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Fall & Winter

25 Creative Ways to Reuse Christmas Trees

Published on December 29, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Old christmas tree against a fence used by chickadees to shelter from the snow.

If you want to upcycle or recycle your Christmas tree after the holidays, there are all sorts of crafts and decorations to make from the wood, branches, and twigs for your home and garden. For … [Read more...]

What to Prune in Winter (Trees, Shrubs, & Vines)

Published on December 22, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Hand holding tree lopper pruners in a snowy winter garden.

There are many trees and shrubs to prune in late winter while the plants are still dormant and before the warmer weather returns. Iโ€™ve included a plant checklist to save for future … [Read more...]

How to Un-Shrink a Wool Sweater (& Tell If It’s Possible)

Published on December 11, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Sweater shrunken in the dryer now ready to be returned to original size.

Shrunk your favorite wool sweater? These tips from fiber expert Kristi Porter may help you gently un-shrink and reshape it back to size. This post will show you how to assess the damage, and … [Read more...]

7 Winter-Busting Indoor Garden Projects to Lift Your Mood

Published on December 6, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Red Amaryllis bulbs in bloom.

These indoor garden projects bring a bit of growing season indoors and help bridge the gap until spring arrives. This is also a good time to prepare Christmas cactus and poinsettias for … [Read more...]

How to Make Sparkling Ice Suncatchers (Winter Garden Bling)

Published on December 4, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Ice suncatchers made from water and fruit.

Brighten winter days with these easy homemade ice suncatchers. Made in your freezer, theyโ€™re bird-friendly and bring a welcome pop of color to the garden. For more ideas also see Naturally Crafty: … [Read more...]

Easy Winter Method for Sowing Hardy Native Seeds in Pots

Published on December 3, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Native seeds sprouting in pots after winter outdoors

This simple method sows hardy seeds in pots outdoors for winter, keeps them from washing away, and lets natural cold and moisture provide the stratification they need to sprout in spring. Another … [Read more...]

The Complete Guide to Winter Sowing Seeds: Tips & Timing

Published on December 2, 2025 โ™› By Melissa J. Will

Winter sowing supplies including milk jug cut open in middle with seedlings growing inside.

Winter sowing is a popular new way to start seeds outdoors in jugs or containers for spring sproutingโ€”perfect for a variety of plants. Grab old milk jugs or other containers to act like mini … [Read more...]

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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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