my future to be in community organizing so. it makes me feel good. anyways onto what i was talking about:

So. im deciding if i want to be someone with a table or not, if i want it to be aro or aspec, or if i want to have pride stuff available for donation only or not (aka no money accepted). (idk what to donate towards. maybe just explaining that i made all of this with my own free time/ money and any extra money will get donating to ace and aro advocacy project- which i think is located in the same city as the pride event- or AUREA? or just outright donating but… this all sounds really expensive which im anxious about but. i am okay with outright donating if thats a better idea idk)

ANYWAYS

I’m not sure if a table costs money or anything, but I dont think aro culture and aro pride should be locked behind a paywall. If I have aro pride stuff available, it would likely be:

bulk purchased silicone rings. the packs of rings dont just come in white, and almost always contain black, but id just have all the colors in a bowl with a sign about the meanings of black and white rings

diy low quality stickers. and im talking printouts and packing tape level quality. id probably also reach out to some aro/aspec artists if theyd be okay with me printing some of their designs for free pride stickers with their @ on the back. again, no profiting off their art, just having subtle aro/aspec options for closeted folks. also obviously the pride flags themselves/ like the heart emojis and stuff. if i get permission for the <2 i also think thatd be funny to have. id try to print off as many of the specific arsospec identities as i could, too.

some mini pride flags. like on the little stick and stuff? i already reached out to somebody about aplatonic and the new aspec flags. these will be on display at minimum, but im tempted to see how much bulk purchasing to give away for free would cost

….real pride flags, including aplatonic and the new aspec flag. im most hesitant about this because $$$ but…. i know how much it would mean to people, yknow?

i also want like. *stuff to do* to engage in community building and growth, so id likely have kandi bracelet stuff too, and be making aro/aplatonic/aspec bracelets to entertain myself while i sit there for folks without the time to make their own. (also! apparently grey bracelets are an old greyspec symbol. thats so cool!)

ive had it in my mind since early 2020 i want aro ribbon available for turning into shoelaces and im not gonna let up on this decision.

i just…. i really want to be able to connect with members of my community and raise awareness and recognition or aros/apls/aspecs in queer spaces, and i thought this may help.

these things are a little more hesitant but im thinking shrinky-dink keychains of these things/culture and symbols…? same thing @ artists, but uhhh if no one approves ill draw my Very Best. most of these will ALSO be stickers (if i do it)

(these are all old or current aspec culture. aro specific ones im more likely to do. also apl im more likely to do and may get ** but idk yet)

arospec

dragons

yellow roses

<2 (i got permission!!!!)

a little crown?? people are referencing jughead and you know what Sure.

frog,,

green! we sure do love green huh. just like scribbles gkfhjf

…garlic bread? i think i saw that get phased out for dragons but you know what sure

plants..? i hadn’t realized that counted ngl

gryphons! i knew about them

(cacti/succulents but i already said plants)

“no romo”

does space count as aspec culture? idk guys

peridot and labradite? hm. cool!

somebody said aardvarks but ive never seen that before. apparently theyre a really old symbol. thats so cool!

💚 and 💔

pizza and ice cream but garlic bread got more popular (tho these are easier to draw)

manticores

i saw rats..? ehhh im hesitant on that one

Nandays and Caiques :) okay this one is cute

acespec

pegasus

cake

dragons are also very definitely acespec too

pirates

axolotls (though i think we can share)

wolves??? huh.

apparently ghosts are greyspec and!!!! holy shit that me! thats my name! fucking Wild Thats So Cool

someone reffed dinosaurs? cool cool

aaaahhhhg so space is Definitely acespec i forgot the whole spAce thing lol

purple

badgers and unicorns? hm

♠️♣️♥️♦️ cards/symbols. i also recognize peole can turn these into earrings which. real. queer culture irl.

aplatonic

<2 (this is more loveless/heartless but i see it used a lot in aplatonic circles as well)

apples

bees, worms, and birds have been proposed but havent seen much use yet. there has been some use though!

tbh since i cant find much ill likely have a sign that says something like “aplatonic culture is only recently getting enough visibility to be seen as separate from aro culture, so as the growing community develops new symbols we should keep an eye out! im excited to watch this community and identity finally get recognition like it deserves

do i propose platonic solids? idk you guys

*aspen/fang reminded me that non-platonic solids exist as well and are getting used as a symbol. Nice!

general aspec

cryptids

im not making an aroace category but someone said handshake tattoos… imma pass on this one because its not apl friendly

i associate cross stitch and diy patches as aro core/ aspec but thats just me

lambda is queer culture and we belong to that too

i saw a lot of black triangle (as well as gradient) refs but idk if that is Ace Specific or not, but it Is a symbol i think is important to not overlook

ive seen bees used every so often in aro communities as well as aplatonic,

you know what the d&d “roll for x” is funny ill take that

flags

anyways sorry i kinda went off with the research But. ive wanted to do this for Years (since 2019/early 2020 when this blog started Yknow. happenin) and i. i want to make it actually happen in 2023. its going to. i am gonna will it into existence. i just want to build a community i can interact with, yknow? thats all.

Anyways let me know what you think! i recognize this is a Lot and honestly ridiculous but who knows, yknow?

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useoftoysforchildsdevelop · 4 months

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15 Exciting and Educational Fun Activities for Kids

Absolutely! Here are 15 exciting and educational fun activities for kids that can unleash joy and foster learning:

1. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt:

Create a list of items for kids to find in the backyard or a nearby park. This promotes observation skills and outdoor exploration.

2. DIY Science Experiments:

Conduct simple and safe science experiments at home. Examples include making a volcano, creating a rainbow, or exploring the properties of water.

3. Storytelling and Puppet Shows:

Encourage creativity by letting kids create their own stories and act them out using puppets or even just their imagination.

4. Nature Art:

Collect leaves, flowers, and rocks from the outdoors to create beautiful nature-inspired art. This activity connects children with nature while stimulating their artistic abilities.

5. Cooking Together:

Involve kids in the kitchen. They can help with measuring ingredients, stirring, and decorating. It's a great way to teach them about math and nutrition.

6. Building and Engineering:

Use building blocks, Legos, or other construction toys to enhance spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. Challenge them to build specific structures or create their own designs.

7. Music and Dance Party:

Turn on some music and let the kids dance and express themselves. You can also introduce them to different musical instruments.

8. Gardening:

Teach kids about plants and responsibility by letting them plant and care for their own little garden. They can watch plants grow and learn about the life cycle.

9. Map Reading and Treasure Hunt:

Create a treasure map and let kids follow it to find hidden treasures. This activity enhances their map-reading skills and promotes teamwork.

10 Animal Safari at Home:

Pretend to go on a safari by creating animal masks and "observing" different stuffed animals around the house. This can be both fun and educational.

11. Yoga for Kids:

Introduce simple yoga poses to kids to help them improve flexibility and focus. There are many kid-friendly yoga resources available online.

12. Weather Watch:

Discuss different weather conditions with kids. Create a simple weather chart, and each day, they can observe and record the weather.

13. DIY Musical Instruments:

Create musical instruments using household items, such as shakers made from empty containers filled with rice. This engages kids in a creative musical exploration.

14. Reading Fort:

Build a cozy reading fort using blankets and pillows. Encourage kids to read books, fostering a love for reading and storytelling

15. Virtual Field Trips:

Explore virtual tours of museums, zoos, or historical sites online. It's a great way for kids to learn about the world from the comfort of home.

Remember to adapt these activities based on the age and interests of the children involved. The goal is to make learning enjoyable and promote a positive and engaging environment.

READ FOR MORE INFO PLEASE VISIT OUR MAIN WEB PORTAL

#artsandcraftsforkids #Babylistwelcomebox #craftsforkids #FunActivities #kidsactivitiesnearme #thingstodowithkidsnearme #toddleractivitiesnearme

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emptym0rgue · 2 months

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So this post contains some semi personal shit about me but i wanna talk about this

TLDR: grief caused me to quit art for like three years but i hope to try getting back into it so you might see that here

For all my life i loved art and diy and all that kinda shit. I used to have a sketchbook on me 24/7 and i always had ideas and always wanted to draw. My IEP even included that i could draw in class to help me focus.

Not long after i turned seventeen, an artist i looked up to who was pretty much a sister to me, commit suicide. For the sake of privacy i wont give too much info about her but she was someone i looked up to, she was insanely talented, her favorite medium was oil painting, she was also just an amazing person. She loved plants and animals and she was really close with our family. We took her in for a sec when her parents kicked her out and we helped her get an apartment. While she was living at the apartment, she seemed so happy but next thing we knew, she went missing and was found dead by her own hands. She was only nineteen.

Her death caused me to quit art for the most part. I couldnt bring myself to do it because i just thought of her, i missed her a lot and i still do. The christmas before she died, she got me oil paints and said she was gonna teach me how to use it, i never used them.

The reason im talking about this is because im twenty now and im hoping to try art again. It’ll take some getting used to and relearning but ive been thinking about it, my lost loved one would have wanted me to keep doing art with or without her so thats what i hope to do. I might post some of my art on here starting soon as a way to document my attempt at getting back into it.

Hope this wasnt too sad, thank you for reading

#emptym0rgue #art

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witchmemes · 2 years

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Cities: A Modern Witch's Urban Sanctuary Part 4: Urban Magick

When in the city, it has its own unique options for magick. One such example is using cans that you've found on the street for such purposes as stringing them together and hanging them from your doorknob as a protection charm. There are many uses for cans. Make sure to clean them first, though. You can use scraps from broken tires for baneful magick as well as banishing. If you burn them, I would not recommend doing it indoors. Bottles found lying around, whether they be glass or plastic, have many uses. They can store moon water and other liquids that one might use in their practice. If the glass bottles are broken, you can put them in a spell jar to drive your enemies away. If you see some paper lying around, it can have many uses in your practice. Chicken bones from fried chicken discarded in front of your apartment building? Those can be used in your practice, too! Even those metal bottle caps can be used for luck, money drawing, or prosperity magick. You'd be surprised how ordinary, mundane-looking litter can be used in one's practice. Just make sure that you clean these items before you use them. You can also do things like use chalk to write sigils on your apartment building. If you don't have an altar, you can make one out of a milk crate with some plywood or thick cardboard on top. You might find feathers lying around, and those have many applications.

Many cities have occult shops where you can find a variety of supplies for your practice. However, if you do not have one or cannot go to one, there are other places where you can get supplies. Take grocery stores, for example. The spice section has a wide variety of common herbs that one might use in one's practice. Some herbs can be found in the tea section. You can use loose-leaf or bagged tea. One thing that I've done is get herbs from the tea bags (chamomile, lavender, hibiscus, lemongrass, and safflower, among others). You just have to cut them open to get the herbs. Some herbal tea blends have herbs that you can use for a specific purpose. For example, Bigelow Red Raspberry has ingredients that are good for love spells, including self-love. If you need fresh herbs, common cooking herbs can often be found in the store. Really, a lot of herbs and other items used in one's practice can be found there. Some stores also have incense, candles, notebooks, and pens or markers in a variety of colors. Some stores have those flat marbles, which you can use to make a DIY set of rune stones. If you don't have any spring water available, you can get those gallon jugs of spring water at most grocery stores. If there is a craft section, I'd recommend checking it out. Most grocery stores have a place where you can buy cookies and the like, which can be used as offerings. If you're on a budget and have a local Dollar Tree, you can usually get candles, incense, dried herbs, salt, notebooks, a variety of craft supplies, cookies, dolls to represent the god and goddess, cartons of eggs to make eggshell powder, and many other items that one can use in their practice. Really, if you're creative and open-minded enough and know where to look, you can find a wide variety of things to use in your practice. I would recommend checking out the seasonal items, too.

Back to the matter of herbs and such things. If you don't want to go out to buy herbs, flowers, vegetables, and the like and are patient enough, you can grow your own. Some plants can be grownn on the window sill, or on your balcony if you have one. If there is a communal garden, try to find out if that's also an option to grow your plants. If you grow your plants indoors, I would recommend purchasing a grow light. If you grow your plants indoors, you will probably have to hand-pollenate certain plants yourself. Thankfully, there are a wide variety of videos on YouTube that give instructions on how to hand-pollenate your plants. Some plants come in dwarf or container varieties, which can be useful if you don't have a lot of space. For example, many micro dwarf tomatoes grow to be less than a foot tall. You might have to order some seeds online, though.

In the city, you can cast almost any spell that you can cast elsewhere. You can find almost any ingredient that you need if you're creative and resourceful enough. If you look for it, you'll probably be able to find it in the city. Who knows? You might find something you can use that might surprise you. As they say, sometimes you don't know what you're looking for until you find it.

#city #urban #witch #witchcraft #urban witchcraft #urban witch #city witch #witch memes #witchmemes #urban magick

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