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.
Fall is the perfect time to examine your trees, shrubs, and vines and come up with a pruning plan. While most items should wait until winter, there are a few pruning tasks you can take care of immed ... [Read More...]
Cold climate gardeners can grow many different flowering plants from seed starting with fall sowing. In spring, after the winter, they will germinate and grow. Get the free list of recommended seeds h ... [Read More...]
This fall garden checklist covers everything you need to get your garden cleaned up and ready for winter. It's also packed with helpful reminders including fall planting ideas, what to protect from th ... [Read More...]
Yes, you can grow vegetables indoors including lettuces, arugula, spinach, kale, carrots, radishes, beet greens, tomatoes and more. Best of all, it can all be done with basic shop lights. Most of … [Read more...]
Learn the best way to store dry herbs and spices for best flavor and how to know when it’s time to replace them. For other recommended food storage options see the best way to store fresh fruits … [Read more...]
Now more than ever new gardeners are discovering the importance and joy of growing your own garden. These Botanical Interests seed collections featuring vegetables, herbs, and flowers are the gift … [Read more...]
This shows how to grow Swiss chard in containers indoors year-round at home for baby greens and delicious, colorful stalks. If you love this idea, also see these tips for getting started with … [Read more...]
To keep dahlia safe during the winter, we dig up the tubers and provide cool, dark storage using paper bags, newspaper, plastic wrap, or crates. For helpful growing tips, see 7 Best Tips for … [Read more...]
Learn how to grow pineapple plants (Ananas comosus) from seed using these easy germination methods. Instructions show how to collect and sow seeds. You can also grow a pineapple by rooting the top … [Read more...]
Ready to explore garden path and stepping stone ideas for your yard? These photos come from home gardens with walkways made from stone, brick, hypertufa, and concrete pavers. If you would like more … [Read more...]
