If you are new here, welcome! I’ve got creative and frugal home and garden ideas for you.
Please, dig in and have a look around.
Here’s the Scoop—
I am Melissa J. Will, also known as the Empress of Dirt â™›, and I share creative and frugal home and (mostly) garden DIY projects and ideas, with an emphasis on the organic, eco-beneficial, and thrifty help I needed when I was starting out.
My Garden
This photo (above) was one of those rare great days where
1) I had just weeded
2) there’s a fresh application of mulch
3) it was peak season for blooms, and
4) it just rained, which makes all the colors more beautiful.
But even on it’s frumpy days—which is many days— I just love having a garden.
And not for perfection: for me, it’s just being outside, watching things grow, experimenting, and creating that make it so enjoyable.
I grow organically, just making use of plants, compost, and mulch. The word “organic” has many meanings, but in this case I mean I try my best to create a natural habitat that supports the local food web and ecosystem, without using any synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or anything else that can do more harm than good.
Turn on the sound to hear the story:
For plant and growing information, I rely on facts and scientific research, not the ever popular myths and folklore. The myths themselves may be relatively harmless but it’s not fun for beginner gardeners who may follow them and fail. We need to encourage new gardeners, not send them down ridiculous rabbit holes! To do my part, I research like crazy and do my best to provide reliable, accurate information.
For DIY projects, I like it creative, repurposed, useful, and thrifty. Whenever possible I make do instead of buying new. I also share a few recipes when it’s a much requested favorite.
We live debt-free and like to keep things simple.
If you are interested in my own rocky start as a new gardener, there is a tour of my first garden here and my current garden here.
What You Will Discover
TIP: Use the magnifying glass (top left of any page) to search this site.
I share new projects and ideas every week.
You can find these categories in the menu at the top of any page:
GROW | Organic growing tips and tricks
MAKE | Easy DIY projects using unwanted or thrifty household stuff and recipes
- How to Make Decorative Garden Art Balls
- How To Make Plant Tags (Best Practical & Creative Options)
- How to Paint Shoes
IDEAS | Galleries of ideas to get your creativity flowing
- How to Make Hummingbird Food (Sugar Water Recipe)
- How to Clean Murky Pond Water
- Best Small Pond Ideas for Patios & Gardens
The Idea Bank | Look up what you have and see what you can make!
Subscribe
Join me on this creative journey!
There are two options. Choose one or both:
- Sign up for the Empress of Dirt creative newsletter. A new edition is sent every 2nd Friday providing tips, projects, and ideas.
- Sign up for New Posts By Email. A weekly edition is sent every Saturday.
We never spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
Our Shop
SHOP | T-Shirts and Merch for Gardeners | Wear your love of gardening!
EBOOKS | Ebooks – Digital Files | ebook topics include garden art making, hand-dyeing fabrics, hand-painting shoes, and growing salads. Also see the Printable Garden Planner to help plan your garden your way.
Our Podcast
Listen to our audio show for garden myth-busting, interesting tips, and helpful ideas. It’s hosted by my husband, Gary.
Thank you for visiting Empress of Dirt. Please, dig in!
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt â™›
