Eclectic Gardening in Tennessee Zone 7

    30-year old Rubbermaid tote with snap on lid   Drilled holes on all sides and lid   Layers: bottom, sticks/crushed leaves; food waste next; top, brown waste (crushed leaves, strips of cardboard, and shredded paper)   Clips (only 2 corners) to deter pests/critters   Update:  adding food waste layer after stirring   Update: adding browns on top of food waste   Update:  adding browns (shredded paper)   Update:  watering thoroughly April 12, 2026 Project: making a composting bin. I have no desire for a huge compost area in my yard. I opted to use an old Rubbermaid tote with a securing lid. This is the perfect size for the small amount of food waste from my household. NOTE: I do not add meat/fish or fats as food waste. These tend to give off strong odors when decomposing and more likely to draw attention from critters. Drilled holes...

    Bamboo cut/stripped 16-23 ft long   Bamboo cut to 6 ft lengths (feline buddy to help)   Drilled holes in each section to prevent explosions from pressurized air when heated   Flame/heat from fire pit perfect for curing bamboo   Glossy finished after heat curing; resin rubbed into wood   Finished product; however, several small sections not cured will also serve as supports   Anatomy of Bamboo    Many years ago, I received several bamboo plants and proceeded to plant in the lower back of property in the woods.  The bamboo was very slow growing for the first 15 years or so, but even then quite beautiful as it stayed green all year long.  The bamboo has started to spread, but still manageable at this point.   When I started gardening more and more I became interested in using bamboo for supports for tall spindly plants.  At ...

    Vegetable D-Ring Binder   Clear seed/photo sleeves   Flower D-Binder   Binder spines with tabs to remove labels   1/2 empty barrels easier to move   barrels leveled and in place Spring is in full swing!   So many projects to do and things to get accomplished over the next few weeks.   Wanted to get seeds organized to better identify what I have and help with decisions on what, where, and when to plant.   Needed to level the resin barrels in my back yard area.  Using D-ring binders, I decided to separate seeds into two main categories: vegetables and flowers. Using clear seed sleeves (4 x 6), I had to punch additional 3-ring holes because the original holes were not spaced correctly.   This made it much easier to shift the clear sleeves across the binder ring. Using MS Publisher, I designed card stock covers and spines for each binder.   I need to alphab...

February 17, 2026 (originally posted on NextDoor) No-rules gardening! Most DIY gardening enthusiasts don’t have estate-style gardening techniques, a landscaper’s eye, or an endless budget. Often DIY gardeners try out different ideas/designs/plants until something clicks and the result is appealing with an understanding things can always be rearranged and changed. Are you interested in sharing ideas, plants, seeds, DIY tips/tricks, and enjoying a bit of socializing to make gardening more fun and less expensive? All interested gardeners are welcome to join! If you’re new to gardening or just thinking about gardening – this is a perfect group to join. Examples: Perennial and annual flowers, bulbs, tubers, vegetables, herbs, mints, containers, raised beds, in-ground, native plants, composting, multi-use containers, recycled containers, winter sowing methods, clear tote mini-greenhouses, and any other outdoor projects of interest. My name is Marie.  I love being outdoors and gardening i...