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...]
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...]
Tall raised garden beds and salad tables make gardening easier and more accessible while helping deter pests like rabbits. This photo gallery shares ideas from home gardens. While these beds do … [Read more...]
Most indoor seed starting begins just weeks before last frost in spring. But some plants like the vegetable cultivars listed here are slow-growing and need a much longer jump start. Started indoors in … [Read more...]
This comfortable garden apron is an easy sewing project, perfect for beginners. It requires minimal fabric, can be sewn in an afternoon, and includes a free pattern. If you enjoy simple sewing … [Read more...]
Empress of Dirt is launching a new, free, weekly email series called Midweek Blooms. Each week we'll explore a new topic from organic gardening practices to seasonal DIY projects. If you are new … [Read more...]
These garden gifts offer fresh ideas for the practical gardener in your life. From plant propagation supplies to favorite books and unexpected gear that makes gardening easier, everything is thrifty … [Read more...]
Use this tutorial to make a simple bee house for wood-nesting bees in your garden. It uses leftover scraps of untreated 2x4s for an eco-friendly way to help native bees. We also have free nesting … [Read more...]
