Free Composting Workshops

Contra Costa County is offering a free two-hour composting workshop to its residents.  All you have to do is call and reserve your spot.  Click here to view Contra Costa County's current schedule for free composting classes.

I have seen other cities/counties (e.g., Santa Clara, Solano, San Francisco, etc.),  offer similar free programs so perform a search for free composting classes in your county or check out your city's website and look under the recycling & waste department. You may even find that they offer free compost or free or discounted compost bins.

Seed Organizer

I harvest and store seeds from my existing plants.  In the past I blogged about using photo albums as a way to store and organize seed packets, and take gardening notes.  This worked well for seed packets that had small to medium-sized seeds, but I had so many seeds that I ended up with ziplock bags full of half used seed packets and loose seeds.  Tired of the mess, I found another way to store and organize all of my seeds.  

Photo 1: Shoebox/Photo Storage Seed Organizer

• Seed Storage Box.  You can transform a shoebox or photo storage box into a seed organizer.  I bought these decorative shoe box/photo storage box at Marshalls for about $3.  However, you can transform an ordinary shoe box or photo storage box into a seed organizer.  Just place an object inside the box to act as a bookstand to keep your seed packets upright (See Photo 1).

Photo 2: Seed packets for the new seed organizer

• The Seed Packets.  Instead of throwing the seed packets into the box, I created new seed packets out of envelopes to give it a uniform look, and to keep the seeds from spilling out of their packets (See Photo 2).   You can organize the seed packets alphabetically or by category (e.g., herbs, flowers, vegetables, etc.).  You can also create a box for each category or for each new year.  

• How to Make Seed Packets
• Materials
• Envelopes (that fit inside the box)
• Pen
• Scissors
• Elmer's Glue
• Old Seed Packets (optional)
• Individual Photos of Plants (optional)
• Funnel (optional)
• Directions
• Place the seeds in the envelope or if you like you can wait to put them in at the end.  If you do wait to put them in at the end, use a funnel to assist you.  
• Cut a small (1.5" to 2") slit on the folded line of the flap.
• Seal the envelope.
• Cut the seed packet so that you have a front and back side of the packet.
• Paste the front of the seed packet to the front of the envelope (See Photo 2).  Alternatively, you can glue a photo of the plant, and then label it with a marker or pen.   
• Paste the back of the seed packet to the back of the envelope (See Photo 2).  Alternatively, you can write down planting instructions and other notes on the back.
• Repeat this process to make more seed packets.  Make sure that the photos and writing are facing the same direction so that it will be easier to catalog and look-up the seed packets.

Free Banana Trees by Mail

Photo: Banana Trees.  May 2011 Free Plant of the Month by freeplantsbymail.org

Free Plants By Mail (freeplantsbymail.org) was started by local growers as a way to use the surplus plants from nurseries and also as a way to support The Nature Conservancy.  Free Plants By Mail offers a new free plant each month.  This month they are offering banana trees.  Although the plant itself is free, you do have to pay a small shipping and handling fee of $6.95.
This organization also has over 100 plants available for sale on their site.  100% of the proceeds from the sale will go to The Nature Conservancy.

Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).