Hope everyone is doing something for Mother Earth today – even if it is something simple like picking up a few pieces of trash… or if it is something like recycling a few plastic bottles… maybe planting a tree.  Nothing is too small – so do your part if you can.

Shala snapped some pics  yesterday to show off our garden and to show that we are doing our part for Mother Earth.  In other words… happy Earth Day – ENJOY!

Our Spartium Junceum (Spanish Broom) has just started to bloom… this was an addition last year that has really taken off and smells FANTASTIC.  Which is awesome, since it is at the end of our raised beds and we get to smell it while we toil in the soil.

We just stuck some Cuphea hyssopifolia (Mexican Heather/False Heather) in a few gaps along our fence this past month.  They are barely getting started… and are taking a beating by the BIG WHITE DOG (Izzy).  Still hanging in there and blooming too.

This Passiflora Caerulea (Passion Vine) was added last year as a $0.99 plug – and is now crawling down our fence and check the awesome alien-like blooms!  They are so epic.

And it is just starting… look at all the blooms just building up.  This thing is about to explode.  We haven’t seen any Gulf Fritillary Butterflies just yet – but won’t be long.

Lastly – we stuck some tomatoes in the ground last night!  4 different kinds – just 4 plants at the moment.  Better Boy, Rutgers, Large Red Cherry & Beef Steak – we are ahead of the game!  All grown from seed of course… be jealous… be very jealous.

Do something for the Earth today… it is Earth Day for heaven’s sake - we will spend some times planing after work.  Maybe drink a few beers… kick back and relax in the garden.

Tags: Earth Day, Flowers, Food, Gardening, Gardening Tips, Growing Tomatoes, Health, Living Green, National Gardening Month, ONLY in Texas, Organic Gardening, Pictures, Recession Gardening, Springy, West Texas Gardening, raised beds by James
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WHAT!?!?  Yes… you read that right… Chris McLaughlin’s book that ISN’T EVEN OUT YET (but you can pre-order it on Amazon right now)!  Well, and you won’t get it until it comes out either – but when it does, you (well, you… if you win) will get a copy of it.  For those of you that do not know which book we are talking about (or for those that can’t read the freakin’ title of this post) the book is called…

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composting (Check out the fan page on Facebook)

That title makes a lot more sense now eh?  Thought so.  So you have been wondering how to do the whole “composting” thing, but don’t know how to get started?  Or maybe you just can’t do it right – you keep trying and trying and can’t seem to get that black gold that you desire.  This is the book you need to have.  Chris is a composting master of the universe – and she provides you w/ everything you need to know about composting in one easy guide.  And no… I did not just call you an idiot.  I mean… nevermind.

Oooooooooooh wait a second… I almost forgot the cherry on top part!  Chris has agreed to come to your house and show you personally how to compost!  Not really, I made that part up.  And Chris just read that and spit her coffee all over her laptop.  Sorry ’bout that.  I lie a lot.  Not really.  There I go again… lying.

What Chris really agreed to was to sign this copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composting.  AUTOGRAPH PEOPLE!  FROM FAMOUS PEOPLE!  CHRIS IS KINDA A BIG DEAL – I think she was on American Idol or something.  Maybe Project Runway… or maybe she is kind of a big deal on Twitter.  I can’t remember.

So you know what to do…  and if you don’t, I will write the next book called… “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Entering Double Danger Contests By Leaving a Freaking Comment – FOR THE UMP-TEETH TIME!”  Didn’t mean to yell at you, I get excited sometimes.  I’m lying again.  I meant to yell at you.  Leave a comment.  A nice one, about how cool our site is and how funny I am and how you wish you could win The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Composting.  We will randomly draw a name tomorrow and announce the winner… like always.  Then we will laugh and drink and talk about how fantastic life is.  Until next time… good luck & good gardening.

Tags: Composting, Container Gardening, DIY, Eating At Home, Food, Free Stuff Contests, Gardening, Gardening Books, Gardening Give Aways, Gardening Tips, Living Green, Make A Difference, National Gardening Month, Organic Fertilizer, Organic Gardening, Recession Gardening, Seeds & Seedlings, Springy, West Texas Gardening by James
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3 winner on this one… are you excited?  Pumped up?  Hopin’ you can get something for your kids/grandkids?  Well we are excited to be able to give them away.  Small group to pick from this time… who cares, just made your odds better.

I tried to get more people… but they just didn’t want to sign up.  Their loss, your gain right?  Right.

Going to go ahead and get down to business… winner #1 is…

Congrats Kate!  See, we told you it would be worth your time to sign up.  Hope these help in growing our future farmers.

Winner #2 is…

Congrats Chris and just for the record… OF COURSE your eligible – everyone is.  We make the rules, and we say so!

The third & final winner…

Congrats Marsh – I hope LuLu grows some grub for the family in the near future! 

So that is it, thanks for playing and I hope this inspires the next generation of gardeners out there!  Have fun and check back in momentarily for our next (#5) giveaway!

NEXT!!

Tags: Container Gardening, Crafty Crap, DIY, Food, Free Stuff Contests, Gardening, Gardening Give Aways, Living Green, Make A Difference, National Gardening Month, Organic Gardening, Springy, Sprouts by James
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