Welcome! I'm Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada). I've got creative and frugal ideas for your home and garden. New to this site? Start here.
This homemade peanut butter suet recipe feeds wild birds in the winter when food is scarce. It's a simple way to make suet without lard and well-loved by various birds including woodpeckers and nuthat ... [Read More...]
Yes, you can grow vegetables indoors. I have grown a variety of vegetables and herbs including lettuces, arugula, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, beet greens, tomatoes and more. Best of all, I grow ... [Read More...]
Find out whether your plant is a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter cactus (Schlumbergera or Rhipsalidopsis) with these identification tips. The shape of the leaves, which are really modified branches ... [Read More...]
These indoor garden projects bring a bit of growing season indoors and help bridge the gap until spring arrives. This is also a good time to prepare Christmas cactus and poinsettias for … [Read more...]
Brighten winter days with these easy homemade ice suncatchers. Made in your freezer, they’re bird-friendly and bring a welcome pop of color to the garden. For more ideas also see Naturally Crafty: … [Read more...]
This simple method sows hardy seeds in pots outdoors for winter, keeps them from washing away, and lets natural cold and moisture provide the stratification they need to sprout in spring. Another … [Read more...]
These short garden quotes, jokes, and puns range from funny to heartfelt. Browse the list and see which ones become your new favorites. If want a quote to hang in your garden, also see these 60 … [Read more...]
Winter sowing is a popular new way to start seeds outdoors in jugs or containers for spring sprouting—perfect for a variety of plants. Grab old milk jugs or other containers to act like mini … [Read more...]
Use these monthly tips to grow your poinsettia as a houseplant year-round and help it rebloom in time for the next holiday season. For more on popular houseplants, see How to Grow … [Read more...]
In December, cold-climate gardens slow down with veggies under cover, greens indoors, and snow offering inspiration for garden art and decor. Have a look at the ideas for this … [Read more...]
