Barbara Simoes

Lots of pictures on Pinterest having to do with organization.  I just typed in pallets used for storing tools.  Oodles of ideas! Some of the pallets even had things hanging from the wood in front, too.

[quote=Amy Gardener

Does anyone have any clever ideas for organizing and hiding unattractive long handled cleaning tools like broom, wet mop, paint roller, floor scrubber, extension pole duster?


Yes, On Pinterest, I saw a post where they used a wooden pallet set against the wall.  The narrow opening allowed all sorts of tools like rakes, mops, etc. to be standing up inside.  I believe that there is even a divider in the middle of the pallet so that things don't topple too far from one side to the other. I'll see if I can find that post and I'll add it.

I also use old plastic medicine bottles for organizing screws, bolts, etc.  They hold a surprising amount.  Before, everything was tossed into a large coffee container, and I had to dump it all out to find one whatever!  I actually sorted it out just the other day.

I think I have eight of those large black square units with the bottom pull-up door near the bottom.  Seven of them are placed around to put weeds in and one is for my actual food scraps.  That one is located on the side of the back porch where I can easily access it in all weather.  I  try to get to sifting out what I can each fall because in the winter things freeze and get too full and I can't add anything for lack of room if I don't.  

One year, I'd put the (uncarved) Halloween pumpkin in and then paid the price all winter, hauling the compost to the next closest one, still have to trudge through snow banks for access.  That was something that taught me a valuable lesson.  The "weed" bins I have yet to empty, and they have been in place for a decade or more!  When I do, I'll use it on the lawn, not trusting that the weed seeds will have completely broken down. It is quite lovely to have quick access to bins in various beds and I find I will actually do more weeding because they are there.  Yes, I also do some chop and drop, but things that verge on invasiveness do get pulled.

Now that I've filled in the pool and made it into a garden, I guess I'll need to get another!

Ann, I saw your post about inaccessible upper cabinets.  On an episode of "This Old House" they were doing a house to make everything available to a son who was in a wheelchair.  Anyway, the upper cabinets had some sort of hinged mechanism that when opened, lowered the contents down to a very reachable height. Here's a link with some ideas: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/kitchens/kitchen-storage-design-ideas
Go down to the "Articulating Shelf for upper cabinets" to see what I was thinking.  I hope this helps!

This was the second year....!  I think I remember scarifying the seeds; I'm not sure if they were the ones that I'd had in the fridge.  I may try again with seeds from a more reputable source.  Thanks for the advice.  Do you find that they pop up all over the place, or are they pretty contained?

Ughh! I tried to plant maypop seeds along the south side of a large arbor but they never took.  I was so disappointed.  Maybe I need to start with a plant rather than seeds.  I planted shisandra on the north side and it has survived, although after two years it's still just leaves....

Most of the trees and bushes I'd planted were things I'd never tasted before; some have yet to come to fruition, but I'll be excited to see them.  One of my American persimmons started fruiting this year.  The paw paw flowered and I didn't brush any pollen, so no fruit yet. Kiwi berries have been a wonderful treat, I've had Concord grapes growing here for about 40 years, but if I didn't grow it, I'd never know the sweetness a grape could possess. Goumis, mulberries, hazelnuts, medlars, Asian pears, quince, rhubarb, currants, gooseberries, elderberries, fresh figs, serviceberries, Cornus Kousa, ground cherries, bush cherries, Winecap mushrooms are all new flavors that I've embraced...the list could go on and on. Yes, all the "weeds" like purslane, chickweed, etc.  The medicinal usage of plants has been staggering.

I truly love all of it.  I love the new flavors, trees and bushes in all seasons, but especially in spring bloom (and of course at harvest time), eating seasonally, sharing with friends, neighbors and the food shelf, the learning of new skills and knowledge like canning, wine and medicine making.  I love the reciprocity of plants: give them a little care and they will give back so much more. I love the ecology of it when the leaves break down to re-nourish its parent plant and help it to stay hydrated, but also allow for soft landings and a winter's refuge for insects and small creatures.  I love watching the wildlife and cyclical nature of the seasons and web of life that lives in my garden.  I even appreciate the daily exercise that I must do year round to keep things right.  I love that it gets me outside for hours every day

I feel my heart almost hurt when I look at all the beauty offered to me in the garden.  I love watching creatures doing what they do, going about their lives: bumblebees climbing into hosta flowers buzzing all the while or just climbing in to go to sleep, or birds pulling at the serviceberries or a catbird scolding me when I go to pick the pie cherries, hopping mad until I toss it a few of the damaged ones, bunnies eating the clover that I planted throughout the lawn, or frogs hiding out under cover from the sun and dragonflies darting about in speed racing circles gathering insects with every round. Looking up and seeing hummingbirds resting on the wire above the garden or the lightning bugs that give me a fireworks show every evening in the summer. Wing prints of an owl in the snow was a sight that held me in awe as was the fox that trotted out in front of me as I walked out back.  It stopped and looked back at me as if to say, "Are you coming?!" and then trotted on its way.

I guess I got a little far afield from the original topic of new foods, but it's these new foods that has brought me so much more.  Certainly, there are things that frustrate me; I've written about a skunk that had become my nemesis for over a year, but at the end of the day, I understand that it is just trying to survive in a very difficult world.  I think I've solved the problem of it entering the crawlspace, and I don't mind it finding a home somewhere outside on the property, just not under any of the buildings.  I'm thrilled that they eat grubs and ticks and if it gets a little fruit, I'm okay with that, too.  After all, permaculture is all about Earthcare, people care and fair share!

Inulin is really good for us; I don't want things like that messed with.  Nature has a way of knowing better than we do.


Key Health Benefits

• Boosts Gut Health: Acts as a prebiotic that selectively feeds good bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.
• Improves Digestion: Adds bulk to stool and helps ease constipation when taken regularly.
• Supports Blood Sugar Control: Slows down the digestion of carbohydrates, which helps prevent rapid blood sugar and insulin spikes.
• Aids Satiety and Weight Management: Helps you feel full longer and has a low calorie count.
• Enhances Mineral Absorption: Can improve how well your body absorbs essential minerals like calcium and magnesium

They now have columner trees that are basically a trunk and spurs.  That might be something to investigate.  Also there was a plan above that showed a single pawpaw.  As far as I know, most require two in order to pollinate, so be aware that many things we grow require more than one or some grafting.

I would be inclined to seek out local parks and/or schools and offer some labor caring for a bit of land on which to grow in exchange for some of the food produced--maybe half and half, with half going to a local food pantry.  You could even offer to run small classes from time to time or start a club if it's at a school.  Be sure to check for outdoor spigots before locating your garden, and you might also ask if there are tools on site that you could have access to.  There are grants available for just this sort of thing....

Kathleen, In a "Good News" email that I get each day, there was an article about a scientifically designed song that quiets fussy children.  One of the comments below the post stated that it also worked with Alzheimer's patients.  Here is the link; I hope it helps:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PhtxqKLvVc

Kathleen Sanderson wrote:World events are very troubling, but honestly, my biggest stress is in my own home - my handicapped youngest daughter (adult), who also has serious medical issues and is autistic and - when she's unhappy or not feeling good - screams, cries, and generally fusses like a toddler. Sometimes 24/7 for weeks (we are just starting to come out of one of those cycles, though she's still not completely out of it). Add to that, I'm not getting any younger (I'll be seventy next year), and have a bad back that has me just about crippled.