Living La Vida Holoka


The Tools Every Beginner Gardener Needs

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These tips and gardening tools will get the beginner gardener started on creating a beautiful, flourishing backyard vegetable garden!

This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

So you want to grow a backyard garden, huh?  There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your garden start to flourish and ultimately provide you with fresh fruits, vegetables, and beautiful flowers!  Once the garden bug hits you, you’ll find yourself counting down to spring every year!  We dug our raised garden seven years ago and every year since then it’s brought us fresh, homegrown vegetables.

But it’s not like we just bought some plants and seeds, popped them in the ground, and got lucky!  My husband had some garden knowledge thanks to his dad and grandmother.  Me?  I learned along the way.  Here’s a few things to keep in mind when you start your new backyard garden:

Choose a sunny spot

Here’s the thing – your garden is going to need plenty of sunshine.  But you don’t want it to get too much sun.  So make sure you dig it in a spot that will get about six hours of sunlight during the day. 

Pick the right plants

Now that you’ve got your garden dug, it’s time to start planting.  Maybe you want to start plants from seed, or maybe you want to buy starter plants.  Whatever the case, you want to make sure that they’ll be happy in the location you plant them. 

So make sure you read those information tags!  They’re there for a reason and will let you know how much light and water your new plant babies will need!  And while you’re at it, you might want to check out which zone you’re in to make sure your plants thrive! 

Consider composting

Want to give your soil a healthy boost?  Consider getting a compost bin or compost tumbler.  I have a small counter bin that I throw fruit and veggie scraps, egg shells, and coffee grounds into.  At the end of the week, I dump it straight into the garden to be turned over.  As the scraps break down, it fertilizes the soil.

Keep a record of your garden

This is something I only started last year, but it’s been extremely helpful!  Keep a notebook or garden journal to write down information about your plants (like if they’re annuals or perennials), track their progress, or write down other important information about your garden.

Rotate your plants

One of the key things I’ve learned from my favorite gardener (my husband) is that you shouldn’t plant the same plants in the same spot each year.  Instead, rotate them to keep the soil nutrient rich.

Water in the A.M.

Before the sun gets too hot, give your garden a good soaking!  Watering in the afternoon sun can cause plants to become too hot and burn up.

Make sure you have the right tools

Your garden is going to require maintenance as your plants grow.  Make sure you have the right tools for digging, weeding, and cleaning up!  If you don’t know where to start, check out my list below for everything you’ll need to get started on your backyard garden! 

The Tools Every Beginner Gardener Needs
  1. Bamboo Gardening Gloves
  2. Easy Pour Watering Can
  3. Seed Starter Peat Pots
  4. Moisture Control Potting Soil
  5. Digging Shovel
  6. Pruning Shears
  7. Hand Shovel
  8. Stainless Steel Straight Weeder
  9. Hoe and Cultivator Hand Tiller
  10. Watering Wand
  11. Expandable Garden Hose
  12. Gardening Organizer Tote
  13. Folding Garden Kneeler
  14. Leaf Grabbers
  15. Reusable Yard Waste Bag

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11 Hobbies You Can Start During Quarantine

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If you’re starting to go stir crazy at home and need to keep your mind occupied, pick up one of these quarantine hobbies and learn, make, or move!

This post may contain affiliate links. Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.


One of the biggest questions that seems to be asked lately is, “What hobby have you started while in quarantine?”  Puzzles have made one hell of a comeback since my childhood!  And I took the pour painting plunge recently and made a big mess and a pretty piece of artwork! I’ve seen a lot more people taking walks and riding bikes.  And I can’t wait to get my hands back into our garden!

We’re all stuck inside and we’re all looking for things to keep us happy and occupied while we can’t go anywhere.  If you’ve been looking to try something new, here’s a list of 11 hobbies you can start while you’re hanging out at home!

Hobbies You Can Start During Quarantine

 

Do a puzzle

Puzzles are super popular right now.  Probably because they keep your mind busy.  Sit down and put a puzzle together with the fam!  Then, when you’re done with it, use some puzzle glue so you can show off your hard work!

Start a garden

Now is a great time to start a garden!  Not only does it give you a great sense of accomplishment to grow your own plants, but starting a veggie garden will allow you to grow your own produce.  That means, less time in the grocery store picking out fruits and veggies! 

Pour some paint

After watching countless paint pouring videos on Facebook, I couldn’t wait to try it for myself!  It was messy, it was fun, and I ended up with some pretty cool looking artwork that I made myself!  I can’t wait to make my next piece of art! 

Make resin jewelry

Making resin jewelry has been on my list of crafts-to-make for a while!  I think it’s finally time to take the plunge.  There are so many different things you can add to your resin jewelry creations like dried flowers and crushed crystals.  But since I’ve never made resin jewelry before, you might want to read up on how to make it before you start crafting!   

Play a board game

Just like puzzles, sitting down with the family and playing a classic board game has made a comeback!  Back in the day, my family used to have Scrabble nights.  We got so into them that my parents even bought the Scrabble dictionary!  Break out your favorite classic board game and get your game on! 

Draw something

It’s been a while since I’ve flipped open a sketchbook and sat down to draw something.  However, my dad is on a roll with this quarantine hobby and has been working on portraits of the family!  

Become a star gazer

I swear that the stars have gotten brighter in the sky since we’ve all be quarantined.  Pollution is down and there’s a lot of beauty to behold above us!  It’s the perfect time to step outside at night to do some stargazing!

Namaste at home and do yoga

Once upon a time, I was big into yoga.  Then, my routine just escaped me and it’s been a while since I’ve struck a pose.  But it’s important to stay active – not just for your physical health, but your mental health, too – so it might be time to unroll my mat and stay “ohm!”

Learn a new language

If spending all your time at home has you dreaming about taking a vacation, use this time to pick up a new language!  Say “bonjour” to French or “ciao” to Italian!  Whatever language you want to learn, there are a ton of books and programs to help you on your journey!

Cook out of a new cookbook

Even if you’re not a complete foodie, chances are you’ve done more baking and cooking than usual.  It’s been a great time to learn how to bake your own bread, make your own pasta, and create all sorts of cozy dishes to keep your family well-fed! Just a few simple pantry ingredients can create something wonderful!  Give your cooking skills a boost with one of these cookbooks!

Learn how to read Tarot

Maybe you’ve tried to sage the coronavirus away or clenched one of your favorite crystals tight lately.  But have you ever read tarot?  I used to have a deck back in the day.  And although I didn’t do very many readings, it was fun to learn what each card symbolized and choose a deck.  There are so many gorgeous tarot sets to choose from!

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What new hobby have you tried?

Punny Herb Planters DIY Cricut Project

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Add a little humor to your herb garden this summer with these Punny Herb Planters!  It’s an easy project to make on your Cricut or with premade vinyl stickers.


A couple weeks ago, I spent a Saturday morning at a large greenhouse with my mother and mother-in-law.  I take them every year as part of their Mother’s Day present.  Even though our garden has been planted and our pots have been filled with flowers, I still had a short list of plants and garden supplies that I wanted to pick up while I was there.

I could have gone so overboard at that place!  But there isn’t much space left to fill in our yard.  So I resisted buying every single plant and planter that caught my eye!  After all, our vegetable garden is really starting to take off, we have pots filled with black flowers, and I have quite the variety of herbs growing this year.  


Before we started planting our garden, I came across a cute planter DIY on Hobby Lobby.  The planters had “punny” sayings like “mint condition,” “bay leaf in yourself,” and “I’m kind of a big dill” stamped onto them.  I decided to make some punny herb planters of my own using my Cricut.

I’m still relatively new to making Cricut projects.  I bought my Explore Air 2 over the holiday season when it was on sale at Michael’s.  Since then, I’ve made personalized coffee cups and wine glasses for family, as well as some home decor.  Simple projects!  

This project was really simple!  I used Cricut Design Space’s free Cricut Classic font, kept each phrase about 3-4 inches in height and width, and cut it on black vinyl.  If you don’t have a Cricut machine, you can use black vinyl letter stickers or a black marker to make your own planters.

SUPPLIES

STEPS

  1. Create your text in Design Space and cut the vinyl.
  2. Remove the extra vinyl from the design.  Then, cut a piece of transfer tape to size.
  3. Remove the backing from the transfer tape and lay it over your design.  Use a spatula to rub the tape down onto the design.
  4. Carefully lift the transfer tape off of the design.  It should easily come off.  If it doesn’t, you can help it along by lifting a corner of the letter.
  5. Once the design has been lifted onto the tape, position it over the planter and once again use the spatula to rub the vinyl onto the planter.
  6. Peel the transfer tape off of the planter. 
  7. Fill the planter with potting soil and plant an herb of your choice!

Punny herb phrases for planters!

 
In case you need some help thinking up some herb puns, here you go!

  • Don’t stop bay-leafing
  • I’m kind of a big dill
  • Mint to be
  • Say aloe to my little friend
  • Here today, tarragon tomorrow
  • Ain’t nobody got thyme for that
  • Sage it ain’t so
  • The pesto’s yet to come
  • Good chives only
  • Eat, drink, and rosemary
  • Just say oregano
  • And because I couldn’t find a good pun for cilantro – I do not taste like soap


We’ve had a lot of rain so I was curious about how the vinyl would hold up outside.  So far, so good!  It hasn’t budged or faded!  These planters would make great gifts for gardeners and it’s never too late to add another herb to your garden.  Then again, I tend to think you can always find room for a new plant! 

If you’re new to Cricut, head to my post, The Best Cricut Tools & Accessories for Beginners, to get the supplies you need to tackle your first project!  You can follow me on Instagram to see some of the other Cricut projects I’m working on.  Or check out the Cricut icon in my highlights to see previous projects!

 

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DIY Outdoor Planters – 20 Creative Projects to Add to Your Garden

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This post may contain affiliate links.  Making a purchase through one of these links helps support this blog.

Get crafty in your backyard this spring and summer with 20 creative DIY outdoor planters that will add a little handmade charm your garden!


Gardening season has officially begun here in New Jersey!  Of course, we were cleaning up the yard the moment the ground thawed!  This year, we got a super early start on gardening season.  My husband built a fence around our garden while it was still winter.  Towards the end of March, I was putting out pots of pansies, planting bulbs, and setting out some outdoor decor.  When spring fever hits, it tends to hit hard, and this year was no different! 

One thing I’m really excited to do, now that I can plant all sorts of summer plants, is go through our many, many, many pots to see what I can use, what I can give away, or what needs to be thrown away.  I’ve made plenty of DIY planters over the years and they’re definitely my favorite to hold onto!  Some were made with new materials and others were made with things we had on hand.

Last year, I found a rather large, pink birdcage at a yard sale.  I’m thinking about turning it into some kind of planter this year.  It was such a great find and is big enough to hold lots of plants!  I love a good upcycling project!  If you do, too, check out these 20 DIY planter projects.  Some are upcycled (get ready to hit up those yard sales!) and others are creative, new projects to add to your backyard! 

20 Creative DIY Outdoor Planters to Add to Your Garden
  1. DIY Cedar Ladder Planter – Our Home Made Easy
  2. Wooden DIY Planter Box (with build plans) – Sustain My Craft Habit
  3. Give Your Plant A Throne – The Lovely Drawer
  4. Old Drawers into Porch Planters – My Repurposed Life
  5. DIY Hanging Flower Basket Planter with a Repurposed Vintage Colander – Sadie Seasongoods
  6. Turn An Old Tire Into A Gorgeous Planter – Addicted 2 DIY
  7. How To Make A Stunning Wall Planter From Broken Plates – Pillar Box Blue
  8. Succulent Birdcage Planter – The Gardening Cook
  9. Modern Concrete Planters DIY – Paper and Stitch
  10. DIY Colander Flower Planter – Through Her Looking Glass
  11. Dutch Wooden Shoes as Wall Planters – Sadie Seasongoods
  12. Copper Plant Stands – Sarah Sherman Samuel
  13. How to Convert Used Candle Containers to Cool Planters in Minutes – Paper and Stitch
  14. DIY 3D Planter – Almost Makes Perfect
  15. Modern Planter Box – Stacy Risenmay
  16. Painted Cinder Block Planters – Little Miss Momma
  17. DIY White Washed Terra Cotta Pots – Setting for Four
  18. How to Age Galvanized Metal to Make Herb Planters – A Home To Grow Old In
  19. DIY Mid Century Planters – Sugar & Cloth
  20. Geometric Faux Metal Planters DIY – Paper and Stitch

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Do you have any upcycled planters in your garden?



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