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 ♛, and I share creative and frugal home and (mostly) garden DIY projects and ideas, with an emphasis on the organic, eco-beneficial, and thrifty tips I needed when I was starting out.
My Garden
This is my garden’s equivalent of its wedding day photo.
It was one of those rare times when:
- I had just weeded
- there’s a fresh application of mulch
- it was peak season for blooms and
- 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 it has nothing to do with perfection.
Most days the garden isn’t this neat. It’s my place to be outdoors, try things out, grow stuff, and clear my head. Few things compare to a hot shower and a good meal after a long, satisfying day in the garden.
I garden organically—using compost, mulch, and the right plants. The term “organic” can mean different things, but here it means I aim to support a healthy, local ecosystem without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or anything else that causes more harm than good.
I’m frequently asked how much time I spend tending this space and the answer is not much! Since the photo (above) was taken I’ve veered to a much more naturalized approach with little or no seasonal “clean up.” It’s a wilder space now with plenty of wild things calling it home—just as I hoped. I spend just as much time as I want there, mostly goofing off, with no self-imposed pressure to make it look a certain way.
Turn on the sound to hear the story:
When writing garden how-to articles for this site, I do a lot of research. The gardening world is filled with myths, folklore, and cliches. Many are harmless but not helpful for beginners who waste precious time and resources only to fail. Best to provide reliable information and encouragement.
You can probably guess from what you’ve read so far that we also live debt-free and like to keep things simple.
For DIY projects, I like creative, repurposed, useful, and thrifty. Whenever possible I make do instead of buying new. I’m always dreaming up new ways to use those wood scraps and other riffraff!
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 Sew Grow Bags
- 50 Creative + Recycled Garden Art Projects
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
Subscribe
Join me on this creative journey!
There are three options. Choose as many as you like.
- The Empress of Dirt creative newsletter. A new edition is sent every 2nd Friday providing tips, projects, and ideas.
- New Posts By Email. A weekly edition is sent every Saturday.
- Midweek Blooms. A little mid-week bit of inspiration each Wednesday.
We never spam and you can unsubscribe any time.
Our Shop
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.
SHOP | T-Shirts and Merch for Gardeners | Wear your love of gardening!
Our Podcast
Listen to our audio show for garden myth-busting, interesting tips, and helpful ideas. It’s hosted by my husband, Gary.
Welcome to Empress of Dirt. Please, dig in!
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
