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 indoor seed starting plan is designed for cold climate gardeners in Canada and the U.S. Follow along to time your seeds just right for indoor sowing and outdoor planting. ... [Read More...]
There are lots of annual and perennial flowers to start from seed indoors ahead of the outdoor growing season. By sowing instead of buying plants, we have more options (so many varieties to choose fro ... [Read More...]
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...]
Follow along with this helpful garden job list to know what to get done month by month through each season. Includes tasks, tips, and tutorials for cold climate gardeners in the United States and … [Read more...]
Build a robin nesting box with these free plans. Robins are attracted to this unique design with a sheltered shelf to secure the nest and raise their young. The robin (Turdus migratorius) nesting … [Read more...]
While it's easiest to grow strawberries from runners or transplants, you can also grow any variety from seed using these tips. Once you've sprouted your strawberry seeds, this has my best tips for … [Read more...]
This indoor seed starting plan is designed for cold climate gardeners in Canada and the U.S. Follow along to time your seeds just right for indoor sowing and outdoor planting. This is part of a … [Read more...]
This is the low-budget setup I use to start hundreds of plants from seed indoors each year, using simple LED or fluorescent lights to raise strong, reliable seedlings. This is part of a … [Read more...]
Spring is migration time for hummingbirds travelling from their winter homes to breeding habitats in the United States and Canada. Use this tracking map to know when to expect them in your … [Read more...]
January garden tasks for cold-climate gardeners include winter maintenance, early indoor seed starting, creative crafts and DIY projects, and planning for the upcoming growing season. This … [Read more...]
