Frugal Gardening: Microgreens

The weather is lousy, and you are dreaming of fresh salads and tomato sandwiches. One option is to begin to grow micro greens on a sunny window sill. Micro greens are those tiny, baby plants that chefs like to use as a garnish or in salads.

To start find some of the clear plastic containers used to package take out food. You will need both the top and the bottom. Basically, you will be creating a mini greenhouse. Fill the bottom of the container with sterile potting soil or mix.

Now for seeds; the easiest to start with is broccoli or a broccoli mix. Sprinkle the seeds heavily over the top of the soil. Lightly sprinkle soil over the seeds until just covered. Mist with water in a spray bottle until the soil is damp. Note that I said damp, not wet.

Cover with the clear plastic lid and place in a sunny place. Keep the soil damp with your mister. When the seeds germinate remove the lid. Your greens should be ready to harvest after 5 to 12 days. You are looking for the development of the secondary leaves.

When you harvest use scissors to cut the greens off above the soil. Do not reuse this soil, put it in the garden and restart with new sterile soil.

Another way to add fresh flavor to your winter meals is to grow garlic greens. This time I would use a small pot that fits on the window sill. Use sterile soil. Look for the small garlic cloves in the middle of the bulb. Plant them with just the tip of the cloves showing above the soil, several to a pot. Keep the soil damp, not wet. When they sprout you can snip off the greens with scissors just as you would harvest chives. These greens have a strong garlic flavor.

Enjoy your first gardens of the year.

God bless,
Pam

Prayer Journal

People that meditate describe a condition called "monkey brain" where the mind keeps interrupting their attempts to meditate with random thoughts. I have experienced "monkey brain" while trying to pray. Suddenly I'll find that my conversation with God has been interrupted by thoughts of work I need to do or a problem I'm dealing with.

I have found that I am able to stay focused while praying if I write my prayers down as I say them. A prayer journal lets me look back at earlier prayers and thank God for his answers. It also helps me avoid treating God like Santa Claus. "Dear God please give me...". I can see if I am giving God the glory.

A prayer journal would be a wonderful gift for Christmas. Attach a note explaining it's use and write a prayer in it for the recipient.

God bless,
Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts: Batteries and Memory Cards

It is horribly disappointing to open a Christmas gift and not be able to use it because you do not have the batteries or memory card that it requires. Even worse when a child can't play with their new toys.

Be sure to buy these needed items and include them with the gifts. If you can do it without ruining the packaging, put the batteries and memory cards in the gifts. If not, they make a great stocking stuffer.

This is such a simple thing, but it is an act of consideration and makes for a joyful holiday.

God bless,
Pam

Frugal Christmas Gifts: Canning Supplies

Home canning can be the most frugal way to preserve the bounty from your garden, sales from the grocery, or meat from hunting. It doesn't rely on electricity and you know exactly what you are eating because you processed it.

I'm not going to give instruction on how to can, but I can recommend some books with reliable, easy to understand instructions. When buying equipment get the best you can afford. This will save you money in the long term. Start with a water bath canner (for jams, tomatoes, fruit and pickles), then graduate to a pressure canner (for nonacid vegetables and meat). Adding a box or two of jars will allow the recipient to get started canning right away.

Here are some of my recommendations:


God bless,
Pam