Easy Frugal Living

We have broccoli!

2012-05-29T06:40:00.000-05:00

Tuesday there was no broccoli. Only huge leaves. Saturday this is what we had.

It is now bigger than my hand!

It amazes me the rate vegetables grow. One day nothing and it seems like overnight it has grown 10 times it's size.

It is very dry here. I spent Saturday weeding, which was easy but time consuming. Once I was done I finished mulching everything with straw. With the dry conditions around here, I applied the straw very thick to conserve moisture, and then deep watered everything, trying to save on the water bill as much as possible, BUT not loose all the money and hard work that has already went into the garden.

I really need to get more rain barrels set up. We are hopefully going to get more rain later this week.

Do you use rain barrels or just water from the hose not worrying about the cost of water?

Coffee: Do You Like It Hot Or Cold?

2012-05-28T10:05:00.001-05:00

A couple of weeks ago my husband won this....

The Keurig Elite Brewing System. It came with a variety box of K-cups to try. None of them were all that great for the price. Those little suckers are EX-PEN-SIVE! So I bought him the little cup adapter so he could buy bulk coffee beans and grind his own, which he says is better. I wouldn't know, I don't drink HOT coffee.

I like my coffee COLD and SWEET and CREAMY! This new system that takes up ALOT of room on my counter is supposed to brew hot chocolate, tea and ICED COFFEE. So when I went shopping I was going to pick up some cream and try to make my favorite...

Starbucks frappuccino mocha iced coffee!

But instead of cream I found this....

It is everything I love in an Iced Mocha Coffee. Cold-Sweet-Chocolaty-Creamy. And the price wasn't bad either. I figure I deserve a treat once in a while.

Move over Starbucks! There is a new Mocha in my fridge. If you like Starbucks' you have to try International Delight!

Organic Bug Spray

2012-05-17T07:28:00.001-05:00

What's buggin you?

It's that time of year to be prepared to take on the pests that will want to invade your garden. Here is an organic, earth friendly spray to brew up yourself and have on hand.

Organic Bug Spray

1 unpeeled onion
1 unpeeled head of garlic
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 pints water

1. Chop onion and garlic and combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Simmer 20 minutes.
2. Cool, add 1 tablespoon of dish soap and store in a jar in the refrigerator for 6 weeks.

To use: Strain soulution and place in a spray bottle to mist plants.

Use after solution cools, throw out any solution left after 6 weeks and make a new batch.

Red pepper spray is a good general insect spray and is effective against caterpillars.

Linked up at:
Frugally Sustainable

Ingenious Idea for Detering Deer From Your Garden

2012-05-15T07:01:00.001-05:00

I've never had to contend with deer in my gardens. I feel so lucky because I read the struggles and frustration from people who put so many hours of hard work into their gardens only to be destroyed by deer.

Of all the tips over the years I think this one is the best! I would like my readers to let me know if they try this and how well they think it worked for them. I think it's pretty ingenious myself, but with no deer I can't try it.

Let me know if you try it!

Linked up to:

Homestead Revival Barn Hop

Weekly Garden Update

2012-05-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

Things are growing nicely in our garden. I spent all day Sunday planting more tomatoes, onions, and pepper plants.

We know have 24 tomato plants planted, 8 to go. Twenty are in the garden and the other 4 are in pots on our deck. Some of them have already put on tomatoes! That doesn't include the 3 volunteers that have sprung up in the "kitchen" garden.

The potatoe boxes need more compost, they grow so fast and are now blooming! We've already added two more wood layers to the boxes.

Some of my carrots were showing their tops and needed dirt hilled up on them. When I was weeding the bunching onions I seen a potatoe laying right on top of the soil from my volunteer potatoe plant. I covered him up, but it was nice to know it was putting on potatoes as well.

The grape vines are growing steadily.

I did a lot of weeding also, and there is still more to do, but I am ahead of them in the garden anyway. We won't talk about the weeds in the front flower beds along the sidewalk coming into my front door. I have to get it weeded. It needs remulched so bad to cut down on the weeds. It's been about 4 years since I added any. Hopefully I will be able to get a truck load of mulch this week or coming weekend.

I'm really sore from the planting & weeding marathon this weekend. Just when you start to get used to it, gardening season is over!

Did any of you plant any more this weekend?

Victory Gardens Making A Comeback

2012-05-09T06:57:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy of The Dinner Garden

Image courtesy of Good Potato

Bringin Home the Bacon!

2012-05-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

I found bacon on sale 2 for $3. I consider $1.50 rock bottom price on bacon. The very same bacon was on sale at Price Chopper last week for $3.99 for one package. THAT was sale price! I refuse to pay $4 for a pound of bacon.

I picked up two packages and cut both packages in half. Then I bagged it up, 4 half slices in each bag, and threw them in my freezer. We do not like processed bacon bits. Ewwwwww!

I now can pull a package out to season green beans, baked beans, navy beans, dips, salads, and more. I don't have the luxury of running down the block to the local grocery when I cook. I have to keep a well stocked pantry and freezer, so I try to pick things up when I see them on such a great sale even if I won't be using it for a meal that week.

The two pounds gave me a dozen packages which will last several months and makes it really cheap.