dirty dozen + clean 15 printable

Remember back in October when I told you about a creative burst, the Dirty Dozen Grocery Tote? Well, the watercolors are back.

Since we're not yet in farmer's market season, it was time to create the complement to the "Dirty Dozen" list and illustrate the "Clean 15" list. That way, when you're at the standard grocery store with limited organic options, you know which fruits + vegetables to heads towards with a clear [meaning low pesticide residue] conscience.

You can purchase your own Clean 15 Budget Tote from my Zazzle store, or print a wallet guide [shown at top] from my Etsy shop.

burst 1: dirty dozen tote bag

Oh, hi.

That little creative burst had to take a 2-week hiatus preparing for and hosting some out-of-town family, then came a teething baby + feeling gross, so 2 weeks turned into 3. Rest is good for the soul, too, right? Okay, then. Moving on.

Maybe you're not as into reusable bags as I am, but after moving and being able to pad pretty much all our kitchenware with crumpled up plastic bags, I realized we had developed a problem. Too Many Plastic Bags problem. They're all stuffed inside a larger plastic bag hanging in the garage, and we will be able to line many a garbage can before we run out. Ahem. Sorry. War on clutter = love of totes.

Do you ever walk into the grocery store, stare at the produce, and think: "If only I could remember what that cute infographic on Pinterest said the dirty dozen are...guess I'll just buy what's on sale..."
No? Just me? It's true, I can never remember. But I want to choose the right foods for our family [especially the littlest member], so it was time to make a custom tote.

The watercolors came out, the EWG site pulled up, and fruits and vegetables began to appear. Zazzle is one of the few printing sites that has totes as an option, and since they make it so easy and always have sales, they were my go-to source.

It's so durable that it's mostly been used for traveling and running errands, but soon it will find its way into my glove box and thereby into the store. I'm really happy with how it turned out. If you think it would be a good gift for yourself or someone you know, just head over to my sidebar and check them out!

[Forgive the gratuitous baby shots. You know I can't help myself. Also, if you're curious, the bag shown is the Grocery Tote size: 13"w x 15.5"h x 7"d.]

Oh, and that graphic on Pinterest? Turns out it's outdated. But if you want that list, you'll find it on my 2012 version! [Couldn't waste the illustrations...]

growing a green thumb

This indoor gardener is at it again. Last year, I started a bunch of herbs indoors. They didn't transfer to pots as well as I had hoped, probably in part due to crowding the compostable planters. Since they grow rather quickly, it's not really necessary to give them a head start on the season, so this year I planted a manageable amount in my south window and will plant the remaining seeds in large pots outside when the time is right [ahem, soon].

Lest you think my garden itch subsided this year, take a gander at these baby zinnias. The minute I saw their bright blooms on the seed packet with promises to grow 3 feet tall, I had to start some. Using egg cartons as starter pots, the seeds sprouted quite nicely!

The downside of egg cartons is there isn't much dirt to hold water, which means I had to water daily. So before we left town for Mother's Day, I transferred them to three larger pots. They've really taken off! I *so* hope to get blooms this summer.

[This post was forgotten in my editor, so you get an immediate update! How's that for instant gratification?]

They've since been planted in the great outdoors, where they promptly got pummeled by hail. As of yet, they haven't recovered fully from that shock, but since they're not dead, I'm hopeful!

Now if I can just finish planting the garden [and stop bunnies and weeds from taking over], this year will be a great success! Harvesting could prove interesting, but we'll think about that a different day. :-)

seeing sunshine

Sometimes you need to look on the bright side, which this blog consistently encourages me to do. Sad, tired Lisa bemoans the hours she hasn't spent on the garden, the areas she let weeds take over, and the loss from Little Bunny Foo Foo.

this *was* beans & peas, until pests ate them, and weeds took over

It's easy to forget that this is my first year in this garden, that I planted more than I could handle harvesting, and that I did so on a whim figuring in the least I would learn things. And learn things I have!

Peppers grow *wonderfully* in my garden!

As does pumpkin - evidently it needs *lots* of space. It jumped the fence and now hangs with the sweet corn.

Other notes to self:

• put down organic weed preventer and work the dirt right away
• spray for rabbits *before* they feast
• mulch between rows [like the book said]
• plan and label rows
• bring water [no dehydration!]
• wear sunblock [no spring sunburn!]
• wear hat [just got one!]
• install rain gauge [optional, but might give me more incentive to water manually]

yay for no more sun-in-eyes, hair-in-eyes, or sunburned part! victory!

So there you have it - from here on out I'm committing to being happy, victorious Lisa. The girl who revels in what her garden *is* producing, finds new recipes for enjoying them, and gets to hang out outside and burn calories while she's at it.

...and sing songs in her head as she pulls weeds. Oh wait, I've always done that. :-)


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This post was written as part of the Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop.

summer days

Summer is definitely one of my favorite seasons. The warmth, the green, even the sweat - it makes you feel alive in ways that winter just doesn't do for me. [yes, yes, snow is pretty. it's just so. cold. brr.]

This summer has been especially exciting because it's our first summer in this house, and with this yard. We planted blueberries [look at top! one's already blue! ...there were two, but one popped in my mouth before the camera had a chance], and the yard came with plenty of raspberry bushes [yum!]. There was one tree in the corner, however, that puzzled us. Daily I'd spy on it to see what fruit it may or may not produce, and one day it became clear: cherries! Sour cherries, to be specific, so now I'm on a mission to find recipes that don't involve dousing them with sugar. Sweet or sour, they make me happy.

The peas in the garden are even starting to come in! It doesn't get much better than garden fresh peas. These, too, I stalked daily watching the plants develop and grow. 

I love the life that surrounds us in the summer, generated by days of beautiful sunshine interrupted with days of life-giving rain. There's quite a show going on out in nature...maybe it's time for another walk to enjoy it!

This post was inspired by the prompt "SUNSHINE" from Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop (probably my favorite prompt ever!). Find more great posts here.

assistant for harvest

I'm linking up with Gussy's Inspiration Workshop again this week, using the prompt "green." It's the perfect segue to introduce you to the new thrifted [sort of] member of my gardening team!

For Christmas, my parents gave me a copy of The Beginners Guide to Preserving at Home. It got me more excited than ever to get my garden planted, growing, and process the bounty that was sure to follow. The author listed a Squeezo strainer as a must-have for this endeavor, but new on Amazon it runs $195. Sad face.

Enter craigslist:

 

Purchased from a nice man for $25, this sturdy piece of 1982 vintage has seen very little use, and besides a dried out rubber gasket, it's in perfect condition!

It promises to make my applesauce [using orchard apples + no sugar] and salsa [using homegrown tomatoes + peppers] processing 10x easier to accomplish this year. I love knowing exactly what's going in my food and catering the flavor to our liking.

 

My goal for this year: canned pizza sauce! My husband and I love pizza [especially Papa John's], so what better use for the Squeezo than to puree some fresh tomatoes and make pizza sauce? No blanching, no peeling, no seed-removing. Too easy.

What about you? Are there things you prefer to make from scratch?

a new beginning

Since I'm sure you've read my "about me," [okay, maybe you haven't] you already have an inkling that I love gardening. Perhaps it's due in part to being raised on a farm, but there's something about digging in the dirt and getting to literally feast on the fruits [or vegetables...or herbs...] of your labor that is irresistible.

Here in MN we had a warm stint that amped up my desire to work outside by 100%. Since then, it has predictably turned colder. Not to be defeated, I decided to at least start my herbs indoors. Hidden in this grid is cilantro, oregano, basil, dill, rosemary, and thyme. The garden outside is already bursting with perennial garlic, chives, and mint.

Meals around here will have never had it so good!

Thanks for stopping by; I hope you'll enjoy this new addition to the current blog offering of crafting, cooking, artists, and Etsy.