An "indoor" project!

OK so  most of us  have had our first hard freeze and it seems like spring is a million years away.....so now is a good time for a  project!!!  This does take a little planning and preparation but it will be worth it in the end!

I try really hard not to endorse products but I will make an exception .....there is a wonderful book I read a few years ago called "Carrots Love Tomatoes" by Louise Riotte which is all about companion planting.

First of please do not feel any pressure to by this book you can look up most of the information free online these days but I really liked to have "something to carry around" while I was trying to figure out the maze of companion planting. ( I do warn you the abundance of information can be very overwhelming that is why I liked to have the book on hand.)

Many of you may be asking yourself.....great a book? But what the heck is companion planting???

The concept is not hard.....certain plants ( like carrots and tomatoes) "like" to be planted next to each other. There are many plants that do not like to be planted next to each other and that information is important to know too!  However all the information about what can be planted next to each other can seem daunting!

Why do they like to be planted next to each other...... well in the case of carrots and tomatoes.....they each give off certain chemicals to keep pests off each other. ( A natural insect defense!) In other cases of companion planting like corn and beans....the beans replenish the nitrogen in the soil and corn uses a lot of nitrogen as it grows. ( so less fertilizer is needed)

From my previous posts you all know that I like to do things " on the cheap", by using companion planting we can cut the costs of fertilizers, insecticides and even some herbicides. Not only is this cost effective it is also great for the soil and environment because you are using less chemicals in general! ( which i find is a great thing!!)

I really haven't told you about a project yet..... ok well here it is. Once you have all your information about companion planting.....

First you must decide what you will be planting in the spring. Next go through and figure out what is best to be planted next to each other ( that is what takes the most time) and then start planning the garden. I like to get a piece of graph paper and use that as my "garden" and map out what will go where. It may seem a little overzealous but I also use different colored pencils to depict the plants....so then everything is color coded and can be easily read and followed ( and you don't forget what is suppose to go where!!) After all this preparation your garden will be a breeze to plant in the spring!! ( This practice can also be used in your flower beds....not just the garden.)

So I am sure your compost is also coming along well and couple that with companion planting... and hopefully you will not have to spend any extra money on any chemicals this coming growing season!!

If you have any other garden organizing tips and tricks please leave them in the comment section!!!